End Post

http://201subjects.blogspot.com/2011/04/feminism-and-hip.html

http://201subjects.blogspot.com/2011/04/racism-and-rat-pack.html

http://201subjects.blogspot.com/2011/03/todays-trickster.html

Of my posts, I think my Feminism post is the best.  I do believe that women play a large part in the Hip culture and are actually ridiculed by men due to the feelings of inadequacy among the males of this genre.  It is evident that the men feel less than women while attempting to exaggerate their own lives, skills and actions, while putting down those that allow them to express themselves in this manner.  I enjoyed writing the Trickster/politician blog and truly believe that politicians are playing a game, based on loose definitions, which allow them to be flexible and not tied down to any specific point of view.  This benefits them by acceptance of many different spectrums of our society, dependent upon the issues at hand.  The racism blog I wrote based on personal knowledge learned while growing up in Las Vegas.  It describes the complexities of a society struggling with racial equality.  What I failed to include in the piece is the fact of Sinatra and Dean joining Davis, Jr at the Moulin Rouge on a nightly basis.  Even they had a tendency to snub the system and do what they felt was morally right.

My ideas of hip culture have most definitely changed this semester, providing an outlook that I often ignored and ridiculed.  While I continue to believe that a lot of current “Hip” is absolute BS, I have a better understanding of where it came from and the direction it is now travelling.  This has definitely given me a broader perspective of the society I live in.

I would have to say, reluctantly, that I have performed rather well this semester as I have opened up, slightly, and communicated with others in class.  I have a propensity to ignore those that are not in my social class, if you will (that social class as being a disgruntled vet that wants the world to slow down, greatly, and return to days of small towns, farmer’s markets, ranches and solitude.)  I am living a pipe dream, internally, yet hope that someday we will return to those values, at least on a small scale.   But I am happy with my overall performance in class and am thankful for those that shared with me during the semester, even if you didn’t know that the words you spoke to me reassured my sense of community.  My strengths are my honesty, brutal at times, in my statements, along with what I believe is good descriptions of what is occurring.  That being said, honesty is also my weakness, more so than a strength, as I am overly truthful and express my feelings and beliefs, no matter the audience.

If had to grade myself, I would give a B.  I think my writing has been decent, not exceptional, definitely rough around the edges, but overall, not bad.  Participation in class has been active, mostly.  A few of the topics I have forced myself to not comment on, but they have been some eye openers, personally.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this class and definitely believe it has been a great learning experience.  I look forward to continuing in this field. 

The Shape of Hip

Tim Riley

Scott Weaver

ENGL 201-001

4/20/11

The Future of Hip: An Annotated Bibliography

Best, Steven, Douglas Kellner.  “Rap, Black Rage and Racial Indifference.”  Enculturation, Vol. 2, No. 2, Spring 1999.  Web.

The authors give a brief history of rap culture, its creator’s and the defining characters in today’s rap music industry.  They explain the mindset of the artists and the communal feelings among them of indifference from society, directed towards racial groups, specifically young black males.  Sexism is briefly touched upon, but the overall sense of the article is of support for the young rapper and, de facto, a repressed black society. 

Smallwood, Scott.  “Speaking for Animals or Terrorists.”  Chronicle of Higher Education Interview with Steve Best.  Chronicle of Higher Education.  August 5, 2005.  Web

Smallwood provides a glimpse into the career and associates of Steve Best, Professor of Philosophy and voice of the Animal Liberation Front.  There are many peculiarities of Best, shared throughout the interview, that suggest he is more than what he proclaims to be.  So much that he was removed from his department chair at UTEP by fellow professors, highlighting their non-acceptance of his terrorist links.

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            Smith, Rebecca.  “ECOTERRORISM”?: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE

VILIFICATION OF RADICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS

AS TERRORISTS.  Environmental Law.  March 22, 2008.  Web

Rebecca Smith briefly explains her arrest and conviction of federal crimes relating to her attempts at preventing logging in Montana.  She continues throughout the piece to explain her actions, along with those of her associates, as saviors that have been vilified by the federal government and labeled as ecoterrorists.  She attempts to explain away her criminal activity as actions deemed necessary for the salvation of our planet.

            Chalecki, Elizabeth.  A New Vigilance: Identifying and

Reducing the Risks of Environmental Terrorism.  Global Environmental Politics.  February 1, 2002.  Web.

