This was a project I had to do for class on short notice with my busy schedule. A PSA on something regarding sexual health that I am passionate about. I chose to do an anti-LGBT bullying PSA. Please share if you think it will help.
(Source: youtube.com)
This video spoke to me because I believe change starts at the top and trickles down. As a veteran I know first hand how bigoted and close-minded people in the service can be. There is still so much racism and bigotry throughout the country and this is displayed first-hand when serving. Soldiers/Sailors use terms like “That’s gay”, call each other “homo’s” or “fag’s”, and honestly I’m not sure that they understand the weight behind those words, or the hate that comes from them. It’s a learned behavior/culture, taught by our parents, taught by the media, putting down homosexuals as less of a person and it has to stop. For my years spent in the service I believe I was part of the problem. I used derogatory terms without really thinking about what it was I was saying, or the pain that those words cause. In the service we use those terms as jokes, as a means of bonding, to prove our alpha-male statuses and it’s wrong. It didn’t really click-in with me until after I returned home how awful that language was and how hurtful, and counter-productive it was to our society. I’ve never believed that homosexuals were lesser, and yet I used those terms to try and fit in, and I still regret it.
To change the way we think starts with us adults. We have to teach the younger generation that everyone is equal. It starts with education in our schools, in our military, in our society. We have to get the message across that everyone deserves to be treated equal, that no one should be looked at different, and that all should be loved equally as humans. We’re making progress, so much more in the last few years passing laws to allow same-sex marriages, and equal rights for domestic partnerships, but that’s not enough. Our president has done a great job so far by campaigning for equal rights and same-sex marriage over the last four years and hopefully in these next four years, can push even more states to help recognize equal rights for all.
I feel proud of our nation for waking up in recent years and taking action through campaigns like www.itgetsbetter.org, but it’s still not enough. We can’t allow our children to be bullied, to feel different for whom they are attracted to, or whom they identify with. It takes every one of us to hold each other accountable for their words, and more importantly their actions. If you see someone getting bullied or you hear derogatory terms towards homosexuals being used, say something, get involved. If you’re not part of the solution…
(Source: youtube.com)
Dennis Haskins has been a television actor for over for over thirty years, entertaining people with roles in such hits as The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1984), Magnum P.I. (1986), The Twilight Zone (1987), Mad Men (2012), and most recently How I Met Your Mother (2012). His comedic skills are unmatched, and those skills were showcased in Mr. Haskins’ most famous role, Principal Richard Belding, in NBC’s Saved by the Bell (1989-1993), and Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993-2000).
In two-hundred plus episodes over those eleven years spent at Bayside High-School, Haskins blend of comedy and heart-warming dramatic acting, made him a cult icon to a generation of young adults.
It got me thinking, why has Dennis Haskins never been asked to host Saturday Night Live? Why in the nineteen years since Haskins’ started on Saved by the Bell, has he not had his chance to shine on Saturday night, in New York City at Studio 8H? In the words of Principal Belding “Hey, hey, hey, what is going on here?”
So I tweeted Mr. Haskins (@mrbelding) and got this response from him. Sounds like he’s up for the challenge!
Let’s show the world how much we love Mr. Haskins, and how we’d love to see him host one of America’s longest standing comedy shows through this petition!
Click the box below, sign your name, and leave a comment if you’d like. Let SNL creator Lorne Michaels know how much you’d love to see Dennis Haskins up there displaying his unique comedic skills under the bright lights of Saturday Night Live.
(Source: ipetitions.com)
Either you’re part of the problem, or you’re part of the solution. The reason I support Macklemore as much as I do is because he’s part of the solution. He’s a heterosexual, pop-culture figure head with a positive message that he’s trying to spread through the power of hip-hop. It is our choice as to wether we will accept the message that he and so many others are trying to push right now, progression as a society. It is not a sin to be gay. It is not a choice to be gay. Homosexuals should have every right that you and I have. Seattlites, please vote to approve Referendum 74 on the November 6th general election. If you have any questions, I strongly encourage you to do some research, starting with the Washington United for Marriage website. Please be part of the solution.
