The alleged “War on Christmas” that has recently infiltrated the youthful cheeriness that Christmas once had represented, is now making people second guess themselves in a time of giving.
Christian activist groups are taking action against bigger retail stores and making it known that the original idea of Christmas has been torn, crumpled up, and thrown in the garbage can; similar to the way your four year old will be plowing through the wrapping paper to get to her new Wii gaming device.
This is beyond ridiculous. Doesn’t our country have more important things to worry about during a holiday season? Perhaps the fact that there are still too many families that go hungry and cold every year wishing only for an extra blanket. Or perhaps your husband lost his job due to corporate downsizing, and he cannot afford to exchange gifts with you or his children. Doesn’t that seem more important that supporting a “war” on Christmas?
The AFA has devised a “naughty and nice” list for this years rat race to buy mass produced material products. Avoid: Banana Republic, Old Navy and Staples. God forbid you buy your daughter a warm fleece so she doesn’t freeze her ass off while waiting for the school bus, because you’ll be going straight to hell; along with the computer purchasers and the owners of tweed jackets.
War on Christmas? Every single person who deals with the burden of their finances fights a war within themselves, and their bank accounts. Do these religious representatives plan to abolish fun and smiles for the year of 2012 as well?
Retailers such as Victoria’s Secret are being attacked this joyous holiday too. But let me ask, when was Victoria’s Secret ever about “spreading the good word of Jesus Christ”? Victoria’s Secret is designed to keep your husband/boyfriend from cheating on you, not to remind you of your readings from the gospel according to Luke. That is truly a blessing.
In addition to these ridiculous epiphanies of moral compass, Texan congressman Rick Perry has the audacity to blame president Obama for the lack of “Christ-like virtue” among our nation during Christmas. Perry’s last endorsement commercial explained how gays in the military are allowed, but letting children pray in school, or celebrate Christmas is not politically correct enough. Forgive me for being simple, but can someone further explain to me the correlation between homosexuality and prayer? No one ever put a stop to children celebrating Christmas within schools, but when your celebration becomes a distraction to educating the youth of tomorrow; regulations need to be made and executed. Along with Rick Perry’s considerable amount of ignorance.
I am not stating that the original purity of Christmas hasn’t been lost and re-vamped over the years. The general populations’ list of priorities are merely different. For the majority, Christmas has become more about celebrating and gift giving, no longer about worship and religious dedication.
But what’s so bad about buying something nice for someone? Isn’t that what your lord and savior tried to preach for years and years? Honor thy neighbor? Spread the ideology of kindness and karma? All hope isn’t lost, people, but this war on Christmas is a joke. Now, all of you Christmas disclaimers, get back in line at Barnes and Noble. I’ve read they’re on the nice list. I guess they have to be if they will be going out of business soon.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Great (electrical) Delay
Dangerous live wires, property devastation, widespread panic and general discomfort as people plow through one another at your local Walmart's, Target's and Stop and Shops; reacting to the news providers information hours after a Nor'easter, to "make sure you have plenty of water and perishable items. This one's gonna be a doozy".
What CL and P offered was the same tired scenario that a father preparing to leave his family says to his youngest boy, "It'll be OK, everything will be fine". Thank you, Northeast Utilities, United Illuminating, General Electric, what have you, for providing our state with yet another empty promise. We all feel let down and electrically abandoned.
800,000 households, (not even people), statewide without power for more than a week, including businesses, schools, and every traffic light from the 203 to the 860. I get it, guys, you didn't get compensated properly for the "tropical storm", which was a nice way of saying heavy rains and a little wind, but don't you have families to go home to? Or at least your Irish setter? What will you do when you can't crack open a can of Budweiser and watch the Giants lose after a long day of tree cutting? Where in the world is your sense of unity and hospitality?
And on the fifth day, God made the Home Depot and Loewes who provide the good state of Connecticut with generators, pricing anywhere from $800-1000, only to be sold out instantly after the hype of Irene. You know what my community had to do for nine grueling days? Live out of our cars, the diner, and the New York Sports Club, until they started charging $15 dollars a day to use their luke warm community showers.
