Graduation 2009

Four more weeks.

After graduation—just for the hell of it—ask yourself 9 questions.

My video blog is loosely based on my personal feelings about all of us who are graduating and the pressure of figuring out what we want for our future. I feel like too many of us are deciding that we must conform to the traditional route and find a job and officially become ‘independent’ of our parents. But, many of us have a choice...

There are many people who do not have the luxury of ‘choice’ because they have others depending on them to make ends meet—remember the economy is brutally affecting many thousands of people—even in Orange County.

But, for those of us at a crossroads—here is some advice: Carpe diem.

When I use this phrase I want you to think about what it means. Think of more than the inspirational catchphrase and popular tagline that has been overly used by our peers and ask yourself the question: What are YOU seizing? How do YOU want to seize the day?

While some people are graduating in weeks and others in months, completing your undergraduate education is a big deal, regardless of whether you are moving on to grad school, traveling, or entering the workforce. It is a culmination of a lot of sleepless nights, crazy parties, and many hard lessons. I want my peers to realize that you have a choice in life to do what makes you happy and take a stand against those things that force you to do otherwise.

There have been some people I have spoken with, who say that after graduation they want to go and “find themselves and experience.” While that is very profound thinking, it’s complete horseshit.

“Experience makes sense, but... find yourself!?! Did you lose yourself somewhere???”

For each of you thinking the same thing, the answer is: You know WHO you are. All of the challenges and accomplishments and failures you have made up until this moment have made you WHO you are. Most people do not realize where the problem lies. The problem lies in taking all of the knowledge and experiences you have made thus far and figuring out how to apply them to your future. Now, ask yourself: what do you want for your future?

If you are able to answer these 8 questions, then you are not completely lost. If you answer “I don’t know” to any of these questions, then you are not completely lost (and braver than most).

1. What makes you happy?

2. What makes you sad?

3.What qualities do you admire most in humanity?

4. What do you dream of?

5. What are your weaknesses?

6. What are your strengths?

7. What will complete your life before you die?

8. What defines you?

When I first developed these questions, they seemed silly, but necessary to understanding and developing what I truly wanted to do. Maybe not today or even after I graduate, but they are a priority in my life now that I will work towards doing. I won’t push them aside.

The reality is that as excited as I am, thinking about the future can be scary because you have NO control over what will happen. So if you are in the same boat, I will tell you what I keep telling myself.

“Be patient, have hope and breathe...everything will be alright.”



The art of video-blogging

First of all, writing a blog is way cooler than I thought it would be. At times, it did feel like a drag, rushing to get a post in for the week, but most of the time I enjoyed putting my thoughts up on “my very own blog” on the gateway of knowledge (a.k.a the Internet). Creating your own video blog is actually a little more time consuming I found than just writing though.

Interestingly enough I am a broadcast journalism major and I prefer the challenges of print...go figure. While it was kinda neat putting together a video blog, my PC doesn’t have the easy capabilities to just record a video and upload it like some can in less than 10 minutes with their MAC or webcam. It takes me a little longer. Unfortunately, I do not have a webcam on my computer either and I did not feel like buying one for this one assignment. I felt a little rushed with this entry, but that is only due to my insanely busy school and work schedule... not the professor’s—two weeks is plenty of time.

Anyways, it was definitely a learning experience, but I understand now how to upload and let’s face it—its kina cool seeing yourself on Youtube if you haven’t before. Would I do it again? Maybe. I prefer print commentary over video commentary, but only because of the fact that I am not the most computer savvy in the world. But regardless of the technical challenges, it was neat recording the vid and uploading it.

Do you like Three 6 Mafia????

Cause you can see 'em 4-24 at school at the 3rd annual Spring Concert!

April 24, 2009 7:00-10:00 p.m. Titan Athletic Field, but doors open at 6:00 p.m. According to CSUF website: "Tickets can be picked up or purchased at the Information and Services desk in the TSU Lobby. For students they will need a student I.D. and for guests they must bring a California license/I.D. with them. There will be a 1 ticket limit for students; however they can also purchase a $10 ticket for their guest who isn’t a student."

For more information, checkout the info at www.fullerton.edu. Here are some of their vids, for those who don't know... what really made them popular was winning an Academy Award for their rap "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp..." in the 2005 movie Hustle and Flow.



