Candy

This Australian indie flick featuring late actor Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish was directed by Neil Armfield who is responsible for other Australian indie flicks like The Castanet Club, and the 1980�??s Twelfth Night. This film has everything an indie kid could want including artzy fartzy camera angles, shooting the young cast as they shoot their drug of choice. A Requiem for a Dream style plot about a young couple getting so far into a heroin addiction but remaining in love until they tear each others lives apart. Defiantly a film with some scenes that are hard to watch including hardcore drug usage, overdoses, sex, and violence but it is filmed in a very colorful, romantic fashion truly making it �??Candy�?? for the eye.

Juno

Juno, the 2007 academy award winning �??dramedy�?? film featuring Michael Cera, and Jennifer Garner, who plays a sixteen year old, hip, quick whited, punk rocker type who decides to put her baby to be up for adoption. As the plot continues she finds a young couple to take on the role of the child’s future parents. Feelings fly between the sixteen year old biological parents as well as the parents to be. This is a fun comedy/drama film good for most PG-13 + ages and is a must see for any indie couple in love. Also, check out the soundtrack featuring the song from the film sweetly sung by the lead actors called �??I don�??t know what anyone would see in anyone else�?? tipping the film off with a very Lily Allen or Feist vibe.

Eagle Vs. Shark

This New-Zealand-made comedy directed by Academy Award nominee Taika Waititi was a very good laugh to watch. The copasetic plot goes as �??Shark�?? or the character of Lily, played by Loren Horsley  finds her way into the equally as strange life of �??Eagle�?? or Jarrod,  Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Concords. (Another hipster thing to watch but not a film so we�??ll keep it out of this blog.) The cute story about being square and finding true love all starts initially with a video game contest hosted by the character Jarrod at his cramped apartment where the party goers dress up as their favorite animal and battle in the virtual �??Man Fighter.�?? Jarrod, being the square self-proclaimed champion of Man fighting comes to an unexpected surprise when Lily, dressed as the shark nearly beats him at the game, thus begins their strange relationship.

The Number 23

This creepy number (no pun intended) got mixed reviews from film critics but as a personal favorite I felt it had to be included. The film directed by Joel Schumacher (St. Elmo�??s Fire, The Lost Boys) is a psychological thriller about an obsession with a number starring Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen. I enjoyed this film as another one of Carrey�??s drama films along side The Truman Show, and another trendy classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind. This film comes complete with purposely sloppy camera trips and an uneasy feel throughout the whole hour and a half. A must see for any suspense fan that doesn�??t need a ton of blood to make up for a weak plot. It is cinematically beautiful and worth the rent.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a dark comedy featuring Christina Ricci as a sorority girl who falls out of her superficial world and into love with a mentally handicapped boy named Pumpkin played by Hank Harris. The indie film was written and directed by Anthony Abrams and Adam Larson Broder. I originally saw this film while flipping through the channels and landed on the Sundance channel during the scene where Pumpkin and Carolyn first meet and Carolyn, (Christina Ricci) screams bloody murder as Pumpkin says her name in a very creepy way, beginning their relationship on a very uncomfortable foot. A must see for anyone with a heart for strange humor.

Hope I�??ve helped all your hipsters in some choice indie-ish flicks. I bet just by reading this it must have earned you like 10 or 20 scene point with your crew. If you want to sound even extra indie-fabulous try to memorize all of the film�??s directors and cast members and whip them out the next time you need some points. These movies defiantly are my favorite of this genre and they all deserve you to watch them. This is a film blog, but I did just want to mention the best show on television �??It�??s always sunny in Philadelphia.�?? Watch it, go to the web site, buy the DVD, tell your friends! Hope you�??ve had a good time reading all this stuff, and remember, keep your head to the sky and your chucks tied!

1. Family Guy: For all of you that don�??t know what Family Guy is�?�I�??m sorry, because it is hilarious. It does have racist, sexist, and religious remarks, but it is all for entertainment value and you have to remember that it is only a cartoon. I also love Family Guy because the characters have their own diverse comic personality.