Next time something so severe decides to grace us with its temperate presence; make sure you have a staff in front, and behind you that has a stronger work ethic. I know, no one wants to work for free in an ever dwindling economy, but if it helps, think about what YOU or your coworkers have to go home to. Maybe it's a generator and a loving family awaiting your arrival, but more often than not, its a cold lonely one bedroom apartment, in South Meriden, with a dog that's so freaked out by the darkness, and a refrigerator full of rotten hungry man dinners. If you can't do it for you, do it for the guy in lime green working beside you.
What CL and P offered was the same tired scenario that a father preparing to leave his family says to his youngest boy, "It'll be OK, everything will be fine". Thank you, Northeast Utilities, United Illuminating, General Electric, what have you, for providing our state with yet another empty promise. We all feel let down and electrically abandoned.
800,000 households, (not even people), statewide without power for more than a week, including businesses, schools, and every traffic light from the 203 to the 860. I get it, guys, you didn't get compensated properly for the "tropical storm", which was a nice way of saying heavy rains and a little wind, but don't you have families to go home to? Or at least your Irish setter? What will you do when you can't crack open a can of Budweiser and watch the Giants lose after a long day of tree cutting? Where in the world is your sense of unity and hospitality?
And on the fifth day, God made the Home Depot and Loewes who provide the good state of Connecticut with generators, pricing anywhere from $800-1000, only to be sold out instantly after the hype of Irene. You know what my community had to do for nine grueling days? Live out of our cars, the diner, and the New York Sports Club, until they started charging $15 dollars a day to use their luke warm community showers.
Next time something so severe decides to grace us with its temperate presence; make sure you have a staff in front, and behind you that has a stronger work ethic. I know, no one wants to work for free in an ever dwindling economy, but if it helps, think about what YOU or your coworkers have to go home to. Maybe it's a generator and a loving family awaiting your arrival, but more often than not, its a cold lonely one bedroom apartment, in South Meriden, with a dog that's so freaked out by the darkness, and a refrigerator full of rotten hungry man dinners. If you can't do it for you, do it for the guy in lime green working beside you.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Pissin' All Over the World
Public urination, disorderly conduct, noise pollution. You name the class F misdemeanor and 90% of 19-22 year old's have displayed this kind of behavior. Do I agree to sloppiness and conducting yourself like a wild animal? No, but I'll be damned if I need to get involved upon your potential arrest outside of campus.
I have more than enough faith that all of these students displaying ill behavior know should know how to monitor themselves. If you think it's a good idea to pee all over downtown New Haven, be prepared to suffer the consequences. If you could get into this university in the first place, you should know the difference between right and wrong.
As far as off campus residents running into trouble with the Hamden community; this situation is not our responsibility. If you are going to throw a kegger on a Wednesday night in your residential town house, and the cops show up due to your bass thumping all the way down Dixwell avenue, you are going have to deal with the famifications of your actions, and the school administrative offices will have nothing to do with it.
Hamden and New Haven police can figure this out without our faculty there to defend you.
I have more than enough faith that all of these students displaying ill behavior know should know how to monitor themselves. If you think it's a good idea to pee all over downtown New Haven, be prepared to suffer the consequences. If you could get into this university in the first place, you should know the difference between right and wrong.
As far as off campus residents running into trouble with the Hamden community; this situation is not our responsibility. If you are going to throw a kegger on a Wednesday night in your residential town house, and the cops show up due to your bass thumping all the way down Dixwell avenue, you are going have to deal with the famifications of your actions, and the school administrative offices will have nothing to do with it.
Hamden and New Haven police can figure this out without our faculty there to defend you.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Bad Boy Barnicle
Way to let me down, Barnicle.
Seriously? Countless acts of blatant plagiarism and you still get to keep your job as a decorated journalist; even after being forced to resign from the Boston Globe?
Now you're a televised journalist making twice as much money to have people listen to your cruel dishonesty. And really, fabricating cancer? How shockingly uncool that article was. Terminal Illness is still taboo, you heartless fossil.
