Um, May 6th.

I heard a rumor, aka. factoid from my cousin, that Yesung of Super Junior was joining the South Korean army today. This made me sad because he does all sorts of background vocals that add depth and attractiveness to their overall sound. Sigh* We can't always have what we want, like him remaining in the group, but we can make bad pictures of turtles in honour of said army sign-up. Here's my turtle.

Yes, I did draw it on paint. Amazing, right?

Manitoba's Bill 18 Con't Con't

This is a rough draft. Ideas will be clarified and/or edited to explain my thoughts better.
I said I would write again about Bill 18 and here it is. Bill 18 has become a very sticky subject in Manitoba which people either supporting it, fighting against it, or staying out of it altogether. And honestly, while concentrating on Bill 18, we have probably missed other topics of more import - like the Prime Minister's gag order on Parlimentary librarians, further decreasing the public's ability to check up on the government.

The best article articulating the "Steinbach Area's" argument against Bill 18 was Why Would Mennonites Oppose Anti-Bullying Laws? While not using the same passages to develop the arguments, the arguments explained very well what Mennonites and others in Steinbach have been trying to say - Vagueness can cause trouble, some people disagree with active homosexual lifestyles (sex), and those people want the right to be able to disagree.
Respect has become a loaded word in our culture, but in essence it is, or should be, treating people as people - having inherent worth no matter who they are or what they do; being civil like a Jane Austen character. If "respect" becomes having to accept as normal and okay people's behaviours we deem deviant, then it is no longer respect. That is blind acceptance.

Reading through the comments, "Reason before Opinion" stated,
"Thank you John for providing an explanation as to why so many Christians are opposed to this Bill.
I am still trying to decide which way to come down on this.

But the central concern has not been addressed. If Faith-based schools are to be exempt from provisions in this bill as they have requested, then the onus is on them to provide an alternative plan to support students bullied in their schools. This has not been articulated anywhere"
And I think it should. In articulating that faith-based schools need alternative plans, the government would be compromising or implying compromise. If faith-based schools can be exempt from portions of Bill 18 but have to come up with a plan of their own, there go most of the issues. Bullying would have to be dealt with, faith based schools would have much less of an issue with the bill, and the government could have oversite of the anti-bullying plans.

MVOTD: VS Cont'd (Day 266)

I was wrong. G-Dragon and Psy were not the last ones in the second round of music video competitions. They were the last ones in the first round of music video competitions. Oops. That means that the second round is yet to be finished, and finishing it off are G-Dragon with One of a Kind and Shinee, a wild card, with Sherlock. Thanks to the uneven amount of monthly winners, there are two more wild card music videos, Donghae & Eunhyuk's Oppa Oppa and ZE:A's Watch Out!. 

As a music video One of a Kind certainly has more going on, with interesting visuals and concepts while Sherlock has fun dance moves and a song that can stand on its own. As a music video though, One of a Kind wins. 

Now that round two is officially done, it's back to round three with Block B's Nallili Mambo versus the wild card, Donghae & Eunhyuk's Oppa Oppa - Japanese version. And... Nallili Mambo wins. It's just more music videoy with interesting camera angles, locations, etc. It's really too bad, because Oppa Oppa is such a great music video/song. So ridiculous.

Last in round three are TVXQ's Purple Line and G-Dragon's One of a Kind. I wouldn't say that Purple Line pw'ned One of a Kind but it was right close. The beat. The dance. The buildings turning into stereos. The sound effects when purple lights come off of various TVXQ members. The costumes. The bad English.

Pw'nage. Serious Pwn'age.

MVOTD: VS (Day 265)

When it comes to Music Video of the Day, which is really more like Music Video of the Month now, I want to finish the competition of best music videos...from January. Here is my attempt to plow through them in order to finish it. There will be a winner.

First up. Block B's Nillili Mambo versus New Kids on the Block's Step by Step. Block B, with a more energetic song and video wins.

Second there's ZE:A's Mazeltov versus TVXQ's Purple Line. I made the mistake of watching Mazeltov first, because within 15 seconds of starting Purple Line I was like, "TVXQ wins". If I had watched them in the opposite order, it would have been a much more even match. TVXQ kind of revs you up for ZE:A, not the other way around. Purple Line wins.

