Does the finger still have power?

Pop Culture is more than just books or movies or music, it’s also about events, language, and gestures. One gesture that was prevalent throughout the 20^th century and could have arguably dominated the late 20^th century was the middle finger. During the 60s and 70s it was a gesture used by both by anti-war protesters and politicians. Imagine being on those lines with both sides flipping the bird at each other. During the 80s and 90s it became synonymous with teenage rebellion, who in the hardcore scene didn’t see someone in Black Flag or Fear or Bad Brains throw those middle fingers in the air? Even in movies, who didn't chuckle a little during Judd Nelson’s scene in The Breakfast Club when he asked if they’d like it if he “turned it up?” Or those of us who watch WWF and followed Stone Cold Steve Austin, how many of us didn’t get a kick out of him throwing a double salute in the air?

    Even the in the early 2000s we were still getting into the act, Dane Cook during his three seconds of fame. But the crux of this article is not to really get into a history of the middle finger, for that we could take it all the way back to Ancient Greece and Rome where the meaning of the gesture was pretty much the same as we understand it now. No, the question I feel the need to ask is this: Does the middle finger still have the power it once had?

Gimme a Hell Yeah!

    I think it’s a fair question, I don’t hear it talked about as much as it used to but that could be that we’ve gotten used to it. There are some “experts” out there who would say that because of such acceptance that we’ve become a more vulgar society. Personally, I don’t feel that's true, often times things just run their course. A perfect example of this is the word humbug. Yes, I’m sure there were a few of you reading this that get a chuckle out of that word, but there was a time when that word was as bad as fuck or shit (is shit even that bad a word anymore?)

   But if you use something long enough sometimes the defination changes or just becomes irrelevant, if that’s the case then what can we use to replace a dying gesture? At first I thought maybe to use the reverse of the finger which when used means “May you die a virgin”. Personally, I can’t think of anything worse to say to a person, to wish for someone not to experience one of the most important moments of a human’s existence I think would be pretty cold blooded. But when I talked about this very subject with some friends and showed them the gesture all I got was “it looks like The Shocker”. I’m sure plenty of you know what that is so I don’t feel the need to explain and those of you who do need an explanation, I feel a little sorry for you.

   There is a gesture that could be a nice replacement, in the UK and Australia they have the “V” which is basically taking the peace sign and turning it around so it definitely has a kick to it. That could work but I think that would take some time to get used to especially after the impact that the finger has had. But this is all supposing that it’s necessary, as of this writing I have seen a number of videos where people have used the finger with as much venom for their targets as ever. So maybe it’s not fading out as much as it’s coming around for another swing. You know what, fuck it. So what do you folks think?

Superman:Secret Origins pt.3

Part 3-Mild Mannered Reporter

    We pick back up our look at Superman: Secret Origins with issue 3 and we open with Clark Kent on the streets of Metropolis and looking in awe at the city around him. He gets distracted when an elderly lady bumps into him, giving him an attitude like an Oprah audience member who just found out about the taxes they have to pay for their new car that they won just from his trying to help her pick up her cell phone.  This attitude is prevalent from nearly every one he comes across until he comes onto Luthor Avenue where he sees a new emotion coming from the Metropolitans, desperation.

    A nearby cop tells Clark that every day people line up at the gates of Lexcorp., (Luthor Avenue, Lexcorp., making sure nobody forgets who he is and how important he is) in the hopes that one person will be picked by Lex for their life to be changed for the better. Clark realizes the time and catches a cab the drops him off for his first day at the Daily Planet.  After a little slapstick to establish Clark’s bumbling persona he literally runs into the janitor Rudy Jones in the elevator. As they head up Rudy relates how the Planet has seen better days, it’s brought up later on in the story that the Daily Planet has been the only paper in town to call Lex Luthor out on his actions (such as a malfunctioning drone killing a bunch of innocent people in South America) and has paid the price for it by being blackballed. He also manages to guilt Clark into giving him his lunch so we see he’s much like the majority of folks in Metropolis that Clark has already run into.