I remember reading it, thinking to myself as I almost filled with tears, the same way the less fortunate mother did when she opened a check for $10,000 dollars, sent from the family who's son had survived. Getting that warm fuzzy feeling you feel when you read a nice birthday card from your grandmother; all for it to be destroyed as quickly as my brain absorbed it. I'm a sucker.
How dare you make millions off the fabrication of falsehoods in your stories. How dare you do your fan base and our society a disservice by omitting the truth in your articles. And lastly, how dare you take credit for the comedic genius of George Carlin. Have you any unique thoughts of your own? Probably not considering you have produced countless anti-facts in the course of your literary career.
When I become a famous, well recognized, published writer, I will broadcast to the world, across the world and the world wide web, how you, Mike Barnicle, master of journalistic disguise, have disappointed me.
You can't even stand up and admit to your written thievery. Can't say 'I'm sorry, America, I have lied to you the same way all your great leaders have. You know what Barnicle? I am more of a man than you'll ever be; able to call you out without blinking, thinking and hardly proofreading. How you like me now?
Seriously? Countless acts of blatant plagiarism and you still get to keep your job as a decorated journalist; even after being forced to resign from the Boston Globe?
Now you're a televised journalist making twice as much money to have people listen to your cruel dishonesty. And really, fabricating cancer? How shockingly uncool that article was. Terminal Illness is still taboo, you heartless fossil.
I remember reading it, thinking to myself as I almost filled with tears, the same way the less fortunate mother did when she opened a check for $10,000 dollars, sent from the family who's son had survived. Getting that warm fuzzy feeling you feel when you read a nice birthday card from your grandmother; all for it to be destroyed as quickly as my brain absorbed it. I'm a sucker.
How dare you make millions off the fabrication of falsehoods in your stories. How dare you do your fan base and our society a disservice by omitting the truth in your articles. And lastly, how dare you take credit for the comedic genius of George Carlin. Have you any unique thoughts of your own? Probably not considering you have produced countless anti-facts in the course of your literary career.
When I become a famous, well recognized, published writer, I will broadcast to the world, across the world and the world wide web, how you, Mike Barnicle, master of journalistic disguise, have disappointed me.
You can't even stand up and admit to your written thievery. Can't say 'I'm sorry, America, I have lied to you the same way all your great leaders have. You know what Barnicle? I am more of a man than you'll ever be; able to call you out without blinking, thinking and hardly proofreading. How you like me now?
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Stoopid vs. Google
Is Google making us stupid? Answer: No. In fact, this search engine give us the opportunity to search infinitely for information regarding anything, with just a few simple clicks of a keyboard.
Is Google making us lazy and giving us ADD? Answer: yes. For example, you turn on your computer, open a web browser for Google. You have a song stuck in your head that you simply cannot remember the name of. “The lyrics are something like, “Not one more word tonight”… and then you can’t remember the rest. The melody is echoing through your ears and you have this unquenchable thirst for knowing what song has been invading your brain space all morning. You type in the lyrics and instantly are connected with the tune that has been hiding inside you. The name of the song, Sink Florida Sink, by the band: Against Me. Hundreds of web pages open at your fingertips and you begin searching, reading, listening and before you have the ability to listen to the second verse of the song you have already purchased two albums, bought concert tickets and downloaded three different versions of Sink Florida Sink on your iPod. I sure hope you don’t regret your recent purchases.
People joke about our generations’ lack of attention span, but it’s true. The second we see something shiny, our attention shifts from one thing to another in a spectrum of polar opposites. You’re sitting at your computer, reading an article for class. It could be something your passionate about. Say your reading about a new pilot for a cop drama due out sometime this winter on NBC. You love the cast, the dramatics, and the controversial topics that are going to be part of this program. You are reading this article and you cannot help yourself from thinking about something totally different. Read a paragraph, close the window, open your face book account, make some stupid status update about how “bored to death” you are on a Saturday afternoon. Suddenly three hours have past and you’ve forgotten the measly paragraph in the article you were so eager to read.
