Things I learned this summer from re-posting all my summer pictures:

1. Take your camera everywhere. Moments must be recorded.
2. Never, ever forget what you really love.
3. Don't settle for a boring outfit. If you don't feel cool, you don't look cool.
4. When in doubt, jump in the pool.
5. My friends are the most beautiful people.


I think it wasn't such a bad summer after all.. Merely a summer of small and steady changes.

Uh, no

I have come to really be annoyed by The Beatles. No one only needs love. If you love something and you have nothing to show for it, then who cares? Same goes for a person - If you love them, and that's it, then... whatever. Come on, British wankers, stop hittin' the bong and look into real life.


Oh wait they're dead. Oops.

Having Fun

I sat on my bed crying for about 20 minutes just now, which is really rare for me [because usually I end up screaming or finding a song to put on that soothes my nerves]. But today there are none of those songs to be found. Before we get emotional, the reason for my tears was as follows:
I like to set goals for myself. When I do set goals, I like to think that I will stop at nothing to accomplish them. For example: lacrosse recruiting. I haven't stopped this process for 1 1/2 years, and it's still not over to this day. Anyways; I wrap my entire life around the most important goals, scheduling my life accordingly. This summer was all about lacrosse, and all about finding a college that's going to be the best fit. It was also about making money for my senior year, so I worked nearly every day (or at least 5 days a week!) to get there.. or so I thought.

Tell 'em why you SAD, part one:
1. I'm turnin' out to be broke as hell. How did this happen, you ask? I ask myself the same question. I think it's because I thought that by having money, I could buy my friend things or pay for ice cream/food outings.. when in reality, I should have given myself a break from all that. I have barely anything to show for all these hours worked, but I'm going to deposit as much $$ as I can until the end of work.

I've managed to become extremely disinterested in repeating the woes of my summer, especially because my poor twin brother had to listen to me scream them at him just a few minutes ago. No wonder he went up the street to cut someone's lawn.

Oh well. 4 days.

Stupid

In short, I believe that Dwayne Carter (Aka, Lil Wayne) should not be freed from his imprisonment. If I see another Facebook status or gaudy t-shirt saying "FREE WEEZY" I will actually, truthfully kill someone. I'm convinced that Wayne is American's worst role model and hopefully doing jail time will open his eyes. Because seriously, anyone who can stand the taste of cough syrup in very large doses NEEDS some life assistance. (That shit is abso-freakin-lutely disgusting!)

BP, you suck

I thought it was utterly hilarious when my Parental Control: Overtly Gay Edition viewing session was interrupted yesterday. (The fact that these guys' eyebrows look MUCH better than mine was starting to get overwhelming so the commercial came at the perfect time)

The Gulf Coast of Mississippi has released a new tourism commercial to try and promote their once-beautiful beaches & marshy wetlands. If you have been sitting in a cold, dirty cave for a few months, said commercial would seem completely appealing. Imagine: warm climate, rich culture, Southern hospitality.. It sounds incredible! BP thinks so too, but then again, who cares about them. Anyways -- the advertisement is very good, but come on, Mississippi, we're not dumb here.

On another note, I really would love to visit the Gulf Coast sometime. I've always wanted to see New Orleans for its rich French traditions and language components, but also to help out with everyone that's still struggling down there. I get that there are lots of shitty things happening all over the world, Mr. President, but don't forget about the ones on our own soil that are still struggling. What happened to Haiti? Where did they go? They're still a country, United Nations, come on and help a brotha out!


Anyyyyways, getting way off track. It's been a stressful few weeks and I'm still angry. (Hence the "tell 'em why you mad" spiels every day)

Peace and love, bitches.

WTF, USHER

Usher's new song (with the title making absolutely zero sense) is catchy but frightening. In said tune, he repeats two things that turn me off immediately.

1. "This ain't cheatin' as long as we tell nobody."
Usher, that is the most insincere and whore-baggish thing to say in a song. If that were me you were singing about, your ass would be dead meat. To be fed to Jay-Z.
2. "Your body is my hobby"
Dude, seriously, that is absurd. If you have nothing better to do in your life than to get with girls, you're setting yourself up for failure. Plus, how creepy is that? Again, putting myself in the female's perspective here: if someone said that to me I would run as fast as my skinny (yet muscular!) legs could carry me and GTFO.

R.I.P good R&B jams

Arulpragasm 8/8/10

After reading the Spin Magazine article about M.I.A, or as I like to call her, Maya Arulpragasm, I fell even more deeply in love with her. Infatuated by her mysterious last name, graphic designer intuition, and love for candy-colored lipstick, I immediately connected with her style. Since her 2007 release of Kala, cutely named after her mother, I've been so into her (for lack of better words). Her pop-art graphic style is one that could easily be established on skateboards and surfboards, countless high-fashion outfit combinations, and, sensibly enough, album covers. I actually noticed this flawless combination of eclectic objects early on her Kala CD and hoped that she would create a clothing line -- which I hear she has done. (If only the tanktops weren't $65...) Her makeup is flawless, between her first Spin cover with her seafoam green lip(s) and her perfectly lined eyes. Hair always looks great, no matter what color or style, and I really do believe Maya's pregnant black-clad body onstage last year was setting a trend.

Fashion and appearance covered. My grade? A+. (Can YOU rock a sailor's hat? Probably not.)
But let's talk about M.I.A. from a political standpoint - one that often causes controversy in the media. Maya comes from a war-torn country called Sri Lanka. She and her family escaped to Britain after her father started an anti-Tamil group and was sought after by the violent government. After countless encounters and scares, though always seeking peace, they became refugees. In many of her lesser-known songs, Maya refers to her country and the hardships she personally faced - ones that have shaped her image permanently. This is no "my neighbor got shot in a drive by" rap song -- it is a story about $20 buying someone a peaceful home, or about boys fishing for their dinner in a filthy river. Granted, these issues are not on the same scale, but they are extremely significant when you have nothing at all to your name. M.I.A. takes these personal tragedies, adds a funkadelic beat to them, and makes them instant hits - ones that I enjoy dancing and singing to on the reg.

I may have to wrap up this review of how much I adore M.I.A because it could really last way too long... And I only have 4 1/2 hours left of work. (Only! Ha! Shoot me.) In the end, though, I will say - do not buy or download her new album because it is pop-crap, but if you really want to get into this beautiful woman's political saga, listen to her first two CDs. The first is named after her father Arular (2004) and the second after her mother Kala (2007).

.......Yeah man!

Current Events Aug. 4th, 2010

Here are some things I'm NOT mad about:

Today in California, Judge Vaughn Walker will decided whether or not Proposition 8 will be banned in the state of California. Prop 8 says that gay marriage is illegal in the state of CA. It would be deemed unconstitutional because it creates classes of people that are not all treated as equals. Reversing the bill would be HISTORIC and super duper exciting.

One of my favorite musicians of all time, Wyclef Jean, is working out the details in his decision to run for the President of Haiti. After the earthquake, Jean became the face of Haitian relief efforts and has never given up on his home country. The Fugees frontman and now solo artist has a questionable political background, but I am with him 100%.

That's it, i'm too tired from Kings of Leon to do anything productive today. P & L