WTF You Mean You’re Not Going To VOTE?!

March 12, 2012 under Activistically Social, Do Something

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do that is by not voting” -F.D.R.

THE SHAUN SAYS THIS…

It’s truly a shame to walk around and watch the news to witness how oblivious the nation seems to be about the fact local primary elections are being held across the nation. Yet what frustrates The Shaun even more is the increasing number of those who openly state they do not plan to vote in the upcoming elections. The reason range from general disapproval or indifference in the candidates to a lack of faith that their vote makes a difference.

WTF YOU MEAN YOU”RE NOT GOING TO VOTE?!?!

The fight for the right to vote knows no racial or cultural bounds as everyone of us is a descendant of those who had to fight for their right to participate in the election process. Shoot, even the founding fathers fought to their right to choose their own leaders…you know after they stripped the natives of their land and took ships of Africans from their’s yet nonetheless EVERYONE has someone in their bloodline who fought and/or died so they have a opportunity to vote. People, as The Shaun writes this, are revolting in the streets of their countries to demand the right that some of you intend to just toss aside out of ignorance and grave disrespect of those who did the same for you.

Outside of the Presidential Election, no one is really talking about these elections as they did the 2008 elections. For the most part, the average person either is unaware of their local elections or doesn’t seem to care at all about them. The Shaun is here to remind you that every election has the potential to make a major difference in your life and your community no matter where you live or what political party your loyalties lie.

Every elections from city alderman to US Senate has a hand on the decisions made in your areas. If your taxes are going to be raised or if the government funded programs you take advantage of will be saved or cut. So The Shaun implores everyone to take these elections just as seriously as you did the election of 2008. Educate yourselves on the candidates and what they stand for. The men and women elected to office have the future of us and our children in the palm of their hands. It is up to us to make sure we have the people we truly want and trust (as much as we can) in the positions.

NOW GET OUT THERE, REGISTER AND VOTE THEN MAKE SURE EVERYONE YOU KNOW DOES THE SAME.

Conference in Harrisburg will focus on voting rights and state takeover of city (pennlive.com)
Good News: Depart of Justice suit to stop FLORIDA’S Ric Scott’s Election laws reformat (eyeoncitrus.com)
American Voters: The 5 Types (theredheadchronicles.wordpress.com)
Marian Wright Edelman: The American Promise: The Right to Vote (huffingtonpost.com)
Letter: Early voting not convenient (knoxnews.com)
Uncertainty reigns in local primary elections (mysanantonio.com)

comments: 0 » tags: Americans, Barack Obama, do something, Education, election, History, ignorance, Know Your History, knowledge, Local election, Primary election, Suffrage, United States, Voting, why is it

Grrrrrrrrrrr….. To “Accessible” Games!!

February 29, 2012 under Do Something, Everywhere Is Art

Above is X-Play‘s review of the game Boom Blox. It got The Shaun thinking…why are thinking games so hard to sell?! Are we that shallow that if a game really makes us think then it’s not what we’re looking for. Don’t get The Shaun wrong…I enjoy things that go boom for no damn reason in my games just like the next person.

Games are constantly being made “more accessible” so more can play the game. Essentially these games are just being made easier for those who don’t feel like trying can finish the games too. Video games being dumbed down so simple MoFos can play them and so game publishers and developer can make more money.

Even as a “casual” gamer, it pisses The Shaun off when he waits 2-3 for a good game that’s worth the $50-60$ he’s paying for, just to have it be a piece of cake that can be easily finished in a week with dying more than a couple of times. If The Shaun is going to wait so long to pay so much for a video game, at least make worth The Shaun’s while.

Even more crazy thing came to mind when The Shaun went to pick up Uncharted 3. 1 out of every 3 people were buying strategy guides (aka the teacher’s edition of the instruction manual) with the fucking game. Are you people even going try first?!?!

The Shaun applauds really developers like Rockstar, Ninja Theory, Insomiac and others who have the balls to make real games that deliver a real challenge as well as a real value.

To the makers of Boom Blox, Echochrome, Pixel Monsters and Portal; thank you for making that making us think outside of blowing up shit and shooting people.

Oh in case, you thought The Shaun was going show mercy to those that make these accessible games and not call any of them out…then this must be your first time reading a blog The Shaun wrote.

Capcom- Thanks for making Dante even more of a bitch by adding a Raiden-like sidekick while making DMC4 simply a button-masher that my 5-year old could beat.