Chalecki provides descriptions of ecoterrorism and environmental terrorism, sharing the differences through graphic descriptions.  She provides insight into government responses to these forms of domestic terrorism and how they affect our daily lives.

Eagan, Sean.  From Spikes to Bombs:  The Rise of Eco-Terrorism. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism.  January 1, 1996.  Web.

Eagan studies the growing trends in domestic terrorism, its many forms, and the candidates most likely to be seen conducting these horrific acts.  He shares the psychology of the actors and some of the recruiting tools utilized to create a conducive mindset.

           

Feminism and Hip

I see the sexism of hip, the controlling men carrying their women around as attachments.  The hip male secure in his superiority, treating his woman, or women, as mere chattel, trading them around when the situation benefits them.  I see the accepted culture allowing this to occur, from the beginnings of hip to rap, excited delirium surrounding these bitches and whores.

I also see a tremendous, powerful impact of the feminine in hip.  Imagine today's hipster attempting to rap about society, crime, drugs, the totality of that which holds him down, without the past success of women in the hip culture.  I see today's renouncement of the feminine as another ridicule of that which holds artists down, the matriarch, the girlfriend that actually controls the strings that make the performers dance.  Say what you will about past female performers, along with their success, but you cannot fail to recognize the impact they, along with every mother, wife or girlfriend, have upon the hipster. 

Hip is replete with feminine figures that dominate the scene.  Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Burnette, Lucille Ball, Jennifer Lopez.  All successful, all dominant.  How can a culture be dominated by sexist males that perform side by side with such domineering women as these?  Easy, feminism allows it.

Racism and the Rat Pack

Las Vegas is divided by a scar that runs through the middle of the valley.  It is known as the Union Pacific Railroad.  It runs north-south, creating the east side which holds the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street, and the West Side, home to Gerson Park and the Moulin Rouge.  One will often hear old-timers refer to the West Side, simply known as the Side, yet new-comers fail to recognize the significance as the Side is in the center of the valley, surrounding the downtown area.

Las Vegas of the 1950's and 60's was much the same as the rest of the country, a population divided by black and white.  The Las Vegas Strip was growing and large profits were being made through performances of that era's superstars.  The house bands performing behind these stars were often filled with black musicians who were not allowed on the east side of the tracks unless they were working.  Casino owners went so far as to build neighborhoods for the employees on the west side of the tracks.  This neighborhood, now the center of the valley, became known as the West Side, the wrong side of the tracks.  Fame and ability played no part in acceptance to the east side, as all blacks had to leave the area immediately after their shifts in the casinos. 

A strange dynamic began with the publicity of the Rat Pack, specifically Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.  Sammy, being black, was not allowed to stay in the hotels he was performing in and was forced to retire each night to the West Side, to stay with his people.  Again, no matter the fame or ability, black was black and must live with black.  This created harsh feelings among the group of performers, as Sammy was treated like an equal, however on a part time basis only.

The Moulin Rouge was built in 1955 and was advertised as the first fully integrated hotel.  It has weathered many storms over the years, going through multiple owners and closures, never fully attaining the grandiosity of the downtown hotels or those along the strip.  The Moulin Rouge mainly became known as the place the colored entertainers lived.  Its heyday lasted only six months, as it closed and the owners declared bankruptcy.  It is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places but damages from several fires and years of abuse have left it vacant and in rapid decay.

Hip is said to be timeless.  It is, especially when referring to the racial undertones and racist bent of the performances.  It can also be seen in the treatment of it's most famous performers, as seen in the treatment of Sammy Davis, Jr.

All this and rabbit stew

This cartoon begins with the typical representation of the African-American persona of the time.  It is highly charged with racial undertones, depicting the hunter as slow and dim-witted as he is out-smarted by Bugs.  The writer plays on societal stereotypes, using the current feelings as his base for humor, neglecting the feelings of an entire population in order to create a humorous cartoon.  I fail to see any love in this representation, just a mean spirited attempt, albeit successfull, painfully so, at humor.  Most humor is aimed at mistakes or misfortune of an invividual or a group, yet this cartoon crosses the line at respectful.  However this is not to say this is unaccetable for the times it was written for, as the humor creases the current feeling of that time.

It is a painful, yet significant, reminder of a not so distant past that our country lived through.  It literally hurts to watch the cartoon, yet it is important in that it highlights a society's acceptance of unacceptable behavior.

