So close...

It's been a crazy year. I started last fall with apathy towards school. I didn't really care about much going on, although it was a pleasant surprise that Iowa State football was at least decent. I had just come off a summer that had been as good as any in recent memory, and was finally racing again. I think it was a huge letdown that the racing season was over, so nothing really interested me down here. Even when I got a job I couldn't really give a crap about it.

Then, second semester I started a job I'd been putting off. I joined the Iowa State Daily's Sports desk. I didn't really know what to expect going in. I just wanted to be accepted and liked. I know, I know, everyone everywhere hopes that for themselves. But I wanted to like writing and like being a full-time journalist. I didn't know how I'd get along with everyone, etc etc.

Turns out I'd been an idiot for waiting. Ever since the start of the semester and my time with the Daily, I've loved it. I've learned more in one semester than my two years at the Storm Lake Times. Nothing against them, I just didn't have the full-time experience and variance of subjects to write about. I became attached to the Sports desk and wanted to see it succeed.

So toward the end of the semester I began thinking about becoming an assistant editor. So, I applied. Long story short I got the job, and will be working with Jake Lovett and Chris Cuellar next year as editors. I couldn't be more excited. I've become attached not only to sports but to the entire Daily. A friend who works there told me not to let the Daily consume my life, not to get too attached. Well, guess I didn't take that advice.

I guess I'm just happy I found something while at school I can throw myself at and have it really mean something to my life and my future.

And now we're at the end of the year. I have a full summer of racing and writing for the Times ahead of me. For the first time in a long time, there are multiple things in my future I can really look forward to. It's nice. It also feels good to be content with life for a change. So here's to everyone at the Iowa State Daily who've made me feel welcome, and who've accepted me into the fold. I can't wait for the fall (okay, that's a lie. I can wait because I really can't wait to race this summer) and to work with you all again.

Decisions, decisions

Why must life decisions be so hard? Tonight I was given two choices. Both of which are wonderful, and could positively affect my career in a large way. I can't tell you how honored I am to be given those choices (of which I won't discuss yet, as things aren't exactly official). What I will say is that this whole thing has made me really think about my future and how I want things to play out. I don't know if I like that. It's daunting to consider the next 20 or 30 years of your life.

I guess all I really want is a clear-cut sign of what to do. I know the man upstairs has a plan for me, but boy it'd be nice if he'd give me some clue here. I know I'm a lucky person, though. A wonderful problem like this doesn't come around too often. That, however, doesn't mean it's easy. But, I will say this: regardless of the path I choose, it's nice to know I have people that believe in me enough to give me the options.

So, for now, I must ponder what life has in store for me. Wish me luck.

Wishing I was young again..

Ah, to be young. There’s nothing like being in college—anyone who’s ever been will tell you that. The independence we get to experience for the first time, and being able to do whatever and go wherever we want is something we get used to pretty fast. But I’ve come to a realization: I miss being a kid.

Our parents told us our whole childhood, “Enjoy this, because you’re only young once.” None of us listened, because all we wanted was to be older so we could do whatever. But our parents were right.

I mean, think about it, what was your biggest worry as a 12 year-old? Will I get a new bike? Will the pool be open today? If I eat this cake before supper, will Mom find out? That’s some serious stuff, right?

Fast forward to college. Bills. Tuition. Groceries. Gas. Books. You name it. For those of us who don’t have the luxury of our parents paying for our schooling—and I’m not condemning those whose parents are—we deal with these worries every day. And it sucks. I would love to be able to only have to worry about my bike or the pool again.

But, then again, I wouldn’t give up all the good in my life right now for anything. It’s just nice to be nostalgic once in a while.

Maybe I should just buy a bike and go to the pool.

The Warning

So, Eminem is angry again. He finally has something to write about. He's much better when he's pissed. Oh, and for future reference Nick Cannon, I wouldnt challenge him again, because you lost. Big.

Get Him to the Greek trailer

Here's the trailer for Get Him to the Greek. Lot of heavy hitters in this one. Looks hilarious. Jonah Hill is hilarious, and says Diddy will surprise people. I hope he's right.

Hallucinations video

Here's the video for Angels and Airwaves' first single Hallucinations from their new album LOVE. Pretty good video. Even better album. Check it out here. AVA will be in Des Moines on April 15 with Say Anything opening.

Journalistic integrity

I was talking to a friend online today, and I found something out that really disturbed me. She (I won't say names to protect those involved) was involved in a sexual harassment incident at work. Some guy was being really creepy, and this girl reported him to a superior. The situation didn't escalate from there.

Unfortunately, a columnist from a newspaper happened to hear about the situation. Didn't see it, heard about it while she was getting her hair done. This columnist then wrote a column about what happened, misquoting the victim of the harassment (my friend), saying she had tears welling up in her eyes, and commenting to those around her "How dare he touch me."

My friend said none of what this columnist wrote happened. If this is in fact the case--and I have no reason to believe she's lying to me--then there is a serious breach of journalistic integrity going on here. Not only did the columnist misquote a source, my friend told me she was never contacted about the story in any way.

You can't tell me it's good journalism to make up a story you think people will want to read. Especially in a situation as sensitive as sexual harassment. As journalists, we have to be fair and accurate, am I right? Well, this was neither. And with the lack of accountability  that I'm sure will follow, the publication the columnist writes for, as well as herself, will hurt because of it. Integrity is of the utmost importance. And it's disappointing that someone with a column and power at her publication is displaying that kind of (lack of) integrity.