Ubisoft- must have been thinking this while making Assassin’s Creed “Oh, let’s see if we can extend the length of the game by having the player do the same shit over and over again”

To the game developers and publishers, The Shaun says this…

If The Shaun wanted a more “accessible” game, he’d play wheelchair basketball.

We Ain’t There Yet: The Lack of Diveristy in Video Games (theshaunsays.com)
Games that never were: DevCo Quest (score-studios.jp)
More Gaming Leads To More Impulsivity, Attention Difficulties In Children (medicalnewstoday.com)
Ubisoft ships 13M dance games and 7M copies of Assassin Creed title (venturebeat.com)

comments: 0 » tags: Activision, Adam Sessler, Art, Arts, Assassin's Creed, Boom Blox, Devil May Cry, do something, G4, Games, Gamestop, ignorance, Insomniac, Mass media, Morgan Web, Ninja Theory, Portal, Rockstar, Shaun, Ubisoft, Uncharted 3, Valve, Video game, Video game developer, Video Games, X Play

Ponder This If You Will…

February 28, 2012 under Do Something, Love Thyself

Ponder this…

Brothers and Sisters, The Shaun sits back over the last few days with a thought. Something that has been bothering The Shaun for quite some time…

At with point, did it become socially acceptable for black people to degrade themselves?

Let that set in for a second…let it marinate and soak in. Now let me shoot a couple of scenarios at you.

What if Imus was a black DJ making the “nappy ho” statement against the Rutgers team?

You see…a bet at least have of you were thinking it would have been ok…almost funny. If let’s say Steve Harvey or Crazy Howard would have made such a statement. You have to admit that if Imus had been black, there would have been little to no discussion of the matter. He probably would have kept his job.

Reports came out of the NFL investigating the claim by Samari Rolle that a ref called him “boy” during the game. Radio stations and blogs were in a uproar.

“The Ref is a racist!” calls came from everywhere. I could almost hear Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton warming up their vocal cords. Then reports were released that the ref was black and all alarms were silenced.

How is it that since the ref who allegedly called Samari Rolle a “boy” was let off the hook when it’s revealed that he was black?

So it’s okay that the ref him boy because he was black?

A question for Katt Williams…

Since when are brothers and sisters haters for wanting people to remove “nigger” from their vocabulary?

When did wearing a noose at an awards show become bling?

comments: 0 » tags: ignorance, Katt Williams, Know Your History, knowledge, noose, Pride, WTF

A Monday Morning Message From Venti Bold To Lebron James

February 27, 2012 under Do Something, Motivating Thoughts, Sports

The Shaun is sure at least some of you watching the end of last night’s NBA All Star noticed something interesting as the final seconds winded down.

With the East All Stars down 3 with seconds to go, Lebron held the ball at the top of the key with Kobe guarding him. Lebron was in the midst of leading the surge to bring the EAST back from a double digit deficit and was 6-8 from 3pt range in the game. The announcers, the Orlando crowd and those watching at home all sat at the edge of their seats as 2 premier players look to give us a NBA moment to remember.

Lebron made his move….and then passed it wildly to Dwyane Wade to the final shot.

As those watching (even Carmelo Anthony who was open on the other wing) tried to figure what just happened, Kobe walked up to Lebron and told him what the whole was this at that moment…

SHOOT THE @%~#*! BALL!!

From Skip Bayless to Charles Barkley, many have harped on Lebron’s inability to capture the moment and come through in the clutch in his career. This was not the first time Lebron passed up taking the potential game winning or game tying shot which have led many to believe he lacks the competitive fire necessary to lead a team to a NBA Championship.

Lebron has also be critisized for this post-game tweet.

Congrats to Orlando on putting together a great All-Star weekend! Had a blast in tonight’s game! S/O @KDTrey5 for getting MVP. Back to work!

Some are reading this and thinking “So What?” which is understadable. The Shaun can only respond by asking, ‘Would Michael Jordan have responded to a loss, regardless of the game, in such a manner?’ Would Kobe? Bird? Magic? Or Even his own teammate Dwyane Wade?

THE ANSWER IS NO!

Kobe wouldn’t have said it!! MJ wouldn’t have. Shaq wouldn’t have! DWade wouldn’t have. What do they have in common…RINGS!!

Some might ask, but why was Kobe so mad? Kobe was mad because he understood the meaning of the moment, not only to the All Star Game but the game in general. Kobe knew millions were watching and everyone in the arena and watching at home wanted Lebron to take the shot, regardless if he made it or missed it. At least he would have shown that HE WANTED IT!