I like alot of there old stuff, their an old Memphis group. Been around for a while, but here is one of there must popular cuts we all know... LOLLI LOLLI POP THAT BODY Oh! and I forgot to mention that ANBERLIN is going to be performing too! I would play their vids too, but most I can't embed. So check them out on Youtube if you want.

German Woman Gets to See Polar Bears Up Close and Personal at the Berlin Zoo

This past Friday, a German woman was attacked by a polar bear at the Berlin Zoo after climbing the fence enclosure and jumping into its habitat. While the polar bears were being fed, the woman wanted to see the animals up-close. After jumping in, one of the animals bit her a few times before being rescued by zoo workers. As zoo keepers helped pull her out with rescue rings, workers tried to distract the polar bears by throwing them meat. The woman has major injuries and was immediately rushed to hopsital, where she remains. The injuries are not fatal.



What an idiot. A motive for why the woman jumped into the moat has not been reported, but there is not indication of the woman being mentally ill. Police have cited her with trespassing. Ha ha... (had to put that in there... Checkout the video below.

"Charlie bit me..."

I won’t say I’m NOT a fan of cutesy animal videos or baby videos... you know, stuff like that, but I haven’t really run into any that I absolutely love—except this one. Maybe you have already seen this, maybe you have not. It’s less than a minute long and anyone who sees it has to admit—“this little guy is adorable.”

Watch these two brothers play:

GO: “Broadcast yourself”

Youtube is considered a new medium of information, especially in America as we travel through the digital age. While Youtube is popular for many things like highlighting achievements, giving artists the freedom to express themselves, and recording televised coverage, many videos unleash fires. Forbe’s compiled a “Top 10 List” of videos that made Youtube famous and among them include videos that exposed major mistakes to a mass audience—immediately. Without the ability to see these videos we (the public) would have done two things: 1. never heard about it or 2. arrived at the conclusion later, possibly until it was too late. Youtube has given us easy accessibility to information, that is usually protected even by mainstream news outlets.

This clip is taken from Forbes writer John Giuffo, who in his article writes:

“What former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim created when they founded YouTube wasn't just a video-sharing Web site--it was a portal, an addictive time-sink, a monumental marketing platform and a public commons, all rolled into one attention-deficit-disorder-friendly format.”

Interestingly enough, Youtube is banned in several countries because of its lack of censorship.

Here are the top 10 videos on the “list” in no specific order unfortunately, check them out:
1. George Allen, former R-senator from VA. This clip killed his chance for re-election into Congress.



2. The “Lazy Sunday” skit on SNL featuring Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell



3. The best display of a politico fight. Philip de Vellis, who worked (not-very-closely) to the Obama campaign inserted clips of Hillary’s speeches and inserted them in a 1984 Apple computer ad.



4. There are things that are catchy, but not like this. “Here It Goes Again.”



5. The raw, un-cut and powerful rock performance of a “webcam guitar solo.”

There are too many damn guitar vids, if you find it, please let me know :D

6. The Evolution of Dance. If you haven’t seen this video, then I’m afraid we can’t be friends.



7. Pokeman Music Video



8. The story of a 16-year-old American girl, named Bree and her crazy life. When viewers of this web-confessional realized it was a hoax by an actress, it sparked world wide buzz.



9. “Colbert goes to Washington...” The 2006 White House correspondents Assoc. Dinner



10. Free Hugs campaign - I LOVE THIS VID FOR SOME REASON...

Wolverine (sigh) My hero

So my whole family is fannatical about really any Marvel/DC comic book movie that comes to the big screen, but no one is excited more than me about the new "Xmen origins: Wolverine" movie set for release May 3! i couldn't believe my ears when I called my brother the other day and after I mentioned it, he said he hadn't heard about it. Well, I guess I'll cut him some slack this time...he has a newborn to take care of and just bought a house!

Anyways, "Wolverine" stars the incredibly hunky Hugh Jackman (same character of the Xmen trilogy), but besides this awesome beast is a great plot with incredible effects and... "I simply cannot wait to see it!"

Evidently, this was not the case for some 100,000 fans who pirated an illegal, unfinished version of the movie a month before hitting theatres. Someone leaked a copy online and before it was shut down, (according to the CNN vid below) it was downloaded 100,000 times. Film studios are upset, but still anticipate a huge outpouring of fans to theatres May 3! Will you be there? I will.

