This whole Grand Theft Auto thing

So, if you hadn't noticed it, Rockstar games released it's newest edition of Grand Theft Auto - GTA IV - for Playstation 3 and XBox 360 last week.  Video game critics couldn't be more happy - the game is getting unprecedented reviews, and is being called possibly the best video game ever made, and it will certainly become the highest selling video game ever. Social critics, though, are less than enthused. In fact, they're irate over the release, and have been trying to get parents to boycott the game. They're calling it detrimental to American values, and really damaging to the character of American youth. And maybe you noticed it, maybe you didn't, but last week when the game was released, the Star Tribune ran a FRONT PAGE story on it.

So, what. Is the game really as violent or offensive as the critics are saying? Yeah, probably. I'll admit that I'm a fan of the franchise (I own the most recent game - GTA: San Andreas, and would play the previous edition with friends), and I'll admit that parts are as bad as critics make them out to be. You can indeed gun down innocent people - including prostitutes - on the street and steal their car and their money. I mean, let's not beat around the bush - that stuff happens in the game, and there's no use saying it doesn't.

But then here's my question: aside from better graphics and a better realized virtual world (this time, a breathtakingly realistic version of New York City, so I hear), what's changed? With the release of the past two games, it's not like there wasn't an uproar over their violence and content. There was, and it was probably just as strong as the reaction as been for GTA IV. My point is that the violence in this video game is nothing new, nothing surprising. It's been talked about before, and it's been written in the newspaper before. So why does it get a front page story over, say, the death of American soldiers in Iraq (as a letter to the editor in the Star Tribune read on Wednesday or Thursday)?

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily defending the content of GTA. I think it is sometimes shockingly strong, and some parts can be very offensive. But the game is rated Mature (for people over 17, I think), and it's not meant for kids under that age. The critics say that kids under M still manage to get their hands on the game, but then I wonder, whose fault is that? Is it the industry, who did their part to ensure that kids that age can't legally buy the game? Or is it perhaps the families of those kids, who don't pay enough attention to realize what it is their kids are playing? Or, is it the media's fault? Just think about it - if we give it this much attention in the newspapers and on TV, don't you think that that is going to pique the attention of the kids who are not supposed to be able to buy it? True, the kids are probably going to hear about it some other way, but you can't tell me that giving it front page attention isn't going to make things any worse. This is a bad example, but how many times did you try to sneak into an R-rated movie when you were younger than 17? It's a different subject, but I think it's absolutely worth comparing (for the record, I snuck into two: Kill Bill I and II, in case my parents are reading).

So, in this whole thing, I guess I don't know who's right and who's wrong. The violence in GTA IV is extreme, certainly. But is it any worse than some of the other games out there? What about the game called Hitman, where you're a hitman (strangely enough) carrying out assassinations and the like? That's plenty realistic, and plenty violent. Or what about God of War, where (I hear) people's heads get ripped off. I'm not defending GTA IV, but I think that, somewhere along the line - perhaps because of its realism, its sex, and its violence, and the popularity that it has among owners of the necessary game consoles, GTA became the media and society's scapegoat. But really, maybe we're not angry at the game for being so coarse. Maybe we're angry at ourselves for enjoying it.

Posted by: sbenshoof on 5/04/2008 at 11:28 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Snow on the 26th, plus other musings

Nothing like a snowstorm to ring in the NFL Draft (well, not for me; Northfield isn't quite getting the snow that Bemidji is getting, but, you know, it's still cold and windy)! This is really something else. It's really an opportunity, though, for all those global warming naysayers to step in and say, "What now?" And with good reason - this Spring has been one of the coldest Springs that I can remember, at least. And having not been in Bemidji for this snowstorm, and also the 21 inch bonanza a few weeks back, I can't even imagine what it's like up there. Just something else. But whether or not you believe in global warming, you do need to admit one thing: this weather is awful screwy. And that's sign enough for me that this whole thing is messed up, whether people want to admit it or not.

But, anyway! I realized this past week that I had neglected to write about the Vikings, as busy as they have been in the past week. Their trade for Jared Allen, I think, makes them an instant contender. Their defensive line of Williams, Williams, Allen, and anyone else is by far the best D-line in the league, and maybe one of the best lines that anyone has seen in the past few years. Teams could only run against us on rare occasions last year, but now that is going to be simply impossible. The Vikings are going to be expecting pass on nearly every play, and given that they can commit to that fully now, if their pass defense is just a little improved from last year (which it should be, with the signing of that new safety, Madeiu...I don't know how to spell his name), they could be a top 5 defense.

Slow down, though, some analysts have said. Everything rests with Tarvaris Jackson, who many fans are still not sold on. Some say that he's still improving, still developing, and that he might have a long way to go, and that he's not at the point where we can say, "OK, he's ready." Let me say this, though: I liked him from the beginning, and I've had faith in his ability to lead the team. If the talent that he showed in the final two games of the season carries over to next year, I think the Vikings should be in fine shape, considering that we have the returning tandem of Chester Taylor and Adrian "couldn't run for more than 15 yards in his final 5 games" Peterson, plus the new addition of Bernard Berrien. So, bottom line, I'm very, very excited.

And again, I realized also just now that I forgot to write about the Wild, after they choked themselves out of the playoffs against the Avalanche. I think I was probably too frustrated to write about it, so I wisely let it simmer for about a week. But seriously: that was a series that they should not have lost. Some of my friends have said that it was because of Jose Theodore's brilliant play in the series (on a quick sidenote: did anyone see Theodore give up 4 goals to the Red Wings IN REGULATION in the first game of that series?). The bottom line, though, is that Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra folded, and weren't able to lead the team. It would be unwise for the Wild management to not bring some changes to this team, because changes are needed. Badly.
 

Posted by: sbenshoof on 4/26/2008 at 1:36 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

City Council Moratorium Debate

Well, I said a while ago that I'd revisit the topic of the Bemidji City Council's moratorium debate, and here I am. A few days late, though, so, my apologies.

Monday night the City Council split three donation moratorium votes, and so nothing was changed. If you remember, I was interested in this topic because the Boys and Girls Club had come forward recently asking for $10,000, and one of Nancy Erickson's main points was that if the city makes an exception to a non-profit group, then they'll have to make an exception to every non-profit that asks for money. And again, that was one of her main hitting points Monday night, and the council wasn't able to arrive at any kind of agreement. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that I'm not exactly pleased with this.

The Events Center escaped Tim Pawlenty's veto last week, which is really great news for the community. It's likely that it'll probably provide an important, positive stimulus to the Bemidji area. Pawlenty came to Bemidji, and most people were happy. Bemidji got what it wanted!

But now this is what I warned when I approached this topic before: this is a turning point for the community. A multi-million dollar Events Center is going to change the way the community is shaped and oriented in more ways than one. But Bemidji can't let itself be blinded by these visions of gold that are suddenly within reach. Like I said before, Bemidji needs to remember its youth in all of this. Where do they fit in?

I strongly believe that Bemidji has taken, and continues to take, its youth for granted. Plain and simple. The City Council created the Bemidji Youth Advisory Commission, and gave some money to start up the Boys and Girls Club. But it has not done much else. What's the one thing that the youth in the community really want? A skate park. If I'm not mistaken, the BYAC made a presentation to the City Council a little while back with an idea to create a skate park. I don't imagine that that got out of the meeting.

Sure, Nancy Erickson believes strongly that the City Council can't make exceptions. And on principle, she's probably right. But at some point the City Council needs to realize that the youth of Bemidji are not like every other non-profit, or like every other organization. Investing in the Boys and Girls Club - making an exception - would show that the City Council understands that the Club is an important asset for the community, and for the youth, and that the council is dedicated to making this place better for the youth.

When the city says that they "can't make an exception" for the youth, what that implies is that the city sees the youth like everybody youth; they're just the same as you or me, and they're not special in any way. Bemidji needs to see that it needs to make the youth feel valued in order to make them want to stay here, and to move back here.

With the Events Center on the horizon, the city can't forget about its youth any more than it already has. What will Bemidji be like with the Events Center? Who knows. But here's another question - if the city continues to treat the youth like it has been, why should they care?

Posted by: sbenshoof on 4/16/2008 at 11:05 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink

The Events Center Pulls Through

Well, looks like the Bemidji Events Center has a future after all. After an epic few up and down weeks, the Events Center escaped the wrath of Tim Pawlenty's veto pen today. Pawlenty scraped away over $200 million dollars in projects included in the Bonding Bill, but somehow, the $20 million for Bemidji's Events Center survived.

This is interesting on several levels; first, the fact that Pawlenty used his line-item veto to pick out individual projects instead of vetoing the entire project and forcing the House and Senate to come up with a different, improved version of the bill. This means that those cities and universities whose interests were removed from the bill are going to be pretty angry at being labeled "not important enough." I mean, imagine if Pawlenty had picked Bemidji out of the list; Bemidji would be furious, would it not?

Additionally, Pawlenty threatened for so long that he'd only support a bill up to $825 million. Now, when the time comes, turns out he was just joking about that; turns out by $825, he meant $717. Who knew! But in all seriousness, it's probably a good thing that Pawlenty did not veto the entire bill and force the Democrats' hands; if that had led to another override, Republicans would be at each others' throats in the House and Senate, and things would have gotten really messy.

But now, it looks like Bemidji can finally turn their eyes forward. Now, all of those Events Center designs that had been tested can actually be put into motion (and so much for that Northwoods design, but did anyone actually read my blog? Seriously, a theme challenge is the way to go). Now, BSU can start to celebrate; the hockey program may have been saved today.

I'll revisit this soon. Right now I need to write a paper.

Posted by: sbenshoof on 4/07/2008 at 3:25 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink

A Snowy Opening Day

"We want an open air stadium!" Minnesotans have clamored for the past few years, as we've been forced to endure picturesque summer nights inside a the ol' Metrodome. "This is not the way baseball was supposed to be played!" we've cried.

And I agree, it's not. Baseball was meant to be played underneath the stars, with birds flying in and out of the stadium, or with the sun shining down on you, and in a few years Minnesotans will once again have an open-air stadium, a stadium that has already generated a lot of excitement. But for one year, at least, I think we were probably pretty happy to have baseball played inside a cozy, 72 degree dome. As the snow raged outside, I think we were content watching the Twins open their season inside the dome.

And what an opener! I don't want to get over-excited, because I know I'm capable of that, but I was really pretty happy with the way things turned out. Well, scratch that - very happy. Now, don't worry, I don't have unreasonable expectations - I understand that top-down the Indians and the Tigers (jeez, don't get me started on the Tigers - what a lineup they have) are better teams than the Twins. I know that Seattle improved this off-season as well, and that Boston and Anaheim are going to be up there, and probably the Yankees, although their lineup is really starting to age. Barring some miracle, I understand that the Twins have about a 5% chance of making the playoffs, if that.

But you know what? Despite all that, there are reasons for optimism. These Twins are young. And they're going to be exciting, and they're going to be a lot of fun to watch (I hope). Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young, two of the biggest off-season pickups, had big nights last night, and they're both only 22. Gomez easily is the most fun to watch on this team. He had a double and a single last night, drew a walk, stole two bases, and scored two runs. And he's lightening fast. I'd just like to take this chance to point out that Gomez is on pace for 324 steals. No biggie (I'm kidding. Or am I?) Young had a productive night, and we've been promised a lot of power from him over the course of the season. With the lineup of Gomez-Mauer-Cuddyer-Morneau-Young, that's a heckuva middle order. Six through nine is a bit more iffy, because Monroe, Everett and Lamb probably won't be here much longer than a year or two.

But still. If our pitching staff can pitch anything like Livan Hernandez did last night (which might actually be asking a lot - who knew I'd be saying that?), and we field those top five, even if our chances aren't good to win, it's going to be an exciting team. And on a night when we were okay with a dome, Twins fans saw part of the lineup that, if kept intact, is going to be the heart of a very good team in 2010, when we'll enjoy baseball - and the snow storms - outside for once.

Posted by: sbenshoof on 4/01/2008 at 4:14 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink