Civic Issues: Environment (Energy)

In the region where I grew up and live (Southwestern Pennsylvania), Marcellus shale drilling is a big issue. The Marcellus Shale Formation runs from West Virginia to New York with most of it covering Pennsylvania. The shale contains natural gas and drilling method called fracking (also hydraulic fracturing) is used to obtain it. The fracking process has come under fire for containing hazardous chemicals and drilling companies not putting enough adequate safeguards in the process to curb environmental damage. Supporters of the process point out that natural gas is bountiful, clean, relatively easy to drill for, but above all, natural gas is in America. This means that the United States’ energy costs will go down, jobs will be created here, and we can escape the economic recession we are currently in. Those who are opposed to drilling are well educated people who know the environmental repercussions of an open season on Marcellus shale. Many people have had their drinking water quality be affected negatively due to gas drilling. I remember a couple of years back when we had a drought in the summer, the water levels of all the rivers were very low. As a result, the chemicals from the residual gas drilling that had been treated and put back into the rivers were not diluted as much as they had been before. Thus, a whitish spotting began to form on our silverware and dishes, and our washing machine began to have trouble working. First hand I saw the effects of Marcellus shale drilling as did my family and neighbors. Other notable examples of pollution include numerous fish kills, most notably Dunkard Creek. Once a thriving fishery in Washington and Greene County, not a single fish now swims in it. When the fish began dying off and floating to the banks people began noticing the rocks had gotten very slimy. This slime was a golden algae bloom that had sucked all of the oxygen out of the water, killing the fish. This algal bloom was later directly attributed to shale drilling pollution, as were other fish kills. Scientists and Professors from local universities like Duquesne, Carnegie Mellon, and Pitt have performed and are currently performing numerous studies and experiments on Marcellus shale drilling. When I was in high school, I did several science projects on Marcellus shale drilling for science competitions like the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science and the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair. One year at the Pittsburgh event I won an opportunity to work with a professor from Duquesne University. I helped perform many experiments looking at bacteria, total dissolved solids, and ionic compound levels. In test samples, levels of ionic compounds like arsenic, bromide, and chloride were elevated. So here we have a dilemma. We can waste our time and argue whether fracking causes water pollution or we can just move on from it in the statewide debate, and accept that it is real. The dilemma lies in whether we as a country are willing to risk our environment with the return of economic and energy superiority. In this blog, I will look at certain examples of rhetoric in the debate concerning fracking, along with evidence for both sides of the argument from brown well water and flaming sinks to economic renewal and community revival. Also in this blog I will look at ways that both sides could meet a compromise so that America’s environment and health be kept safe, while also remaining the most powerful country in the world.

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Passion Blog: The Palma Violets

2012PalmaVioletsVFFriSatLeeds250812

Some bands are blessed with getting recognized shortly after bursting onto the music scene. In the case of the Palma Violets, they were being called the best new act in England without even releasing a single. The band formed in 2011 with members Sam Fryer and Chilli Jesson. Now, the band has Pete Mayhew and Will Doyle to round out their lineup along with a record deal to the independent Rough Trade Records and a new album set to be released on February 25th. How’d they get so hyped so fast? A couple of fans put the band’s live footage on the internet and their exciting shows got them notoriety. What I notice most about this band compared to its other contemporaries like the Vaccines or Libertines (whom they are often compared to) is their exceptional ability at channeling power and emotion into their songs. Their song “Best of Friends” was voted the #1 song of 2012 by NME, and for good reason. With its an anthemic, raw energy it reminds me of those really good times you have while hanging out with friends in the summer. Like those moments, that song makes a similar impression with a good beat, strong vocals, and lush guitars. On the flip side of their debut album is the song “Last of the Summer Wine”. It doesn’t have the rock and roll of the first track but its beauty lies in its calm reflectiveness. I look at the song as almost like looking back on good times that have happened, a perfect complement to “Best of Friends”. As of now the band has one additional single out right now called “Step up for the Cool Cats”01 Best of Friends 01 Best of Friends.  This band is a perfect example of how becoming a successful band in the Internet age has changed. Instead of having to endure years of touring and gigs, now fans just need to post footage of your performances and you get to just as many people.

