Marvin's Room (Remix)

Aubrey Drake Graham, as anyone in tune with such things would know, is one of the brightest stars in hip-hop today. The 25-year-old entertainer has been lighting up the charts and the Internet with hit after hit after hit, many of which are not even officially singles. The rapper/singer’s emotional and brutally honest songs are infectious, game-changing, and addictive, subtly commanding to be played over and over again. Thank Me Later, Drake’s 2010 debut album, still gets played in its entirety every few weeks by me. In honor of the release of his second album, Take Care, I’ve rewritten one of the songs on it – the smash hit “Marvin’s Room”, which has been covered and remixed by a plethora of established artists and up-and-comers on YouTube.

No Words....

Ted Turner once allegedly said “All the money in the world won’t buy you one more day”.  This was the first thing that came to mind when I received the text tonight that rocked my world. Actually, it was the third. The first was utter disbelief. “Tell me you’re lying,” I replied back. The second was the urgent need to find a TV, computer, or internet-capable device fast. Thanks to one man, this was done within seconds. The irony is that it was this same man that drove my need to find news in the first place. I couldn’t go off a text; I needed facts. Then I saw it. I couldn’t believe it. Steve Jobs, the man who brought us Apple and everything that entails, had died.

Goin' Places

I destroyed my car last year. As much as I’d like to say I survived a fiery crash or flipped through the air several times à la Dr. Dre, the events in my life tend to be a lot less dramatic than that. In reality, all I did was put off getting an oil change… for about a month… in the middle of a very hot summer. Yet that was enough to render my poor little Mazda virtually undriveable. The car held on though, slowly huffing and puffing away throughout the semester to get me from Point A to Point B. I likened it to The Little Engine that Could. Sadly, however, by Thanksgiving, my little Japanese import could hold on no longer. I suddenly had no car, nowhere near enough money to buy another one, and too much pride to ask the majority of my friends for help. Needless to say, it was a sucky situation.

The End of an Era

Over one million words, twenty-one years, eight movies, and seven books…. It’s all led up to this. It’s all led up to the end. July 15, 2011. The date is etched into the forefront of my mind as if it were a lightning bolt scar. If you’ve never been one of the millions of readers worldwide who have witnessed the phenomenon firsthand, who have bought into and believed in the magic of J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter, then nothing I write can ever make you understand the significance and gravity of this moment. But if you’ve ever lined up outside of a bookstore or movie theater dressed as a wizard or found yourself up in the wee hours of a Saturday morning with a Potter book in hand, dying to find out the fates of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, then you’ll understand. This is the end of an era.

Why I Like Twitter

Every so often, a new form of technology comes out that wows us and boggles our minds. I’m talking jaw-dropping, how-did-they-do-that, I-gotta-have-it awesomeness. Twitter is not one of those technologies. But it is pretty cool.

Too Real For TV?

There was trouble from the very beginning. Before a single episode of MTV’s version of the television series Skins aired this past January, both uneasy and excited whispers were flying in all directions about this racy new show that depicted teenagers in a less-than-flattering light. From the promos and media coverage, audiences were led to expect hard-partying, hard-living, out-of-control adolescence. Ferris Bueller, this was not. On that end, the show didn’t disappoint. Raging raves, drug-fueled misadventures, and destroying other people's vehicles were just part of an average day in the lives of these kids. On June 9, 2011, after just one season, Skins was canceled.

Making It

The entertainment industry is big, big business. One blockbuster movie, New York Times Best Seller, or platinum-selling record and a person and his or her family can be financially set for life. However, the industry is also notoriously erratic. You hear horror stories about actors being out of work for decades, writers losing their mojo, and record labels refusing to release artists’ new music. Success requires a cocktail of elements including determination, perseverance, and a lot of luck. Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber weren’t just born stars – they had to be in the right places at the right times, the right ages, have the right looks, and have the talents and willingness to work .The stars have to align just right to create a star. More importantly, success requires the right attitude. 

Lost in the Links

     

It never fails. I’ll be surfing the Internet, minding my own business, when a brightly colored hyperlink attracts my attention. Immersed in whatever article, blog post, or video I’m currently focused on, I’ll casually right-click the link and select “Open link in new tab”. I’ll read it when I’m done with this one, I think. Two or three inches later down the page, another link catches my eye. Again, I open the provoking content in a different tab. Then again. Then again. Before I know it, I’ve got eighteen tabs open, my laptop is running slower than a snail on promethazine, and I’ve got messages popping up basically screaming at me to lighten the load.

