Category: entertainment

Gleek Out

Daphne PsaledakisLeave a comment

Tonight, yet anther Glee episode will air. The show is in its fourth season, seventeenth episode. And it just keeps getting worse and worse.

When the show first started, I had no idea what it was about. I remember hearing my classmates talk about it almost incessantly, and finally, I watched the first episode. I liked it, but I wasn’t in love. I did like it enough to keep watching though.

The more I watched it, the more I enjoyed it. Until somewhere in the second or third season, I stopped watching almost completely, only to resume my regime at the beginning of the most recent season. But I have to say, out of all the seasons, even though I have stopped watching several times previously, this is by far, the worst.

The show has turned from a somewhat realistic portrayal of high-school life, minus the singing and dancing in school hallways of course. It used to be that the show addressed real issues, and it felt like I was watching actual people, not just actors following a script word for word.

That is no longer the case. The show has turned into a mash-pit of cheesy romance, roommate problems, cattiness, and  downright terrible acting.

I remember a particular episode a couple weeks ago, on Valentine’s Day, episode 14 called “I Do“. It followed the wedding of the show’s two favorite teachers, which was of course, on Valentine’s Day. Predictably enough, Mr. Schuester is left at the altar by the bride to be, and everyone else at the wedding has a one-night stand.

There was also a revolting amount of pink.

This episode was just one example of many other cheesy episodes this new season has brought with it. I’m disappointed with the direction this show has taken, and I hope they can get back on track. I sincerely doubt it though.

Season 4

Narduwar

displacedlocalLeave a comment

In the world of Hip-Hop you know you have made it when you get an interview from Narduwar the human serviette. He is a charismatic interviewer with a distinctive interview style.

He does extensive research on each person he interviews and finds out their musical influences.

Enough explaining this interview is fantastic, and really gives a look into the musical influences of these musicians.

The Rolling Stone is Wrong. Part Three.

smackyjackjackLeave a comment

I’ve already discredited the Rolling Stone’s greatest guitarists list and their greatest singers list, so I might as well keep going and discredit their greatest artist list.

The Real Greatest Artists of all time

1.   The Rolling Stone says: The Beatles

      Jack Beverly says: The Beatles

Hey! Look at that we actually agreed. Well, I mean, it’s kind of hard to disagree on this one. I mean, the Beatles just are the best. I really don’t think there’s anyone out there that would disagree with us either. I mean, who hasn’t heard of the Beatles? And who doesn’t know the whole chorus to “Yellow Submarine”?

Key Track:

2.   Rolling Stone says: Bob Dylan

       Jack Beverly says: The Rolling Stones

       I know, this list is not very original, but there’s no way the Stones are going anywhere below number two. It’s kind of strange how a couple of English kids made music that sounded so authentic and bluesy. Still, one of the greatest debates to have about music is what’s a better album, Beggar’s Banquet or Exile on Main Street.  It’s Exile on Main Street, in case you were wondering.

Key Track:

3.   Rolling Stone says: Elvis

      Jack Beverly Says: Chuck Berry

      It might be easier to say who Chuck Berry hasn’t influenced. His style of guitar and just pure excellence drove the Beatles and the Stones to their first hit songs. Just like Robert Johnson was the father of the Blues, Chuck Berry was the father of Rock n Roll. His music transcended racial boundaries for one of the first times in music history. But don’t worry, even though he’s in his eighties, he’s still playing concerts around the world.

Key Track:

Time to Design Life.

eternity1030Leave a comment

Recently, I have been doing a story on our school’s new costume design program. And as a approach to the story, I find myself also attracted by the power of design.

In the story, the concept of the “dress form” confused people a lot, especially for people who don’t understand the differences between a “dress form” and a “mannequin.” Therefore, I decide to write a blog to make it clear that these two items are TOTALLY different.

First of all, a dress form is a three-dimensional model used for sewing or displaying clothing. Tailors and dress makers use dress forms to work and construct dresses in order to make them more capable and fit to human bodies. Therefore, in my story, Ms. Beverly used a dress form to hold the bodice, so that her student can decorate it by hand.

