Welcome Back/ The Earthquake-Tsunami in Japan

I thought I'd take the time to post more blogs since I haven't been here since the end of December. With two art classes and two philosophy classes, I have been pretty busy. Also, there are so many things that I want to post that have nothing to do with videogames, entertainment or technology. So, I'm going to turn my blog that was originally meant to showcase my art into a place that will let my opinions be known, unscripted. It may not be what others may like, at least it will give readers something to think about. I am glad that I am finally able to make time to post here about all my adventures in gaming, entertainment and technology.

First, I want to let it be known that there will be a new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare game release in November of this year. I am seriously looking forward to it considering that there has been internal conflict with Infinity Ward. Although I have found some minor story issues with MW2 (the semi- anticlimatic ending), I wholeheartedly stick by this franchise.

Second, very soon I will put something together to finally write something about the Assassin's Creed series. I'm afraid that like the CDMW series, this will another sequel due to the way it has ended. I want to mention that I LOVE the soundtrack. It is amazing, because it is able to recapture the essence of the Rennaisance and blend it with modern music. If there is another game after Brotherhood, then I am certain that Jesper Kyd will hit it out of the ballpark with the new soundtrack. So, the review of those games will be here soon.

Also, I have to mention I'm on Spring Break. It's uneventful as usual. I am planning on getting Call of Duty Black Ops this week. I was going to protest this game because of the Infinity Ward fiasco, but I saw the gameplay and it was amazing. It only makes sense to invest in this series, despite what the Halo fanboys say about it.

Earthquake-Tsunami Disaster in Japan

Last Thursday, I had the misfortune to witness one of the worst contastrophes in Japan's history live on television. It caught me off guard and moved me in tears.  Unfortunately, not everyone in my hall felt the way I did about what happened. Everyone else treated the disaster as though it was a movie scene, despite it being aired live. I was angry at everyone in the hall, but a friend of mine told me that we live in an image based culture that is desensitized by anything on television, real or not. I find it pretty strange that I play videogames, I watch videos on youtube and online, I love action films and I watch TV as often as I can, and I'm still moved by what happened. When 9/11 happened, I was 16. It took me a few days to fully understand what happened. I went to school that day and there were people trying to contact everyone they know in New York just to see if they are okay. There are main differences between the way I viewed 9/11 and the way I view the contastrophe in Japan. First, although I watched less tv and played less videogames when I was 16, I was *still* 16. My perception of the world was different then. Second, earthquake in Japan, or Haiti or anywhere else is a natural disaster. It was not a tragedy that was caused by anyone, whereas the 9/11 incident was caused by a group of fundamentalist muslims. Still, Japan lost so over 10,000 people over this natural disaster and 3,000 people lost their lives in 9/11. I want to mention the way Americans handle tragedies of epic proportions compared to other countries like Japan. Although I've never been to Japan, Korea or Northeast Asia before, I would say based on what is portrayed by others and the media about their culture, they are some of the most organized and well structured people in the world. They went from being thrid world countries to being first world countries in decades. I don't think the same can be said about anywhere else in the world. I also do not believe that people in those countries will dwell on this the same way Americans and other Western countries dwell on 9/11 or WWII. Sept. 11 happened over ten years ago and media still dwell on it. There's even a day dedicated to this event. If Japan bounces back from this, I do not think they would dwell on it the way Americans would. I also believe that the recovery in their country would be much faster than it was when Hurricane Katrina happened. People in that region are still homeless. I understand that the life lost is a life worth mourning about, but the point that I'm trying to make here is that there is a bias in whose life is more deserving of being mourned.

If the students downstairs saw on the news that it was America, or more specifically, their hometowns being ravaged by the forces of nature, then they would mourn for those people. I noticed also that when Haiti was struck with a massive earthquake that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced countless many people, there were some Christians who believed and still believe that Haiti deserved it, because they practice the "religion of the devil". It makes me not like Christians even more and somewhat wish that Christianity and Islam never existed. They would say "real Christians would never say that", but history and comments in the media and political groups dedicated to taking away basic rights of citizens say otherwise.

I don't know what it is, maybe it's because of my age or the fact that I'm a "bleeding heart liberal" to them, when really my views are centered pretty much in the middle. Maybe they will grow up or maybe not, I certainly hope so if they are going to be people that the future will look up to some day.