Stop Telephonin' Me-Eh-Eh-Eh-Eh-Eh...

Yes, I really just used a Lady GaGa song as a title to this post. Yes, yes I really did.

But anyway...

Telephones. Now I normally (surprisingly) do not use my phone that much. I used to be obsessed with texting (let's face it, I still text a lot) and I never called anyone. I have certainly gotten over that and now call people more rather than text them... but I still hate phones.

Now I got an opportunity to have a "phone interview" (haven't had it yet though). I have never had a phone interview and I'm not too sure how these work. Do I feel more comfortable sitting in my house, talking on my phone? Why yes, I do. Do I feel comfortable doing this while talking to a complete stranger? No. I do wish I could interview in person, since I am actually good at interviews, when they are face to face. I can talk to anyone face to face, yet put a phone to my ear... oh boy. Can't do it! I don't know what it is, but it makes me nervous.

Now this phone interview... what am I suppose to do? I can't look like I am engaged in the conversation and charm them with my smile. I feel as though, more than half the time, I get the job, or whatever, is because I can keep eye contact and I can keep the conversation going (and I am outgoing about it too). But on the phone... no one can see my eye contact and outgoing-ness (well, they could hear it) unless I look in a mirror the whole time and pretend... which would be weird.

This really is just me being anxious... and nervous, really nervous...

So I guess what I am saying is... anyone have some tips for a good phone interview?

:)

"... and I want it to be a struggle."

I never do this during the right week. Whatever. haha.

I saw this movie over winter break. It was mind blowing, inspiring and all about electric guitar. If you are a fan of music, any kind, and love documentaries, watch this! Seriously!

This film is about three icons: Jimmy Page (Led Zepplin), The Edge (U2) and my main man Jack White (The White Stripes). It shows the first time these three came together to talk (and play!) as well as following these three to different locations to watch them discover their unique sound. Each man has a different story to tell, a different way that they came across their sound (The Edge spends hours trying to figure out the sound that is playing is in head). This film is definitely a watch. It does not disappoint!

Something else about this film was something that Jack White said, something that intrigued me. He was talking about playing his guitar: "The neck's a little bent and it's a little bit out of tune and I want it to be a struggle." This guy, the guy that I have been watching play for I don't even know how long, plays on a guitar that a lot of people wouldn't play and would probably consider "broken."

Also, I do admit that I am not a fan of U2, yet The Edge, oh man. I will never doubt a band with this guy in it. His mind, his incredible mind- genius! Seriously.

The trailer for this movie is here if you want to check it out (there is a clip of Jack White talking about his 'broken' guitar in it with the quote that I brought forth).

I definitely suggest, if you are into music (again any kind) and/or love docs, check this one out.

"...it might get loud for a second" -The Edge

One Wicked Summer... oh, excuse me, I meant Summah.

If you haven't heard by now, Jersey Shore is coming to Boston. Now, I have never watched a full episode of Jersey Shore, nor do I want to, but with the clips I have seen and the stuff I saw/read online, I really just have one thing to say:

Dear MTV, please don't ruin my city. Thanks.

Why Boston? Clearly, MTV could careless about the sports factor. We drive like idiots, we swear and flip people off if they cut us off, only to cut them off as soon as we can. We have a whole part of Boston dedicated to Italians as well as a whole part of Boston dedicated to the Irish. We have Plymouth Rock (which is honestly, nothing special). Conan O'Brien is from MA (I take this with pride, love that man). Why Boston? Couldn't MTV ruin some other city?

If anyone watched Real World Boston (that house is still there by the way - Mt. Vernon St, Beacon Hill), the people made themselves look like fools, not the city. But MTV is casting Boston people to live in Boston for the summer, to party, sleep with each other and oh yeah, party.

I'm just hoping they don't decide to take a trip to the Cape. Hyannisport is perfectly fine without them.

This post is just a rant of how stupid this idea is.

Also, I go into Boston a lot over the summer (for concerts, fun times, birthdays, concerts- I only live 20 minutes South of it). I won't lie, if I see them shooting, I will purposely walk by. Ha!

... the concept is still lame to me.

Shameless Promotion

Tomorrow I will be taking part in something extraordinary. I am posting this up here, well, because internet is the best way to spread the word.

Tomorrow, April 8, 2010, over 80,000+ across the globe will take their shoes off to promote awareness for the children who do not currently have shoes. These children cannot do simple tasks that we take for granted. While you sit in your college classroom, there are kids in the world who are wish they could be where you are. While you walk to a class, complaining about the professor or the paper you had to do the night before, there are kids wishing they could be where you are. You can walk around the streets without any worry. These kids have to watch their step. You don't have to fear for your health if your shoe breaks, you just buy some new ones. These kids don't have a choice but to wear the same ratty, probably doesn't fit them anymore, broken, disguisting shoes everyday.

What you take for granted, these kids bust their asses to get.

I'm not asking you to walk 7 miles barefoot, hell, I'm not even asking you to walk barefoot. But while you are sitting in class, or at home, or even at work (if you are at a desk job), just slip your shoes off. Sit for 5 minutes, 10, 30, one minute without shoes. Give the kids who don't have a voice, kids who can't say "hey! I need shoes! I want shoes!" Give them a voice. Let the world know that you care at least a little bit. A little caring goes a long way.

One Day Without Shoes - Do it.

I understand if this doesn't get credit, I'm not looking for credit, I'm looking to spread the word for those who can't. Even if you don't feel like doing this, at least look into it. Look into the company, Tom Shoes. Look into helping a community. Like I said earlier, a little caring does really go a long way.

Procrastination at its Finest.

I was trying to do a project with my friend today yet both of us found us trying to look up other stuff besides what our topic was on. I realized that no matter how bored I get, or how annoyed I am with the internet, which is usually always since I have a love/hate relationship with computers (and I am a media studies major, because? haha), I always find myself on youtube.

A couple of weeks ago, we had to watch the fan videos. I have always found myself watching weird/funny (at least to me) videos on youtube. I thought, why not share? So I am going to! :)

This one is my absolute fave and I keep showing everyone it:
Lady Gaga Poker Face a capella ( click here )

Ke$ha - Tik Tok Parody (which actually refrences Gaga more than Ke$ha) ( click here )

If anyone knows of that site Chatroulette, these are definitely must watch videos:
Merton ( click here )
Ode to Merton by Ben Folds ( click here )

And if you have never heard of the Lonely Island, I suggest you move from under your rock and watch these videos:
The 'Bu Episode One ( click here )
Just 2 Guyz ( click here )
Jorm Dances ( click here )
[The Lonely Island is made up of Andy Samberg, who is on SNL and two SNL writers, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer]

Also, if you haven't seen Jimmy Kimmel's video, definitely check it out. Hilarious! ( click here )

These are pretty much my fave. I have probably watched them like 8484823 times, especially the Merton and Ben Folds one (they are totally the same person. Don't care, Merton = Ben Folds).

I'm glad I just admitted my complete dorkiness on this blog. Ha!

Do they know that you gotta STAND UP, STAND UP? Use your voice, speak out.

Africa, my favorite continent. I have wanted to go there since I was about 10. I love everything about it. The culture, the people, the spirit and hope just shining off of the kids faces. I even made a pact with my best friend that when we got older, we would adopt from Africa. Everything about this place makes me more interested. But what I am about to discuss shows why I love Africa so much and have a need to help it.

In the 1980's a guy by the name of Joseph Kony started the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) who targeted the Ugandan government for their unfair treatment of the Alcholi (it was originally the Holy Spirit Movement run by Alice Lakwena, but she got exiled, so Kony took over). Kony, who couldn't get a following, turned to abducted children and teaching them to fight. After 23 years, over 20,000 children have been abducted. Some have been lucky and have been able to escape, but some have been not so lucky with escaping, or being apart of this war, and have either been beaten or shot, or worse.

Out of those 20,000 children, there have been some lucky ones who have been able to survive and escape the dangers of Kony and the LRA. Those children are called "Night commuters." During the day, they do their normal routines but at dusk, they pack up only what they need and can carry and they walk to a "safe location" to stay the night, so in the morning they can walk home and get on with their normal routine, yet again.

Imagine being in these kids shoes... or lack there of (some of them don't have shoes). This life isn't one that any of them asked for and that a lot of them were born in to.

In 2003, 3 USC students traveled to Africa looking for a story for a film. When they left, not only did they have a story, but a new hope and a new ambtion to help.

And helping is what they are doing. From 2003 to today, over 2 million people have seen the movie they have created. That video is called Invisible Children (if you haven't, check it out). These three guys, with the help of friends and family have created something way bigger than they ever imagined. They created the non-profit Invisible Children. With the help of many in the US as well as around the world, IC has helped many of the abducted, as well as the commuters. They have even gotten the US goverment, as well as other governments from around the world, to pledge to help the Ugandan government come to terms with the LRA. But of course, things go sour.

I read this article ( click here! ) the other day and my heart broke. These people deserve better and I am willing to try and make sure of that. So with this blog, I am educating you (whoever you may be) on this subject in hopes of you spreading this information.

Now I am not asking you to go buy Toms shoes (but seriously, check those shoes out. I got myself two pairs. So comfy!) or run to the White House and make sure Obama is doing something about this (read this article [ here! ], US has already done something!), I'm just asking you to get informed and maybe, just maybe, pass along the word.

Here are some places to check out (you can just click on the name):
Invisible Children
Resolve Uganda
Free the Children

I also suggest you watch this video-- Displace Me: The Aftermath

If you are like me and love to help out, here are some companies (non-profit and profit) helping:
Tom Shoes
BeadforLife
One Mango Tree
Take the Walk

Get informed and get involved. :)

And a Britney song was on. And a Britney song was on. And a Brintey song was on.

I hardly ever listen to the radio. The main reason: I'm pretty sure the music I want to listen to isn't going to be playing on the radio anytime soon. How do I know this? I called Kiss once and asked. And yes, yes I really did that.

So I decided to listen to the radio yesterday while I did my work, for the first time in about 500 years (mainly just 3-4 years). I heard Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, We the Kings, Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, some rap song about sex and alcohol, some rap song about a birthday and saying ahh (I think?), and finally BedRock (Drake will forever be Wheelchair Jimmy to me). Within 30 minutes, Taylor Swift actually came up twice. I know that radios have a certain list of songs that they have to pick off of to play, but there was no other song besides two Swift songs to listen to?

I found it weird that it took a while for a Lady GaGa song to come on (Rah, rah, rah, ah ah!). GaGa should be played more than Swift.

But anyway...

I respect bands/singers that don't put their music up for radio play. One, their song won't get old so quickly. Two, their song won't get old so quickly. I love being able to put on my iPod and hear Bon Iver, Butch Walker, and Kate Voegele (sorry for name dropping artists I like) instead of turning on the radio and hearing Swift sing about another broken heart and some ore fairytales.

The radio annoys me... that is basically all. Sorry for a rant. ha!

Twitter Can Do More Than Annoy You

So I have to be on Twitter for a class. I hated it. I didn't want anything to do with it. I wanted the whole site to be shut down one day so I stopped hearing about it. My annoyance from it didn't stop my dad from having my mom text me from his phone, telling me what he was doing at the present time (if anyone saw those Verizon commericals, you'd know what I was talking about).

When I got the news that I had to get a Twitter, the first person I told was my mom. She laughed so hard, I thought she stopped breathing. She then went out and bought me a Twitter For Dummiers book. Yes, they really make those. So I peeked inside and learned a little about Twitter. Luckily, my professor for the class explained Twitter. So now I understand it.

But this post isn't much about how to use, more on the ways to benefit yourselfs.

That professor informed us (pretty much everyday) that Twitter will help us land a job. Employers want to see that we know how to use social media and technology.

Well, to my professor, thanks.

I have recently stumbled across a company with an amazing opportunity to further my odds on landing an internship because of Twitter. They have seen that I am on Twitter, Facebook, and that (surprise, surprise!) I have this blog, which in their eyes, is a good thing. I am excited to see where this path will lead me, hopefully an amazing successful career.

Yay for annoyances that turn into really good things! :)

Living in --- is the New Thing

If you listen to the radio (Top 40 stations) or watch those music video channels (or VH1 in the morning), you have seen or most likely heard this song (click here for song). If you didn't know it before, this song is about having a threesome, hence the name 3. It is no big deal coming from Britney's mouth, especially not after her other single "If U Seek Amy" made headlines.