Third on the list, and last in round two are G-Dragon's One of a Kind versus Psy featuring MC Hammer with Gangnam Style. G-Dragon has an actual music video which means that there is just more going on in his video despite the combined powers of Psy and MC Hammer. Thus, One of a Kind wins.

Round Two completed. Onto round three.

-----------------------------------

TVXQ's Balloons versus David Bisbal's Como Olvidar. There's a lot of ridiculous in Como Olvidar. A lot. ...But there's more in Balloons. ...Jaejoong's inability to act cutesy. Jaejoong giving a child a dirty look. Yunho in a confused cheeta/tiger costume. Penguins. Tie bowties. Yeah, Balloons wins.

Super wins.

Turning Cultural Expectations Around - Rape Culture

Today, I wanted to take a break from the Bill 18 discussion. It's so heavy, and there are a lot of articles for me to read before I formulate more opinion on it. Therefore, I was thinking of reviewing Super Junior M's latest song Breakdown. However, someone posted this lovely article on Facebook.

The article, 5 Ways We Can Teach Men Not To Rape, is an excellent reminder to look not to the victim but to the perpetrator to change the problem. By telling women it's their problem, we say that men cannot control themselves nor are responsible for their actions (this point is not actually made in the article, but is part of the problem). That's wrong. We can, and should look to positive solutions to one of the worst crimes a person can commit. I think the suggestions are fairly good ones.

Have a good day.

Manitoba and Bill 18 Con't

I wish I knew better how to formulate my thoughts. Here goes though.

According to the media, Steinbach is the only area opposing Bill 18. The reporting on it (the Winnipeg Free Press anyway) started respectfully and balanced. Then it ever so quickly became a hunt to see what illogical sounding things Steinbach, and its people, were saying about Bill 18. The front page yesterday was about one of the Soutland pastors giving a sermon on February 24, 2013 which included a dire warning about Bill 18. Having attended Southland once or twice, I was not at all surprised that the pastor was that excited about the topic. He gets excited about every topic, Biblical or non-biblical, so that he got uppity about Bill 18 is no surprise. My point on that though, is just that everyone who doesn't know that will jump to the conclusion that the paper wants them to, which is that he is a bad opinionated man leading a large force against the valiant Bill 18. The real point I wanted to make was that the Winnipeg Free Press is looking for news about this topic (that sermon is a week and a half old). They want to find dirt on Steinbach, and if it makes Steinbach look bad, then it makes better news. I'm disappointed that the newspaper would do that, because I see it as a real debate that could have been done respectfully.

Why do I see it as a real debate? SCHS, the school which had an information night on Bill 18 where 1200 people showed up (10% of Steinbach), has stated that Bill 18 infringes on religious freedom. The Southland pastor said so too. As an assertion, the why and how need to be explained. I think part of what they mean is that forcing schools to provide Gay-Straight Alliances (if children ask for it) is supporting a gay lifestyle, which the Christian sourcebook -the Bible- says is wrong. Loving and supporting people is not wrong though. Having issues is not wrong. It is saying that there is no issue when there is an issue that is wrong, and I'm not just talking about Bill 18. A more 'extreme' example? Saying it's okay to commit adultery. It's not, but you are still supposed to care about the person. The other thing I think "Steinbach" is saying is that they are being ignored for being a faith community. How many protestors does it take before politicians reconsider a bill? 1000? 10,000? If Christians and people of other faiths get ignored now, how much easier will it be for them to be ignored later? I don't think their worry about having their rights being infringed on is wrong. People already expect religious beliefs to be held privately, not publically. That in itself is an infringement on religious freedom. It's saying, "I can be who I want to be as long as I don't inconvenience someone who has a different, or popular, viewpoint." So... it's saying I need to pretend I don't have a religion. Thanks social mores.

____________________________________________________

One thing that's unrelated to the debate but rather interesting. I was looking at a print out of the Charter of Right and Freedoms in a local library and found this. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects religious freedom. It doesn't mention sexual preference.

Manitoba and Bill 18

Looking it up on a search engine, "Bill 18" is a really vague search. Therefore a number of variable terms may be added to the search. "Manitoba", "Education Act", or "Anti-bullying". Manitoba's Bill 18 has become an issue thanks to about 5 inches of the bill's writing. The bill summaries what bullying is, as well as what educators should do about it. This vague "Bill 18" has become a big issue in Manitoba, with the rural Southeast taking on the government. People in the urban areas don't understand why the Southeast is opposed and the Southeast doesn't understand why others seem to support it.