 

01 Best of Friends

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Work in Progress Post for Week 11

Though I haven’t discussed it with my group yet, I thought that using some ‘60s psychedelic rock or reggae for our Public Controversy project would be a good idea. It is about marijuana after all. Specifically I thought that no better song to start off the opening scene of the video would be “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix would be a perfect choice. However, is using that song in my project in violation with Fair Use policy? I’ve used many copyrighted songs in past school projects and I didn’t have a problem with getting sued or have legal action brought against me before. Frankly I would think that just using public domain media in the Public Controversy project would take away from its value. With recognizable music and images you are not only able to create a better finished product, but it is also able to relate to people more effectively. Especially in the case of a project where you are trying to appeal to the beliefs of the viewer, I personally believe it makes way more sense to use copyrighted material, especially music, than any public material. Of course good public material exists, but I personally think that a Public Controversy project on marijuana without certain songs and music, which is a part of the marijuana culture that I am researching and eventually going to portray, would be empty.

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RCL Post for Week 11

I think a lot of good points were brought up Minbiole’s post, but I must say I disagree with some of them. Especially with my perception of certain characters in Harry Potter movies. What I imagined them to be in the books was much different than the way they were portrayed. For example, I always envisioned Luna Lovegood as, well, loony. I perceived her in my imagination as having frizzy, unkept hair, slightly plump, and rather bizarre. Maybe I missed something in the novels, but in the movies she was portrayed as rather pretty. A total opposite of what I had imagined from her descriptions in the books or other characters reactions to her. Oh well, thats just my opinion. Now onto to the questions. I believe that when we see images, especially iconic ones, we assign mental stories to them. With the images of the burning Twin Towers or the ripped flag from that famous propaganda poster about Pearl Harbour, we think of the individuals who participated in them. We think of nervous Middle Eastern terrorist about to board a plane, navy shipmen firing machine guns at Japanese aircraft, or the individual life stories of victims. Especially in the case of 9/11 I think of the normal lives of the people at work that day. My mom worked in One Mellon Center (for those of you who aren’t familiar with Pittsburgh, its the second tallest building there) at the time and I thought of her routine and how similar it must have been to some of those victims who got their morning coffee, boarded the subway, sat down at their cubicles, and logged onto their computers for a day of work, but they would never return home. Images are simply catalysts that cause us to form our own stories, especially iconic ones where more emotions and feelings are brought forth. I think we formulate all the events preceding, occurring, and following after the image was taken in our heads. We are left to purely use our imaginations. Therefore, the possibilities are endless when it comes to visual images since our minds are only held back by the barriers we create inside of them.

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Work in Progress Week 8

The idea of TED talk is an interesting concept. Giving a speech conversationally and informally is kind of radical idea, since we usually view public speaking as a more serious, prepared, calculated activity.  Public speaking has always been very formal concerning serious subjects like scientific studies. However, I think that by changing the mood and making the speech more casual, the listener/viewer pays attention more and is able to grasp the concepts of the presentation better. Or at least thats the case with me. Now to my speech. I thought that my TED talk overall was pretty average. I believe that if I had practiced certain parts better, it would have been much more fluid and less stressful on my part. I don’t know what it was, but for some reason I was really nervous while I was doing that speech. Usually I’m confident when I’m doing public speaking but I think my unfamiliarity with doing a speech in the TED talk format caused my performance to suffer.

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Passion Blog: Sisters, Brains, and Tigers