Is Google making us stupid? No. We do more reading on a daily basis now than our society has ever before. Is what we are reading deep? Full of composure? Meaningful? No, mostly it’s a series of text messages all pertaining to what we’re doing this weekend and who is driving. So when you try to blame technology for our ever growing ADD and stupidity, step back, take a long look in the mirror, and thank yourself for paying more attention to reality television than America’s deficit.
Is Google making us lazy and giving us ADD? Answer: yes. For example, you turn on your computer, open a web browser for Google. You have a song stuck in your head that you simply cannot remember the name of. “The lyrics are something like, “Not one more word tonight”… and then you can’t remember the rest. The melody is echoing through your ears and you have this unquenchable thirst for knowing what song has been invading your brain space all morning. You type in the lyrics and instantly are connected with the tune that has been hiding inside you. The name of the song, Sink Florida Sink, by the band: Against Me. Hundreds of web pages open at your fingertips and you begin searching, reading, listening and before you have the ability to listen to the second verse of the song you have already purchased two albums, bought concert tickets and downloaded three different versions of Sink Florida Sink on your iPod. I sure hope you don’t regret your recent purchases.
People joke about our generations’ lack of attention span, but it’s true. The second we see something shiny, our attention shifts from one thing to another in a spectrum of polar opposites. You’re sitting at your computer, reading an article for class. It could be something your passionate about. Say your reading about a new pilot for a cop drama due out sometime this winter on NBC. You love the cast, the dramatics, and the controversial topics that are going to be part of this program. You are reading this article and you cannot help yourself from thinking about something totally different. Read a paragraph, close the window, open your face book account, make some stupid status update about how “bored to death” you are on a Saturday afternoon. Suddenly three hours have past and you’ve forgotten the measly paragraph in the article you were so eager to read.
Is Google making us stupid? No. We do more reading on a daily basis now than our society has ever before. Is what we are reading deep? Full of composure? Meaningful? No, mostly it’s a series of text messages all pertaining to what we’re doing this weekend and who is driving. So when you try to blame technology for our ever growing ADD and stupidity, step back, take a long look in the mirror, and thank yourself for paying more attention to reality television than America’s deficit.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Mary J.. Yay or Nay?
Marijuana has been given a negative reputation for decades as nothing more than a "gateway" drug; impairing your motor skills or resulting in laziness. This substance needs to be given a new header.
Consider this your coming out party, pot.
People do not pay enough attention to the danger in consuming alcohol, or the distribution of medicinal narctoics. These legal proucts have been proven hazardous, addictive, and damaging to the people who use them; whether it be recreationally or doctor perscribed. The reality of the situation is, there are more deaths per year from the use of these controlled substances than there have EVER been from smoking a joint with your friends.
This is an all natural plant that is used with the intention to relax you, create feelings of ease and zen. Not to impair your ability to reason, or cause you to black out like hitting the bottle does. Nor is marijuana designed to cause an instant addiction such as some of the ingridients found in OxyCodon.
People need to stop taking the recreational use of Marijuana so seriously. It's a "drug" that people will never stop using for various reasons. The more you tell us to do something, the easier it is for us to want to do it, and where there's a will, unfortunately, there is a way.
As humans we have the ability to do things in moderation, to tell ourselves when enough is enough, but when did we lose such faith in our choice to "say no". If you don't want to get high, don't get high. If you do, the penalties resulting in your ability to hit the bowl are beyond unreasonable. Jail time, community service, mandatory rehabilitation classes. Harsh reality, huh?
Get over it, America. It's just pot. Reach out to your inner frat boy and indugle.
Consider this your coming out party, pot.
People do not pay enough attention to the danger in consuming alcohol, or the distribution of medicinal narctoics. These legal proucts have been proven hazardous, addictive, and damaging to the people who use them; whether it be recreationally or doctor perscribed. The reality of the situation is, there are more deaths per year from the use of these controlled substances than there have EVER been from smoking a joint with your friends.