The bill includes, "hurt feelings" as bullying. That particular wording is the best example of how vague the definition of bullying is. A Winnipeg Free Press article supporting the bill states,

"Bill 18 certainly has a broader definition, and there is concern among parents and educators about whether it will require every off-handed comment, sideways glance and unintended offence to be punished."

This is true, and a great summary of concerns. I have read that parents and educators are concerned that they or their children could be sued or get into legal trouble for off-handed comments. Children are great at being mean, and may tease each other for any reason; their height - too tall or too short, their smell, the amount of parents they have, what they wear, what they eat, how quiet they are - the list goes on and on. I am actually surprised that more people are not concerned about this. This vagueness puts all people at risk of getting into trouble with the law, and also weakens the travesty of true bullying by including with systematic bullying things that can be unintended and one time only. True bullying definitely needs to be dealt with, but does it mean that people, children in particular, need to "walk on eggshells" with each other? How will we, or they, know what bullying constitutes?

I am also surprised that this is what they put forward, since it requires adults to govern children's behaviour. Not just adults, but educators. It asks educators to govern children's behaviour. As someone who has worked in the school system, I wonder how this can be done. Educators can suggest and discipline but it is always up to the individual to comply.

Teachers are given classrooms of 20 children or more. Can they stop their teaching day to deal with this vague definition of bullying, with the miriad of complaints that would become "bullying" (I'm thinking of grade one's here, who tell on each other for everything). They are busy enough teaching and disciplining as it is. How much energy can they put into new bullying rules?

 Can the province provide enough recess help to supervise children into not teasing others? I don't think so, because even supervised children are mean to each other, and I don't think that having a horde of supervisors would be healthy. Children need to learn how to navigate life, and they do a lot of that on their own. It is our job to teach them how they should live, and their job to apply it. Or rather, it is not a teacher's primary job to teach children morals or how to treat another human being. That education primarily comes from the home, from their parents and siblings, grandparents, friends, and family. Schools assist.

I guess for me, on this topic of vagueness, what I want is either a more clear definition of "bullying", or a better definition of the process that complaints will go through. I want a filter put in place that sorts real bullying out from human failure, because it's a real concern.

More to come.

MVOTD: David Bisbal (Day 264B)

Just for kicks, David Bisbal - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore.

I like this song. A lot.

I wish it were on one of my David Bisbal Albums, but it's not. It's so smooth and beautiful and sad, yet funny because he drives a macho truck and sings in the moonlight.

Sigh.

MVOTD: David Bisbal vs David Bisbal (Day 264)

David Bisbal versus himself. Is that awkward or cool?

David Bisbal's Como Olvidar is a music video full of overacting, illogical scenes, and well, more cheesy overacting. First, two cane-bearing twins come to David's hotel room to beat him up, but he escapes through the window instead and runs with his creepy dreads flowing in the winds. Then, an Asian guy is chasing him and so are some motorcyclists. David falls. The Asian guy is about to win, especially since Charlie's Angels came to help him...or did they? Suddenly David and the Asian guy are on a roof. There is smoke. David throws a circle of cable and somehow mysteriously slows down the Asian guy. David jumps into a swimming pool at a hiphop/salsa party and sings there for a bit. Clearly he looses the Asian guy that way because the twins are back and angry. Tying David's girlfriend to a bomb didn't lure him anywhere. The audience has nothing to fear though because David frees his girlfriend so that they can be chased by the twins and then finally jump off a building as it EXPLODES! Yes. Amazing.

David Bisbal's Ave Maria is also amazing. It is a music video full of David's classic dance moves, plus T&A because apparently directors like that. David's classic dance moves include but are not limited to; the side kick, the twirl, the spin, the transition, the shirt grab&rip (see Buleria), the hip movement, and the clap. His facial expressions are amazing. The camera transition scenes, some including his shirt changing colour, are amazing. The song is joyful.

Como Olvidar wins. It has a plot line. ...Plot lines. ...Plot illogicals.

It wins.

