Just Backwards

Photo: Sam Sabri / WP Central

I've been pretty outspoken since the debut of Microsoft's next-gen Xbox One gaming system but I guess I'm in the minority opinion. Well at least according to Xbox head Don Mattrick.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal Mattrick explained the decision to not focus on backwards compatibility. According to Mattrick, only 5 percent of customers actually play older games on a new console, making it a "low priority." 

On a technical level the Xbox One will not be able to play older titles because of its newly structured processing system. I'm no tech guru but with all the other things the One can do - watching TV using voice recognition and Skyping others while playing seemed to be of particular focus - there's no way developers couldn't make it backwards compatible as well.  

Microsoft said it'll continue to sell the current Xbox 360 system and will continue to produce games for it. But, over time, we all know these games will become less and less exciting for consumers, indirectly forcing them to make the switch to the newer system and its games.

One thing's for sure, I will not be buying the Xbox One. I'm not spending another $400-$500 for a new system when the one I have now works just fine. I just got the newly-redesigned 360 this past Christmas and it still has that "fresh out of the box" smell. No need to let it go to waste. 

I've spent hundreds, most likely, thousands of dollars on games for my 360. I did the same for my original, first-gen Xbox system and now those games are worthless because they've never been playable on the 360. Every time a new gaming system comes out the older, perfectly fine, systems are worthless no matter what the big wigs say.

Mattrick said in his interview, "If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards." Well, Xbox I think you're just backwards. Period.

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Bull Durham: 25 Years Later

Photo: Bull Durham / Orion Pictures

Arguably the greatest baseball movie of all time, Bull Durham turned 25 on Saturday. 

The film, starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, was released on June 15, 1988 and grossed over $50 million, surpassing its $9 million budget.

The movie put the Durham Bulls and the city of Durham, NC on the map. The Bulls team is still alive and well today and is the most storied minor league baseball franchise. The old Durham Athletic Park is still intact and serves as a constant reminder of the film that made Durham famous.

Although I - shamefully - have not seen the entire film from start to finish, I've seen enough of it to know that no other baseball film showcased a true behind the scenes look at the game as Bull Durham did.

The film has been revered as the best sports movie ever but actually didn't receive many accolades back in 1988. In fact, Bull Durham was nominated but didn't win an Oscar nor a Golden Globe. Other than that, the film received recognition from various critics.

Despite not winning the "big" awards, Bull Durham will forever be one of the best - if not the best - sports films of all time.

Here's one of my favorite scenes...

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To My Readers...

Photo: The National Communication Association

First off I can't believe it but, in just about five years, my blog has garnered almost 30,000 page views and is currently being read in over 20 different countries worldwide!

Don't worry, I'm not calling it quits. As long as I want to write on this blog I will. Plus, this has given me valuable practice for a possible career in the journalism field someday.

However, I'd like to remind every one what this blog is about.

I created Reflections in 2008 because I'm a very opinionated person. I have many people in my family I can attribute that to. The blog was meant to give me a chance to share my thoughts and opinions with you.

Naturally over these five years, a select few people have had a problem with the thoughts and opinions I've published. One local organization even took my very truthful, harmless opinions and treated them almost as personal attacks. After a little back-and-forth and immaturity on their part I've decided that I'll never frequent their establishment again.

This is the most extreme example of a few of these situations over the past several years. The rest have been just general disagreements, etc.

I want to make this very clear: my opinions are just that. Just because I write something on here doesn't mean you have to agree with it. If you disagree that's fine but please do so in a professional, mature manner. Not like what some have opted to do in the past.

I have a First Amendment right to express my opinions as I see fit, without being libelous which I've never been of course. I know full well what constitutes libel and the consequences associated with it so I'd never venture down that avenue.

The best part is you too have the freedom to express your opinions which I will always respect. I just ask that you'd respect mine as well and address your disagreements in a professional manner.

If I lose readers because of this you'll definitely miss out. However, this blog is about opinion and thought and that's what it'll continue to be.

Make sure to come back to check out a new post later today and, as always, thanks for reading!

Chris White
Author, Reflections

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NMM: The Charlie Rogers Band

Photo: The Charlie Rogers Band / Katie Basden

The Charlie Rogers Band is a country rock band based in Nashville, TN. The band was formed at Belmont University's Country Showcase in 2011, where it was the only all underclassmen group to perform in the  show.

The group is made up of Charlie Rogers, Seth Abel, Carter Murphy, Haley Powers and Jake Robinson. Rogers was born and raised around country music and classic rock in Stilwell, Kansas and blends both genres to create music that listeners of all generations can enjoy.

A good friend of mine, Katie Basden, teamed up with the band for a new song called "Country In My Veins" which is just flat out amazing. It's a well-written, catchy tune that has a great blend of classic country and old-school rock - just what I like. 

