AC Radio: Episode 12
29 Jul
As promised, a very special Thursday edition of AttentionCrash Radio now that the gypsies have lifted their curse.
We tackle iPad owners as elitists, a novel way for dealing with the elderly and Dr. Rob’s book title.
AttentionCrash Radio: Episode 12
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1. Somehow I’ve managed to not become a pot head, though I have been considering it since alcohol is so bad for you. Pot has 0 calories, 0 carbs, though I’m worried that the munchies would offset that.
2. The Alabama bar exam has a much higher passage rate than NY (which is the second lowest, after California). I don’t know if that actually means AL is easier though, because NY and CA have a ton of foreign test takers and foreign lawyers have a failure rate around 50% (they usually have a foreign law degree and then a 1 year LLM from a US school, so they have less exposure to US laws).
3. The Arizona immigration bill isn’t as “papers please” as MSNBC would have you think. The law only requires you to carry documents already required to be with you under federal immigration law.
The real issue isn’t what’s in the law, but rather how it will be enforced. I doubt anything will be different under the new law though. A non-racist cop isn’t going to be harassing hispanic people, and a racist cop is already doing it anyways.
4. I think Rob is right that people have some innate assholeness that anonymous internet forums let out. It’s our natural instinct to jocky and figure out where we are in the pecking order and both being witty and being a bully are part of that.
But, I think there’s also some degree of people not being allowed to express themselves in their day to day lives. Our society really emphasizes being polite and politically correct and not disagreeing and we really jump down the throats of people who express an idea that’s not popular (see: Matt Shirley). If I was hanging out with a typical crowd of New Yorkers and we were talking about the immigration bill and someone incorrectly described what was in it, if I tried to correct them I’d immediately be branded a racist. Likewise down here, I can’t disagree about how great (ousted State Supreme Court Chief Justice) Roy Moore is. And just try saying “I actually enjoy Bud Light” anywhere in the country.
Most of us are extremely limited in what we can say out in the real world; maybe it’s healthy to have a place to vent.
Regarding the Civil War reenactments, the only thing that generally irks me to no end is that people have no idea what they are talking about when they discuss the “Confederate Flag.” The flag that rednecks put on the back of their pickups is the battle flag for the Army of Northern Virginia (which Robert E. Lee commanded). The flag for the Confederate States of America (the Stars and Bars) is different. A quick google search reveals this ignorance among people. This is the Confederate Flag:http://unitedstatesamericanflags.com/images/stars_and_bars_800×600.gif
Additionally, many people, myself included simply find Confederate history much more intriguing. The South is the only part of this country that has been conquered militarily which means that the southern historical narrative is unique in the larger scheme of U.S. History. I find southern history fascinating, and yes I am focused on the Confederacy within my history major, but I am also from New Jersey. I just get really annoyed when people make blanket statements about the Confederacy and the South when they do not know what they are talking about (this is not directed to you all, but just people in general).
Hi wlmingtonwave,
I agree with you that Southern history and culture is not only misunderstood, but often willfully misrepresented outside the South. A shame, since to this day the South is emblematic of some of our deepest faults and greatest accomplishments as a nation. But a lot of the stereotypes are right, because of its unique history. Having lived there, I know the sense of otherness or separation that the South feels from the rest of the country. It is not only imposed, but reinforced and practiced as a cultural value. It’s part of the South’s charm, but also part of its misinterpretation. You know?
D.
Ben, according to your timestamp, I’m floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean right now. Please don’t remind me that I’m not doing that. It’s mean. Thanks.
The Confederate national flag was flown outside of the hotel where the AL bar was just given. Yeehaw. :-|
I have never understood the e-hate either. I suppose a few shitty comments can be expected, but what really boggles my mind is when entire sites/blogs are set up for the sole purpose of bagging on someone. If you want to see e-hate check out http://rebloggingns.wordpress.com.
Keep up all the good content; it’s all making (f)unemployment much more bearable.
P.s wlmingtonwave, in regards to this:
“The South is the only part of this country that has been conquered militarily which means that the southern historical narrative is unique in the larger scheme of U.S. History.”
Don’t forget the Southwest and the Mexican-American War. Conquered then bought, but conquered nonetheless.
Donika, I completely agree, which is why America is so unique, but that is another discussion in itself.
And yes, it certainly is self-imposed to some extent. And some of the stereotypes are true (I just graduated from a small school in North Carolina), but a new South is emerging, which makes me very excited. Even the fact that North Carolina and Virginia voted blue last election affirms these changing dynamics. Cities like Atlanta and Charlotte are becoming centers of importance in America.
However, I could not have been happier about my decision to go to school outside of the northeast. It really helped me grow as a person and understand folks different from myself. I think that sense of division is overcome simply by living somewhere different.
Clifton,
Good point. Which as aside, I think that is why it is important to learn about regional history for America. A US West class was one of the coolest classes I took in college. I see the west as a bit more complicated than simply conquered as it was pretty much an example of colonialism, but I see where you are coming from.
Haha Ben you really need to stop your worrying about haters man. Their either angry people with nothing going on for them with a sucky life or they are like me, and think it’s hilarious when you doubt yourself. Awesome show glad to be part of your demographic!