Issuu

CULTURE

CLASH a venue for Galveston’s free thinkers

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Big Tech LETTER FROM PUBLISHER:

THE GALVESTON REALTOR

Find Your Galveston LIST WITH THE BEST! We represent Galveston’s best & brightest properties. In addition to our bold marketing strategies, we provide the following complimentary services for every listing:

+PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY +AERIAL/DRONE IMAGERY +STAGING CONSULTATION +MARKET VALUATION

TheGalvestonRealtor.com

2417 Strand Street • Galveston TX 4 0 9 . 3 5 4 .64 5 6 Brian@TomsGalvestonRealEstate.com 4

Technology is defined as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. Therefore we can only expect that technology will continue to evolve as our scientific knowledge expands. The last bit is the real kicker, “...especially industry.” Tech in industry can lead to many wonderful advancements. Like or not, the world is changing and our systems must evolve to keep up. In this issue of Culture Clash, we explore tech in Texas and how technology affects us here in Galveston. Some have chosen to think of the bigger picture while others focus on the immediate impacts at home. Regardless, as technology takes over more and more of our daily lives, the fact remains that these types of conversations need to be had. We hope our BIG TECH issue scratches the surface of what can sometimes be a tough topic. Our goal is to motivate and inspire you to think more broadly about your role in shaping the future of tech in Texas, especially Galveston. Most of all we hope you read, enjoy, and share.

Write us an email or shoot us a comment any time online: CultureClashGalveston.com CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com Janese Maricelli Publisher ON THE COVER: “Big Iron” by Madeline Morphew. This artist is a Galveston Character designer, illustrator, and graphic designer. Her work often incorporates both elements of illustration and design with an interest in 20th-century aesthetics. She is in her final year to receive her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Media Arts and Animation to place alongside her certification in UI/UX Design. Contact or follow her on instagram @seagullandcroissant. *This magazine is NOT printed on recycled paper or with soy-based inks YET! But we are working on it. Help us get there, advertise or sponsor us! E-mail for more details CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

table of contents Vol. 5 Issue 1 (Nov/Dec 2021)

DEPARTMENTS Be A Better Human

CULTURE

CL AS H magazine

PUBLISHER Janese Maricelli-Thomasson

LAYOUT & DESIGN Corinne Tamayo JanMar Agency

7 Black Hat

EDITOR

Express Yourself

12 Galveston vs. Tech 15 The Rise of Cryptocurrency 20 Technology

Coolture

Jamie Maricelli Selah Tacconi

INTERN

23 Where to Now

Savannah Walser

CONTRIBUTORS

Robert Dean • Chris Hall Robert Kuhn • Sean Rogers

MAKE A CONNECTION

24 GAR Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion 26 PULSE Calendar

For ad rates or personalized marketing strategies, call us at 409.502.8221

CHECK US OUT

28 People of Galveston

29 Seismique

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

IO U S G V E STO N AL

24 GET READY FOR THE NEXT ISSUE!

CultureClashGalveston.com instagram.com/CultureClashMagazine facebook.com/CultureClashMag cultureclashgalveston@gmail.com ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Please mail check payable to Culture Clash 1625 23rd St., • Galveston TX 77550 In the amount of $24 Note “subscription” in memo line

FEATURED ART: SEISMIQUE WORM HOLE Slipping through different dimensions? Beef up your cyber security and be a better human.

Be a Better human

Recopy box, line, header, and copy.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO GALVESTON IN 1990, MY SOCIAL CIRCLE WAS VERY SMALL. In fact, it was Curtis O’Neal. We were the two people we knew who played Axis & Allies, D&D, and, wait for it, computer games. Not Atari or Nintendo or Odyssey (all console games) but PC games. New on the home front was a fast action flight simulator, Jetfighter.

BLACK HAT

BY ANONYMOUS

CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)

For those of you who do not remember, there were some weird security features in PC games back in the day. The most annoying was the need to keep the CD in the drive, even after loading the program. This feature made sharing the software pointless. Another trick was asking periodically for a password from the manual. Not from a list of passwords. Too easy to copy. But the fifth word on line 9 of page 17. A different word EVERY time, what a pain in the ass! Even if you owned the game. Jetfighter went a different route. It required you read the instructions for a carrier landing, and then perform 3 successful landings, before allowing unrestricted play. This demanded a lot of reading and the kind of time needed to fly the landing pattern three times. Well, the time to fly the pattern many times if you kept crashing. Being the young Mavericks we were (see what I did there), we had a different plan. Jetfighter was a DOS game (that we played on an 8086-chip set). Displaying the code side by side in both ASCII and hexadecimal, we could weed out the “training” missions played compared to the number required. We simply changed the numbers to equal each other and resaved the code. Opening the game up again, Viola! Good to go. Why, pray tell would I drag up this arcane trivia? Because it is exactly, on a more sophisticated level, what serious hackers are doing to get into Bank of America, Google, WhatsApp, and the Phoenix