Now if you watched the video (and didn't just click out of it because you found out it was Britney Spears), you noticed something peculiar about the song. The pre-chorus goes "Are you in/Living in sin is the new thing/Are you in/I am counting..." So is there anything wrong with what she just sung? Not to me, but apparently to other people (and YouTube, or Vevo) there is. She said sin. Sin! A three lettered word. A word that you probably hear at least once a day, if not, 100 times on Thursday night. To me there is no problem with it.

I'm not a big radio person, or TV watcher, but I have heard this song coming from both the radio and TV. I have only heard sin bleeped out while listening to the radio. On the TV, sin was heard. I thought this was amusing. The radio bleeped a simple little word like sin out.

So why now am I bringing this up? I just turned on some music (my iTunes is on shuffle) and this song came up. I forgot she put out a video for it and looked it up. And bam. Bleeped out sin.

What I don't understand though is they bleep out sin, yet play "If U Seek Amy" on the radio? Really?

If anyone knows anything about that song, you'd know what she is saying in the song. If you don't, well she is saying Eff. You. See. Kay. Me. (If you didn't understand that-- google it. Keep profanity off my blog, sorry!) If U Seek Amy was played morning, noon and night. And was played at my work, during the day, with little kids shopping around for expensive jeans made in Africa (don't ask).

I thought this was funny. Little girls are going around singing "All the boys and all the girls are begging to if U seek Amy" but then you hear them sing "Living in --- in the new thing." Oh okay, Eff you see kay me is so much better than sin.

People these days, makes me wonder.

[This really didn't have a point-- it just made me giggle and helped me procastinate on my Theory homework :) ]

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell

After starting it about 3 months before finishing it, I finally did finish it this book during the summer. I will admit, it was vulgar and some parts were a little unnecessary but through it all, it was a really good book. I recommend this book to everyone. And I will probably regret saying this later on in life but… I do wish more people were like him.

I am not talking about what he does in the book; I am talking about who he is as a person. Yes, he is a scumbag but he is an honest scumbag. He tells it like it is. He admits to being an asshole. He admits he is an asshole. He admits he is mean, vulgar, and disgusting. That is the kind of people I am talking about. Honest, blunt individuals. I am (most of the time) an honest being. There are sometimes when I will hold off the truth, mainly because it isn’t my truth to tell. I will tell you what is on my mind, I will tell you how I feel. I feel like honesty is the biggest thing missing in society. People would rather tell a lie just to get out of something then tell the truth. Yeah, maybe the truth will hurt, maybe it will ruin a relationship or a friendship, but it needs to be heard. There are some people who can’t handle truths being told. To those people, I give them a heads up in life. Not everything is sugar coated, not everything is happy-go-lucky. There are hardships, there are broken hearts. If you did something, own up to it. If someone asks you a question and wants a truthful answer, tell them the truth.

I was watching Fox News a couple of weeks ago and there was a segment on telling the truth. The reporter made an excellent remark: “some people just ask because they are fishing for compliments; like the question ’does this make me look fat?’” In no way can someone answer this because the answer is a known fact — no. I mean, this is my opinion. I am confident in my life. I believe in myself. I believe in telling the truth. Not once have I ever asked someone if something made me look fat. I will admit though that I have asked for opinions on outfits, like if my shirt and sweater matched or if my shoes looked good with a certain outfit. I have never/will never ask another if something makes me look fat.

Even if telling the truth is the hardest thing a person can do, do it. Honesty is the number one thing needed in a relationship, whether it is with the person you are dating or your best friend. You need to be real with them. So do it. Just be honest, please.

Music is what you hear and not what you see.

You go to Target for something in particular. When you pass by the electronic section, you notice a band you like put out a new CD. "I'll just download it later, no point in wasting my money on a CD." Do you understand that just by making that claim, that you will download it later (meaning for free), that you are potentionally hurting a band's career? Probably didn't look that far into it, did you?

Most people download illegally. I mean, why wouldn't you? Free verus paying for something, especially since iTunes raised their prices, and are apparently thinking about raising them again (or so I've heard), it sounds like a better deal. Like my friend says "if it's free, it's for me!" $1.29 for a track? It seems outrageous to the consumer, but what about the band that is selling that track. Granted, most $1.29 tracks are big named bands from big named labels. Most little named bands from little named labels are selling their for $0.99. Even still, some people think a dollar per track is outrageous. But again, what about the band who is selling that track? Did you ever think about what happens with them when you steal music from them? Probably not.