Trickster revisited

I got a copy of Bamboozled from NetFlix and watched it over the weekend.  I now have a better understanding of the statement made of the film and am at a loss as to who the greater Trickster is.  Dunwitty for working Delacroix with his jive talk and black wisdom, essentially forcing Delacroix to create a powerful piece of work, or Delacroix for creating the work as a huge slam against Dunwitty and his desires for the perfect show.  Either way, they both lost in a major way, more so Delacroix.  Even the Mau-Maus lost out in the end, as their statement was lost in their own death, except for 1/16, as he was the only white member of the gang and not killed by the police.  This brought up another Trickster idea as he was handcuffed and screaming "I'm black too, why didn't you kill me?"

The Trickster

I missed the first part of the movie due to work and have been unable to find a copy of it in order to watch it in it's entirety.  The last half of the movie I watched in class on Tuesday and it left me quite disturbed.  First off, I've never really examined race relations in America and wasn't aware of the manner in which generations of American's have treated African-American's.  This movie, if viewed with the correct perspective, highlights the discrimination visited upon a cultural group, along with the utter disregard for humanity in another cultures perspectives.  Secondly, this movie is a form of entertainment, made to send a message, yes, but also a means in which to make a profit.  I have never seen a Spike Lee movie, but now having experienced one, I recognize the importance of his statement, yet disagree with the manner in which it was made.  He seems to be making money while making a mockery of himself, short-changing his culture and highlighting the racial divides among our country.  I walked away from this with a feeling that he wants that divide there, needds it there in order to continue making his cultural comments.

As for the Trickster, I believe I missed the boat on the definition of this character.  I see the Trickster as someone using knowledge for personal gain, not enlightenment.  I guess I have a mind that is twisted towards the deviant, but in my experience, those that are playing with definitions and withholding information, are generally so self absorbed, they forget that they are a small role in a large production and fail to see the damage they create through their actions.

Annotated Bibliography

Tim Riley

Professor Weaver

Engl 201

14 March 2011

The Shape “Hip” Takes: An Annotated Bibliography

King, Stephen. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger. New York. Plume. 1982. Print.

The Gunslinger is the first of a series by Stephen King titled The Dark Tower.  It introduces us to the main character, Roland Deschain, or Roland of Gilead.  He is a loner, travelling through several dimensions of time, chasing the “man in black” in an effort to save the worlds from destruction.  Roland is a quiet and efficient killer, deadly accurate and a consummate lover.  He has a vast knowledge of all subjects and rarely shares this information, forcing other characters to learn through watching his actions.  And learn they must as the trail of death and destruction is closing in fast, in all worlds.

Chandler, Raymond. Red Wind. New York. Vintage. 1988. Print

Red Wind is one of many short stories involving Philip Marlowe, a private investigator in 1930’s Los Angeles.  He is another quiet man, gaining knowledge through his investigations and withholding that knowledge until it is most beneficial for him to share it.  He has a magnetism that draws both sexes to him, but has a certain ability to break down a woman’s inner defenses, opening up to him even though this will result in costly misadventures.  Chandler used Marlowe many times during his career, always providing him with a dark, unknown, charismatic charm.

Woods, Stuart. New York Dead. New York. HarperCollins. 1991. Print.

New York Dead is the first of many stories of Stone Barrington, a medically retired New York policeman turned attorney.  He is a self made millionaire, spending his days investigating his clients and their companions, relying on his wit and intelligence to get him out of several deadly instances.  He is another character that uses knowledge for his own personal gain instead of sharing it for the betterment of those involved.  He is also well loved by many women that rotate throughout the novels, using this same wit to woo many of these women into his bed.

Leland, John. Hip: The History. New York. HarperCollins. 2004. Print.

Hip: The History is a focus on the evolution of Hip and the impossibility to tie it down to one specific definition.  Leland takes us through the history of our country and how Hip has influenced our culture, both for the good and bad.  Music and subversive cultures are highlighted throughout, providing the reader a glimpse of our nation at its creative best and societal worst.

Today's Trickster

At ease, folks.  This is my political statement for the semester.  Not only is the president dishonest and untrustworthy, about ninety percent of all politicians are in the same category.  I'm not bashing any certain political party but all political parties.