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Municipal Police Department to gain access to your personal information. No, hackers are not just changing a “1” to a “3”. They are exploiting bugs already within the software that you use every day. They are silently embedding key loggers, tasks, detours, and eavesdroppers (among other things) to turn your software against you. They are changing addresses and rerouting the data, YOUR data, and marketing it, or just making it available to the public. Won’t anti-virus software and firewalls stop these? The answer is no. We have graduated from that. Viruses, trojans, and worms are yesterday’s news. More sophisticated exploits now run off of weaknesses within the software that run your devices. Entire servers are dedicated to replicating legitimate websites and collecting your data. A modern phishing scam will masquerade as an email from a trusted friend or business. The email will contain a link, also genuine looking. The URL in the link looks like a link you use. For example, “bankofąmerica. com” instead of “bankofamerica. com”. Or, it is shorthand for a longer address and the only part you see (unless

Watch out for these discrepancies!

a 7

CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)

In the early days of the internet, porn sites were famously targets, or sources, of viruses and exploits. A demonstration scared me away from internet porn early on. An acquaintance of mine thought he had found the most amazing porn site. The site was the more appetizing because it was billed as free, but as soon as he clicked on the link his screen was inundated with pop-up windows dealt too fast and too furious to close, and his machine was locked up in a Denial of Service attack. I’ll stick with them sticky old magazines, thank you. Does the Operating System matter? Well, kind of. Windows machines were always more susceptible to attack. Microsoft was lazy, modeling their business on volume, not quality. And most new computers came preloaded with Windows. Macs were considered immune. Not because they weren’t hackable, but because they garnered less than 20% of the market. They weren’t worth the hacker’s time.

But, what kind of phone do you have? Not long ago an Israeli security outfit (with Nation State backing) launched a package chock full of Zero Day Zero Click exploits targeted at iPhones. Binge watch Mister Robot to catch up on these terms, and Google “Pegasus Spyware”. Did it work? Well, Saudi Arabia is suspected of using it against American journalist Jamal Kashoggi to track him to the Consulate in Istanbul before strangling him and hacking him into little bits. His crime? Reporting against the crowned prince of Saudi Arabia. And this program was sold to over 100 actors, including many Nation States such as Mexico and the US FBI. Will your anti-virus catch it? Oh my naïve little Luddite! Did we learn nothing for the Maginot Line? How much do you really think your freeware will stand up to software that has been rumored to sell for around $55 million? And some reports say most antivirus companies were bullied into setting their anti-virus and firewalls to IGNORE Pegasus.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com

you expand it) is “bankofamerica.com”, instead of “www.russianhackers.givemeyourmoney.sucker!!!/ whichbankshouldwepretendtobetoday.howabout/ bankofamerica.com.ru”.

CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)

What does all this mean? It means, get your shit together. Never mind the “dark web”. Those are bogeyman stories. Practice computer hygiene. Slow down on the clicks. Segregate. Compartmentalize. Don’t use your personal computer for work, or vice versa. That is a tunnel just waiting to be dug. Keep your shit on an external hard drive and unplug when you’re done. For that matter, turn off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not online. Hell, put it in airplane mode while you’re sleeping. Get an RFID shield for your credit cards and work badge.

Click Click this! For more uplifting stories, listen to the podcast Darknetdiaries.com and check out the website Citizenlab.ca.

Sound spooky? Buddy, I’m not even scratching the surface. But why should you listen to me? Because I use Linux OS (not saying the flavor) on a Raspberry Pi and my kids speak Python, Java, and C++. However all I should have to say is - in 1990 I was playing Jetfighter for free. Yes, I’m proud of that one.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Join the W GLO E Culture Clash D I R hur

3rd T

ery of Ev

Mont

Street Team!

1808 Seawall Blvd (409) 762-2453 10

REPRESENT!

PROMOTE!

City Lights, Summer Nights & Glowing Bikes Meet up at 6pm in front of our shop!

MAKE FAST CASH!

DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

HANG WITH THE CULTURE CREW

LETS HAVE FUN

BE THE FACE OF CULTURE CLASH GET PAID TO HAVE FUN, GIVE US A CALL AT 409-502-8221 C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Express Yourself

FEATURED ART: SEISMIQUE FLARE Love it or hate it, expression through technology comes in many forms.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

GALVESTON

VS.

TECH BY ROBERT DEAN 12

SO, HERE IS THE THING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY – IT IS AWESOME FOR SOME THINGS, AND A GIGANTIC PAIN IN THE ASS FOR OTHERS. When we think about what technology means for someplace like Galveston, we must ask ourselves, does the island want to be connected with a wallet tap on every register? A few might say yes, but take it from me, living in a tech wonderland has its downsides, too. I live in Austin. Tech drives everything here. I know when a band is playing six months out. I also know what’s happening in the world of music, comedy, and entertainment that day, down to the hour. I see what hotspots are opening or shutting down. I have my choice of food and booze delivery service 24/7. My phone never stops going. I get notifications from news organizations about the day’s scandals, what deals the local taqueria is peddling for happy hour, and even what version of hell traffic on I-35 currently looks like. Our coffee shops are littered with people writing code, planning their start-up, or yapping over lattes about their new

“mixed media company”. Whatever that means. We have every form of social media. You can use seven different versions of a dating app to meet someone, despite the emotional and psychological toll these dating apps can take on many users. Fun fact- Bumble was founded here, in Austin. Cash is something the service industry uses primarily to tip other bartenders. For everyone else, most people trade currency by Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, or use their plastic. Paper money is an abstract concept. Our skyline is dominated by the world’s most prominent players: Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Oracle, and that is just what is downtown. IBM, Apple, Samsung, Instagram, and everyone you love (who secretly collects all your data) is here, too. Do not think it is a foreign concept that some start-ups could move to the island and change everything. No really, just Google it (pun intended). It can happen anywhere. Before you know it, some nerd will be trying to sell you on his service to streamline yard cutting, and that is how the whole chaotic party starts.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

Galveston still works on a handshake and a lunch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. There is a beauty in these kinds of relationships. Unfortunately, in many cities around the country, human relationships built on a handshake and a hug are becoming a lost art. This is a result of cookie-cutter contracts that can be drawn up in minutes via an iPhone app, and the ease of putting everything in writing in real time. Email is acceptable, but stick to your relationships (the old school way of doing business). Do you want a city of self-serve kiosks for every transaction? Then, come to Austin. Most of the time, when you sit in a watering hole on the island, folks are connecting with each other while enjoying a drink or bite to eat. They are not staring at their phones. Stay behind the times. Stay real and connected. Galveston is one of the last authentic places taking things slow – on island time. There are enough places driven by “the next big thing”, and the world has enough techno-dicks ruining the fun for everyone else. Could UberEATS work a little better? Sure, but do not get carried away with wanting everything we have up here in the big city of Austin. Galveston still knows the value of a handshake over an iPhone app.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Photo courtesy of Vecteezy & Unsplash.com

Is Galveston ready for some of this spillover? Does Galveston want to be ready? When tech rolls in, so do the tech salaries, the highpriced condos, and someone willing to pay way more for that mom-and-pop fried shrimp spot that has been there for decades. Sure, it is nice to get a Big Mac delivered at three in the morning, but on the other hand everything here is judged by a Google Review or Yelp. Do you want that for the island?

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

The Rise of Cryptocurrency Chris AS CRYPTOCURRENCY SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS, SO DOES THE REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEGUN TO ARISE. When looking back over the past 3 years a lot has happened in the world of cryptocurrency, some good and some bad. There have been many new players entering into the market including huge investment firms, large corporations, and people like you and me. Even Hollyweird and the uber rich have decided that if it is good enough for Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, then it must be good enough for them, too. In many cases, those making the biggest investments into cryptocurrency are also the ones that are doing their best to manipulate the price, sometimes creating volatility in the market. When we introduced the idea of Bitcoin to our readers in 2018, the total investment into cryptocurrency was at $9 Billion US dollars, according to CoinMarketCap.com. 1 Now we are well above that at a whopping $1.9 Trillion. Where did that money come from? It came from people all around the world trying to get in on the Bitcoin Buzz and make some good money in the process. Companies like Facebook and Tesla are some of the juggernauts that tried to cash in on the ‘Bitcoin Bubble’. In both examples the owners of the companies, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, told very different stories about their involvement into cryptocurrency, but the end result was the same. 1