Oh, so what? That band doesn't get that $0.63 from me for buying their album. Who cares? You should care. In one of my classes, earlier this semester, we discussed this. Some kid spoke up, saying that bands normally don't make much from album sales and more from ticket sales and merchandise sales. Which is true, very true actually. Most musicians make between $0.25 and $2.50 (but some can earn more or earn less, depending on their contract) from each album they sell, which when added up, clearly isn't that much. So you buy a $20 ticket to a sold out show, and while you are there, you buy a t-shirt and a poster (do bands sell posters anymore?). It should equal out right? Sadly, it doesn't.

Let's say you didn't buy that CD, neither did your five friends who liked that band, or any of their friends who liked that band. You all illegally downloaded it. Where does that leave the band? Sitting at home, waiting to find out if they can ever tour again! Album sales determine tours. If a band doesn't sell albums, then they don't tour. That's why a lot of American bands don't really get to go over seas, or bands from other countries come here. They don't have good enough numbers for album sales to be able to know if they would sell enough tickets, or ever better-- sell out a tour. Also, something that some people don't know-- money from the album sales goes into touring. Touring cost money, so unless they are the richest people and can pay for everything out of pocket, if they aren't making money, they aren't touring.

Oh, whatever. I'll buy their next album then. That's a good way to think about, if ya'know, it was certain they were making another album. If the album sales were horrible for the first album, the label will probably put the next album on the back burner and wait until this album does good. Musicians would love to just keep putting out new music after new music, but of course, it doesn't work that way. The label isn't going to pay for them to go into the studio, unless they know whatever project the band is working on is going to pay off in the end.

The fans aren't the first ones to be affected by this, the people behind the scenes on tour are. I have had some luck in being able to work for a band to do merchandise at a couple of shows. I got to see what these people behind the scenes do, and let me to tell you, it is very important. The first people to go would be the lighting or the FOH/monitor engineers. Hundreds of people's jobs get put on the line because of this.

Stealing is much more than just downloading illegally; it consists of file-sharing and burning CD's for friends also.

It's hard to think that not spending that $10 on that CD you earlier passed by could create such a ripple effect, but it does. I understand that not everyone has enough money to buy all the CD's from their favorites, but that's where MySpace, and other music websites come in. Yeah, I know, you can't put it on your iPod. You can survive without that album, or song on you iPod, trust me.

But then again, I own an iPod that I don't ever use (and holds 500 songs). Unfortunately, I cannot live without concerts, so for me and people like me -- you'll be helping us get our concert fix. So think before you download! You'll be helping to save a job and you're showing the promoters and booking people that you want that band to come to your city.

Buying music = more concerts and more music to listen too (after you buy it, of course)!

"We're drunk, but we're happy drunks!"

That comment was made by Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon while accepting an award at the 52nd Grammy Awards.

Sunday came and went, and just like any other Grammy Award show, there were some favorites and some disappointments. Something that has come up a lot, not only in the media but also in some classes of mine, is the Michael Jackson tribute. Now don't get me wrong, I love Michael Jackson. I have some MJ records (not CDs folks, vinyls). I grew up listening to MJ. Everything about him fascinated me. I cried the day he died (well, not really... I sat dumbfounded at my TV, but I did cry while watching his funeral). He was an inspiration to many. I love his music and forever will love his music. But that tribute?! I am sorry. Carrie Underwood, Usher, Smokey Robinson, Celine Dion and Jennifer Hudson: they are all fantastic musicians. They all talented, but they shouldn't have been the ones to sing that song.

The back story to picking them was to show how Michael Jackson has not only inspired Pop music, but how he also inspired those of different genres. But Carrie Underwood? A country singer? How the hell does Carrie Underwood get thrown into the mix. Before you get the wrong idea, I like Ms. Underwood. I have all three albums, and have seen her in concert. But never in my life would I have put her up on that stage. Where was the rest of the Jackson 5? Or his band from This Is It? I do believe they did a good job. I think it was moving, emotional and very, very powerful. But I think the Grammys left out a huge thing in that performance -- they left out what Michael would have wanted. Would he have wanted a Country singer? Would he have wanted a Dreamgirl? Would he have wanted a guy who dubbed himself the "King of R&B" back when? Is that what he would have wanted to show off himself, his talent, his voice? I believe they could have done a much better job with this tribute than they did.