(Source: washingtonunitedformarriage.org)
These are are 10 songs in no particular order that I’m really enjoying right now.
10) Things I Haven’t Done - The Good Husbands
Got to see these guys at Nectar a few months ago. Great vibe, high energy show. Perfect summer music.
9) Lost In My Mind - The Head and the Heart
The guy who sings this song taught me how to fold silverware neatly into napkins. True story.
8) Whale Song - Lemolo
Saw these girls twice in the last few months and have been blown away each time. Finally Poulsbo, WA has something better to represent than their RV’s.
7) The Honest Truth - Typhoon
Love the trumpet in this. At least I think it’s a trumpet. It’s a trumpet right? This video owns. Makes me miss MTV when they played stuff like this. I suppose VH1 might play this but if I always thought that if I watched VH1, that would make me old.
6) Hide From The Night - Radiation City
Radiation City makes me think of the Brady Bunch meets the Beach Boys if they had grown up in the Pacific Northwest and were raised on grunge music. Portland’s finest.
5) Thrift Shop - Macklemore
My absolute favorite song right now. Everyone’s talking about poppin’ bottles in the club these days, Macklemore’s talking about poppin’ tags at the Goodwill. My Dad says he knows the guy who sings the hook in this. Not sure if that’s true. BTW the colorful bar they shot some of this in (The Unicorn) has the best corn-dogs ever. TRUTH.
4) Runaways - The Killers
Great pop song. Streamed their new album this week and honestly, I think I may like this new album better than Hot Fuss. Blasphemy!
3) Never Quit Loving You - Jill Barber
Something to fill the void until Adelle comes out with a new album. Seriously though, just a cute love song by a great vocalist.
2) Mountain Sound - Of Monsters and Men
Maybe this song is in a commercial, maybe it’s not, I’m not sure. Sounds like it should be. I really like, but I also feel like it’s gonna be used to get me to switch to Verizon soon.
1) Dolly Rottens- Scream
Love these gals. Been supporting them from the get-go and while this is an old video, it’s such a beautiful song which has only matured through each performance. I heard a rumor that there was debate if this would make the cut on their first album. Trust me: record it. It’s haunting. Can’t wait to see what these girls (now four total members) have in store for us in the future.
What songs are making your ears happy right now?
Mike Trout, the absolute best player in baseball this year turned 21 today. Since being called up at the end of April, he has batted .348, slugged 19 HR’s with 59 RBI’s, and swiped 36 bases in only 87 games of his rookie season. It’s worth noting he’s done all of this before he could legally purchase an an alcoholic drink.
The Los Angeles Angels, picked by most to contend for the World Series, were thought dead in the water after a frigid opening month, going 8-15. With the Angels’ newly acquired, $240m dollar first baseman Albert Pujols having an incredibly difficult time adjusting to his new home (.217 0 HR’s, 4 RBI’s), the Angels had no choice but to finally call up the young phenom, Trout.
Since Trout’s call-up at the end of April, Pujols has put up some of the best numbers in baseball since the All-Star Break and this team has finally hit stride. Their always dependable ace, CY Young candidate Jared Weaver, who is an impressive 15-1 with a 2.13 ERA, has helped Trout and the Halo’s battle to within four games of first place in the A.L. West, and in a dead tie with Detroit for the 1st Wild-Card Seed.
Trout’s athleticism in centerfield, and his amazing power and speed at the plate are spectacular. His overall numbers are better so far than Ken Griffey Jr and Barry Bonds’ in their rookie seasons, and he still has two months to go.