With songs like this, both the band and Katie are well on their way to becoming stars in the music industry - I already know this is true.

"Country In My Veins (feat. Katie Basden)" ℗ 2013 Charlie Rogers, Katie Basden, Dwayne O'Brien

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Brushing Off The Bigots

Sebastian de la Cruz singing during Game 3 of the NBA Finals | Photo: Noah Graham, Getty Images

Sebastien de la Cruz has a powerful voice.

The 11-year-old won national attention through his appearance on NBC's America's Got Talent last season, and now has even more thanks to his performances of the National Anthem during the NBA Finals. 

The San Antonio, Texas native was actually not scheduled to sing the Anthem but was called to do it for Game 3 at the last minute when Darius Rucker couldn't get to the game on time. He was called back to perform it again for Game 4.

But no one knew of the social media firestorm that would ensue.

After his first performance, many took to Twitter and other social networks with racially charged comments, trying their best to ruin his amazing performance. 

One example - of many - being a tweet saying "9 out of 10 chance that kid singing national anthem is illegal." I saw a comment on a YouTube video from FOX San Antonio basically saying that "Mexicans should be shot in the street like the dogs they are."

Really people?

The fact of the matter is Sebastien is a born and raised American. His father has served in the U.S. Navy. Although I'm not surprised, it still pisses me off at how the American people are still so racist.  

It boggles my mind that most of these people are probably much older than de la Cruz but resort to pick on him all because of the way he looks and his name. 

If you think racism isn't a problem in our country you're dead wrong. It's a shame that something as simple as singing our country's National Anthem can spark such vile, contemptible nonsense.

I've always believed that racist bigots such as the people who started this are un-American.

Shut up and grow up!

Here is Sebastien's amazing, heartfelt and 100 percent American rendition of our National Anthem.

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Memories

My grandma with her signed "GO HEELS" poster | Photo: Chris White

My grandma has always been there to go with me to things when others could not.

Even now, when she's 86 years old, she gets up and goes to so many events with me. And it's not because I "make" or "force" her to either. She actually wants to go to these things.

The latest being yesterday's UNC Baseball team send off. We've really been following the team through the season, including sitting out at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in the wee hours of the morning during the Heels' 14-inning game against Clemson in the ACC Tournament. Like that game, she was excited to go and see the players and coaches at the send off.

When the players came out to sign autographs and take pictures, she hopped right in, talking to everyone she came into contact with. That included Skye Bolt. She even told him she wanted to get on the bus and go to Omaha with them!

Then came probably one of the - if not the - most memorable moments I've ever had with her.

She went up to head coach, Mike Fox and he signed the posters she had. But that's actually not who really wanted to see. No, she wanted to see Scott Jackson, the first base coach. I don't know why. I guess because she'd "helped" him coach during the games - we affectionately call her "Coach White" which was a term coined by my late grandpa.

So what did Coach Fox do? He called Coach Jackson over and got him to meet my grandma and autograph her posters. She was beyond thrilled.

My grandma is amazing. I've never seen her so excited and happy in my entire life. 

I want to thank Coach Fox, Coach Jackson, Andrew Smith, Trent Thornton, Skye Bolt, Korey Dunbar, Parks Jordan, Trevor Kelley, Taylore Cherry, Tom Zengel, Grayson Atwood and Alex Raburn for signing our posters and being there to make the day for us. You guys are awesome!

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On The Arrest Of Tim Funk

Tim Funk, a veteran reporter for the Charlotte Observer, was among those arrested at the N.C. Legislative Building and charged with misdemeanor trespassing and failure to disperse on Monday.

He wasn't a protester.

Funk, a religion writer for the Observer, was actually covering the "Moral Monday" protests which were being led by local clergy.

As seen in the video, Funk clearly had proper identification - a press badge - and didn't get involved in the protests in any way.

Yet he was still arrested. In fact, he was one of the first.

Jeff Weaver, chief of the General Assembly police in Raleigh who oversaw the arrests, told the Associated Press that Funk didn't heed warning from officers to disperse the area between the legislative chambers.

Wait a second. Is that not a public place? 

I'm pretty sure journalists have a First Amendment right to gather news information in public places. The only things they can't do are trespass onto someone's private residence or tap into phone lines for the sake of news gathering. Covering this demonstration in a public place is not trespassing.

Whether you are for these protests or against them, you can't ignore the fact that this was a rush to judgment and a grave mistake on the part of General Assembly police. I'm appalled  - but not surprised - by their actions. It's obviously been a long time since these officers had a class on Constitutional right.

Doug Clark of the Winston-Salem Journal said it best:

"General Assembly police apparently can't tell the difference between demonstrators practicing civil disobedience and a reporter practicing journalism."

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/06/10/4098290/observer-religion-reporter-arrested.html#storylink

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