I was going to talk about his kids accepting for him, but I decided to leave his kids out of my discussion.

My favorite of the night was definitely Lady GaGa and Elton John. Two amazing performers, two amazing talents together on one stage. When Elton came out on piano with GaGa, wearing indentical glasses, singing GaGa's Speechless and Elton's song Your Song, I died. Lady GaGa has had an amazing year. She is talented. She is fresh. More importantly, she is unique. It is no wonder why when asked, Elton said that he loved her, personally and musically. She is a true musician and I hope to see her many years down the road winning Grammys.

Now on to something that I will need help to understand: Taylor Swift's performance. She started by singing a song that has a lyric that goes "I wore a dress, you were a dark grey T-shirt. Today was a fairytale." Then Stevie Nicks came out to sing Rihannon with her. The performance was slacking and so out of tune. Not to mention, it was just an awkward pair up. If anyone knows anything about Stevie Nicks, then you'd know that the singer of Fleetwood Mac was not so innocent. If anyone knows anything about Taylor Swift, you'd know she prides herself on being innocent. To make the match-up even more awkward, Taylor admitted that Stevie Nicks is one of her idols and she admires her. So a girl who has admitted to wearing a purity ring, who has said she never had a sip of alcohol in her lifetime, and has the whole 'girl next door' attitude looks up to someone who has slept with way too many guys to count. That sounds so right, but then again, girls who are like 7 and 8 admire Miley Cyrus.

By the way, Jamie Fox: Lip syncing on the Grammys, that is a big no-no!

Drake, Eminem, Lil' Wayne: amazing. Now I am not a big rap fan, but these three together can create something amazing. "Forever" is a hit and the fact that Drake's album hasn't even dropped yet (and won't be a while), yet he was asked to perform on the Grammys, that is talent folks.

Now to Dave Matthews. I will admit it: I have a crush on him. It is no surprise, especially when he tries to dance like he did Sunday night. This man, this musician, he is a wonder. If you have never seen DMB in concert, I suggest doing it before you die. DMB is immensely talented. They deserved the nomination. Hell, they deserved the award... but someone else had to win... yeah, so. DMB did fantastic. I will honestly say that this is the only performance of the night that made it seem like the music was more important than who was singing it. They always put on a fabulous performance. (I might just be bias here, because DMB is one of my favorite bands, but it is okay.)

As much as I disagree with many of the winners, I congratulate them. However, the Grammys were just another disappointing award show.

"This is a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtGSXMuWMR4

I thought this video was not only funny, but concidental since we were discussing the news last week.

The way Charlie Brooker is breaking down a normal news report is the way that most do the news. Watch any station, the reporter would most likely do this, maybe not word for word, but almost dead on.

It is funny the way he describes the things that go on during the news cast:

"It starts here with a lacklustering establishing shot of a significant location..."
"Next a walkey-talkey preamble from the auditor, pacing steadingly towards the lens..."
"A (inaudible) shot to give your eye something to look at while my voice babbles on about facts..."
"Sometimes those facts will appear one by one on the screen."
"And then the final summary, ending on a whimsical shot of something nearby..."

This five quotes that I pulled from this video stuck out the most to me. I have definitely seen these five things done before, especially the one about the reporter babbling on in the background while looking at something else and the facts showing on the screen one by one. This video, to me, represents all news station, definitely.

Also, I read a comment that someone left on the video that I thought was very interesting:
"It speaks quite a lot about how reporters make their package. Or more precisely, how U.S. reporters do news. Watch any news channel and they'll do what Mr. Brooker is saying in plain english.Oh, and by the way, the British has more integrity in the news, so they don't go specifically after politicians, like Fox "News" and the rest."

I don't know who the person is that made that claim, but I agree with the last line they said. I feel as though Americans put politicans up on pedestal. The only place for them to go is down, so when they do fall, we point fingers and blame them for everything wrong in our country. The news anchors rip them apart. They hardly ever give them a fighting chance.