     We get to the news room and we meet the cast of character such as the crusading Ron Troupe, the sports writer Steve Lombard who is defiantly well suited to his role as he pretty much acts like a jock, gossip columnist Cat Grant, and put upon cob photographer Jimmy Olsen, whom Clark instantly befriends. Its a loud shout from the editor’s office that we meet editor-in-chief Perry White and star reporter Lois Lane who’s currently in a shouting match with Perry over the Planet’s unwillingness to take on any controversial story. Remember at this point the Planet is pretty much in ruins after trying to take on political corruption and the actions of Lex Luthor and the Planet is on the brink of closing its doors because of it, Lois is still raging against the machine, but Perry who had for a long time been the loudest voice has resigned himself to the fact that they lost. He fires back at Lois that despite the fact Lois is a great writer she tends to be very cynical with her pieces, as opposed of how objective a reporter is supposed to be (which let’s be honest hasn’t been true in a long time.)

     Clark enters the scene and is introduced by Perry to Lois who immediately enlists Clark’s help on a story that involves breaking onto the ground of Lexcorp since The Planet was banned from their press events. We get a peek at Lois’ life from the complete disarray her desk is, Clark mentions how an orderly desk reflects an orderly mind and if that’s the case the Lois’ mind is all over the place and has no room for flowers as a bouquet that’s been delivered to her goes straight in the trash.

  With disguise in hand and Clark acting as a distraction Lois is able to crash the press event as Lex unveils a new and revolutionary metal called Metallo and the first thing he uses it for is to make a robotic exosuit that would make Ellen Ripley proud. Luthor flexes his new creation’s abilities by making it lift a helicopter and joking how he’s already patented his creation. Not a believer in Free Market Economics is he.

   Lois gets found out and rush the stage to get away from security but the commotion causes the exosuit to drop the helicopter which causes Lois to fall off the top of the Lexcorp building. Clark sees it and launches into action in costume and catches Lois who looks bewildered until she sees the helicopter falling towards them. Superman catches the helicopter and lands it on the ground. Superman is beset upon by people asking who he is and how he can help them. Some are all in fear of him as seen by a mother pulling her child away from the Man of Steel. The police enter the scene looking to detain Superman but we all know how well that’s going to work. Clark flies off hearing the people talking and questioning what just happened and realizes that he may have made a mistake.  

Mothership Connection

Dr. Funkenstein's wild ride

   A couple of weeks ago a friend and I went up to DC to see a band play that I had heard of but hadn’t until recently ever really explored. I came to know of George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic over the years from their appearance in the 90s college movie P.C.U., I knew of his connection to The Red Hot Chili Peppers when he produced their second album Freaky Styley. I knew much about them,except for the most important thing which was obviously their music.

  

  That all changed several months ago when I went into one of the local stores that were selling records. Ever since the mass market appeal of downloadable music, cds have been going the way of the 8-track and in a very ironic twist the very thing that cds themselves had replaced were making a comeback. If I hadn’t gone into that store looking to buy records, I probably never would have bought Parliament’s landmark album Mothership Connection. I think I would have really missed out if that were the case.

   

  Mothership Connection is the fourth album from Parliament and it continues the P-Funk mythology by taking it to space; a place where many never guessed it would go. From this album, intergalactic funk was born and it was oh so good. From the opening spoken word line of “P.Funk” to the thumping “Night of the Thumpasorus People” the whole album is a genuine sonic masterpiece that will make you groove even if you’re just lying in bed relaxing.

  

    I remember listening to my co-worker singing the line “if you hear any noise, it’s just me and the boys, hit me” and wonder where that came from. I found out that it comes from the title track of the album, also known as “Starchild” and it’s easily one of the best tracks on an already awesome piece of funk. 

     I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the most famous song on the album and arguably their most iconic song “Give up the funk (tear the roof off the sucker)”. This song has very simple lyrics and a groove that doesn’t stop until the song is over. I remember seeing everyone in the club just moving to this song, even some middle aged guy doing a very stiff booty shake. I can’t blame the guys if he wanted to get his funk on and just didn’t really know how to go about it without feeling self-conscious. I know I’ve had my moments like that.

  

  I could go on but there are few words in the English language beyond “awesome” that could describe this album, this is a must listen for anyone who likes tight and masterful instrumentation with raucous energy and powerful vocals that can make a party happen anywhere, anytime. 

If you're curious and want to hear some funky shit, click here!