Coin Market CP. (2021, September). www.coinmarketcap.com

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Hall In the case of Facebook, they created their own form of digital currency known as ‘Libra’. We should be surprised based on the public stance that Facebook/Zuckerberg took at the beginning of their journey into cryptocurrency. In their case, it was the development of a digital asset for their social platform, or a native currency. Zuckerberg did everything he could to publicly criticize Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, in general. While behind the scenes, he was buying large amounts of Bitcoin. You ask yourself, why would a billionaire tell me that Bitcoins are no good, and then buy them in secret? The natural answer is – greed. By creating a negative impression of a digital asset owned by the people, he could drive the price down, and then scoop them up when others were selling because of fear, uncertainty, and doubt – FUD. 2 Possessing large amounts of this asset, allows Facebook to manipulate and steer investing in their own native currency, while also controlling prices of their biggest competition – Bitcoin. Bitcoin is not owned by a corporation; it is owned by the people who purchase Bitcoin. 2 FUD is an acronym used in the trading world to denote spreading Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself) There is independent governance by individuals and the environment that it creates. In Facebooks’ case, they want to own the asset, control the price, and bad mouth their competition – which is you and me. This should not be surprising, since Facebook obviously needs more control of our society - what we say, do, or think. On the other hand, Elon Musk, went about his manipulation of the crypto markets in a very different way. You will remember back to February of this year, Elon Musk made a big deal about the cryptocurrency – DOGE coin after he bought a massive amount of DOGE coin earlier that year. DOGE coin was originally created as a form of mockery. It was an attempt to show that you could make a coin with no real purpose, or utility. It was considered a ‘SHIT’ coin, affectionately used in the crypto sphere to denote a product of no true intrinsic value. Since Elon Musk is a person of significance, people took notice.

The price of Tesla stock shot through the roof, and the price of Bitcoin skyrocketed as well, from his positive words about both. According to articles in Bloomberg, Tesla motors was one of few large corporations that made this bold move and expected that other companies would follow suite. Tesla has since sold a large portion of their Bitcoin – at all-time highs between $49,000 – $65,000. After dumping his Bitcoin, Musk emerged as a critic of Bitcoin and cites his reasons, including the energy consumption related to mining Bitcoin and the energy needed to buy, sell, and trade this new digital asset. 3 Ossinger, J. (2021, July). Tesla Correlation to Big Tech Breaks Down. Blame Bitcoin. Bloomberg. www.bloomberg.com

Photos courtesy of Unsplash.com

People began to buy massive amounts of the coin, to avoid the fear of missing out – FOMO. When the price shot up, it would be no surprise to learn that Elon Musk dumped all those coins at a significant profit – never to be mentioned again. This is a classic pump and dump and has become all too common in the crypto sphere.

Well, it appears that Elon learned a valuable lesson from the DOGE situation and took it to a whole other level when he announced that Tesla Motors would invest $1.5 Billion into Bitcoin, according to articles written in Bloomberg, this past summer. 3 This preceded favorable comments by Elon Musk about the use of Bitcoin as a payment option for these premium automobiles.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

Not surprisingly, during late summer he completely retracted this notion of absurd energy usage, and that Tesla Motors would again accept Bitcoin as a payment option. It’s impossible to believe that Musk did not understand what the technology surrounding Blockchain, and cryptocurrencies entailed. To Musk’s credit, he has been a big proponent of allowing crypto to ‘fly’ and often criticizes government overreach.

According to the article, “While the SEC awaits a ruling on this matter, the plaintiff (SEC) must be struggling with the most recent attack from Ripple’s counsel days after discovering a document that may prove that the SEC provided guidance based on Hinman’s 2018 speech – which could reveal the SEC lied when stating the speech was only a personal opinion, not policy.” 6

Currently, there are many instances of government overreach in the cryptocurrency world. When we last reported, Ripple Labs – XRP was climbing the ladder of gaining massive acceptance by banks and lending institutions, when the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) swooped in with a lawsuit against the company. Brad Garlinghouse and attorneys for the company assert that they followed all the rules and properly categorized this investment. SEC has been a thorn in the side of every large cryptocurrency project and the situation is growing in complexity.

So apparently the SEC is hiding the fact that they are taking a stance against Ripple – XRP, and it’s not merely the opinion of William H. Hinman, the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance – SEC. When any cryptocurrency project comes into the view of the SEC, it usually ends in litigation. The SEC has now set their sights on Coinbase, the largest US based cryptocurrency exchange.

