Friday Night Entertainment - will.i.am with special guests

[jspatz1]

I am reminded of weddings where the guests wait in the lobby for an hour while the photographer takes pictures, and the ceremony itself seems to be run be the photographer, not the preacher. Are the pictures of the event, or is the event to take pictures? Something about the tail wagging the dog.

[BIGWILLI2081]

For everyone saying FIRST is now celebrating celebrities instead of robots you are wrong. FIRST is getting celebrities to celebrate us and get our message out into the world. I think it's pretty cool that the BEP and other celebrities are willing to take up their time to come celebrate science and technology with us.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by BIGWILLI2081

For everyone saying FIRST is now celebrating celebrities instead of robots you are wrong. FIRST is getting celebrities to celebrate us and get our message out into the world. I think it's pretty cool that the BEP and other celebrities are willing to take up their time to come celebrate science and technology with us.

Bingo !!

[Chris_Elston]

Originally Posted by BIGWILLI2081

For everyone saying FIRST is now celebrating celebrities instead of robots you are wrong. FIRST is getting celebrities to celebrate us and get our message out into the world. I think it's pretty cool that the BEP and other celebrities are willing to take up their time to come celebrate science and technology with us.

BigWill has got it right in my opinion. Two-Thumbs Up.

I know it's hard to think about how the world works today. We've all been brain washed in the form of sports and celebrity culture. We view Will I.Am as a celebrity and "think" it's natural that all celebrity want in the spot light always. It's not about Will I.AM. It's about a culture change in what it is you and your team are doing by earning the right to show us this weekend. Will I.AM is coming to celebrate YOU and YOUR team, and your accomplishments in the FIRST program. This is his way to help you celebrate those new found skills or accomplishments in being on a world class robotics team. As Chris Fultz and many others have said, try to enjoy the weekend and let it sink in.....that someone is there to appreciate what YOU and YOUR team have done.

I recently read an article linked to us news from our own North East Indiana Talent Made Here Initiative:
http://www.usnews.com/education/blog...stem-standards

In this article sums up the culture change...

Tom Kalil, the White House's deputy director for science and technology policy, said in order for the United States to catch up to countries such as China, India, and South Korea, America needs to fundamentally change to embrace STEM.

"In China, Bill Gates is Britney Spears; in the U.S., Britney Spears is Britney Spears," he said. "We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated—it's the winner of the science fair, too."

Best of luck to you teams competition at the World Championships. I'll be there Friday late and some Saturday, with a small group of kids but probably won't be able to see the concert because of the ticket structure. Someone can fill me in later...enjoy the fact that Will I. Am thinks GEEKS are kewl...or Nerds in the case of Woodie Flowers...

[Taylor]

Regarding celebrating celebrities:
I've seen pictures of Fred Armisen, several Mythbusters, Shaka Smart, Barack Obama, and that dude that makes cakes on TV on CD-Media. In none of those corresponding threads has there been grumbling about "pandering to celebrities" or "celebrating the wrong culture".
When will.i.am was part of the 2011 kickoff, before the splash page fiasco, people thought that was pretty cool, and were excited about the prospect of a live performance. People on this forum were practically foaming at the mouth, looking for some nod of the head to FIRST during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

So what's different about this?

I appreciate concerns about crowding in the pits - there's another thread devoted to that. But what's done is done, we've got a tremendous opportunity to once again promote FIRST to the public, why not take advantage of it?

I, for one, am very happy about the way this has been handled, and the way our gracious STL hosts are treating us. IMHO, most of the times when FIRST is displayed to the general public (usually as a side story on CNN or 20/20 or 60 Minutes or some such show), it's displayed as this cute little boutique program. I'm yearning for the day when FIRST is above that, is given the same publicity as, say, an NCAA basketball game or NBA football game or the Chicago Marathon. For twenty years, the PTB in NH have been working to make FIRST a household-known entity; having a closed-doors concert by an internationally known act - and not in such a way as to portray us as a "charity case" - is a great thing.

Sure, it's a PITA. I completely agree that we should voice concerns about the space situation. But let's leave the pitchforks and torches at home.

[Conor Ryan]

Originally Posted by Jared341

Is anyone else (not so) secretly hoping that the Black Eyed Peas do a version of the FIRST Rap?

I think this performance would not be complete without a cover or two. I really hope Jimmy Fallon and Bruce Springsteen are both another one of Wil.I.Am's guests:
http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/neil-young-and-bruce-springsteen-whip-my-hair-111610/1260532/

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Taylor

So what's different about this?

All of those things you mention were provided to FIRST teams at no cost; they were each a neat bonus that did not appreciably affect the experience they have as participants in a robotics competition.

This time, their experience IS being affected so as to accommodate this performance. Now that the lunch isn't free, so to speak, people are thinking more critically about what is most important to them. The stakes are higher.

I am having trouble getting all riled up about it. While I'm fiercely competitive, the most valuable parts of FIRST for me have always been when we get to celebrate our achievements -- whether that was winning the event or making new friends. This concert could be a move toward making the Championship more of a celebration of our FIRST culture (again) and less about trying (and failing, in my opinion) to mimic sports.