Armi Aavikko & Ilkka "Danny" Lipsanen vs TVXQ (Day 263)

Before I move onto music, I want to 1) prove that I did have a plan for comparing music videos and 2) .... let's prove that I had a plan first. I know it's not important but I want to do it anyway. Here is my chart for comparing music videos.

And yes, I did make it before getting getting mom to randomly number things.

The only other thing I was going to say is, the comparison was supposed to be completed in December. Now it's halfway through February and the second round has only just begun.

....I'm not pleased, but mostly it's with myself and the amount of my spare time.

Today, Armi Aavikko & Ilkka "Danny" Lipsanen are competing against TVXQ. Both have brilliant songs with astounding music videos.

 Armi Aavikko & Ilkka "Danny" Lipsanen's I Wanna Love you Tender has wonderful dancing, full of cheesiness and bad transitions. The song is meaningful, quaint, engrish, and romantic. Everyone has just the right amount of enthusiasm. It is wonderful and there is a spacecar.

 

 TVXQ's Balloons has TVXQ dressed up as animals and acting as Aigyo (cutesy) as possible. Not only that, but if you watch Jaejoong's Mine, you can see he also dresses up as a futuristic rhinosaraus and a sorcerer vampire wizard eagle. Balloons is very happy, cute, and funny. My favourite part is Jaejoong giving a child the stink eye...and also any part that can be made fun of, which is a lot of it.

In the end, I Wanna Love You Tender and Balloons are the same level of amazingness. This ruins my theory about Balloons making other music videos explode. However, in light of my theory, Balloons moves onto the next round.

MVOTD: Psy ft. vs G-Dragon (Day 262)

It's a YG competition and the competition is hot. Or at least it should be. Psy's Gangnam Style featuring MC Hammer competes against G-Dragon's One of a Kind.

Psy was a major hit this year, first in South Korea, and then around the world while G-Dragon has a constant and consistent popularity. Psy is really active for a guy in his mid 30's (watch recent concerts of New Kids on the Block or Backstreet Boys if you want a comparison), with sweet dance moves and an expressive face. Plus he hangs out with MC Hammer and does the sweet MC Hammer moves too. G-Dragon has interesting fashion, an ability to be both innocent and nefarious, and an art style that is unexpected but intriguing. They both have that special something that keeps singers popular beyond the honeymoon period of five years or so.

Both Psy's Gangnam Style and G-Dragon's One of a Kind are well made music videos which accent the song and make it better. The question is, which song is easier to listen to without the music video?

Gangnam Style is still catchy without the music video. In fact, it's almost better without the visuals of this particular performance because in the video you can tell the audience is more excited about MC Hammer than they are about Psy, and that's kind of insulting to Psy.

One of a Kind is also still catchy, but less so since it sometimes feels disjointed. I think that's where the music video pulls it together and makes it better. It feels really catchy and well done with the music video, and kind of awkward without. However, since both are awkward at times, as Psy does a mash-up and that generally has awkward transitions, and G-Dragon's video is an actual music video, G-Dragon wins for best product.

MVOTD: Junsu vs TVXQ (Day 262)

Junsu versus TVXQ. That's right. It's essentially Junsu versus himself...and four other guys. The music videos being compared this time are two very different animals. Tarantallegra is, let's face it, seductive in its beat, costuming, and dance, while Purple Line  is a cheese fest with terrible English, funny dancing, transforming stereo buildings, and Yunho's cartoon voice. If they were dresses, Tarantallegra would be a sleek sexy  gown and Purple Line would be a fun funky rocker chick ensemble complete with crinolin (sic) skirted dress and leather bollero.

 I guess I should clarify that I am talking about the first half of Tarantallegra though, because really 80% of the good parts are before the 2 minute mark, and there is quite a lot of smut in it which is more noticeable after the 2 minute mark. Now that I have realized that the reason for watching and liking Tarantallegra is in the beginning (I hadn't noticed so much before), the win has to go to TVXQ because Purple Line has consistent quality. It's all cheesy bad which is so good. Better cinematography (sic) and costuming don't matter when a music video lets you down halfway through so TVXQ's Purple Line advances to the next round.

 Some comments.

Micky's English is bad from the very start.

"Now, I see this way. It's looks like, Purple Line. Gotta introduce myself. Eh. Eh. Eh. Eh." and then, "Really wanna touch myself."

....

That's, "Really want to get in touch with myself," Micky.