That being said, think about what politicians do to get elected.  They leave lucrative private employment for public positions?  They spend how much money in a campaign that pays what?  When is the last time you heard a politician answer a question without deflecting?  Most questions posed to a politician require a yes/no answer.  Five minutes into an explanation, you forget the question.  They play with words the way a barn cat plays with a captive mouse.  Always batting it around on the fringes, never actually providing that final killing blow.  The mouse tires, loses all energy, becomes stationary and is either then eaten or left to die.  The public is treated in much the same manner.  Always greeted with a warm smile and a handshake, but often overheard describing the dim-wits in this town or that.  Rarely do you see the true face of a politician and during those instances this does occur, the response of "I was misquoted" is hanging over our heads, expectantly, like a bucket of water propped upon a closed door.  Enough analogies.  Politicians are today's Trickster.  After all, it depends on what "is is."

Being a registered Republican and a former Nevadan, it is only fair to comment specifically on John Ensign.  Again, what is the definition of the words he uses?  Fluid and ever-changing.  That is the true language of the politician/trickster.  By the way, John Ensign is much the same as Bill Clinton.  A womanizer that cannot be honest while preaching honesty and integrity to the American public.  If this is not duplicative speech, a trait inherent in the Trickster, than we must still be chasing the white rabbit down his hole.

Essay

The Hippest Man I Know

            James is quiet, distant, going about his daily duties with a certain air of confidence radiating from him.  Sometimes he appears to be looking through you, instead of at you, as if he is above this realm of personal interaction, better than those of us that just don’t realize we are stuck in a state of perpetual boredom.  Aloof is a good way to describe him, aware of your presence, but not personally concerned with you being near.  One could say beginning a conversation with James would appear difficult, especially when he touches you with his gaze.  Eyes of iron blue stare out at you, almost as if they could cut through you, but quickly soften to the color of the sky on a clear spring day, when he shows interest in a topic.  His features relax as he begins to converse with you, however that sense of detachment is ever present, just under the skin of the interaction, ready to burst forth and place you back with the non-relevant.  At times, James can be the center of attention, not in a comical demand to draw your attention to him way (like Jim Carrey) but as if he is a force that cannot, or will not, be ignored.  Like gravity.  Have you ever tried to defy gravity?  It’s impossible.  Gravity forces you to acknowledge it, recognize it for what it is and respect it.  James is like gravity in that aspect.  He is always there, present, and to ignore him is impossible.  His weight is felt even if he never speaks to you, glances at you

Riley 2

or comes near.  But respect him you must, for there is no other option.  James’ perspectives and attitudes seep out in all instances that involve him, disallowing participants to ignore the force that is James.  Oh, and James is gay.

I first met James in 2008, 3 days after returning from Iraq.  I still had sand fleas burrowed in my legs and the smell of burnt bodies in my nostrils.  I was glad to be home, back with my family, working a real job that would keep me here, knowing the difficulties that lay ahead of me and the sleepless nights I would have to endure, again.  I was led throughout the office and introduced to my new co-workers, meeting smiles with an ever increasing sense of doom and dread.  I kept thinking, “No one is armed and there are bad guys here,” but kept it all to myself.  Frankly, I didn’t have the energy to speak out, much the less the inclination as I was the new guy.  (Two years later and a world of experience I bring to the table, and I’m still the new guy.)  I met James at his desk.  I saw a powerful man sitting over a tiny desk, grossly mis proportionate.  He was lumbering over this desk, almost as if he was stooping down to pick up a toothpick.  On a shelf behind him sat a picture of him in uniform, sergeant stripes gleaming on the sleeves.  He introduced himself and I can’t remember what exactly was said, but I remember being impressed with his bearing and presence.  Pure professionalism.  He appeared, to me, as the type of man that could lead and inspire without words, using his actions to influence men to follow.  He had an aura, almost, surrounding him, as if he seemed to hover above us, not really a part of us but still participating in actions with us.  His words were few, as I have learned to expect from him, but what little he did say has held with me since that day.  His words were not profound, nothing more than the obligatory hello and glad to meet you.  It was more the way he said them, sincere and full of honesty, yet I got the feeling as I walked away that if I looked back, he wouldn’t be

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there.  Almost as if I had imagined the introduction.  I have lived and worked in many different climes, but had yet to meet someone so honest, yet appearing imaginary, if you will.  I can’t believe that there is an actual person that can have such strength and bearing, yet be so unaware of the influence he holds over others.

