Now, what I’m with isn’t it, and what’s “it” seems weird and scary to me.

Tonight, Flora showed me some of the stuff she’s been listening to/watching on YouTube with her friends. A lot of the content still seems remarkably adult, despite being creepily sanitized for young ears via Kids Bop, the Mini Pops and children’s YouTube channels.

Tonight’s example, the Haschak Sisters covering Kanye West’s ‘classic 2005 hit’, ‘Gold Digger’:

(Aside: ZOMG, didn’t 2005 just happen?! How is a song written then a ‘classic hit’ now? Oh… math. And the passage of time.)

Part of me is uncomfortable with young girls singing a song and making an accompanying video about some nasty female stereotypes. Another part of me is really impressed at the production values these ‘amateur’ videos have.

I guess this is no worse than when my parents gave me a copy of  the ‘Rock ’87‘ compilation tape for my sister and I to listen to.  I remember my father playing it and singing along to the Paul Lekakis hit, ‘Boom Boom (Let´s Go Back To My Room)’ VERY LOUDLY. I’m still cringing in embarrassment about that, and my dad’s been dead for nearly 26 years. I can’t even remember the last time I heard that song. However, in the name of research, that streak has now been broken. You’re welcome.

(Another aside: this song didn’t even have a music video way back when but a video was made for YouTube nearly a decade ago. Paul Lekakis still seems to be performing live here and there so good for him.)

After I watched the videos she showed me, I asked her when she was going to enter her metal years because that stuff doesn’t scare me. I was laughing when I said it but it reminded me to keep working on her media literacy skills and checking in on what she’s actually watching online because it’s not just Baby Alive videos.

That said, if pop music is her biggest rebellion, we’ll be doing okay.

Grampa Simpson with Homer and Barney
It’ll happen to you… (it happened to me) (This is one of my favourite Simpsons episodes. Pretty sure I’ve quoted this before on the site.)

Questions with Sean

Sean and I are home alone for a few days while Flora is visiting my parents. We’re both working while she’s gone, so it’s not a vacation, but it kind of is.

Even when we spent our first afternoon together doing our taxes and watching Sunday afternoon sports. (Guess who did what?)

In honour of our time alone together, I decided to ask him some random questions I found online and see what kind of responses I get. Here’s what I got.

1. What movie(s) deserves a sequel?
The Goonies, because people want to know what happened when the Goonies grow up. I’d like to see them as adults adventures with their kids, or having their own adventure.
Top Gun, having because Michael Ironside, that’s why.

2. If you were in a witness  protection program, what would be your alias?
Max Power.

3. What is the best sports stadium/arena you have been to?
Where I’ve seen a game: Cowboy Stadium, Dallas.
Where I’ve toured the facility but haven’t actually seen an event: Fenway Park, Boston.

4. If you could be a member of any TV-sitcom family, which one would it be?
The Banks family from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – they have a butler and who doesn’t want to have an Uncle Phil?

5. What do people do too much of today?
Use their cell phone cameras at concerts. You paid big money to watch the show. If you want to watch it through a screen, buy the DVD. I didn’t pay to watch it through your screen.

Thanks Sean for playing along and answering my questions. Love you.

My pictures from yesterday’s #12photos photo challenge

I took these photos for the #12photos challenge hosted by Andrea at A Peek Inside the Fishbowl.

Twelve photos in twelve hours on 12/12/12. I took longer than twelve hours, but I got all twelve before I went to bed. Most pictures were taken with Instagram, but some were done with Hipstamatic. You can hover over each picture to view the caption if you don’t want to click over to Flickr.

7am

7am - on the train going to work #hourlyphoto  #12photos

8am

8am #photos12 artwork on my desk at work (cc sideshowami)

9am

9am #12photos - more desk inspiration

10am

10am #12photos - northwestern view from my office building

11am

11am #12photos - workspace #Hipstamatic #Chunky #BigUp

1pm

1pm #12photos - mini Christmas tree

2pm

2pm #12photos - cubicle decoration from Flora #Hipstamatic #Hornbecker #DreamCanvas

3pm

3pm #12photos - fun stuff in my cubicle (Don't worry. This will be the last pic taken from the office.) #Hipstamatic #Chunky #Sugar

4pm

4pm - #12photos - I've wanted a picture of this sign ever since I started commuting.

5pm

5pm #12photos - parking lot. Workday done.

6pm

6pm #12photos - art on the table next to me.

7pm

7pm #12photos - a little late. Almost time for bed.

#12photos, a set on Flickr.

Date night for Team Mitchell

Last Friday, Sean and I went to see Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper. I’m pretty sure it was our first date night since we went and saw Tool back in January.

Our dates seem to have a recurring theme.

Sean and I waiting for Iron Maiden

By the way, we may look like thugs, but we’re pretty nice folks. If you ever see us at a show (or anywhere out and about), come and say hi!

 

My daughter, the anarchist

So Flora drew this on her hand last night.

Flora is a Punk Rocker

Keep in mind that at three years old, she doesn’t have the hang of writing the alphabet yet, never mind the concept of anarchy.

When asked what she drew, she told us a very involved story about a bear. So I guess it was supposed to be a bear.

Her drawing skills are still abstract, although they’re improving all the time.

I figure I’ll save this picture for when she’s an angry teen. Maybe it’ll make good album art.

This is what my tattooed punk rocker looked at when the tattoo pic was taken:

20111102-110008.jpg

That’s one scary punk all right. Monkey jammies and stuffed bunnies – the outfit and accessories for your modern-day anarchist.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada
This work by Melissa Price-Mitchell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada.
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