This is an all natural plant that is used with the intention to relax you, create feelings of ease and zen. Not to impair your ability to reason, or cause you to black out like hitting the bottle does. Nor is marijuana designed to cause an instant addiction such as some of the ingridients found in OxyCodon.
People need to stop taking the recreational use of Marijuana so seriously. It's a "drug" that people will never stop using for various reasons. The more you tell us to do something, the easier it is for us to want to do it, and where there's a will, unfortunately, there is a way.
As humans we have the ability to do things in moderation, to tell ourselves when enough is enough, but when did we lose such faith in our choice to "say no". If you don't want to get high, don't get high. If you do, the penalties resulting in your ability to hit the bowl are beyond unreasonable. Jail time, community service, mandatory rehabilitation classes. Harsh reality, huh?
Get over it, America. It's just pot. Reach out to your inner frat boy and indugle.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Bon Voyage, Entourage
For eight fulfilling seasons, HBO’s Entourage has not only held the attention of millions of viewers, but has maintained a die hard fan base since the beginning. From a plethora of celebrity guests, relatable, real life situations and witty uncensored banter; this show has been compared to Sex and the City…for dudes.
The show is loosely based on executive producer Mark Wahlberg’s life as a struggling actor, trying to break out of his good vibrations and sagging pants, and have main stream media take him a little more seriously; as a respected actor and not just the leader of the funky bunch. After seven years and numerous Emmy nominations, the show has come to an end, and rumors of a feature film are in the works.
These episodes open with their theme song; a catchy, low-fi enhanced Janes Addiction tune (superhero) that is just as engaging as it is fitting for the opener. Flashing Hollywood lights, rolling credits and the four protagonists driving through LA in a classic American Muscle car sets the scene and emulates their “too cool” attitudes.
The show centers around A-list celebrity Vincent Chase, who is publicly known as not only a talented young actor, but a modern day playboy with an addiction for women and sex. The ongoing joke for eight seasons is that his three friends, who are in Hollywood with him for “moral support” have been riding on his coat tails and basically taking advantage of his newly achieved fame.
Vinny Chase’s brother, dubbed Johnny Drama for his arrogant attitude and instigating behavior is a D-list celebrity, trying like hell to be as critically acclaimed and smooth as his brother. Then, there is Turtle, slightly overweight and a real New York swagger to him, smokes a lot of pot and was given the job of “personal chauffeur” to Vincent Chase. Directly translating to driving Vinny around because this Queens kid didn’t have a drivers license.
Lastly, there is Eric, “E”. The best friend, the right hand man, and the voice of reason. Essentially, the glue who holds everyone together in these times of struggle. Within every show there is some high stress situation involving the careers of Vincent Chase and how he can continue to flourish as a young actor. Which brings us to the most entertaining character of this comedy series; agency director Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven).
Ari’s blood pressure is visibly through the roof, he is racially degrading, sexually explicit, always sweating and downright nasty through majority of the show. In retrospect, without Ari Gold, the show would have an un-fillable void, devout of 75% of the comedic value.
Four single, relatively successful men, living in a big city without any real sense of direction. The main focus’s being money, sex, and popularity in Hollywood. No wonder the Sex and the City comparisons are not few and far between.
However vile, and offensive some of the language and “adult” situations are throughout this show; the demographic targets an equal array of people. Its’ comedic value is abundantly clear, as well as its minimum two celebrity guest star appearances per episode, outstanding catchy and underground soundtrack and its new endorsement deals with Nike. Pat yourselves on the back!
As of September 19, only days after the season finale of the show, The producers divulged that the Entourage movie, will in fact be happening sooner than later. The series ended on a truly positive note as all the characters got back what they had been struggling for. Mended marriages, new jobs, new money and a whole lot of new potential drama is more than enough material to get through two hours of film.
Right now there has only been talk of the Entourage movie, but Wahlberg expresses to IMDB that the wheels are turning and “it better happen”.