CNN vid: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2009/04/06/dcl.lucas.till.cnn

Take a look at the trailer below:

Just because he is the Prince of Pop, doesnt mean he can adopt kids...

Michael Jackson is back in the picture. He is simply amazing. I am a big fan, but holy hell I followed the entire trial and there is no way he should be able to adopt kids. I realize he already has children, but c'mon...

Now, he's got talent. There are few who really got the gift and he's one of them.


On March 5, the KOP announced his sold out world tour of 30 concerts from July to September.




I encourage all of you to chekout his unforgettable music vids like Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean and much much more on Youtube. If you don't have time, remember to do it later... you won't regret it. :D

I have never seen a volcano erupt and I never want to...

Recent seismic activity has geologists concerned about the eruption of Mount RE-DOUBT, an old volcano in South Alaska. Last Monday, signs of unrest have occurred at the volcano, in the form of shallow earthquakes. The Alaska Volcano Observatory has declared the volcano is on “watch status.” As activity increases, the potential of an eruption is greater. So far, volcanic-ash emissions have been seen, but there is no panic yet. However, if red ash is seen, then volcanic eruption is imminent and its damage could be devastating.

Here are some vids of volcanic eruptions and the devestation they cause nt only by lava and other emissions, but thick layers of ash:

Chile 2008



Hawaii 2008



Amazing old CBS newscast of Dan Rather and footage of Mt. St. Helens explosion 1980

Coachella anyone??

Yes PLEASE!

April 17-19, a fun-filled-three-day extravaganza will take place at the fairgounds in Indo, where the annual Coachella music festival will be held.

If you haven't gone, you should. Mark your calendars and go ahead and buy your tickets. if you can afford the three-day pass go for it, otherwise it's $99 for a day pass.

I can only afford to go one day this year, but I can't wait. It's lots of fun and the weather should be great by that time. Checkout www.coachella.com for more info. Otherwise, look at some of the acts that have performed in the past and look at the line-up for this year. I really want to go on Sunday to see Lupe Fiasco. But, there are many other bands that perform each day of the festival, much more than a handful.







If you have gone, tell me when you did and what you liked or didn't like. Checkout these youtube vids to see what the fuss is all about.

"You're my favorite rich negro man..."

Okay so I do not mean to be a thorn in anyone's side here, but I was watching Oprah the other day when I was at the gym and couldn't believe my ears!

Oprah had an exclusive interview with Michelle Obama in Washington with Gayle. Michelle gave them a tour of the family's quarters and her daughters' new swing set, and she talked about how everything has to be "fort-friendly" for the girls to play. It really sounded great. In this months edition of O magazine, which features a great shot of Michelle and Oprah, she opens up about living in the White House and how she is re-doing the White House image. It sounded like a great interview, but Oprah's comments to Tyler Perry are what later disturbed me.

I do not watch Oprah often, but when Tyler Perry appeared as a guest on the show after talk of Michelle, I was offended.

First of all, when Perry walked on set he looked great. Oprah introduced him as a media mogul to the audience and then said, "You're my favorite rich negro man..." and Perry returned the compliment to Oprah saying: "You're my favorite rich negro woman." I was surprised at this comment, which I can laugh off, but there's more.

The panel, which included four others talked about how successful Perry's latest movie "Madea Goes to Jail" has been in the past couple of weeks and how many were worried of its success because of the release of the Jonas Brothers 3D concert movie. But fans didn't come out in droves to theatres as much as critics had anticipated. Instead, people saw the famous "Madea."



After talk of his ranking numero uno two weekends in a row, Perry was very humble and smiling, said he didn't read reviews. He was just wanted to make a movie to uplift people's spirits amidst all the pain afflicting our country right now.

But, then Oprah says, "I have to admit, I haven't seen it." When Gayle and I were in Chicago one day, she insisted we see it, but to get the full effect had to see a late showing in the "hood." Then Oprah says, "You white people wouldn't understand."

This pisses me off. Wasn't one of the single most significant factors of Obama becoming President supopsed to erase that color line and really bring everyone together?? Like my frustration in a past post, it's like more and more people are becoming more aware of the color line. People are even more outspoken now. I mean negro? And 'you white people?' I mean...what the hell?

If you have an opposing opinion, please post. Don't just watch.