Ken Griffey Jr ( 127 GP 16 HR’s 61 RBI’s .264 AVG 16 SB)
Barry Bonds (113 GP 16 HR’s 48 RBI’s .223 AVG 36 SB )
Mike Trout ( 87 GP 19 HR’s 59 RBI’s .348 AVG 36 SB)
Happy 21st Birthday Mike Trout. He may play for the enemy, but it’s impossible not to respect the hell out of this amazing rookie year. The way Trout is playing, he could conceivably become only the 3rd player in baseball history to win the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in the same season (Fred Lynn-1975, Ichiro Suzuki-2001). This guy is going to make MLB pitchers, outfielders, and most importantly my Seattle Mariners’ lives, a living hell for the next 15 years or so.
Follow Mike Trout at @trouty20
(Source: mlb.com)
On Sunday July 22nd, Zippy’s Giant Burgers held their first annual burger eating contest in their parking lot of their new resteraunt. Over 10 participants braved this challenge before a crowd of approx. 100 people. The rules were simple, the challenge was not: 8 minutes to finish as many plain Zip Burgers (1/3 lb. patty on a cormeal dusted bun) as they could. The contestants were provided condiments, and any beverage of their choice (alcohol excluded). After these ravenous gladiators paid at the $10 entry fee and completed their release forms, which I was told had a clause that stated the contestants could not sue for any future gastro problems, they were introduced to the eager White Center audience.
If I were ever going to enter a competitve eating contest, I can’t think of any place in Seattle other than Zippy’s that I would be willing to destroy my stomach for. That’s love right there.
After watching these burger titans gorge themselves to the applause of a great crowd, a victor, Tony Phan emerged!
In 8 minutes, Tony demolished 8 Zip’s. That’s a little over 2 lbs. of burger goodness. Congrats to Tony on winning the inaugural contest and let’s hope Zippy’s continues to make this great event even better next year with more contestants, more prizes and specials, and perhaps even live music in their parking lot.
(Source: zippysgiantburgers.com)
I read a Rolling Stone article last week (see bottom for link) about life-long Pearl Jam fan Brain Farias, a member of PJ’s “Ten-Club” since inception, who was randomly selected by the band to create a set list which the band would then play at their June 27th show at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome.
Sounded like an amazing experience which got me thinking: If I could have Pearl Jam play MY ultimate set list, what songs would I choose? What would I want the tempo to be? Would I want mostly older cuts from the first few albums, or would I try to find a blend of the older tunes with some of the newer hits sprinkled in from time to time? This was a lot harder than I thought, trying to arrange the songs so that it would have some sort of flow and continuity while remaining entertaining, and trying to not to tire the band out from the pace. Keep in mind that while I put this together I was envisioning watching Ed and company play this thirty-six song, two and a half hour show in the middle of California and Alaska Avenue, during the West Seattle Street Fair. Hey, it’s MY fantasy play list right?
SETLIST:
Animal
Insignificance
State Of Love And Trust
Down
Unthought Known
Given To Fly
Dissident
Alone
Why Go
Amongst The Waves
Thumbing My Way
Nothingman
Save You
Go
Jeremy
Corduroy
Got Some
Immortality
Daughter
Wishlist
Spin the Black Circle
Faithful
Rearviewmirror
Not for You
Black
ENCORE 1:
Better Man
I Am Mine
Do The Evolution
Low Light
Alive
ENCORE 2:
Just Breathe
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
Throw Your Arms Around Me
Crown of Thorns (Cover)
Baba O’Riley (Cover)/Yellow Ledbetter
(Source: Rolling Stone)
I haven’t been able to articulate why last nights shooting in Colorado has had the affect on me it has today, besides the obvious lives lost. What’s dawned on me as the details have emerged is, it’s the tragic circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The people shot were attending an event Rachelle and I attended the night before. A midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. The victims were people just like us, excited to see a film, passionate enough about the subject matter to want to be the first people to see it. Fans of superheroes, just like us.
I have an awful hole in my heart after hearing about this and I just wanted to say one thing:
Life is precious, make sure you tell the people around you how much you love them. One minute you could be trying to see a midnight showing of Batman, then next you’re gone.