Over the course of eight seasons, Entourage has had roughly 25 Emmy nominations, not only for acting but for writing and directing, and Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillon won awards for their outstanding comedic performances. The show has been critically acclaimed for its realism and character development over the years, displaying relatable situations and personalities.
These are the four kids from Queens you knew growing up in your neighborhood. The kids who have been close since kinder garden; who you played kick ball with in the middle of the street over the summer. The kids whose mothers on Sunday dinner expected you there, sitting at the table with them. The sense of unity and values that is displayed within these four boys is not only refreshing; but its like watching how you and your friends act together.. Only your sitting at home paying $60 a month for HBO, while your fake friends are multi millionaires.
Well done, gentlemen.
The show is loosely based on executive producer Mark Wahlberg’s life as a struggling actor, trying to break out of his good vibrations and sagging pants, and have main stream media take him a little more seriously; as a respected actor and not just the leader of the funky bunch. After seven years and numerous Emmy nominations, the show has come to an end, and rumors of a feature film are in the works.
These episodes open with their theme song; a catchy, low-fi enhanced Janes Addiction tune (superhero) that is just as engaging as it is fitting for the opener. Flashing Hollywood lights, rolling credits and the four protagonists driving through LA in a classic American Muscle car sets the scene and emulates their “too cool” attitudes.
The show centers around A-list celebrity Vincent Chase, who is publicly known as not only a talented young actor, but a modern day playboy with an addiction for women and sex. The ongoing joke for eight seasons is that his three friends, who are in Hollywood with him for “moral support” have been riding on his coat tails and basically taking advantage of his newly achieved fame.
Vinny Chase’s brother, dubbed Johnny Drama for his arrogant attitude and instigating behavior is a D-list celebrity, trying like hell to be as critically acclaimed and smooth as his brother. Then, there is Turtle, slightly overweight and a real New York swagger to him, smokes a lot of pot and was given the job of “personal chauffeur” to Vincent Chase. Directly translating to driving Vinny around because this Queens kid didn’t have a drivers license.
Lastly, there is Eric, “E”. The best friend, the right hand man, and the voice of reason. Essentially, the glue who holds everyone together in these times of struggle. Within every show there is some high stress situation involving the careers of Vincent Chase and how he can continue to flourish as a young actor. Which brings us to the most entertaining character of this comedy series; agency director Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven).
Ari’s blood pressure is visibly through the roof, he is racially degrading, sexually explicit, always sweating and downright nasty through majority of the show. In retrospect, without Ari Gold, the show would have an un-fillable void, devout of 75% of the comedic value.
Four single, relatively successful men, living in a big city without any real sense of direction. The main focus’s being money, sex, and popularity in Hollywood. No wonder the Sex and the City comparisons are not few and far between.
However vile, and offensive some of the language and “adult” situations are throughout this show; the demographic targets an equal array of people. Its’ comedic value is abundantly clear, as well as its minimum two celebrity guest star appearances per episode, outstanding catchy and underground soundtrack and its new endorsement deals with Nike. Pat yourselves on the back!
As of September 19, only days after the season finale of the show, The producers divulged that the Entourage movie, will in fact be happening sooner than later. The series ended on a truly positive note as all the characters got back what they had been struggling for. Mended marriages, new jobs, new money and a whole lot of new potential drama is more than enough material to get through two hours of film.
Right now there has only been talk of the Entourage movie, but Wahlberg expresses to IMDB that the wheels are turning and “it better happen”.
Over the course of eight seasons, Entourage has had roughly 25 Emmy nominations, not only for acting but for writing and directing, and Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillon won awards for their outstanding comedic performances. The show has been critically acclaimed for its realism and character development over the years, displaying relatable situations and personalities.
These are the four kids from Queens you knew growing up in your neighborhood. The kids who have been close since kinder garden; who you played kick ball with in the middle of the street over the summer. The kids whose mothers on Sunday dinner expected you there, sitting at the table with them. The sense of unity and values that is displayed within these four boys is not only refreshing; but its like watching how you and your friends act together.. Only your sitting at home paying $60 a month for HBO, while your fake friends are multi millionaires.
Well done, gentlemen.
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