#mackenzieobrien

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Catch Chicago artist, Mackenzie O'Brien @mackenzieobrienn LIVE on Facebook tomorrow morning at 11am at @MusicbyMackenzie #mackenzieobrien #mackenzieobrienband #chicago #chicagomusic #chicagomusicguide #supportlocalbands #supportlocalmusic #supportlocalartists #livemusic #liveonfacebook #tunein #musiccommunity (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-IIU6CFyt6/?igshid=1xc26sun6unwu

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Christopher George Latore Wallace (1972 - 1997) AKA The Notorious B.I.G.

This song shows a different, more emotional side of puff daddy than most people are used to. The song is about the murder of his friend Notorious BIG. It is one of the few songs I know that really shows the emotions that can go along with platonic love, which is something we have not really covered in class. Having lost a friend close to me, it really hits home.

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I came across this article today and not only did I find it to be extremely interesting but also relevant to our discussions in class.  It very honestly speaks to the major issues concerning stereotyping and gender roles that exist in our culture.

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TNE NEW @soundsofchicago is OUT NOW! INCLUDING: @cautiousxclay fe. @sabapivot @brokenrobotsmusic @wearetherelevant_official @mackenzieobrienn @ademdalipi @cqlucius @songparrot @iambearwilliams and @wyattwaddellmusic RAISING MONEY FOR: @chiindymedia CAMPAIGN ENDS JUNE 11TH ○●○~~ LINK IN BIO ~~○●○ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' #podcast #savechicagomedia #cima #chicagoindependentmediaalliance #chicagoreader #rebelliousmagazine @chicago_reader @rebelliousmagazine @publicnarrative @quiet_pterodactyl @e3radio @chirpradio #chicagopublicsquare #cautiousclay #saba #brokenrobots #therelevant #mackenzieobrien #adem #ademdalipi #carolinelucius #arielryder #bearwilliamsband #wyattwaddell #chicagomusic #chicago #fundraiser @airgoradio @situationchicago #situationchicago @blockclubchi @borderless_mag @bronzevillelife @chicagoinarabic @city_bureau @newcitymag @paseopodcast @dziennikzwiazkowy @sixtyinchesfromcenter @southsideweekly @streetwise_chi @thirdcoastreview @wintv_chicago @windycitytimes (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPmaeVBBlaI/?utm_medium=tumblr

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The commissioner, Adam Silver, barred the owner, Donald Sterling, for life for making racist comments and fined him $2.5 million, the maximum under the league’s constitution.

News of this story just broke, and given our discussions about racism in class I thought it was relevant. Donald Sterling is the current own of the Clippers, and last week a story broke of comments he made that were recorded by a woman he is often seen with. "In the recording, he asks her not to associate with black people and not to bring black people to Clippers games, and criticizes her for posing for photographs with black men, including Magic Johnson."

His statements are terrible under any circumstance, but I am even further appalled that he made the comments when he is the owner of an NBA team. The article states that the league is currently 75% African American players. I could not be more pleased that he received the maximum penalty for his ignorant words.

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Music video by Rick Astley performing Never Gonna Give You Up. YouTube view counts pre-VEVO: 2,573,462 (C) 1987 PWL

I had to throw it back with this song.  I feel like I should warn anyone who listens to it that it will be stuck in your head all day. Anyways, I really enjoy it because it's a fun, feel-good song unlike most love songs these days.

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Keep her a secret? Her family doesn't think so.

I found this video to be very inspiring. It is hard for me to imagine being so conflicted about my sexuality at the mere age of 4. However, she has incredible confidence in herself and I can only hope that this continues as she gets older. 

It is also amazing that her parents are so supportive about her being transgender. Every parent would struggle with making this decision, but I think that it really shows how the world is changing.

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This song never gets old. I like it because I think it's something a lot of people can relate to, especially at this age. It's mainly about a couple who has broken up and are now seeing different people but at times he still wishes he was somewhere with her instead. It's not too sad, and still catchy so its definitely worth listening to.

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Sunday night's episode capitalized at last on the show's notoriously ambivalent, slow-burning approach to paying any attention to race.