            James grew up in Meridian, Idaho in the 1970’s and 80’s.  There is but a passing resemblance left of those days, beyond the conservative mindset that is Idaho.  This was still largely a farming community.  Land was still worth working and the money earned farming and ranching was greater than what the builder offered to take the land and erect matchstick houses  James knew he was different from the community in which he lived, and boldly set out to become his own man.  As an adult, in 1997, James ran against local convention as a city council member in Boise.  1997 Boise was similar in mindset to the Boise of 1957.  Then, as now, there are topics that are unmentionable beyond the private confines of one’s residence.  The population of Boise was not acceptable of James’ lifestyle and he lost the election to Jerome Mapp.  “James was the first openly gay political candidate in Idaho” (Virta) and has been credited with opening the doors of acceptance to gays and lesbians.  Nicole LeFavour (D), Idaho Senate, has publicly stated that James is responsible for her political success, saying his personal strength has led the way for greater acceptance in Idaho communities. 

John Leland describes Hip as an “undercurrent of enlightenment, organized around contradictions and anxieties” (15).  This explanation goes far in the description of James.  Being gay, he has, in essence turned his back on the norms of society, finding his pleasures in a lifestyle off the beaten path, yet still with us in that he has found a partner to share and build a

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life with, much the same as a heterosexual couple, yet different.  Here lies the paradox, also the basic definition of James.  He chose to break free of the yoke that holds us to societal rules, doing his own thing, being his own man and sticking his nose at the uptight religious state of mind that is Idaho, yet he still belongs to this same society, living and working among us and most importantly, searching for the same happiness we all seek.  This fits in well with Leland’s statement, as I see James’ approach to daily life as almost knowing the answer to a riddle, one that holds the key to happiness and is available to all, but is beyond the reach of those that refuse to open their minds.  He flaunts conventional Idaho wisdom in a way that is not demeaning by refusing to accept this society’s definition of what a grown man should be, yet not openly criticizing those that judge him by his choices.

            I no longer work with James and will not be able to see him on a regular basis in the office.  Due to circumstances beyond our control, but which mirror the communal Idaho mindset, James has returned to the position he held prior to working in our office.  I credit his attitudes with opening my eyes to a different perspective, one which I was blinded to by my profession and lifestyle.  I consider myself fortunate to have a friend in the caliber of James Dutoit, but find it difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes him special.  Hip can be described as resisting definition, ever-changing and beyond reach.  I believe this is James.  A phenomenon some have been fortunate to experience.

Beat aesthetic

The license to live in the present tense, meaning I can do whatever the hell I want beacause there are no consequences, no tomorrow.  No job to tie me down, no family to bore me, nothing to suck the lifeblood out of me, just living in the moment.  And I don't care how I appear, or look or even smell, because I am what I am and you can fuck off! 

This is the Beatnik of the 60's, created from the previous generation through a trial by fire of attempts at civil disobediance in a time when that act was itself considered Treason.  When any source of discontent towards our form of government was attacked with a viciousness that same government could only dream of using against our communist enemies. 

This perception is best described, in my opinion, as laziness.  The Beats have stolen what was an art form and trampled it with their replication of something misunderstood.  They believe they are in the same bed as the true performers, when they have nothing to bring to the party but used condoms, recycled, worn.  There are really no more true innovators as everything we see, hear and read is just a redo of what the great ones accomplished before us.

West Coast, New Coast

California provided those that came an opportunity to change their lives, to begin anew.  They left behind the "old" in a search for new beginnings in an undeveloped land.  The founding fathers went so far as to recreate the landscape in Southern California and today, the same water wars are being fought that began over 100 years ago.  This reinventing mindset provided the impetus for a backlash against writings of the current time.
                                                                                     

Today's "Hip" culture of rap and hip-hop is an off-shoot of the East Coast styles, only California hijacked, beat down and forced a restyling of the form, with a West Coast persona.  Again, something moved from the old to the new coast, and was reinvented according to the "norms" of Southern California.



Los Angeles, with it's Hollywood connections and movie star facade, provides the greatest backdrop for today's pulp.  L.A. is constantly evolving, with the current climes, following what is popular at the moment, and transforming it to New Coast ideals. 

Coffee

Each morning the alarm clock wakes me, even the weekends when it's turned off.  My first priority is to get the coffee started.  I have a routine, able to complete this task before I am fully awake.  Light on, yesterday's filter and grounds to the trash, rinse, fill water, coffee and flip switch on.  Quick, painless, efficient.