At the same time, I also accept that some people think being on the floor of a major stadium is awesome. I never really felt that way. Upon reflecting about that some more this morning, I came to realize that the thing I enjoyed most about competing on the floor of the Georgia Dome was that it was, frankly, really quiet. That's probably not a ringing endorsement for branding this thing we do as the Super Bowl of Smarts, though.

[czeke]

One Hundred years from now, no one will care who performed or why. If it ends up benefitting FIRST, our teams, or even a couple of students, so be it.

[flyingcrayons]

this better be webcasted......................................... .. haha

[Conor Ryan]

This is sort of irrelevant but Stephen Colbert's latest tweet:

Originally Posted by Stephen Colbert

StephenAtHome Book Idea: Black Eyed Philoso-pea. "I will.I.think, therefore I will.i.am." Who's in?

[Andrew Schuetze]

A bit more input as to how this really is a good thing for the FIRST community even though they've likely had to re-arrange the layout in the dome.

Many of you on C.D. don't follow the FTC blog by Ken Johnson so here is the link and quote. But you need to follow the link to see a picture of Will and a FTC team and robot.

I had to wait for the official FIRST word to say anything but by now you've probably seen the announcement that Will and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas will do a show Friday night here in St. Louis. What a great way to add even more excitement to the FIRST World Championships.

Not only that, but Will is so into FIRST that he wants to compete! I flew out to Los Angeles last week to meet with Will and an FTC Team from Folsom, CA to build an FTC robot. He and DJ Poet jumped right in. With help from the Folsom team 3509 - Phoenxtrix Will and Poet got hooked up.

Will and Poet will compete against FTC teams here in St. Louis.

A camera crew filmed the whole thing at the Record Plant - where Will (and artists from Jimmy Hendrix to Eminem to Elton John) have recorded. Pretty cool stuff.

More to report in the future as to how the footage will be used. Stay tuned!

[Bill_B]

There is at least one other way to look at this phenomenon. First, think of something or someone for which or for whom you have a great amount of appreciation. Then search among your present talents for a way to express that gratitude. If you find your current talents unable to adequately convey your feelings, perhaps you should consider embarking on a self-improvement program that will eventually let you make that expression happen.

Too abstract for you? Consider this. A kindergarten child "wants" to thank mom on Mother's day. How to do it? Put his hand-print into a pancake sized lump of clay and scratch a name on the back. This is quite likely the limit of this person's ability but certainly not the only way s/he could do it. If you're reading this, I'm certain you have a greater range of ways to handle your appreciation.

Until I hear evidence to the contrary, I'm going to think of this concert as Will.i.am's way to show his appreciation of FIRST. We need to treat his effort with respect for the spirit with which it is offered. If it causes us to take a diversion from the usual, predictable path, it's not a big deal.

Thanks, Will.i.am, from another William.

[meaubry]

Once upon a time, a man offered his talent as a way to show thanks and help promote the cause at a special event to celebrate the success of the cause. Now his talent may not have fit exactly with what those being entertained by his talent might have expected or desired. But, those organizing the cause, realized it could be a good thing, and took him up on his offer.

The world, being as it is, carried with that offer certain baggage. That baggage would potentially upset some of those attending the celebration event - the organizers weighed the pros and cons and came to the conclusion that it was still worth it. Not everyone agreed. The organizers did as they always do - they made the decision, and hoped most of the participants would understand.

Some folks will always see the glass as half full, while others see it half empty. It is impossible to please everyone.

Once upon a time, the FIRST program was called U.S FIRST - the premise behind the message communicated to the participants was focused on the importance of growing the future workforce in our country. The idea of making Engineers the heros, to look up to instead of the personalties from the world of sports and entertainment, was an important message - which still has merit.

Over the years, I found that this organization (like most organizations that survive over time) changed it's core values - in order to sustain growth.
The easiest change to implement was away from a "national" focus and for it to grow internationally. This was a very good thing to do, and no one grumbled about this (that I had heard anyways).

The message of sports heros being replaced by engineers - remained, but the message was being communicated by politicians, as the need for government support grew. Every venue and event introduced politicians that spoke of the importance of the program on the lives of the young students involved.
Eventually, even the entertainers themselves were used to help market and communicate the virtues of this great program.

It is so easy to live in a world of unblurred loyalties and virtues. Not so easy, if the world is very dependent on people volunteering their time and talent to help you - in any way that they can. Entertainers entertain, politicians talk, famous people get more attention than the normal guy on the street. That might NOT be fair, but it is real - it is the world we live in.

It only makes sense to leverage those folks that get attention thrown at them, when trying to draw attention to your cause, especially if it is inexpensive or free.

Enjoy the event, celebrate your accomplishments,
Keep an open mind, I find that it helps when you need to solve real problems.

Mike

[JaneYoung]

Bill's Blog.

According to Bill's Blog, the decision to move 2 FRC fields had little to do with the entertainment scheduled for Friday evening and more to do with the FIRST programs. FRC is going to be balanced alongside the other programs, giving equal prominence to each program.

Jane

[Madison]

I don't believe that for half a second.