Here's to hoping more journalists aren't like this, and that our generation of writers can be more accountable.

Why 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' really shouldn't be a big deal

I got off work tonight and came to my room to sit down and maybe watch an episode or two of the Office online. But while I was perusing twitter, I stumbled upon a link to a blog belonging to a classmate and coworker. She, Jessie Opoien, is a fantastic writer and journalist, so even though she's a Rachel Maddow fan (I won't hold it against her), I clicked on the link and read it.

Now, I usually don't go anywhere near political subjects with a ten-foot pole when I'm writing, but what she wrote got me thinking about Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Homosexuality is still a taboo in our country, so any time it's brought up, someone, somewhere is going to have a (loud) opinion about it. But I ask this of those who argue for and against this policy: Why does it matter either way? What in the world does sexual orientation have to do with serving one's country? Gay, straight, or otherwise, if a man or woman chooses to serve, he or she should be able to do so without having to worry about keeping or disclosing any secrets about their personal lives. They should only have to worry about the task at hand.

I mean, would the Army treat you any different if you're gay? Would they feed you less? Clothe you differently?

If two men are in a foxhole together, fighting for their lives, do you honestly think they're thinking 'Gee, I wonder he's going to make a move on me?' C'mon.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is simply a way for the Armed Forces to cover their ass. Just like in the business world, if a person is asked in an interview for a job what their sexual orientation is, they likely will get offended, and wonder what that has to do with the job they're applying for.

Whether or not you agree or disagree with how someone chooses to live their life, ultimately it's not your life, so you can't do shit about it. No one person has the right to tell another how to live their life. Sharing one's beliefs, and advocating those beliefs are different entirely from judging someone and telling them what to do.

So, abolish or keep Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It makes no difference. Because at the end of the day, we're all on the same team, are we not? Right or wrong we're all in the war together, so we might as well focus our energy on ending the war rather than creating one amongst ourselves.

LOVE released

Angels & Airwaves released their third album, LOVE, for free today via their website, angelsandairwaves.com (Modlife). It's a solid album that flows well and has some nice peaks and valleys.

The Flight of Apollo got the album going pretty well, and set up what would be the two best songs on the album. Epic Holiday and Hallucinations were two standouts that gave the album a much-needed rock and roll feel.

But after those two songs, the album sort of slips into a prog-rock, psychedelic journey into the mind of Tom Delonge. Letters to God Pt. 2 is a decent song, and it's a solid follow-up to its Pt. 1 (from Delonge and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker's Box Car Racer album). Unfortunately, in Shove he samples a single from I-Empire for the chorus, using the melody from Everything's Magic. And on the final song, Some Origins of Fire, the verses are the same melody as AVA's most popular song, The Adventure.

Apart from those two blemishes (as well as some lackluster drumming from Atom Willard), LOVE is definitely worth listening to. I don't think Delonge went too far out on a limb for this album, and he did deliver on the promise that this would be unlike anything we've heard from them (apart from the two instances I mentioned above). BUT, Delonge does need to stop telling everyone AVA will change the world and that he's put out his best stuff (which he's done for every AVA record, as well as in his preview of the upcoming Blink-182 album). He needs to let the music speak for itself, and maybe there wouldn't be as much backlash when the music isn't actually life-changing, as is the case with each of the three AVA albums.

The entire album can be downloaded here or here. Give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.

A Life Lesson

Have you ever noticed how life is just an endless string of disappointments? There's always something there to bring you down.

Whether it's not having money, not having a girl/boyfriend, not having a job, or not knowing where you're going in life, it's all disappointing.

The best is when your "friends" take you for granted. When they need you for something, you're a cool person who they get along great with. But when you don't serve a purpose for them (a ride when they're drunk or sober, help on homework, being someone to vent to when their boy/girlfriend is being a jerk, rent payments, etc), you might as well be the blackest of the black sheep in the herd.

Or when you're "friends" don't have the common decency to tell you things that affect your future. Like looking for an apartment without telling you, deciding who's all living in this new apartment without you, and then signing the lease without telling you, so you're left with no place to live, and no one to live with. And then having them look you in the face and say "I'm sorry." No, you're not. If you were sorry, you would've told me up front. But I digress...

Work, school, whatever, it's all disappointing. Tuition rates are going up because of budget problems. And by the time I'm out of college the job market is going to be about as good as The Rock's last movie.

So here's my challenge: find something, one thing, in your life that doesn't disappoint you, and never lets you down. A person, a pet, a hobby, whatever. Find that one thing that no matter what happens, you can be around it and be happy no matter what. Because if you can find that thing, all of the other disappointing shit in your life will become bearable.

And if you happen to find it, let me know. Because I'm still searching.

Kimmel Monologue

Through all the Leno-Conan drama, Jimmy Kimmel has come out looking better than everyone. Even more so, he's been hilarious in tearing down Leno. In this video he talks about Leno going on Oprah.

Lookin pretty good there, Lucca

WHOtv had this segment on one of their Sunday night "Sound Off" shows. I thought it was pretty funny.

 

Blinkumentary Teaser #3

Blink-182 hits the studio this month. What also is to come is the Blinkumentary from Handsomrandsome, which is going to be amazing. Here's the latest trailer/teaser for the upcoming documentary about the reunion tour/recording process.