So for this week I thought I would cover a couple bands rather than just one. To start off, there is an awesome band called the “Spit Shake Sisters”. They’ve only released a couple songs on bandcamp.com but they are coming out with a full EP in the near future. Their songs are a mix of blues, punk, and ‘90s alternative (think Pixies type stuff). Since all three members sing, they have some pretty awesome harmonies and they seem to like complex time signatures and peculiar rhythms. They are very well known in England for their energetic live shows. If you are a fan of the Stooges or Cage the Elephant then you will not be disappointed. Next is a band called “Little Brain Attack” who could easily be the next Black Keys. Their mix of post rock, grunge, and psych-blues brings back the warm feelings I had when I found the Keys. They’ve got that pop-ish old fashioned blues rock thing going for them. They have actually become quite popular in Europe (they are from Paris, but sing in english) and are known for a die-hard fan base. Its only a matter of time before they make a trip across the Atlantic and enter the American music alternative music scene. Finally, I am covering a band from my home town of Pittsburgh: “Worn out Tigers”. I first found about them from a friend of mine who gave me their only EP after seeing them. They have an intense Rage Against the Machine like vibe focusing on complex guitar sounds, heavy bass, and rough vocals. Unfortunately, they are no longer around. Bands like them and their members are incredibly talented but sadly most bands only get known now a days from word of mouth and a touch of social media. These bands aren’t bad, nor do most of them lack mass appeal, just getting noticed for musicians nowadays is incredibly difficult, and it kind of stinks when great bands like “Worn out Tigers” quit cause no one hears them.

Worn out Tigers, Shipwrecker     Spit Shake Sisters, Modern Man     Little Brain Attack, Run

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RCL Blog: The Beginning of the End of Prohibition

Something very unprecedented happened on Election Day, and it wasn’t the re-election of Barack Obama. For the first time since Prohibition began, marijuana became fully legal in Washington and Colorado. Not medically legal, not decriminalized, but fully and completely legal. Why is this so significant? Since 1966, when cannabis was made illegal, the “War on Drugs” has cost this country money, credibility, and lives. More people have been put in jail for possessing small amounts of marijuana (less than an ounce) than for violent crimes like rape or murder. Essentially, 750,000 people a year have been put in prison with pedophiles, rapists, and killers for smoking a gram of marijuana, a harmless act. In fact, smoking marijuana is less harmful than legal drugs like tobacco and alcohol. Don’t believe me? Take it from The Lancet, a highly respected British medical journal. It states “The smoking of cannabis, even long-term, is not harmful to health … It would be reasonable to judge cannabis as less of a threat, than alcohol or tobacco.” Its nearly impossible to talk about the marijuana debate in 300 words, but in essence, with the passing of these referendums in Colorado and Washington, 46 years of injustice has ended. It is estimated that 560 million dollars will be saved in both states by not having to enforce cannabis Prohibition, and by taxing the drug like tobacco and alcohol. The jails and prisons of these states will no longer be overcrowded due to offenders of Prohibition, and the economies of both states will improve (mostly from tourism, farming, and industry). With more and more people supporting the legalization of cannabis (59% according to the Huffington Post) it will only be a matter of time before most of the country, if not all of it, legalizes marijuana. And with the laws passed on Tuesday by Colorado and Washington, legalization’s precedent has been set.

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Oak is Keeping

From left to right: Zac Bogart (Vocals/Guitar), Mastin Kirksey (Drums), Shay Isdale (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Adam Keeling (Vocals/Bass)

Oak is Keeping is a band from the Austin, Texas music scene. The group derives from many late 80s, 90s alternative bands including Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Queens of the Stone Age. With three EPs and one studio album, the band doesn’t have much material out there, but don’t let that fool you. Their unique blend of grunge and indie elements is very refreshing and original. On their only album “Animal Style”, display complex songwriting, catchy melodies, and musical complexity. Well, at least after the first 4 tracks on the album. The first fours songs on the album all follow the same basic formula and sound: heavy, grungy, with lots of guitar riffs, Jerry Cantrell/Layne Staley (of Alice in Chains) like vocal harmonies, some dynamic texture, but thats about it. Loud, hard, and heavy. After track 4 however, its as if a musical light switch is turned on in the band members heads. Track 5, “Tempt”, breaks with the status quo with memorable guitar riffs, overlapping vocal layers, dynamic variance, and even a piano breakdown. Next, in “Book of Matches”, the band breaks out some acoustic guitars, which when combined with *’s voice sounds as though it would fit on Pink Floyd’s “Meddle” album. The peace however progresses into hard rock once again, but unlike the beginning of the album, it doesn’t sound the same, nor does it make your ears bleed. The next song, “Devil in the Truth”, combines those Alice in Chain elements with a melodically stunning Sonic Youth breakdown and an ending that conjures up memories of “Master of Puppets”. “Burn it all Down” combines guitar tones that would be more at home on a Strokes album with that familiar 90s alternative vibe. So far on the album a definite alt rock theme has been going on, but with “So Sweet”, the band experiments with piano. The result is a 60sish pop song. Weird, I know. The closer of the album returns to the alternative sound, with plenty of speed, energy, and overdriven guitars. Having since listened to their most recent EP, I think I can say with confidence that Oak is Keeping is more like the last 6 songs on their first album than their first 4. They are a group of incredibly gifted musicians, and definitely worth a look.