Although Ripple XRP is still under investigation by the SEC, the price has been very positive and the government’s attempt to steer people away, has had the opposite effect. Ripple has been above the $1.00 mark ever since. Ripple has buried the SEC in paperwork, according to sources at ‘FinanceFeeds.com’. 4 Requests by defendants have buried the SEC in massive paperwork, and the SEC is complaining that it would take them over a year to address those requests. In addition, the SEC has been caught in an apparent lie, according to another FinanceFeeds article. 5

According to articles recently published in Forbes magazine, the lack of clarity falls directly on the SEC in many instances.7 The crypto sphere could not be any clearer. The US government seems to be the ones that lack clarity in every instance. The article also explains that the CEO of Coinbase approached the SEC in order to get guidance on moving forward with a new lending product that many other companies in the sphere are offering. In a recent tweet by Brian Armstrong of Coinbase, he explains, that when he approached the SEC for guidance, they returned with subpoenas for records and depositions. They demanded their client list for all Coinbase users and they issued Coinbase a ‘Wells Notice’, which is a warning of impending enforcement. Not the welcome that Coinbase was expecting.

4 Steves, R. (2021, September). XRP LAWSUIT: RIPPLE COULD PROVE SEC LIED ABOUT HINMAN’S ‘PERSONAL OPINIONS. www.financefeeds.com. 5 Steves, R. (2021, October). RIPPLE BURIES SEC IN PAPERWORK IN XRP LAWSUIT: NEARLY 30,000 REQUESTS. www.fanancefeeds.com

6 Steves, R. (2021, October). RIPPLE BURIES SEC IN PAPERWORK IN XRP LAWSUIT: NEARLY 30,000 REQUESTS. www.fanancefeeds.com 7 Layton, R. (2021, September). It’s Time to End the SEC’s ‘Clarity’ Charade on Crypto. www.forbes.com

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

Much of the administration at Huobi are Chinese citizens. The government of China has outlawed the buying and selling of crypto by Chinese citizens, yet some of the biggest government run Bitcoin mining operations are based in China. Again, why would the government want to restrict access to such a desirable investment for their citizens? Most likely greed. Chinese citizens find ways around these restrictions by using VPN’s and other computer masking technology. It is also not surprising that China plans to produce their own digital coin, issued and controlled by the same people who are trying to take away the options available on the free markets of the world.

There are a lot of things going on in the investment world that are difficult to understand. One thing is clear, the governments of the world want to control our access to the many cryptocurrency investments that should/could be available to us. Large corporations in the United States are using pump and dumps to get better prices on assets, while shattering some people’s confidence in good projects. The United States government is trying to litigate what they do not understand, to give us their ‘better’ option, instead of what the free markets provide us. My ultimate take-away from this situation is this - if the federal government is trying to take something away, hide it, lie about the quality or reliability of something, then you can bet that I want double of my share. Every time the SEC files a motion to upset the balance of natural market fluctuations, then you know they are scared of losing that control. Ripple – XRP is still not currently available for buying or selling in the US. Get you a VPN, register on exchanges outside the United States, and buy those very things they are trying to keep away from us. Get you a digital wallet to store those coins in because you can bet that more control is coming. I want as much cryptocurrency that I can afford, because the returns are real. Popular exchanges available to United States citizens are Kraken, BinanceUS, KuCoin, Coinbase.

8 Gkritsi, E. (2021, September). China Tightens Crypto Mining Crackdown, Bans Trading. www.coindesk.com

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com

Increasingly, the US government, the SEC, and the IRS are taking tough stances against cryptocurrency. President Biden has promised to increase IRS scrutiny and to crack down on cryptocurrency. This raises the question, why they would be so hard on US citizens who are making their own decisions about what they want to invest in these days? Maybe it has something to do with world governments wanting to create their own digital assets and replace the ones that are owned by the people with one’s that are owned by the them? According to other sources at Coindesk, the Central Bank of China is cracking down on crypto and cryptocurrency mining operations in China.8 They have run the largest cryptocurrency exchange out of the country – Huobi. They recently relocated to crypto-friendly Singapore, instead.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

TECHNOLOGY BY ROBERT KUHN

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Express Yourself)