This is followed by the chorus which sounds like, maybe, "Purple Line. Resetting my world.", and "This way!". Later we get, "Gotta pop it like that. My time is still goin' on." While actually this is very good English for SM Entertainment, I am not sure it is the only English. After JYJ's Ayy Girl I can't be positive of what language they are singing in, since I originally thought that Ayy Girl was in Korean...and it's an English song. Therefore maybe there is more English.

If you know of any other English in the song, maybe let me know. I'll be glad to decifer it.

Other than the bad English, the best parts of this song are Yunho and Max. Max, my favourite TVXQ member, dances either goofily or angrily and Yunho, super manly Yunho, does some really feminine stuff while using his cartoon voice. It's really enjoyable. TVXQ does a good job of being entertaining, even as the world turns into giant stereos. They have a solid, and consistent, music video with Purple Line.

MVOTD: Costume Comparison - Jo Kwon and Xia Junsu (Day 261)

Before the competition continues and Junsu's Tarantallegra goes up against TVXQ's Purple Line, it is time to discuss costuming. Particularly, how Jo Kwon's outfit from his debut of Animal compares to Junsu's wardrobe in Tarantallegra. Rarely are such solid outfits to be seen, and rarely do they compare so closely. Let's take a look.

Picture credits to Youtube

Both outfits are kind of feminine (20 cm heels anyone?). They are both made of good fabrics (and oh the variety!). Both Jo Kwon and Xia Junsu have dancing and powerful behaviour, mixed with feminine 'sexy' moves, which let you know how well the costumes wear and are made. Both have good looking footwear. Junsu has outfits that accent his dancing very well, with well a balanced main outfit and flowy secondary outfits. Jo Kwon has an outfit that makes him look taller and leaner than normal, while still giving him wide shoulders. Thus he can better play on being feminine while still being masculine.
Both costumes, and sets of costumes, play up what compliments the song best. They are well made, with good quality materials. They are coherent, cohesive pieces, and are applied artfully to their purpose. They make me very happy.
That's about all I wanted to say other than, if someone had to win it would be Jo Kwon because his one outfit does what three do for Junsu...and I wish costuming would be this good all the time.

MVOTD: Super Junior-M vs ZE:A (Day 260)

Today's All Stars have a clear winner. It's ZE:A. ZE:A with Mazeltov.

Now why is it so clear? Why would ZE:A demolish Super Junior-M (with 'Hotness Hangeng') so easily?

It's because Super Junior-M's Blue Tomorrow is a serious song with only a medium artsy music video. Mazeltov is a wonderful (and not serious) video with fun dance moves, funny facial expressions, entertaining lyrics, and decent costuming. Plus I didn't have to cheat my own system to make Mazeltov win its month. Just saying.

My favourite line is,"Hey Ladies! I'm 21!!!!" I'm pretty sure that's not what they are saying, but it is definitely what I am hearing.

Unlike Blue Tomorrow, where I'm not mishearing any English lyrics.

ZE:A's Mazeltov moves onto the second round.

MVOTD: Donghae & Eunhyuk vs New Kids on the Block (Day 259)

It's a good day when two such strong and ridiculous music videos go against each other.

Donghae and Eunhyuk's original video for their song Oppa Oppa was surprisingly good once the shock and amazement wears off.

Opposite-wise, New Kids on the Block's Step by Step lost some amazingness when compared to other ridiculousness.

Both songs are catchy with fun dance moves. Both have the seriousness of a ball of cotton candy. However, because Donghae and Eunhyuk have a second chance AND New Kids on the Block are amazing, Step by Step wins. May the best stair dance win.   

Randomness

My friends and I are learning the dance to Super Junior's Sexy, Free & Single, so naturally we were watching the music video when we happened, randomly, upon this screen shot.

Picture credit to Youtube.com and SM Entertainment

Isn't it entirely meme worthy?
I was thinking, "Why so serious?", or, "I kill you", would be fun as a meme for this particular picture. I think you folks can probably think of some of your own. Maybe they will be better than the ones I thought up.

MVOTD: Gold Miss vs Block B (Day 258)

And now for two completely different music videos. Gold Miss provides a fun and silly parody with their version of Gee, while Block B relaxes as pirates on the run from gangsters...kind of...in Nillili Mambo. Both incidentally tell a story, but in such different ways.