2. It�??s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: I am very excited for the third season about to air this fall. This is obviously a fairly new show and has become pretty popular especially around, I�??d say the 18-35 age range considering that it is rated TV-MA. The characters are in their late 20�??s and all have sociopathic issues while running an unsuccessful Irish Bar in Philadelphia. This is another show on my list that deals with very controversial subjects, which apparently I find to be particularly amusing.

3. Entourage: This is a great show about an up and coming movie star from Queens, NY and his entourage of childhood friends who work for him. It is a loosely based around executive producer Mark Wahlberg�??s life when he was a fresh face in Hollywood. My two favorite characters are Johnny Drama (the older brother) and Ari Gold (the agent). The show has great story lines and each episode follows the previous one. I have been to LA a half dozen times and been to some of the places that are shown in previous episodes, which is always fun.

4. Seinfeld: I know Seinfeld is an older show and it only airs re-runs now, but it is on every night and every episode is funny no matter how many times I see it. This is one of the best sitcoms ever made and it is about absolutely nothing! All the characters are good friends and have nothing in common with one another, which strikes up great comedy.

5. Jeopardy: Don�??t hate on Jeopardy! This is by far the best game-show especially now that Bob Barker has left the Price is Right. I watch Jeopardy almost every night and if I get 3 answers right the entire game�?�It was well worth it. Stuff can�??t be funny all the time, so I have to throw something in the mix other than comedy and maybe learn a few things. With this being said I would probably crack open a few beers with Alex Trebek if I had the chance.

Moby
An exciting blast from the 90�??s artist Moby will be releasing his 6th studio album �??Last Night�?? on March 10th. This album is rumored to be his most �??hip hop�?? sounding album to date featuring the original 70�??s MC Grandmaster Caz, and UK�??s MC Aynzli.

Radiohead
�??In Rainbows�?? the first album to be released originally in download format only, and the first album ever on a major label of which the buyer chooses how much he/she wants to pay for the record. The Hardcopy of �??In Rainbows�?? was release January 1st and has been one of the top selling albums to date. As a radiohead fan person I strongly suggest picking it up, throwing on your lava-lamp and giving it a good listen through.

Snoop Dogg

Hip hop star Snoop Doggy Dog is releasing his 9th studio album �??Ego Trippin�?? in March of 08�??. The album will be released on an Snoop�??s own label Doggystyle, and imprint of Geffen Records and it will feature the up-tempo track �??Sensual Seduction�?? produced by Shawty Redd. This is great to look out for if you are a Snoop fan because not only will the multi-platinum rapper be rapping, this will be his first album where he sings.

Coldplay

The English rock band Coldplay is scheduled to release their forthcoming full length in either May or June of 08�??. The album to be released on Capitol Records currently has no title released to the public. The band has a really cool sound that is recognizable remembering their first major American hit �??Yellow�?? and their biggest single to date �??Speed of Sound�?? which has collectively sold over 10 million units world wide.

What Made Milwaukee Famous

This new group out of-believe it or not-Austin Texas offers an indie rock, powerpop mix genre with an almost british sounding accent on the lead vocals. This new five piece consisting of vocals, two guitar players, bass, drums and keys bring a nice loud yet modest sound to the table for all indie rock fans. The group is touring the states throughout the summer. Their debut album �??What doesn�??t Kill Us�?? is available now.

Paul McCartney

Legendary artist of the Beatles Paul McCartney was signed to be the first artist on Starbucks Entertainment. (yes, the coffee place) The album will be sir McCartney�??s first release in almost two years and will feature a complete new original track listing. The date of release is March 21st, 2007. The album will be available at your common record store and of course, at Starbucks.

The Mars Volta

Former members of indie rock band At the Drive in continue their journeying in their project known as The Mars Volta. The groups fourth release �??The Bedlam in Goliath�?? is due out sometime in early 08�??. After seeing the group a couple months ago, hearing the new songs and watching the amazing musical talent of almost 10 studio musicians on stage playing their hearts out at a heart stopping tempo gives reason enough to go out and grab the new album.