HOW IS TECHNOLOGY AFFECTING US IN GALVESTON AND IN TEXAS? That is the question that our gracious editor presented us with to ruminate on. Zeros and ones. That’s what we are to the machine. We are digits of information feeding it, so it can grow stronger and bigger than we have ever dreamed of. It really doesn’t matter where we are anymore, Galveston, New York, Paris, Manaus, Mozambique, it is all becoming the same. The deeper we get into this technological realm, the more insignificant and homogeneous our location becomes. Our language, our culture, our economics, our philosophy is merging with the machine. Let me tell you a story about John Henry. John Henry was a steel driving man. He worked for the railroad, and with his heavy hammer he could lay more track and drive more nails than any man alive. The railroaders were always on the cutting edge, and so they came up with a machine that had a steam engine they thought could outdrive any human. It would save a lot of money because one of these machines could lay more track than ten men. Except, if one of these men was the brave John Henry. John Henry said he could beat that machine, so one day there was a contest and the two opposing forces went at it, John Henry sweating and swinging his hammer and that machine spitting steam and blowing puffs of smoke. They fought from morning ‘til night, plowing through the rock and mountains, chipping away at that track. People cheered, and John said nothing, just cursed the evil machine under his breath, he kept swinging with all his mighty strength.

The sun went down, the whistle blew, and John Henry was exhausted after laying 3 miles of track. The machine only laid 2 ½ miles. The railroaders ate their words, and the crowd of working men and women picked up their hero who had done the impossible. He beat the machine, but it was too late. Right there on the track John Henry died, with the heavy hammer in his hand. We used to get into a lot of trouble as kids. We were experimenting with sexual activity, not to mention some drugs and alcohol. We were sneaking around late in the night to find ways to party and have fun. They say kids are not doing as many drugs anymore, or even having much sex. What have they traded these traditional vises for? Now, they have their devices, rather than vices. We used to hear about crack babies, but now we hear about I-Pad babies. While not as physically disabling as crack, technology for young children can negatively impact their social and emotional health and development. Try as you may to out work or defeat the machine, the fact is technological advancements are just that. Technology is a tool for growth. It is here for our use. The problem is when we become the tools and technology starts using us. We want faster and faster. We want the future now and technology is trying to give it to us, but where did the precious right now go? Speed is only relevant when one side has it. It’s nullified when we’re all flying.

“

Whether we like it or not, change comes, and the greater the resistance, the greater the pain. Buddhism perceives the beauty of change, for life is like music in this: if any note or phrase is held for longer than its appointed time, the melody is lost. - Allen Watts

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

” 21

FEATURED ART: ART: SEISMIQUE COLOR PORTAL

C00LTURE 22

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Coolture)

Where to Now By Sean Rodgers As to summit a mired peak Then descend on heavy thoughts Set leg upon fabled shore For somber retreat towards home Land a beast so many scorn To bleed all life blood out What time is spent in vain attempt As reckless woes turn to vice Heroes fall on self-named blade For false gods named re-miss Ends meet in destined tides When love lost, twice tossed aside We all stumble a fractured fate Chasing shadowed grip›s dire slips Until, in light, we feel the truth And lean towards our tempered heart No distant gold weighs as much As deep, loving, self-lust

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

GAR Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

CULTURE CLASH (Coolture)

“HELP...HELP... I CAN’T BREATHE,” ARE THE WORDS WE HEARD GEORGE FLOYD MUTTER. I know he was terrified and confused; wondering why this was happening to him. I think he must have also wondered why no one was helping him. I imagine he was hoping to God that one of his pleas would be responded to; someone would provide relief from the pressure of the officers holding him down and constricting his breath. Unfortunately, as we all know, when the

pressure was released, it was too late for Mr. Floyd. Mr. Floyd’s death was a somber and very urgent reminder of the sleeping beast that we tip-toed around for generations. The beast of racism and the inequality that comes as a result. This moment has gone down in history, but it is not unique to our past or our present. Life and circumstances have a way of bringing points of necessary growth back around, no matter how lightly we

tip-toe. In the absence of critical dialogue and social impact, the nation demanded solutions and retribution. The nation demanded change! In response to the outcry from the community about the injustices of inequality, the Galveston Association of Realtors formed a committee to address the inequalities in the field of realtors. This group was formed with diversity in mind including members from different backgrounds and ages.

Photo courtesy of Vecteezy

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Coolture)

The committee’s main initiative is to cultivate diversity, equity, and inclusion within the local community and the local Association of Realtors. In 2020, the Real Estate Scholarship fund was created as an opportunity for individuals belonging to underrepresented populations, who are interested in working in the real estate field, funds to further their career. This year the committee selected one individual to

receive the scholarship. However, we do not want to stop there. Our committee believes that we can make an impact in the culture of our community. We can impact the lives of a few, or we can increase our impact by offering additional scholarships for eligible applicants. We believe that people are innately good and have the desire to be of service to others. We are seeking leaders to make the courageous choice

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

to take a stand with us. To achieve our goal of increasing our impact in Galveston, we are calling on the community to help us raise awareness. An increase of donations to our scholarship funds allows us to continue awarding scholarships to those that are underserved and underrepresented in our community and to achieve the future initiatives of the committee as we grow. Get involved! Give back!

