Blink-182 Cover

This is a cover of one of my favorite Blink-182 songs by my two best friends.  The singing isn't great, but their guitars are pretty sick!  Check it out!

Some Things Never Change

          Alright, I know I am a senior in college, but going to Disneyland is still really fun.  I went there last weekend with my friends and had an absolute blast!  I grew up in Southern California so I have been going to Disneyland for many years.  The place doesn’t get old at all…at least not to me.

            I can safely say that some of my most prized memories growing up occurred at Disneyland.  I have gone there every year on Christmas Day with my family since I can remember.  I went there during my Grad Night when I graduated from high school a few years ago.  I could go on about my Disneyland memories for days.

            The fact that I still love going to Disneyland with my family and friends has made me realize that certain things don’t seem to change as people get older.  Some things manage to stay the same even through the course of the years.

            Playing video games is another example of this.  Most of my friends still love playing video games long after childhood.  Video games are still fun and entertaining to me even though I have many more things going on in my life as an adult than I did as a child.

            What other things do people enjoy no matter what stage they are in their lives?

Will the Grizzlies Pull an Upset?

             I do not think anyone expected the San Antonio Spurs to be down 2 games to 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies in their first round series.  The Spurs are the number one seed in the West.  Pretty much everyone expected the Spurs to sweep this series pretty easily.  The Grizzlies have struggled for many years.  They have never won an NBA championship, and their success in the playoffs has always been nonexistent.

            The Spurs were clearly the favorites when the series started.  The Spurs are led by superstars like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, and 2-time MVP Tim Duncan.  They played great basketball throughout the season.  Most experts predicted that the Spurs or the Lakers would win the Western Conference.

            The Grizzlies faced very different odds when the playoffs started.  They came in as the 8^th seed.  Nobody really gave them the slightest chance to win.

            The series is still far from over.  However, the Grizzlies are putting up an incredible fight, and they are currently in the driver’s seat of the series.  The Spurs will have to prove that they still have the heart of a champion.  They will have to prove that they are not “washed up” or “too old” to win another title.

            Although the Grizzlies have still not won the series, the fact that they are currently winning has made me think of how incredible upsets in sports really are.  I honestly love the underdogs; I think most of America does as well.  Why is this?  Why do we cheer for those who appear to have no chance?  Is it because we can all relate to being in a similar position?  Whatever it is, America loves an upset.  It sounds like a cliché, but I think it really is true.

The Bulls May Win Again

           The Chicago Bulls are the top seed in the East during these playoffs.  Sounds strange, doesn’t it?  It kind of is.  The Bulls have not been in this position since 1998 when Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson were still leading the franchise.  But, the Bulls are back on top- at least for now.  Led by superstar Derek Rose, the Bulls have once again managed to have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

            The interesting part of this story is that this used to be a customary position for the Bulls just a few years ago.  Jordan’s Bulls were by far the best NBA team of the 1990s.  I do not really think any basketball fan can dispute this statement.  The Bulls won six championships during this decade.  They were the top seed in the East for almost every single one of those years.  In the 1995-1996 season, the Bulls achieved a 72-10 record (the best of any other NBA team in history).

            However, the franchise struggled greatly after Jordan, Pippen, and Jackson left in 1998.  Until this year, the Bulls almost never made the playoffs.  When they did, they lost in the early rounds.

            Nevertheless, there is something different about this team this season.  It seems like its players have magically remembered how to win; it seems like the Bulls want to re live their glory years.  Derek Rose seems like a man possessed by the ghost of Michael Jordan.  He appears determined to bring a title back to the windy city.

            This feat, however, will not come easy by any means.  The East is packed with very good teams like the Celtics, the Heat, and the Magic.  Rose and his teammates have a long and difficult road ahead of them.   Still, it would be pretty epic if Chicago could once again be atop the NBA.

                                                                 The PAST

THE PRESENT

Prom Movie

         Ok, this movie looks absolutely awful.  I'll admit that I am not exactly the biggest fan of teenage movies.  However, this particular movie seems like it is going to be especially bad.  I have not seen or heard much about it, but the trailer itself makes me think that this is not a movie I would like to go see.  I'm sure there are many teenage girls out there who will think that this movie will be a great romantic comedy for young people.  They may be right, but the creators of this movie are not helping themselves by putting together such a cheesy trailer; it has all the cliches in the book; it seems like pretty much every other high school movie.  Check it out for yourselves!