Check�??em all out kids!

Spend it with friends. Valentine�??s Day is meant to be about love, and is not necessarily just for couples. It can be just as rewarding to get a gang of single friends together for an enjoyable dinner. Perhaps even more pleasing to do so with good friends, except for the fact that you won�??t be having sex as the night comes to an end�?�unless of course, you have some �??really good�?? friends.

Spring Break is approaching. People are single for all different reasons: whether you just don�??t want a relationship, you have lost a significant other, there is no one you can see yourself dating at the moment, or you are just absolutely hideous and can�??t even buy a date. Whatever the reason is for you being available, just role with it and have fun. You�??ll be on spring break in a month or so anyway, and no one wants to be in a relationship while you�??re surrounded by hot, drunken people, who will most likely be half-naked.

Save money on pointless gifts. If you think about what Valentine�??s Day actually is you will probably be much happier that you�??re single. Valentine�??s Day should be called �??Day for the vendors of Valentine�??s Day products,�?? because they are really the ones who this holiday benefits. If you�??re a man, just think about how much money you save on jewelry, flowers, candy, and not to mention all the stupid crap that sings or says �??I Love You!�?? And if you are a woman, you won�??t have to feel bad about throwing out all that dumb shit that you received from your man.

Avoid arguments. Sometimes when one half of a couple is pretty much forced into doing something special or expects a gift that they don�??t get, it can really ruin a Valentine�??s Day all together. Fights break out over the most ridiculous things and who knows how long it will last. Single people don�??t have to deal with all that bull. You don�??t have to worry about pleasing anyone but yourself, so enjoy it while you can.

Focus on more important things. You might be one of those people who are continuously searching for a girlfriend/boyfriend, and I really hope you aren�??t. To do this would be a waste of time, especially if you�??re a student. Worry more about your degree rather than a relationship, which probably won�??t last too long anyway considering you are obviously desperate and want to date someone just for the fact of �??dating someone.�?? It�??s not like the love of your life is playing hide and seek with you, so you shouldn�??t be looking.

Relationships just happen, so if this year you happen to be single and are still unhappy about the whole situation, there are still 365 more days to bump into your potential soul-mate before the next Valentine�??s Day. In the meantime focus on the more important things, like yourself and your career. Who knows? Maybe you�??ll fall into a relationship or get rich, buy yourself a new face and get anyone you want!

Have you ever gone on a job interview extremely unprepared? I think everyone can answer that question with a yes. I know I have done it plenty of times. Some people feel that knowing a lot about an area of study or the general position is enough to win the job over, but there is a lot more that goes into having a good interview. Your resume is only a small step to actually getting you to the interview. However, the interview is the single-most important part to getting a job, so you should spend some time getting ready for it. Although each company may require certain elements to a particular position, here are some general tips that I use to prepare for before, during, and after any interview.

Research the company: Doing research about the company you are interviewing with is a huge part to an interview. It doesn�??t matter how big or small the position may be�?�the research is very important. Knowledge about the company itself can strike up plenty of conversation as well as showing your true interest in the job. Most businesses will have a website, which should offer you everything you need to know, and write the stuff down.

Also, find out who you will be interviewing with if possible. To have some information about the interviewer themselves is great, because you might actually find some common interests that you both share, which is great for discussion. However, don�??t bring up stuff that is too personal, because you might come off as a stalker, which is not cool by any means.

Dress appropriate: No employer wants to see someone coming to an interview like they just got out of bed or they are going to a night-club. Every job is different and will not require the same dress code, so look into it and use that common sense. If you are applying for a corporate job you can never go wrong with a nice suit dark colored suit, which applies to women as well.

If the interview is for a more casual company it is still in your best interest to be neat and well groomed. No-one wants to see someone with a shirt that looks like it had been wrapped up in a ball for a few months. And, if you aren�??t quite sure what to wear you can never go wrong with khaki�??s and a nice shirt.

Be professional: From the minute you arrive, act confident and professional. This doesn�??t mean you have to be extremely serious, but present yourself well. Give a firm handshake, which implies that you are confident from the start. Sit up straight and make eye contact. There is nothing worse than slouching with your head down or just looking all over the place. It shows a giant lack of interest. Give slight head nods making it seem like you know what the interviewer is talking about and are actually interested. Don�??t be afraid to speak up and ask questions, which brings me to the next tip.

Be ready to ask and answer questions: If you just sit there and nod, it makes you look like you can�??t hold a conversation, so ask some questions. You don�??t have to ask a million questions; three solid ones would be fine, which is where your research of the company comes in handy.
Interviewers love to talk about themselves, so go ahead and ask them questions like: What is the best part for you about working here? Why did you join the company? You can also ask general questions like: What is a typical workday like here?

There is really no way of knowing what questions an interviewer will ask, but most of them ask some pretty general questions that you should be prepared for. These include: What are your greatest strengths? What are your career goals? What are you most interested about this position? Some of these might seem tricky, but always answer with confidence.

Follow up with the interview: The interview is the most important part, but landing a job might be from being persistent. There is a difference from being annoying and from being persistent and excited. Send out a thank you email or letter to your potential employer that day of the interview explaining how you appreciate them meeting with you, how you enjoyed the interview. If you don�??t hear anything after a week then give them a call�?�you aren�??t being a pain, it just tells them you are still very interested in the position.

With all this being said you will come out of the interview feeling like you nailed it rather than thinking you are an idiot. So, don�??t be afraid to send your resume out there, because the more interviews you go on, the more experience you get with them. I recommend going on interviews with companies you really have no interest in, but still act as though you really want the position. You can only benefit from this, because if you don�??t get the job, you won�??t be upset, but if you do, than you can always reject it and say you found something else. Most companies don�??t hire on the spot, so you�??ll have a couple days anyway.

I hope you find these helpful when you are applying for your next job.

Being a fan of music my whole life I�??ve managed to see a very vast number of shows live. With the exception of missing Kiss in the 90�??s-that of which I will forever regret-I�??ve seen almost any show that has come along. I love everything about shows and entertainment. There is nothing like a good rock and roll show, the audience, meeting people, the entertainers, and the music all blend beautifully to create something that of a revolution parade. Truly amazing to me hence the reason why I love to tour, even though it has yet to be that glamorous for me.

The show that I just recently attended incorporates all things I believe to be necessary in a great performance; great music, great entertainers, wondering abstract concepts, and art. Being the third time I saw the Blue Man Group, didn�??t make it any less amazing then the first.

As far as production goes, maybe with the exception of Cirque de Sollie in Las Vegas, this may be the most well organized stage performance I�??ve seen. The show is set in a small compact theater at the Charles�??s playhouse in Boston and has the three Blue Men wondering around and abusing every inch of the room to their advantage while they pour in and out of art and music while the amazing finely tuned backing band keeps our ears attention.

The sound system was hard to see from being hidden behind all the theatrics but I could tell it sounded amazing and we�??ll mixed from my seat in the front row left, to the back of the room when I left to use the facilities. The Blue Men use a wide range of instrumentation including a normal rock group, some Foley effects, and of course there famous tubes. The tubes were set up with noticeably about 30 lavaliere mic�??s and maybe a couple more. The impressive mix gave for a completely original sounding instrument. It also helped that they were painted fluorescent green, blue and pink reflecting the black lights. The front of house sound guy strangely enough seemed to be on the balcony. But all and all, it may be one of the best looking and sounding shows I�??ve ever been to. So far�?�

I blame the loss of my much-loved Pats, not on the Patriots themselves or on the Giants for actually coming to play, but on my two friends who hosted the viewing of every Pats game this season at their apartment except for the Superbowl. They watched it with their family in New Hampshire. What a way to break a tradition.

With their house out of the picture, my roommates and I picked up the slack. We hooked up four TV’s that included: our big screen in the living room, one in the dining room, the kitchen and even hooked one up in the bathroom…just in case. The place was packed with food and beers, while we all sat patiently, clenching our teeth, biting our lips, just waiting for Tom Brady to yet again be a miracle man…but it didn’t happen this time. With the conclusion of the game, some of us went silent, some of us were flipping out.

What started off to be an amazing day for the history of football turned sour for us faithful fans. For the next few weeks watching Sportcenter or the news or any station is like getting kicked in the (you know.) If spring break were this week I would spend it in solitude with a bottle of Jack. However, I am glad it’s not so I can have a few more weeks to recover from witnessing the murder of perfection.

Top 5 choices

This will be my most subjective blog to date. But when asked, I jumped at the opportunity to write about the election. Without getting to preachy-as a young person often called a liberal by one�??s around me-I�??ll share some of my opinions on the candidates and the �??08 election.

I was born to two hard working Blue Collar folks from Massachusetts, a blue state. Being from the state recently named �??The Second Greenest in America�?? by the Boston Metro, I rapidly learned various grueling facts about politicians and built angst toward the right wing party. Stating the fact that I am more of a fan of John Lennon than all of the past presidents combine should put in prospective where my views are placed.

It seems that nowadays, as a candidate, it may be just as important to show how much of a pop star you are then to actually show your views. Before I did any responsible research on the politicians running, I knew only what the media told me; that there was a black guy, and a woman running. My issue here is that, not every young person is going to take the extra couple of steps towards any responsible research to gather their opinion. I feel that the media knows this, and they will make which ever candidate the most theatrical the winner.

Before you read any further, I do want to state that this blog may say how I feel about it all, but it doesn�??t mean every kid feels the same.. In fact, I urge whoever reads this to check out all of the candidates running for office and develop your own opinion on each of the. Be sure to give me some feed back and your opinion when you�??re finished.

Democrats

Hillary Clinton

I am a easy-going young person who prides himself on creativity, imagination, and the intelligence to have an open mind. The first thing I heard about this election, was from my father who said, �??That�??s just what we need, a woman president.�?? First thing I remembered was how much my father liked Bill Clinton and I thought, �??wow! The next best thing hu?�?? I looked further into Mrs. Clinton and learned some of her more important information.

a.) She�??s a democrat, and she is not Bush!

b.) Her plan on health care she admits is just okay and will improve upon election.

c.) She has a plan to end the war by 2009.

d.) Supports energy conservation, releasing oil reserves, increasing the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Barack Obama

�??Barack Obama, he�??s the black guy right?�?? would be the general opinion on most uninformed youngsters. He also happens to be on of the best public speakers above all other candidates.

a.) Education is a very high priority on his list.

b.) Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence.

c.) Promote green technologies and fuel efficiency standards.

d.) Get our troops out by the end of 2009.

Republicans

Ron Paul

He happens to be one of my favorite candidate�??s despite the fact that he is a republican. Reason being he seems to know the importance of things that I consider to be top priority, (i.e. Global warming, ending the war, health care, state independent laws) and he also seems like he truly believes and 100% stands behind what he says. It is scary thinking that the first time I will vote may just be for the Republican Party.

a.) Demands that Troops are taken out of Iraq Immediately!

b.) Get the federal government out of abortion decision

c.) Recognizes that we’re worse off than in 2000, due to Bush & Congress.

Mitt Romney

I don�??t know a whole lot about Mr. Romney other than my parents hate him for �??Destroying Massachusetts�?? when he was governor.

Mike Huckabee

a.) Comprehensive plan for energy independence within ten years. (Is not soon enough)

b.) Follow Boy Scout rule: leave earth better than we found it.

c.) Marriage relationship between one man, one woman, for life. (Strongly disagree that marriage has any business with the Fed�??s.)

Hope this has been an interesting read for everyone. The primaries are today, make sure you hop on board and use your noodle and your ticker to vote. Remember, one million is made up of one million one�??s, so your vote counts, and ever paper bag that you save counts too.

As for the general opinion, who us young people want as a president, we want the one “that makes since.” -Jessie Jackson 1988