Scan the QR code to follow us on Facebook. Visit https:// bit.ly/3iCCcS0 for more information on how to apply for a scholarship. If you are not sure how you fit in or why this should matter to you- JUST ASK!

CULTURE CLASH (Coolture)

Social Media! SCAN OUR INSTAGRAM NAME TAG

Pulse

Nov. - Dec. 2021 Calendar of Events

November LONE STAR RALLY Thurs - Sun, Nov 4 - 7 6:30pm - 8:30pm Downtown Galveston Strand St. & Mechanic St. Free Admission lonestarrally.com TRIBALNET CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Mon - Thurs, Nov 8th - 11th, 9am - 6pm Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX Admission Prices Vary tribalnetconference.com

AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK @CULTURECLASHMAG

BUSINESS TECH EXPO Thurs - Fri, Nov 11 - 12, 9am - 6pm Austin Convention Center 500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX Admission Starts at $30 thebusinesstechexpo.com

BAYOU CITY COMIC-CON Fri - Sun, Nov 19 - 21 Nov19, 3pm - 9pm Nov 20, 10am - 8pm Nov 21, 11am - 6pm The Westin Galleria Houston 5060 West Alabama Street Houston, TX Admission Starts at $20 visithoustontexas.com PRIME ART GALLERY Nov 21 - Dec 16, 11am - 5pm Primary Paint Party - Prime Art Gallery 11002 Westheimer Road Houston, TX

Admission $20 eventbrite.com THANKSGIVING

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Nov 20 - Jan 2, 6pm - 10pm Moody Gardens 1 Hope Blvd. Galveston, TX Admission starts at $22 galveston.com C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

CULTURE CLASH (Coolture)

December

SEE ART

THE VOICE OF GAMING Wed, Dec 1, 9:30am - 4:30pm The University of Texas at Austin 110 Inner Campus Drive Austin, TX Admission Begins at $475 eventbrite.com

SEISMIQUE ART MEETS TECHNOLOGY seismique.com

See Pgs 6, 11, & 22

DICKENS ON THE STRAND Fri - Sun, Dec 3 - Dec 5 Dec 3, 5pm - 9pm Dec 4, 10am - 9pm Dec 5, 10pm - 6pm 2302 Strand St, Galveston, TX Admission prices vary galvestonhistory.org

Drink up DIRTY SHIRLEY SHOT Deep Eddy Lime, Grenadine, Splash of Sprite

NO SLEEP FEST 2021 (LIVE MUSIC) Sun, Dec 12, 1pm Scout Bar 18307 Egret Bay Blvd. Houston, TX Admission starts at $25 (All Ages Allowed) eventbrite.com CHRISTMAS BOAT LANE PARADE Sun, Dec 12, 6pm Kemah Boardwalk 215 Kipp Avenue, Kemah, TX galvceston.com SANTA HUSTLE Sun, Dec 19 6:45am - Kids Dash 7:00am - Half Marathon 7:15am - 5K San Luis Resort 5222 Seawall Blvd. Galveston, TX santahustle.com C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Island Pier Club 1702 Avenue O

SEISMIQUE ART MUSEUM Open Wed - Mon, about 12p-9p 2306 Highway 6 S. Houston, TX Admission prices vary, Adult General Admission $35 seismique.com

WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Email Us: CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com 27

e l p Peo ESTON

CULTURE CLASH (FEATURE)

V L A G Of

How do you see Big Tech affecting you personally or the City of Galveston? Interviews By Savannah Walser & Janese Maricelli

Jeff Nielson

Love it or hate it, technology is part of change and life. It has been great for booking business in advance. Glennon Doyle, Untamed

Cora Harper During and since COVID-19. Big Tech created a bridge that allowed us to continue to have access to our schools, churches, workplaces, doctors, etc. This was very beneficial to me because it allowed me to continue to work and help my community without putting myself or others at risk. Marisa Bible I have decreased my usage of Big Tech like social media (Facebook, Instagram) because it mostly brought on feelings of anxiety, worry, or comparison of my life to others. However, I use Amazon so much because it is extremely convenient for my lifestyle. I see the pros and cons of these a Big Tech organizations and how is can effect small businesses that I love. 28

I find myself worrying most that when we hand our children phones we steal their boredom from them. As a result, we are raising a generation of writers who will never start writing, artists who will never start doodling, chefs who will never make a mess of the kitchen, athletes who will never kick a ball against a wall, musicians who will never pick up their aunt’s guitar and start strumming.

