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.
March 22, 2010
March 20, 2010
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.
March 14, 2010
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.
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.
February 25, 2010
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.
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.
February 15, 2010
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.
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.
February 7, 2010
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.
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.
January 29, 2010
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.
January 26, 2010
Lookin pretty good there, Lucca
WHOtv had this segment on one of their Sunday night "Sound Off" shows. I thought it was pretty funny.
January 11, 2010
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.
December 16, 2009
Suburban State of Mind
Steven Colbert is just hilarious. He had Alicia Keys on The Colbert Report, and she performed her version of Empire State of Mind, which in on her new album. Fast forward to roughly 4:42 to listen to Colbert's take on Empire State of Mind. I was actually impressed with his flow.
wish i was from a suburb in new york
wish i was from a suburb in new york
December 15, 2009
It's the Situation
It's called Jersey Shore, and it just might be the most compelling television ever produced by MTV. So meet the cast members of this new show. But be warned, you may just be overcome with the desire to gel your hair afterwords. Or do an ab workout.
Wishing I was a Guido,
the whitest kid you know
PS: finals suck. but you knew that already.
Wishing I was a Guido,
the whitest kid you know
PS: finals suck. but you knew that already.
December 6, 2009
eminem leak
he sounds like less of an arab in the new songs for Relapse: Refill. he also calls out lance bass, clay aiken, and adam lambert. and no, he does not call them faggots. its: "Sorry, Lance, Mr. Lambert and Aiken ain't gonna make it/ They get so mad, when I call them both fake/ It's all these f---ing voices in my head, I can't take it/ Someone shut that f---ing baby up, before I shake it."
i think this might be better than any song on the original Relapse.
i think this might be better than any song on the original Relapse.
December 2, 2009
high class
just watch the first few minutes of this video. it'll show you how some people are.
dude baseball swings at the goalie and just skates away without concern. piece of shit. isnt gonna get suspended either.
PS: on a funnier note, if you havent done so yet, check out Between Two Ferns on funnyordie.com. it's definitely worth your while.
http://www.funnyordie.com/search/a?q=between+two+ferns&commit=Search
dude baseball swings at the goalie and just skates away without concern. piece of shit. isnt gonna get suspended either.
PS: on a funnier note, if you havent done so yet, check out Between Two Ferns on funnyordie.com. it's definitely worth your while.
http://www.funnyordie.com/search/a?q=between+two+ferns&commit=Search
November 16, 2009
break
so here's the thing. i suck. at pretty much everything. it'd be cool if that changed. since it probably wont, i'd settle for a break from school. lucky me, thanksgiving is next week (who knew?). i dont really need to go home, just need to not have to go to class every day. it's not that theyre hard. i just dont want to go. see, i suck.
but i feel like everyone is at that point where they need a break from each other. you know, that point where u just cant stand that sight of your roommates, or take any more of their ever-increasingly annoying habits--habits that under normal circumstances wouldn't annoy u in the least. it happens, and dont tell me it doesnt. you just have to be careful to not let it eat you up and make you resent them.
next week will be a welcome break in more than one way. only problem is, when i go home, if i hang out with anyone, it likely will be the people i hang out with here.
maybe i wont go home.
nahh. i want to pretend im not an independent college student for a few days and have my mommy buy me things and cook for me. its gonna be awesome.
PS i want so bad to talk about NASCAR with someone it might kill me. ur probably snoozing at this point, with the mention of NASCAR (there it is again... WAKE UP!), but for those of you still with me, it really is killing me. no one here cares about it, and a lot of shit has happened in the last few weeks. oh well. maybe ill start a racing blog.
think anyone would read it? (its ok if you say no.)
anyway, that's my time folks. JAY-DAY out.
but i feel like everyone is at that point where they need a break from each other. you know, that point where u just cant stand that sight of your roommates, or take any more of their ever-increasingly annoying habits--habits that under normal circumstances wouldn't annoy u in the least. it happens, and dont tell me it doesnt. you just have to be careful to not let it eat you up and make you resent them.
next week will be a welcome break in more than one way. only problem is, when i go home, if i hang out with anyone, it likely will be the people i hang out with here.
maybe i wont go home.
nahh. i want to pretend im not an independent college student for a few days and have my mommy buy me things and cook for me. its gonna be awesome.
PS i want so bad to talk about NASCAR with someone it might kill me. ur probably snoozing at this point, with the mention of NASCAR (there it is again... WAKE UP!), but for those of you still with me, it really is killing me. no one here cares about it, and a lot of shit has happened in the last few weeks. oh well. maybe ill start a racing blog.
think anyone would read it? (its ok if you say no.)
anyway, that's my time folks. JAY-DAY out.
November 15, 2009
real or not?
this shit is bananas. idk if its real or fake, but it looks pretty real to me. that Cirque du Soleil shit is intense.
November 11, 2009
so... yea
i was told by a friend once that writers need to write. i agree with him. but lately i haven't had much to write about. at least not about anything that people aside from racing fans would care to know. kind of like right now. i dont really have much to say. it sucks.
so, instead, ill give you travis barker's latest remix. he remixes the Drake/Kanye/Lil' Wayne/Eminem song Forever. i continue to be amazed by his talent.
also, pirate radio hits theatres friday. looks worth the $7.
so, instead, ill give you travis barker's latest remix. he remixes the Drake/Kanye/Lil' Wayne/Eminem song Forever. i continue to be amazed by his talent.
also, pirate radio hits theatres friday. looks worth the $7.
November 7, 2009
November 2, 2009
LOVE leak
this is the demo of a song from Angels and Airwaves upcoming LOVE album. It's gonna be kick ass once it's done. this one is called riot(epic holiday).
October 30, 2009
October 28, 2009
iowa state football celebration
pure emotion after the win at nebraska. if this doesnt give u chills ur not human. (or ur not an iowa state fan. whatever.)
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