Mannequins are derived from the concept of dress forms, but mannequins are mostly used to display fashion items such as dresses, handbags and coats. The first fashion display mannequin was made and used in France in the mid-19th century. Mannequins were first made of chewed paper and then made of wax, glass, and plastic. They usually have the arms and legs part. Therefore, a mannequin focuses more on the entire body effects.

Read More »

Worst Person 28-Elvis Dumervil Edition

backinphillyLeave a comment

I’m not calling Elvis the worst person. I’m calling his situation the worst thing in sports this past week. No, I’m not taking the March Madness angle on the worst things to happen. I made a bracket based on literally no knowledge. I rooted for Temple, and they’re gone.

I want to focus on one of the most bizarre stories I’ve ever heard. Yes, this beats Manti Teo in my opinion. Although, that one has an answer.

This one does not.

Elvis Dumervil and the Broncos were trying to renegotiate his contract in order to accommodate some of the new free agent signings that were coming to Denver, like Wes Welker. Elvis was set to take a 2013 pay cut from 12 million to 8 million. He agreed, and signed a faxed contract. The team had a deadline before being forced to pay Elvis the 12 million. They needed the contract done so they could save the extra 4 million bucks. But, everything was set. Elvis signed, and his agent was faxing the contract back to Denver.

Unfortunately for Elvis and the Broncos, the fax was six minutes late. So, what does Denver do? Should they suck it up and pay Elvis the 12?

Nope.

THEY CUT HIM!!!!

Because an agent was unable to send a simple fax on time, a man lost his job, which then led to the agent losing HIS job.

The Broncos then were forced to treat their All Pro defensive end as a free agent. He was fair game for the rest of the league. So they went ahead and offered him a fast contract to come back to Denver.

One problem though.

This time, Elvis said NO!!!!

Don’t get mad at me, Elway. This is on you guys.

Read More »

The Rolling Stone is Wrong. Part 2.

smackyjackjackLeave a comment

Several days ago, I wrote a blog explaining why the Rolling Stone’s list of the top 100 guitarists ever was wrong. Today I’ll be explaining why their list of the 100 greatest singers is wrong.

The Real Top 100 Singers of All Time

1.    Rolling Stone Says: Aretha Franklin

       Jack Beverly Says: James Brown

It’s kind of hard to throw Aretha Franklin off of the top spot, especially for the reason I’m about to give. James brown just had…more. Not only was he the greatest singer of all time, but he was the greatest showman too. He’s just everything a singer should be, times a million. I warn you, what you’re about to see is quite possibly the greatest performance ever. Take a seat before you watch it.

Key Track:

2.     Rolling Stone Says: Ray Charles

        Jack Beverly Says: Aretha Franklin

If you look up soul in the dictionary, you won’t find it. Instead, in its place, you’ll see a big picture of Aretha Franklin taking up about half of the page. Aretha Franklin is one of those few people that when she sings, it just sounds so damn easy. It just sounds like that’s the way she talks. If music had a mother, it would be Ms. Franklin.

Key Track:

3.     Rolling Stone Says: Elvis Presley

        Jack Beverly Says: Steve Winwood

If we were going with the most influential singers of all time, maybe Elvis wouldn’t be knocked off the top three. But, since its just the best singers, I have to go with Steve Winwood. Spencer Davis group, Traffic and Blind Faith are just a few of Winwood’s accomplishments. If I could only listen to one singer for the rest of my life, it would have to be this guy. He never forces his voice, and it just sounds right.

Key Track:

Lacrosse Week

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

This past week marked the first 3 games of the 2013 lacrosse season.

Our first game was against the York School from Monterrey, CA.

The team was on a southern California road trip and had played four games prior to their game against us last Saturday.

Our team on the other hand had not yet practiced as a whole team yet, and it was evident on the field.

The team has many beginning players and adding new players changes the chemistry of the team every year.

It is an adjustment period to learn how people play the game and to be able to predict how they will react to certain situations.

Come game time I was excited to be back on the field from 9 months ago.

For most of the game York was dominating offensively and defensively ultimately scoring 11 goals.

The game almost ended in a shut out until one of our star returning players, Grant Spencer, scored the one goal of the game.

