1. My tv was on tonight for background noise and a commercial caught my attention. It focused on the time it takes to pause but didn’t make it clear what topic it was in reference to. All it did was list a website to check out called fox.com/pause. I clicked on it and am interested in this new approach to a common but important topic. Have a look and see what you think about Pause?

http://fox.com/pause

Recall, with some of the advertisements we’ve looked at, it seems odd that it doesn’t make the item being advertised very clear? This is another example of this. What is the benefit of leaving the concept or direction slightly unclear?

There was a clip of the tv cartoon South Park on tonight shown during a news report. Apparently, a new version of the show has the “n” word repeated forty times and has upset several people. This is a pretty particular word that obviously commands a lot of attention when it is used. Whether Black people can say it freely or whether no one should be using it is still a social faux paux not yet clearly determined. This show used the word in a episode where one White character was suddenly turned on by all of society and discriminated against with people calling him a “N-caller”. The idea behind the show was actually positive and is applauded by many Black Americans because it shows how much hatred flows behind those who say the word to individuals. This cartoon episode was meant to mock or parody the way Black people were harrassed through the use of this word. Now it is a White man harrassed for saying the same word. What are your thoughts about this?

Be very clear – the creators of this episode are making a social comment about the words we use against each other to discriminate in society. They are not just using this word for the fun of it. They are making a firm and serious point.

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This link goes to a CNN news report of the episode and the backlash from it. Watch the clip to get a better idea of why people are upset.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11767029/

This was an interesting news report on tv tonight. A high school student on a school trip to watch the passing of the Olympic Torch through town held up a banner suddenly that said “Bong hits for Jesus”. The principal of the student suspended him for violating school policy in promoting drug use. The student said in defense that he was practicing his right to freedom of speech. It has now gone to the Supreme Court to be decided if anyone’s rights were violated and to determine how far the actions of a school administrator can go. A very prominent U.S. lawyer has taken the case pro bono (for free) because this ruling could set precident for other cases where students could potentially sue administrators personally despite the fact they are only following school division policies. What do you think?  The student is being represented by the ACLU. Look that group up. What do they stand for and why have they taken his case?

 There are several videos to watch here and each tries to promote their side but do they do it fairly or do they use language to sway opinion?

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Also, if you look on youtube and search “Bong hits for Jesus” you’ll get several clips of this. The ACLU has their own video they have posted on there. What is that called when one side promotes their cause in some media form?

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