As a fan of the series "Mad Men", this article is relevant to my interests and it is nice to see that it talks pretty much exactly about a topic we discussed in class. The article was inspired by a change in the character, Dawn, on the show and the role that she plays. The author states, that by televising a private conversation between Dawn and the Don, the main character, it "subtly realigned the show's consideration of race from one that was primarily about the experiences of white people to one that was at least curious about, if not yet diving deeply into, the experiences of black people, and specifically black women". From this statement it seems as if the author is alluding to the idea that the purpose of her character in that past seemed to be to simply add to the white man's story, but now her character presents the opportunity for the viewer to actually understand her.

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On this Valentine's Day, Renee Montagne talks to a young economist about how he tried to apply the rules of the market to his love life. William Nicolson chronicles his journey to find a girlfriend in the memoir, The Romantic Economist.

I had to post this because I just find it hilarious.  We talk a lot in class about the issues with defining a relationship, and this economist takes this to an entirely different level.  Some of the things he says make sense because they are "techniques" we all see work in real life.  While at first this theory was somewhat reassuring, a part of me hopes that relationships are much more complex than even the economy.

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Jessie J-Do It Like A Dude

I don’t necessarily enjoy this song, but I find the music video very interesting.  During the extra credit lecture on Friday, the speaker touched on how hesitant the mainstream media is to sexualize “butch” girls.  That being said, this music video has sparked some conversation within the music industry.  The artist is openly bisexual, and the concern is whether or not she will be successful if she keeps portraying this “butch” side. 

#mackenzieobrien

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Being in this class has challenged me to think on a deeper level about the series Orange is the New Black. As a result, I have done some research on what other people have been saying about the show, and this article is by far one of the most opinionated that I have come across. From the very beginning the author is clear about how strongly she feels against the show, and even goes as far as comparing the series to slave narratives of the mid-nineteenth century.

While the author does stress the limitations of the show, I also think she does a good job of acknowledging the few good aspects of it (jobs for black actors and a credible role for a trans black actor).  She also mentions the fact that the author of the book the series is based on is dedicated to prison reform. While this show does get people talking about prison life issues, its shortcomings in terms of race and gender leave me wondering whether the show is doing more harm than good.

#mackenzieobrien

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"Everything" by Michael Buble

Of course I have to throw in a Michael Buble song given he is amazing (and not hard on the eyes either).  The first time I heard this song I pretty much took it at face value because it is simple enough to enjoy without much interpretation.  What I love most is how the song shows a true appreciation for the woman it is about.  It is clear that they are not a new couple, but even though she’s “every minute of his every day” and present in everything he does, he still expresses how mysterious she remains.  In a sense, it shows how falling in love with someone is an ongoing process because you’re constantly learning more and more about each other.  

Its a fun love song that oddly enough isn’t cheesy.  If you haven’t heard it, I suggest you listen to it..or at the very least you should watch the video to take a look at him.

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This topic seemed to spark some interest in class yesterday, so I thought it would be beneficial to post an actual article about it.  Apparently, upon sensing that her story was going to become newsworthy, the teacher wrote an essay in response (the link to which can be found here: http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/09/05/exposeing-my-breasts-on-the-internet/

The Washington Post article pulls out a quote from this essay that I absolutely love: “So here’s the story, internet: I fed my sick baby during feminist anthropology class without disrupting the lecture so as to not have to cancel the first day of class. I doubt anyone saw my nipple, because I’m pretty good at covering it. But if they did, they now know that I too, a university professor, like them, have nipples. Or at least that I have one.”  Clearly, she was not very happy with the public’s response when she wrote this essay (and this was before it even hit national news!).

As for whether I think her actions were justified, I am undecided.  I can see both sides of the argument, and I’m curious what the rest of the class may think.

#mackenzieobrien

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The author of this article interviewed a man who decided to travel the world and interview all different kinds of couples because he was fed up with all of the love stories he had been hearing in everyday life.  When asked what the best advice he received was, he said, “Don’t be afraid to be the one who loves the most”.  I think this definitely applies to our generation in particular, always hearing that the one who cares the least holds the most power.  The article also includes some tips about the key things he saw in successful relationships.  Overall, it was a great read and I will definitely be on the look out for his documentary!

#mackenzieobrien

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Stars-Your Ex Lover is Dead

I think this song perfectly captures the feeling you get when you run into someone you had a past relationship with.  There aren’t enough songs like this.  Usually love songs are either really sad or really happy, but this song encompasses all of the raw emotions that actually happen. #mackenzieobrien