Just Who Exactly Is Skylar Grey?

I am a fan of good music. I have been for quite some time. Whatever the genre, I’ve always enjoyed music that speaks to me; music that has a purpose. The ideal song, in my opinion, is one that comes from the heart. It tells a story or explains a situation. When it’s over, you feel empowered or cultured, as if you’ve just been exposed to something greater than words can describe. It might address trivial or hedonistic facets but it does not dwell upon them. You may know every lyric by heart but still discover something different with each new listen.

In Remembrance of Nate Dogg

     

Snoop Dogg. Tupac Shakur. Dr. Dre. These names conjure up a lot of different feelings and beliefs depending on one’s background, birthplace, and age. They are all hip hop superstars, legendary rappers who came to prominence during a time when the genre wasn’t the quick route to fame and fortune that it is seen as today. They all helped create and put their stamp on this thing we call rap music. Beside them, though, just a little outside of the brightest part of the spotlight, stood a seemingly quiet young man with a distinct, soulful voice. This man collaborated with the others and played a major part in catapulting each of them to success at the beginning of their careers. His name is Nathaniel Hale. To the world, he is known as Nate Dogg and he passed away yesterday, March 15, 2011. He was only 41.

How Charlie Got His Sheen Back

Since the dawn of time, there have been two kinds of people in this world: the mere mortals who live safe, lackluster little lives and then a breed of individuals who go above and beyond that; go-getter individuals who aim for and achieve greatness, ensuring that their names will live on in the history books long after their time here. These individuals are known as legends. Carlos Irwin Estevez, popularly known as Charlie Sheen, easily ranks among the best of 'em.

The Life List - Part III

Great things are said to come in threes: summer months… singing chipmunks… even Star Wars movies – twice! The Life List is no exception. The List, an index of quality living suggestions designed to make even the most lackluster individuals fascinating, now concludes with its third and final installment. 

The Life List - Part II

Think of your life as a novel. Is it a gripping tale of one individual’s journey through life or is it a humdrum account that hardly anyone would even want to read? Would you even read it? If you had to think about that, then you’re probably not living your best life. You’re not being your best you. But luckily there’s help. From the creator of The Life List – an original catalog of enhanced and enjoyable living suggestions – comes The Life List Part II. Packed with even more tantalizing and affordable options than the first, the second installment of The Life List series goes above and beyond to offer you more ways to maximize the quality of your life.

The Life List - Part I

Life. It’s one of the most, if not the most, significant and fragile phenomena that any of us will ever encounter. Yet it is also one of the most disregarded. Time and time again, we see people wasting their lives, living but not really living. No matter where we look, there are people merely going through the motions. They live life on autopilot, simply doing what they have to do each day to ensure that they’ll be here tomorrow. But the rest of the time? It’s spent essentially just taking up space. Not making progress. Not really achieving anything. Not truly living. Just existing. It’s sad to see. There are hamsters with more drive than this.

Dating on a Budget

Ladies and gentlemen, there’s no sugarcoating it – we live in challenging times. Things are tough. People around the world are tightening their belts, many are struggling, and nearly everyone seems to have money on their mind. The general zeitgeist of today is frugality. But still, life goes on. We persevere and we press on. We may be thinking a bit more economically these days but we still manage to live our lives to the best of our abilities. At times, it may require sacrifices and a few touches of creativity here and there but we still find ways to do all of the things that we love to do. We still work out. We still keep up with technology. And despite it all, we still have fun.

Interview With An Actress

Acting is a tough job. There's so many little things that go into it: you have to be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and nonverbally; you need to have the capacity to memorize tons of dialogue; and you must have the power to tap into the feelings and emotions of a character who may be the complete opposite of you. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. We haven't even gotten to being comfortable conversing in front of an audience that's judging your every move. There's no room for mistakes; no retakes. Talk about pressure. I would even go so far as to call stage acting - acting on stage, live, in front of people - one of the mentally hardest jobs there is. I know I couldn't do it. But today I introduce you to someone who can - and does - very well. Meet Kelli Moore.

Admissions of an Addict

What would your life be like if you didn't have a cell phone? For many in our generation, that's a ridiculous question. "...Didn't have a cell phone? Why would anyone not have a cell phone?" Well, for many young adults around the world, that question is answered every day of their lives. And unfortunately, this week I involuntarily joined their ranks.