Glennon Doyle is a global citizen, an American author and activist known for her #1 New York Times bestsellers Untamed, Love Warrior, and Carry On, Warrior.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

Seismique HOUSTON, TX – SEISMIQUE (SEIS • MICK) – A 40,000-SQUARE-FOOT ART-FUELED EXPERIENTIAL MUSEUM ON HOUSTON’S WEST SIDE AT 2306 SOUTH HIGHWAY 6 – IS BUILT TO CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF WIDE-RANGING AUDIENCES UNABLE TO RESIST THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL OF 40-PLUS UNIQUE EXHIBITS OVERFLOWING WITH DAZZLING DISPLAYS OF LIGHT GENERATED BY 9 MILLION LEDS, COLOR, SOUND, AND NATURAL ELEMENTS. The first-to-market arts and entertainment space features works by over two dozen established and emerging artists, many of whom are Texas-based, along with advanced technological elements like projection mapping from 111 projectors, holograms, augmented reality, light mapping, motion tracking, gamification and more. Each of Seismique’s installations shares the common denominator of being a dynamic expression of visual art brought to life by a bevy of serious artists. “I liken Seismique to the equivalent of walking through a portal and into an alternative universe that is a feast for the

senses,” said Seismique creator Steve Kopelman, a seasoned veteran of the immersive experience and escape game industries. He added, “This past year has been exceedingly difficult for the whole world, and we want Seismique to serve as something of a pandemic panacea – a place where visitors can transport themselves to another realm and find creative inspiration through the artistic manifestation of 40 different exhibits. That is a long way of saying we just want people to forget their worries and have fun, albeit in a responsible and safe environment.”

CULTURE CLASH (FEATURE) Art Meets Technology - See Pgs 6, 11, & 22 In addition, Seismique has installed 40 motiontracking cameras (including Microsoft Kinect Azures and Real Sense cameras) that provide additional non-contact interaction by tracking patron movement in several areas of the facility. These cameras collectively function to activate parts of the experience without a guest needing to touch anything. The cameras and their software bring specific elements of Seismique to life as guests are simply moving about the rooms in which the cameras are equipped.

Among the many notable artists bringing Seismique to life is acclaimed Japanese crochet artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam, who has been exhibiting artwork around the world since the 1960s. Horiuchi MacAdam’s award-winning project ‘public art for kids’ (which began as an installation for a park in Tokyo) has evolved into a signature concept dubbed AirPocket. The multi-colored playscape resembles a giant hammock made of crocheted circles, open pockets, and dangling pendulums for climbing and playing.

To that end, Seismique has followed the templates of other Houston museums and opened on Saturday, December 26 at limited capacity. Hand sanitizing stations are placed throughout the facility and all of the interactive elements are frequently and thoroughly sanitized. For a completely touchless experience, guests can also utilize an integrated Seismique mobile app created for the space to avoid touching dials and knobs.

C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

BRINGING TOGETHER ART, AWARENESS, AND ADVOCACY! Turtles About Town is a community art project that highlights the City of Galveston and the conservation efforts of Turtle Island Restoration Network to protect endangered sea turtles on the upper Texas coast. Turtle lovers of all ages have the opportunity to see 50 colorful Kemp’s ridley sea turtle statues that have been installed around the island since 2018. Businesses, individuals and organizations graciously sponsor the turtle statues while local artists are commissioned to give each one its own personality and meaning.

HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTT! No, really. Hold onto it.

Cigarette butts can take 25 years to decompose, are 98% plastic, and are toxic to marine life! Please help Galveston Surfrider reduce butt litter on the island, and in the ocean, by disposing of your butts in one of these cans provided by local businesses and individuals. #hotyb For more info, go to www.Galveston. Surfrider.org

Download a FREE map and go on a tour at seaturtles.org/turtles. Be sure to tag Turtle Island Restoration Network in your images (@TIRN-Gulf on Facebook and @TIRN.Gulf on Instagram) and tag #TurtlesAboutTown!

seaturtles.org C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • N OV/ D EC 2 0 2 1

To volunteer or sponsor a can, email hotyb@galveston. surfrider.org

clapcupstudios.com 31