 

My days don't actually begin until that caffeine is coursing through my blood.  I drink so much that I recently switched to decaf to provide a well deserved rest for my kidneys.  Bad idea going cold turkey.  Headaches from hell, with a capital H.  So now I drink a mix of leaded and unleaded and am back in the land of the sane.  Days begin much easier since that move back to some caffeine.  I always thought it was the habit of drinking coffee, not really the caffeine.  I was badly mistaken. 

So here I sit and ponder my upcoming day, coffee at hand, blood coursing through my body, sending vital nutrients to the organs of my body.  The most vital being, of course, caffeine.

The modernization of hip

The expansion of hip can be tied directly to the growth of urban america.  The streets of New York at the end of the 19th century became a conglomeration of cultures, two of which were not accepted by mainstream white america.  Due to geographical constraints placed upon these cultures, they were thrown together and began to communicate and develop means of expression that were somewhat based on their societal situation.  As the new century wore into the 20's, returning veterans came home with a different outlook towards their country and began to express themselves outside of the norm.  As these expressions became more popular, those not within those specific groups or cultures began to enjoy, even emulate, the forms of entertainment provided.  The close proximity and higher numbers in an urban setting made the growth of hip what it is today.
                                            
Imagine a hipster creating a new style that is trendy and hot, with no audience in which to display his talents.  There would be no emulation, no spread of influence or desire to improve upon the new style.  A performer needs an audience, correct?  The population of Harlem, which I consider the birthplace of today's description of hip, was around 150,000 in the 1920's, providing an audience for hip artists to be seen, heard and most importantly, copied.  This in turn, provided the impetus for hipsters to continue evolving and creating new trends.



If the same creators of hip were living in Harlem, Montana in the 1920's, Hip would still be in Harlem, Montana today.

Overdue Punctuality

This is my free-write, which was due two days ago.  It's late, I know, but it gave me a topic to write about.  Punctuality.  I am enrolled in 4 classes this semester and two of them are on line.  Three weeks into the semester and I have not established a routine yet.  Not good.  I abhor tardiness, almost as much as dishonesty, which I absolutely loathe.  Without establishing a routine, I am finding myself further and further behind.  Work doesn't help, though.  I am free to work any schedule I want and have fallen into a routine, though not an excuse, of sleeping in and going in late.  It's bleeding over into all my activities now and I feel a sense of doom overshadowing me, almost as if my laziness is going to swallow my life and leave me in bed under a pile of warm, cozy blankets.
Wow, now that I think of it, that warm bed seems mighty inviting.  Anyone that knows the temperature today won't blame me.

Today's Ethos

This is what you shall do:
You shall honor your mother on a daily basis,
You shall thank your god each and every day that you are free to choose how and who to worship,
You shall perform selfless acts for those in need,
You shall remain positive and helpful,
You shall maintain integrity at all times, even when it hurts,
You shall daily smile and bring forth sunshine,
And most importantly,
You shall thank those that sacrifice for you.

 I show you this picture as an explanation for what you shall do.  Live every day according to the tenets listed above.  This picture is half the story.  What it doesn't show is the damage created by a truck bomb loaded with chlorine.  This girl is walking toward the apartments that were hit and she is looking at death and destruction.  She is just a child.  She wants what my daughters want, yes, she does.  The same exact things.  Mom and Dad and a safe place to live.  She is the reason you are safe.  Men and women from across the globe have stood to fight for the oppressed, and for you.  You shall act as I have stated above, and you too shall help to create a world of peace.

I know this to be the truth.  I have spent my life following these beliefs and only wish more would follow. 

Today's "Hip"

After looking at the picture I found highlighting today's "hip" person, need I say more?  I have often thought about what is going on in one's mind when choosing a tattoo.  Do they not realize this is permanent?  I foresee this pictured hipster agonizing over her choice of ink.  Imagine the question from a three year old, "Mommy, why do you have a picture on your back?" 
I'm not here to bash tattoos.  I love them and plan to get another soon, however my ink is related to my Marine Corps service, not a tween movie.  Yes I said tween.  I have daughters.  I grew up in the 70's and 80's.  I was into punk rock and skateboards.  I dressed, and even acted the part when safe (away from parents), but I cringe at the thought of walking around in my 40's with a dog town tattoo on my back or chest.  I agree that today's hipster is using the body as its canvas, but I just refuse to accept that one day soon, these folks will regret todays choices.



That is all.