We all celebrated like we had won the game, but to us it was a victory because we did not give their goalie the shutout.

Final score was 1-11 L.

I was disappointed, but also realized it was the first game of the season and we had a lot of room to grow.

On Wednesday came the game against Laguna Blanca, a game I look forward to every year no matter what sport I’m playing whether it be football or lacrosse. Even when I’m not playing in the game, but the school is, I get excited.

Many think that Thatcher is our biggest rival, and they are, but they are our biggest hometown rival. Laguna Blanca is our biggest rival over all.

Most games with Laguna consist of some mouthing off from players and their parents which at our level of play can get a little out of hand.

We aren’t playing Division 1 sports, what parents need to remember is:

Read More »

Pull the Trigger.

eternity1030Leave a comment

Gun shooting scenes are always among the most popular ones in American movies. People get excited for gun shooting scenes. During the visit to Las Vegas, I held and shot a gun for the very first time of my life. I am still very excited when I think about it now.

It was an afternoon, I walked into a gun store’s shooting range. The staff in the front counter assisted me and helped me pick the guns I will shoot. Boys likes to study and even collect guns, they know all kinds of guns, but I do not know as much as they do. Therefore I picked a few easy ones to start with.

After paying for the guns and ammo, A range master came and greeted me. He gave me a set of eyes and ears protection. The things that cover my ears would block the noise of a firing gun so that my ears would not feel uncomfortable. I also got to wear a pair of shooting goggles so that nothing would hurt my eyes. When I was about to hold the gun, I was very nervous. Because it would be almost impossible for me to shoot a gun in China, that was something very new to me.

Read More »

What was that song?

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

The other day at our morning meeting I was approached by my teacher Mr. Alvarez who is also known to you readers as “The Brown Guy.”

He said, “Keaton I need to talk to you after the meeting,”

Immediately I thought oh crap what have I done now, but I hadn’t done anything.

It was a proposition, an idea that could change the face of the Ojai Valley School. It is nothing as substantial as the newly founded Mac N Cheeseburger, might I add AMAAAAAAZIIIIING, but that is beside the point.

It had bacon on it

Back on topic.

Mr. A wanted to perform a song with myself and John aka backinphilly.

He can play alto sax and the song had alto sax in it, but he didn’t know what the song was called.

Read More »

The Rolling Stone is Wrong. Part One.

smackyjackjack1 Comment

The other day, I went on the Rolling Stone’s website for the first time. I usually just read the print version, but I went on the website to see what it was like. While on there, I saw an advertisment for a bunch of lists named things like “100 Greatest Guitarists“, “500 Greatest Songs” and “100 Greatest Singers”. So I looked at them. And they were wrong.

So let’s do some correcting.

The Actual Greatest Guitarists

1.     Rolling Stone says: Jimi Hendrix

        Jack Beverly Says: Eric Clapton

        What you’re all probably saying: But, but, but its Hendrix! Wahh how could you not pick Hendrix?

         Because Eric Clapton was born, that’s why. While yes, it is true that Hendrix has a much more unique sound when he plays, it’s also a fact that only one person has yet to hit a bad note playing guitar. Seriously, listen to any solo he does, it’s all perfect. Having been in bands like Cream, the Bluesbreakers, the Yardbirds, Derek and the Dominoes, Bonnie and Delanie’s tour group, Dave Mason’s tour group and even his massively successful solo career has made him the greatest guitar player ever.

          Key Track:

2.    Rolling Stone says: Eric Clapton

       Jack Beverly says: Jimi Hendrix

       Yeah yeah, get over the fact he’s in second. Jimi Hendrix was one of those people that took something that had been around forever and changed it to influence everyone that came after him. I really can’t say much more than that, just listen.

            Key Track:

3.     Rolling Stone says: Jimmy Page

        Jack Beverly sez: Robert Johnson

        I actually feel bad putting Robert Johnson this far down. In terms of influence, he’s higher than first place. His style has been copied by literally everyone on this planet that has ever played a guitar post the 1930’s. Rock n Roll came from this one man’s guitar. He was a God ahead of his time.

         Key Track: