Husker Football is Good for the Economy

It’s Friday night at the Valentino’s downtown location. A couple, probably in their late 50’s, enter the store and approach the counter where I am standing. The woman orders a salad while the man orders a small Val’s special pizza. After idle conversation while the couple waited for their food I learned that the man was a UNL alumni and was back in town for the game tomorrow. This is not such an unusual occurrence for a Friday night like tonight. Tomorrow is the Nebraska vs. Virginia Tech football game and it is a home game for the Huskers. Days like tomorrow, when the population of downtown Lincoln is probably tripled, is the perfect opportunity for businesses and independent entrepreneurs to make a few bucks at the expense of the fans like this couple who have traveled all the way back to Nebraska to watch the game.

The time on the radio in my mom’s little red Honda Civic reads 8:45 in the morning. The speedometer needle is rapidly falling from 60mph to 45mph to 25mph as the car enters downtown Lincoln on 9th street heading south on this slightly overcast but still fair weathered day. Three people are standing along both sides of the street in a triangular shape, two of which are holding identical white signs with red lettering and the other holding a handmade cardboard sign with scribbles made by a black Sharpie, all three of the signs read “I NEED TICKETS.” Scalpers.

Only two blocks south of the first three scalpers are there more people standing on the west side of 9th street. One is a man holding another handmade “I NEED TICKETS” sign and the other is a boy holding a sign almost bigger in size than he is. Right behind this pair is the closed little white shack used to sell Husker memorabilia like t-shirts and hats to the visiting population. The Honda turns east on P street and comes to a stop at the traffic light on the intersection with 10th street.

Four more guys are standing on the northwest corner of the intersection here. One of them is holding a neon green sign reading, “NEED TICKETS, TOP $ PAID.” Two of the guys are just standing there it seems locked in a discussion. The last guy is holding up two tickets spread apart in one hand. All four of them are decked out in Husker hats and jackets. The memorabilia suggests that they might be fans but the fact that at the same corner where one person is looking for tickets and another is selling them makes me wonder if for them it is less about the game and more about the money to be made off legit fans. A white mid-90’s Silverado smashes the tires against the curb and stops next to the four men. Meanwhile he is impeding traffic and blocking up two cars behind him. The scalper steps back from the truck with the tickets still clutched in his hand and a displeased look on his face. The Silverado rolls away and continues north on 10th street.

The last three blocks till my destination pass without much incidence and the Civic hangs a left at 13th street, passes the homeless guy who makes his residence out of the benches on the west side of the street, and comes to a stop against the curb in front of Valentino’s downtown location and my job as a delivery driver.

Is it even about the game anymore or is it just about the money? You have scalpers out in the constant cycle of buying and selling tickets for a profit. The Husker gear that all of them adorn is almost a camouflage when they are standing on a corner surrounded by fans. Then you have the companies like Valentino’s who not only sell pizza at their downtown location but also at the stadium less than 10 blocks away for $1 more. A distance of less than 10 blocks ups the price of a single slice of pizza. Every parking lot in the downtown area charges for parking during the game at rates that are double or triple the usual amount on a non-game day. The lot right next door charges $11 to park there for the event, and it usually ends up full. Driving anywhere around downtown and you will notice signs by every lot with amounts ranging from $5 to $15 depending on the distance to the stadium. Even the frats and sororities get involved by selling off the little parking they have. Fans are forced to either pay outrageous prices for parking or do what some fans do, park an outrageous distance away from downtown on the side streets. Game days are perfect examples of capitalism at it's finest.Then of course you have the memorabilia. A little blond haired boy is hopping in an awkward circle around his father. The kid is wearing red nylon shorts, a Husker jersey, a little white sweatband bearing the Husker logo and he even has a little “N” painted on his cheek. The father isn’t quite as loaded down with merchandise with just his Nebraska hat and shirt. No doubt he spent quite a bit of money on the paraphernalia for him and his child. Then of course there is the gear celebrating the new coach of the Huskers, Bo Pelini. I wonder if he gets a cut of the profits for using his name?It is 4 o’clock and only 3 hours till kickoff of the game. The number of people walking around has picked up and every once in awhile you notice a small huddle of orange clad people making their way down a sidewalk taking precaution to avoid the masses of red. As I venture forth on my delivery to the Post Office off of the 7th street my little red Honda ducks, dodges, and weaves like a running back through the endless sea of fans adorned in red. The cops are out in full force directing traffic and people to the best of their abilities. The officer standing in the intersection blowing the whistle hanging in his mouth and waving his hands has your typical blue police uniform and little black hat. One thing is out of place. He is wearing a pair of yellow sunglasses that look like they belong on a kindergarten child and not a member of law enforcement. Once through the red sea and into the Haymarket area of downtown the number of red shirts lessens to a lake instead of a sea. The smell of beer and sounds of drunks yelling can be heard from the many establishments littering the Haymarket. The Civic arrives at the Post Office building and pulls to a stop facing the wrong direction and blocking up two parking spots. Oddly there is only one other car in this particular parking lot besides me. The delivery is done and the Honda begins the journey back to the store. The doorway to downtown, 9th street, has now become a gridlock of anxious fans trying to enter downtown. Twenty minutes pass and the Civic barely manages to move a block. The smells of grilled meat and sounds of rabid drunks coming from the tailgaters in the Journal Star parking lot overwhelms you while you impatiently wait for traffic to move. A scalper weaves between the stopped cars to approach a vehicle. On the sidewalk two college girls, one blond and the other brunette, are clad in white Husker shirts. They are distributing CD's to people walking along the sidewalk. One girl runs up to my car and shoves a CD into my hands and rushes back to the bank of the 9th street river of cars.

So what is the cost of attending a Husker football game? First there is the price of the ticket which has no doubt increased after scalpers. To be a true fan you have to be adorned in the appropriate attire of course so spending money on shirts, hats, etc. is a must. Of course you have to travel to the game, get a hotel room if you are not a local, and then pay outlandish prices for parking if you don't feel like walking a couple of miles. Now if you're over 21 then you will probably end up spending money at one of the many bars downtown. You need food to go with the beer so there goes more money from the jacked up food prices. Husker football games have been sold out since 1962 and the businesses love it. Bars are packed with people celebrating before and after the game. All the tables at restaurants are full. All the rooms at the major hotels downtown are booked. And all the fans wondering about are drenched in red, black, or white Husker gear. Shirts, hats, sweatshirts, jackets, you name it and there is a Husker version of it. It’s no doubt that the businesses love the money that is brought in by Husker football games and maybe that is just what we need right now in the face of the current economic conditions. But maybe it’s just fueling the problem. All that money that is brought in from Husker football has to go someplace. While my wallet is usually kept full by the generous fans on game days most of the money goes other places. The owners of the businesses whether they are small or corporate owned are the ones that end up scoring big on game days. The real fans end up broke paying for tickets, parking, and food while everyone else exploits the fans’ passion for the game. Husker football is good for the economy, but who’s economy?

Rubik's

1. What have I learned?
Husker football games bring in loads of money at the expense of the fans.

2. Examples.
The existence of scalpers just goes to show how far capitalism has taken hold in this country. That even something as small as a football ticket can be bought and resold at a higher price to a legit fan.
Valentino's selling at the stadium and downtown. Packed parking lots charging outrageous prices.

3. Downtown during a football game can be compared to a warzone. The winning forces are the businesses raking in the profits while the losers are the fans who get taken advantage of. The police are kind of like the UN making sure no one gets too out of line and directing where people can go.

4. Even something like a college football game is viewed as a means to acquire money. It doesn't matter to businesses whether the fan gets taken advantage of. For some reason however the fans don't object to paying $15 for parking and scalpers must be making money otherwise they would stop. I just think it shows how greedy this society is and that if college football is only about the money it brings in, what's next? Highschool football, YMCA soccer games?

5. Game days are really about one team vs. another team. Without the teams there would be no fans. Without the fans the businesses would fail to make the money they do. And without the fans the police would have a lot less interesting Saturdays. Football binds everyone together, whether they are in it for the game or the money.

6. As frustrated as I get on game days with all the traffic and people roaming around it is good money. We get a lot of big orders which usually means good tips for me. Especially if the people have been drinking and enjoying themselves a little too much. Without it, I would have less money to spend on things I don't really need. Businesses that thrive on the popularity of football might suffer and their employees might share the pain.

We're no strangers to love...

The picture presented for you is the now legendary Rick Astley. Rick was part of the incredibly awesome music industry of the 1980's. His video for "Never Gonna to Give You Up" has since risen to the level of epic status. This rise can be attributed to the vast numbers of nerds and internetphiles (yes, it's a made up word). You may or may not have heard of the Rick Roll, many of you may have even experienced one firsthand. I subject myself to the Rick Roll several times a week. If you have not, click on this awesome link to see the trailer for Grand Theft Auto: Tokyo.

If you clicked the link like you should have you will have been disappointed. There is no GTA: Tokyo, instead you are linked to the Rick Astley video. You have effectively experienced the feeling of being Rick Roll'd (albeit a poor attempt, I fail).

The truly interesting thing about the Rick Roll is that it has spread wide and far beyond the digital realm of the internet. Entire crowds at a Mets game have been Rick Roll'd as well as bosses at work. The concept that started on a simple internet picture message board, 4chan.org, has spread to encompass the world. On April 1st Youtube played an epic prank on everyone of it's viewers for April Fools Day. For the entire day clicking on any video on the homepage would send you to the Rick Astley video. Youtube itself has played an important role in the rising popularity of the Rick Roll. Without the ability to upload and share video content such things as a Rick Roll would have failed to gain much popularity.

The effects of the Rick Roll can be seen even today in the face of the current presidential election. The current democratic nominee Barack Obama has even received the honor of becoming his own Barack Roll. I failed to embed the Rick Astley video (Something about RickAstley not wanting it embeddable) so instead I will treat you with the Barack Roll video and it's awesomeness. Enjoy.

Blog Post Six: Content and Form

First of all I'd like to apologize to anyone who may end up reading this, it is a bit lengthy. Before I realized what I had done I had 251 words in just the first 19 seconds of the song...ooops. I do however cut back on some of the detail later on just for space sake.

As the video opens up the camera pans over a cracked white-face pressure gauge with the needle resting calmly at 0. Next we see water pipes with a small amount of water seeping out. Then the camera slides over the first characters of the video, the band.
A white door opens, in walks a young white guy with brown hair in white. Camera pans to his boss, also in white complete with one of those little white dinner cook hats. The boss is holding a metal spatula in one hand. He checks his watch to see what time it is and gives the young guy a displeasing look. Obviously scolding the kid because he was late.
Back to the band and a close up on the fiery red headed female lead singer of an otherwise all male band, Hayley (she is effin' gorgeous).
A white photography studio. A photographer is kneeling down looking through his camera like a sniper. The target is an attractive blond girl sitting in a bright red chair the color of Hayley's hair. Camera flash. The blond is now standing posing in a corner in a pink one piece dress with a little frilly bottom. She has one leg up forcing itself against the wall behind her. One arm is rested on a pay phone. The blond is now standing with her back to a wooden wall with the planks running vertically. Camera flash. Close up on the face of the blond beauty, her hair framing her face.
Hayley and the band again singing. The fiery red head center stage.
Back to the brown haired boy, putting on his little dinner hat. The boy reluctantly begins working.
Another close up of Hayley and then a pan of the whole band.
The blond is now sitting in one of those brownish metal folding chairs with her legs crossed and her arms wrapped around her knees. She has her hair straight now and it falls down the front of her black and white dress. Next to her in the bright red chair we saw in a previous scene. Close up of blond. She has dark eyeshadow and bright pink lipstick.
Close up on Hayley again. Then the drummer with his blue polo with horizontal white lines banging furiously on the drums. Then a shot of the whole band.
Blond is still sitting in the metal folding chair. She is holding a little silver foil wrapper to a candy bar. She wants to eat it, but before she can taste it a hand pulls it away from her. A brunette is bent over at the waist shaking her head at the blond.
The purple shit wearing guitarist is airborne. This shot of the band only has the 3 male members with the guitarists/bassists up front and the drummer in back. Close up of Hayley. Next is a shot of the same pressure gauge as at the beginning of the video, the needle now rests at 50. Another close up of Hayley singing and the band playing. The water is seeping out of the pipes a little faster now.
The blond is still in her chair, now looking disappointed.
Hayley again and the band again.
The brown haired boy is operating a shake machine and filling a cup full of chocolate.
Hayley.
The brown hair boy turns away from the machine and bumps into his boss, spilling the chocolate shake all over him.
Paramore playing again. The pressure gauge is now reading two marks above 75. Water is dripping.
The boy and the boss look at the mess caused. The boy is pulling fries out of the grease, obviously they have been in there too long because they are burnt and smoke is rolling from the machine. His boss walks by and looks upset.
Hayley.
Boy.
Hayley.
Boy.
Paramore playing. The guitarists up front just finishing the final turn of an aerial acrobatic move. The gauge is climbing past 100 steadily now, the water is dripping faster.
The blond is picking out a brown one piece dress from a metal rack filled with dresses. She holds it up in front of her body clad in pink in front of the mirror looking at herself.
Hayley.
Brunette in a blue top walks behind the blond and takes the dress away and hands her a slinky little silver number. She gives a heavy sigh, obviously not pleased with what is chosen for her to wear.
The band is playing furiously.
Long blond haired boy slams food tray down in front of the order window and the brown haired boy. Boss talks to the blond boy. Boy takes off his apron and hat and walks out.
Close up of Hayley singing with the mic less than an inch from her mouth. The pressure gauge reads two marks above 100 and climbs til its dangerously close to the red zone. Water continues to hasten its flow from the pipes.
Brown haired boy is walking across a small patch of richly green grass in his white tee and blue jeans.
Hayley and the band are playing.
The boy shows up at a window and pounds on it. The window is framed by a green cement block wall. The blond is sitting in a chair surrounded by a swarm of makeup artists. She is wearing a blue jacket or shirt. The boy motions for her to come to him, she puts her hands up like she is helpless and does not know what to do. He runs off.
The pressure gauge is now deep into the read zone. Pipes begin to show signs of bursting.
The boy is at a fire sprinkler control, he pulls it.
The pipes break spewing copious amounts of water onto Hayley and the band as they continue to play.
The sprinklers go off in the studio with the blond.
The guitarist in the purple shirt does a badass roll over the other guitarist while still clutching his cherry red instrument (it's so badass I just had to mention it).
The blond escapes with the brown haired boy.
The gauge drops back down to 0 and the video fades with the band standing there soaked with water.

The video has three characters. The band, the blond girl, and the brown haired boy. Because of this I chose to separate the different scenes paragraphically depending on the character. Only when the boy and the girl meet did I use one paragraph for both of them. The video cuts back and forth between the band and the two kids abruptly so that is what I did and why some lines are just one sentence or even one word. As the video progresses and the pressure builds (pun intended :P) the scenes change faster. This is why there are a larger amount of new lines started towards the end. The video ends with the band soaked after the water finally gives up. The pressure gauge is at 0 and the beginning and the end.

Blog Post Five: Anonymous

Here we have a video posted on YouTube by the infamous group Anonymous. The video is a message, a message to the Church of Scientology, or the Co$. If you can call them a church. Anonymous is a staunch opponent to the Co$. Scientology is a dangerous fraud and Anonymous is trying to out them by spreading the truth.
At the very beginning of the video is a short clip taken from a speech by the current leader of Co$, David Miscavige. He states, "Because if world leaders learned anything through the social aftershocks since 9/11 is that they do not necessarily posses the tools to lead. And thats where determined individual Scientologists come into the picture." It is interesting to note that the video was posted September 11, 2008 on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Following this clip that has been remixed is a catchy upbeat song set to sole shadowy figure cloaked in a Guy Fawkes mask. Many of you will have seen the Guy Fawkes mask from the semi-recent movie V for Vendetta in which a man, V, wearing the mask intends to carry out the Gunpowder Plot. The Gunpower Plot was an actual historical event in which the royal family was to be assinated by blowing up Parliament. Guy Fawkes is generally given credit for leading the escapade but he was actually in charge of the explosives. So why wear the masks? Obviously it's to hide their identities. Speaking out against the Co$ can be quite dangerous as they believe that if you are not one of them you are fair game to be destroyed (Fair game policy). The Co$ is a fraud intended to brainwash people and steal their money.
Anonymous has been linked to several seditious attacks against the Co$ and people in general. Just recently Oprah was the butt of one of their pranks. But their message has caught on and several large scale news agencies are working as well to discredit the Co$. If you don't believe the Co$ is evil then go out there and discover the abundance of information linking them to their lies and crimes. Or you can just watch the "Shrinking World of L. Ron Hubbard" and see how bat shit crazy their chief liar was.