A Young Star's Curse

           Blake Griffin is one of the most impressive young players in the NBA today.  Nobody can question that.  He averaged 22.5 points a game in his second year in the league, after missing his entire rookie season due to injury.  Griffin may also be one of the most athletically-gifted players ever.  His talent is incredible.  He seems to jump higher than anyone else on the court.  He gets to the rim like we’ve rarely seen.  He dunks like the best of them.

            However, there is one problem with Griffin- he plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.  Most basketball fans will agree that the Clippers are one of the worst franchises in sports.  There seems to be a consensus about this fact around the sports world.  The Clippers have never won an NBA Championship; they have never even come close.  Most Clippers seasons end up with a losing record and almost never in the playoffs.  Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, is constantly considered the worst owner in sports.  He places financial gains over on-the-court success.

            Due to this, Griffin deserves to play for a better team.  I personally cheer for the Clippers because I have grown up on Los Angeles all my life.  But, even I will admit that they are a pretty miserable franchise.  I honestly feel bad for Griffin.  He is simply to good to have to play with such a sorry team. 

Lakers General Manager, please trade for this guy!

Check out this video of Griffin!

What if a pill could make you better?

          The new film Limitless starring Bradley Cooper presents this possibility which could be intriguing to many people, especially college students.  In this film, Cooper’s character, Eddie, stumbles into a dealer who gives him an unknown substance in pill form called NZ-48.  As a struggling writer whose life is in shambles, Eddie, is looking for something- anything- that will help him get his career and life in order.  NZ-48 suddenly presents itself as his salvation.  The dealer tells him that this pill will make his brain utilize 100% of its capacity, as opposed to the 20% that humans normally use.  Eddie is skeptic for a bit, yet his temptation takes over him.  Eddie takes the pill and quickly realizes that the dealer’s assertion is true; he is smarter; he has more energy; he can solve problems that nobody else can; in short, he is better in every way while on NZ-48.

            The pill, however, is not exactly a miracle.  It eventually brings him more problems than benefits.  Eddie’s health eventually deteriorates.  He even finds out that most people who have taken NZ-48 died soon afterward.  The pill also leads him to trouble: a potential murder, physical fights, and even encounters with criminals who want to kill him.  The pill ends up being more of a course than anything else.  Eddie eventually gets his life together in the movie.

            However, this film intrigued me.  I started wondering if people would be willing to take a substance like NZ-48 in real life if this meant they would have a competitive advantage over the rest.  The answer was clear.  Many already do this.  A perfect example is athletes who use steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to be better.

            Still, I guess we all have to hope that most people choose to not cheat and do things the right way.  Some may cheat and do anything to outperform others, but this should ideally serve as exceptions, not the rules.

Here is the trailer for Limitless, which by the way is a really good film.

Another Jackson Classic

     Thriller is by far the most famous music video by Michael Jackson.  This is another masterpiece from the same album.  The name of the song is Beat It.  I'm sure most people have seen this at some point in their lives (even if they are not Michael Jackson fans), but here it is anyways.  Please check it out if you haven't seen it!  You won't regret it!

This is a live performance of the same song.  It's pretty epic as well!

Great Song- Mr. Saxobeat

       I'm not going to lie- I do not really like techno music.  I like rap and pop way more; the whole raving scene is just not me. Yet, one of my friends showed me this song the other day, and it has been stuck there since.  The singer is very beautiful and charismatic.  She is also a great singer and dancer.  The beat is pretty amazing as well.  Check it out!  Just try to not become addicted to it!

Finally Another Title for Real Madrid

Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey Final against rival Barcelona today in Spain.  This is very important and encouraging news for fans of the Madrid team who have suffered greatly over the recent years due to a lack of titles.  The fact that the Copa came by defeating Barcelona makes the victory even sweeter.

This was a great game.   As ESPN blogger James Martin notes, “this game truly lived up to the Clasico name.”  The two sides played fantastic soccer.  The players exhibited heart, emotion, and an unquenchable thirst to win; they knew what this game meant to them, their fans, and the future of their clubs.  The final truly seemed like a heavyweight matchup between two giants who did all they could to win.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the star for one of these two heavyweights, Real Madrid.  Despite criticism about him not playing up to his potential in the most important games, like those against Barcelona, Ronaldo exhibited his undeniable talent.  In fact, he overshadowed Lionel Messi- who many believe is the best player in the world and, maybe, of all time.  Ronaldo scored the game-wining goal in overtime when it seemed like the slugfest would surely end up in penalty kicks.  With only a few minutes left, Ronaldo nailed a cross by his teammate Di Maria into the back of the net; Barcelona goalkeeper Pinto had no chance.  That ball was destined to go in and bring some glory back to the city of Madrid.

The question now is: Will Madrid’s glory be short lived?  The answer is still unknown.  Currently, Barcelona leads Madrid in the race for the Spanish title.  In addition, many favor Barcelona to win the Champions League as well.  Will Madrid be able to come back and win either or both of these titles and leave Barcelona title-less?  Or, was Madrid’s win in the Copa del Rey a one-time thing that will once again allow Barcelona to brag about being the best Spanish team in the world?  The answers to these questions will present themselves in the coming weeks.  All Madrid fans can do for now is enjoy this victory, be thankful for the great game of soccer they witnessed, and hope that Ronaldo will truly live up to his nickname as the “Angel of Madrid”.

Martin's Blog on ESPN.com

The Prize of Law School

           Tuition at most law schools in the nation is absolutely ridiculous.  Most students currently in law school or in the midst of applying will agree with this statement. 

Trust me; I know what I’m talking about.  I have to decide what law school I will be attending this fall within the next two weeks.  The decision of which law school is best is hard enough; however, I also have to deal with the issue of actually paying for this education.  This is difficult.  I find myself having to choose between the schools that are considered better against those that seem more affordable.  There is something wrong with this, isn’t there?

Tuition rates contradict the American Dream ideal.  The American Dream promises vast success to people who work hard.  Well, I have worked very hard.  Yet, I will be forced to incur a great amount of debt to pay for the law school which has admitted me thanks to my “academic excellence”.

The only consolation I have is the promise by these law schools that my degree will automatically pay for the insane prizes of tuition one day.  Well, I really hope this is true.

Kobe Should Know Better

           The NBA fined Kobe Bryant $100,000 for his remarks to the referees during a game against the Spurs.  Bryant’s comments were apparently derogatory towards homosexuals.  The League and many gay rights groups reacted immediately when Bryant lost his composure and made these out-of-character comments.  Bryant has now apologized twice before the media.  Still, there is great controversy over Bryant’s actions and over the way the NBA reacted.  Many people, especially Lakers fans, believe that the fine is ridiculous and unfair.  I personally don’t really care about the fine itself.  I am more surprised by the fact that such a high profile player and celebrity, like Bryant, would be foolish and careless enough to make this mistake.  Really, Kobe?  You have spent over a decade dealing with the media and limelight.  How can you still make blunders like this one?  You should know that the media finds out about everything you do.   Unbelievable!

Good Article About This

Here We Go Again?

Well… Andrew Bynum is hurt again.  These are exactly the words that Lakers fans everywhere have been dreading all season.  The timing is also terrible- the playoffs start later this week.  Bynum hyperextended his injured knee in one of the final games of the season against the San Antonio Spurs.

The good news is that the Lakers have announced that the injury is not “too serious”.  The press release stated that Bynum suffered a bone bruise, and that he should be “fine” to play in the playoffs.

Yet, one cannot help but be skeptical.  This is the exact same knee that has plagued Bynum and the Lakers throughout his career.  In previous seasons when Bynum has been out for the playoffs, experts have said that the Lakers would be fine.  This year is different, though.  The Lakers have struggled all season.  Kobe isn’t the same.  Off- season acquisitions like Steve Blake have not proven fruitful.  Team chemistry is almost non-existent.  The Lakers need Bynum this year.  They need his size and rebounding talents.  Pau Gasol cannot be the only big man for the Lakers if they actually expect to make a serious run in the playoffs.  The situation, as of today, is not looking good.

Yet, all Lakers fans can do for now is hope that Bynum gets better, and that the team gets it together.  Yikes!

                                                                      

           

ESPN Video about Bynum's injury 

Avatar v. Titanic

           Let’s get something straight- both of these are really good movies.  There is absolutely no question about this.  However, which one of these masterpieces by James Cameron takes the prize for being his best film ever?  This is a tough question to answer for sure.  Yet, let’s compare some of their aspects so that people can make their own decisions about which is actually better.

            Avatar and Titanic were both groundbreaking films that changed the way movies are made.  Titanic became the highest grossing film of all time up to that point in 1998.  It earned over $600 million domestically and more than twice that amount worldwide.  It essentially conquered all box office records of its time.  Avatar, however, broke many of these records when it came out in 2009, 12 years after Titanic.  Avatar is currently the highest grossing film in the United States and in the world.  Yet, this does not necessarily mean that Avatar was more popular because of inflation and rising movie ticket prices over the years.  So, box office lets us know that both movies are extremely popular, but it doesn’t necessarily allow one to differentiate between the two films.

            In terms of script, I would say that Titanic’s was better. Titanic told a better story.  It allowed the audience to identify better with the main characters, Jack and Rose.  The love story between these two characters really captivated audiences.  The suspense they created gave the movie a dramatic flavor that went along amazingly with the special effects.

            Yet, Avatar definitely had better special effects.  The advantages of IMAX theatres and 3-D really allowed audiences to see things they had not before in a movie theatre.  Again, however, special effects is not necessarily the best aspect to compare the two films.  True, Avatar was better in this category, but it came 12 years after Titanic.  James Cameron probably would have created magical special effects in Titanic as well if he had had the technology available in 2009 when he made this film.

            So, the jury is out on which film is better.  I personally like both of them a lot.  I can’t just choose one.  At the end, though, we don’t really have to choose.  We, as movie watchers, can enjoy both masterpieces and wait anxiously for Cameron’s next major hit.

            

Where did LeBron go Wrong?

LeBron James is most likely the best player in the NBA today.  However, he is also one of the most hated sports figures outside of the city he plays in, Miami.  The interesting thing is that this was not always the case.  James used to be one of the most loved and respected players in the league.  Without question, the way he dealt with his free agency this last summer tarnished his image in the eyes of basketball fans everywhere.

LeBron was one of the most coveted free agents of all time in the summer of 2010.  The entire sports world anxiously awaited his decision of whether he would stay to play in Cleveland or go to another team.  Predictions about LeBron’s future inundated ESPN and pretty much every other major sports and news outlet.  LeBron’s decision was without doubt one of the major sports stories of the year.  Eventually the day arrived when LeBron announced that he would make his decision public.

The problem, however, began with the way he announced his decision of which team he wanted to play for.  Instead of just informing the major sports outlets (like most other sports stars do), LeBron decided it would be a good idea to have a one hour ESPN special which would end with an interview where he would tell the world what he wanted to do.  The special glorified LeBron as a deity of basketball who was above all other players in the game.  The interview proved even worse.  LeBron seemed dishonest and selfish.  He did not just say, “I have decided to leave Cleveland and play for Miami,” as most people would have expected.  Instead he said, “I will be taking my talents to South Beach.”

Most people in the sports world, including fans, reporters, and analysts, saw the special and the interview as a selfish attempt by an overly-cocky superstar who had lost touch with the people and with reality.  Nobody could believe his ego or bravado.   Fans wondered who this guy thought he was.  From that point forward, LeBron’s image with the public has not been the same.  Fans boo him in almost every arena that the Miami Heat visits.

The only thing that can redeem LeBron and his “talents” will be finally winning an NBA championship.  Until then, the real king in the NBA will continue to be Kobe Bryant.

            

The Best Album Ever

           Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the best album of all time.  The numbers speak for themselves.  It is the second best-selling album ever in the United States and the best-selling album ever worldwide.  Estimates show that the album has sold over 100 million copies.   However, these figures do not fully represent the magic of Thriller.

            Thriller turned Michael Jackson into the most famous solo artist of his time and, maybe, of all time.  Jackson had obtained great fame as the lead singer of the Jackson Five and as a solo artist before Thriller was released.  However, this album tuned him into the greatest superstar of the 1980s.  No other single artist has come close to exerting the impact Michael Jackson had on the global community.   Jackson owes this to Thriller.  His subsequent albums did not match Thriller’s success.  Later controversies slowly began to tarnish his pop star image.  Nevertheless, Thriller still makes Jackson the most famous artist in places like China and Japan, even after his death.
            Aside from this, Thriller’s impact on popular culture goes beyond the fame it brought to Michael Jackson.  Thriller was the first major album by a black artist to gain overwhelming success with mainstream America.  This eventually allowed black artists in later years to come to the forefront of the music world.  Jackson’s success and influence over some of today’s most important black artists, such as Kanye West and Chris Brown, cannot be overestimated.  Jackson’s exploits thanks to Thriller opened the way for black artists.

            Thriller also revolutionized the art of the music video.  Jackson’s music videos for the songs “Beat It”, “Billie Jean”, and “Thriller” essentially made music videos one of the most important outlets for artists to reach their fans.  Thriller made artists treat music videos as important events that could push a career toward superstardom.

            Thriller changed music.  It’s that simple.  If you haven’t experienced it’s magic, you’re truly missing out on some of the most creative and wonderful art that has ever been created by an American musician.