Tempt      So Sweet

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the Dirty Streets

 

From left to right: Andrew Denham (Drums), Thomas Storz (Bass), Justin Toland (Vocals, Guitar)

This week I’ll be covering a band whose sound is essentially the best of the 60’s and 70’s: soul, funk, proto-punk, and of course classic rock. The Dirty Streets are a band from Memphis, Tennessee who formed in 2006 when Justin Toland (vocals/guitar) and Thomas Storz (bass) met through mutual friends. To get noticed, the band toured extensively…50 shows a year actually. Their sound tightened, and with the addition of permanent drummer Andrew Denham, the band became incredibly popular in Tennessee and Mississippi. As a result, several producers approached the band looking to give them a record deal. Looking to not sell out, the band recorded their first album “Portrait of a Man” all by themselves. Deriving heavily from the likes of Otis Redding, Humble Pie, and the Stooges, the music is soulful, straight rock roots with subtle southern influences. Its full of energy, you can visual the musicians on stage rocking out. It isn’t compressed, its as natural a sound as can be obtained. The songs themselves are built upon classic riffs and chord progressions, with extended solos and breakdowns that sound less like the band jamming to fill time and more like an extension of the art and emotion already laid out. Some of the slower songs lack that irresistible drive and attack from others like “Give it Up” or “Troubled Times, Troubled Minds”, but that’s what the second album improves upon. Dirty Streets’ second release “Movements” shows maturity and growth in a band where you thought they already had a great thing going. Some songs have folk influences like “Native Son”, but for the most the album’s songs are radio friendly versions of the first albums untamed expression. Songs like “Felt” and “Fight You” drive hard from memorable riffs and straight forward bass. The vocals of Toland are soulful, yet sort of punk at the same time. Essentially, every song off the album is a trip back in time, just like the first, while being more shaped and refined. Having just come off a tour with fellow throwback band Radio Moscow, the Dirty Streets are keeping their momentum going, and are looking to record again in the near future.

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Pond

Pond is hard to describe as a normal band, not only do members come and go often, every member plays all of the instruments and sings. Pond was formed by Nick Allbrook, Jay Watson, and Joseph Ryan in 2008. Their first album, “Psychedelic Mango”, was completed with Kevin Parker (lead man of Tame Impala) coming in on drums. You can detect similarities in the sounds of Tame Impala and Pond, since most of the members play in both bands, however, there are subtle differences. Pond is overall more upbeat, has greater pop influences, and much less bluesy. On their first album, the band has a very interesting amalgamation of funky, trippy, pop rock. That might seem off-putting at first, but its incredibly interesting to listen to, and even more enjoyable. “Corridors of Blissterday”, their second album, was basically the same ideas of the first album with acid influenced breakdowns and long instrumental sections. I believe their is only one song on that album that is less than 6 minutes long. With the release of “Frond”, their third album, the group truly found its sound. It consists of the same ideas and basic tones of “Psychedelic Mango” but with greater pop influences. Its as if Pink Floyd met Elton John, how is that not cool? With their most recent release this year, “Beard, Wives, and Denim”, Pond kept the same basic formula, but focused on more of a rock sound. The album was met with much acclaim, lauded for its experimental sound and mid-song jam sessions. The band continues to tour when the members aren’t touring or recording with their other bands, and a new album is in the works currently. Hopefully, they’ll keep the trippy pop vibes, and expand on the rock sound that they experimented with in their latest release. If they do that, they will break on through to the mainstream soon.

Tears Of A Clown

P.S. I apologize that I don’t have more songs uploaded at this time. Most of their music exceeds the 3 MB upload limit on the site.

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