It's like, once you get elected, you are doomed from having citizens ever liking you.

Ngi Ne Themba

You sit in front of your TV after a long day at school or work. You turn it on, turn the channel to whatever you feel like watching and commerical comes on-- "this person wears this so you should too!" Okay, maybe that is not exactly the wording of the commerical, but when you step back and truly think about it, that is what the commerical is implying. Companies now depend on celebrity endorsements more than ever. Every year during the Superbowl, the MVP drives away in a brand new car. One year, that car happened to be a black Cadillac SRX, in which Tom Brady got. About two weeks after the Superbowl, that same car was sitting in my driveway. Of course, it wasn't the exact car that Brady won, but it was the same model; a brand new black Cadillac SRX, just sitting in my driveway, waiting to be driven. So who knew that just seeing a car on a football field would knock some sense into my dad's head and make him buy that car? The people who sponsor the Superbowl did. The more popular the celebrity that a company gets, the more appealing that product will seem to the audience. Audience is key, the audience will forever be the key.

Many people will admit that they have fallen for the endorsement curse, where they fell for buying something because someone they like, or maybe even look up to promotes it. Gatorade, Powerade, and Vitamin Water have all the sports behind them. Oh, you play sports, drink Gatorade before your game, you'll sweat blue or green or maybe even orange! Wait, what? What does sweating a color have anything to do with the drink? Nothing, but the fact that they have a man sweating a rainbow on TV makes that product more popular. People look for creativity, and not to mention, if a winner was the one sweating the rainbow, that is a huge plus for that company. It is the same for the music industry. I write my songs in my bedroom with my Gibson acoustic guitar. Well congratulations musician, whoever you are, you now are going to get a brand new Gibson acoustic dropped off at your door so you can keep on name dropping. Celebrities are not idiots when it comes to name dropping. The more you get a certain name out there, the more you will get from that person. But when does promoting become less selfish and more for the common good?

About three years ago, a little known band from Tulsa, Oklahoma stumbled across a company that they knew could help get not only their voice out, but also the voices that they were speaking for. That band is Hanson, the three brothers responsible for Mmmbop. In 2005, while starting production on their fourth studio album, they decided that they didn't just want their voices to just tell stories about lost love, or found love, they wanted to actually tell a story. That's when they truly found out for themselves the destruction of the AIDS epidemic. They always knew of it, and it always struck an interest to them, but for once in their lives, they truly wanted to take that disease and ultimately put an end to it. This is where Taking the Walk started, a project of Hanson's in which before every concert they did a one mile walk to raise awareness for AIDS and poverty in Africa. Along this journey of awareness, Hanson came across a company that they knew they needed to be a part of, they knew that this company was onto something great. And it was indeed. This company is known as TOMS Shoes. The founder, Blake Mycoskie, a southern California native, created this company on one simple notion: for every pair of shoes TOMS sells, they will donate a pair to a child in need.

So where did this promotion begin? With those walks of course. That one mile walk that Hanson held before every concert was barefoot. Yes, with no shoes. Your feet had to touch the ground; the nasty, dirty, city ground. It might sound gross to you, but to me, it sounded like a tiny start to a greater accomplishment. What if I told you that kids had to do that every day, that there were kids out there that had to walk more than a mile barefoot in order to get food, clean water, and even medical care. Some kids couldn't even attend school without shoes. So how did something so innocent, something that we as Americans take for granted every day, become something so important, something that is needed more than anyone thought? With the power of four voices, a whole country of voices were heard. With Hanson, Blake not only found a friendship, but a partner to help cure.

Most celebrities endorse a product for money, but these three guys, this band of brothers, took endorsement to a whole other level. Next time you fall for a celebrity endorsement, think to yourself where your money is going. Most likely it is going in that celebrities pocket. But what if your money could go somewhere else? Like to a child in need.

I would also like to to point out that the benefit show that George Clooney, Will.I.Am. and others put on Friday night raised over $58 million for Haiti. Just some celebrity endorsement gone good here folks. :)

** Ngi ne themba means 'I find hope' in isiZulu. Around 10 million people speak this language. Most of them live in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.