Gold Miss's story starts off with a fat joke, which is not really the best introduction ever, and includes details like Boys Over Flowers references, a kleptomaniac(sic) creeper shop keeper, and marriage to a barely legal SHINee. They include what seem like lots of pop culture references from 2009 and throws money around lots. And while this doesn't sound entertaining, trust me, it can be.

Meanwhile, Block B start off in Vietnam, with Zico of the bad haircut mysteriously not being killed for monetary reward. Block B's storyline has great big gapping holes which are actually entertaining in their lack of logic and is nicely sequential. I especially like the chicken scene. The video adds to the song, and the song adds to the video. However detractors include the issue of Zico's hairdo, scenes which subtract from the video, and the token sexy woman of no dignity as required in gangsta' music.  

If you know the pop culture references in Gold Miss's Gee, then the music videos are about the same quality. If not though, Block B's Nallili Mambo wins with its slick camera work, nice colour saturation levels, entertaining plotline, good costuming, and catchy tune. The awkward dating/marriage/baby jokes of Gold Miss are still great, but as a parody aging decreases its enjoyability. Block B's Nallili Mambo moves onto the second round.

MVOTD: TVXQ vs David Bisbal (Day 257)

Today's competition, TVXQ's The Way U Are versus David Bisbal's Ave Maria, is yet another example of two superheros fighting each other. Or maybe just two videos of similar quality competing. Both are quite cheesy and include transitions that make the heart warm. Oh, completely random transforming scenes, how I do appreciate thee.

Both The Way U Are and Ave Maria include all the important music video items: catchy songs, great dancing, interesting costuming, and various absurdities. That's why they provide such a conundrum. Watching just the first 30 seconds, David Bisbal would have won by well, about a mile or 1.6 km because he starts off so well. However, watching the whole thing, the music videos are about the same. Definitely a 49.75% versus 50.25% situation. (This is where the begging begins) That's why I need your help. I don't want someone to win when they are so close in quality. Therefore, if you don't want David Bisbal to win by a chin hair, let me know. Or, if you want him to win by a reasonable margin of error, also let me know. I originally wanted input into who wins anyway, so...if commenting works and you feel so inclined, go for it.
If there are no comments by the time the second round begins, David Bisbal shall win by the chin hairs on his chinny chin chin, and I shall only feel mildly guilty because I gave the denizens of the interwebs a chance.

MVOTD: NSYNC vs David Bisbal (Day 256)

The tight races continue with NSYNC's It's Gonna Be Me competing against David Bisbal's Como Olvidar. Even though Mom numbered the competition randomly, it feels like similarly themed videos are going up against each other. First there were the two space themed videos and now there are two videos which feature, of all things, a pool party.

While I had forgotten how awkward early David Bisbal videos were, what with all the romantic rolling around, watching his video again reminded me of my great affection for his dancing. It's just so good. Almost as good as NSYNC's dancing even. Or maybe even better...

One thing that was for sure was that Como Olvidar and It's Gonna Be Me ran a tight race, as seen here. 

	NSYNC - It’s Gonna Be Me	David Bisbal - Como Olvidar
Toy theme	Check
Spy theme		Check
Fighting	Check	Check
Crashing a pool party	Check	Check
Creepy hair	Check	Check
Cheesy dancing	Check	Check
Lack of logical sequences	Mmmm…Check	Super Check

However, since David Bisbal's song was more serious (well, not really, but it felt that way) the music video is more watchable, and therefore mildly superior. David Bisbal's Como Olvidar advances to the second round.

MVOTD: TVXQ vs Hangeng The Review (Day 255)

When I set my allstars against each other, I got Mom to randomly write out the numbers. That way it would be truly random. Therefore, imagine my shock and dismay when TVXQ's Balloons was set up against Hangeng's Kuang Cao, for surely there was no competition between the two. I didn't even have to watch the music videos. I knew Balloons would win, because Balloons is amazing. Even watching Kuang Cao to the sounds of Woodkid's Iron wouldn't make up for it.

Here's the breakdown.

That about explains it. Balloons is so embarassing and adorable that it makes its competitors explode. Not only that, but Jaejoong gives a kid a dirty look and looks uncomfortable the whole time. It's just too delicious. TVXQ's Balloons goes onto the second round.