what is causing all of this violence?

Violence in the United States is prevalent more than we think or would like to acknowledge. It surrounds us on a daily basis in our homes, community, schools, and especially media. Even though certain channels of media are rated so certain violence may not be seen by younger audiences it is readily accessible. Violent movies and television are some of the most hyped as well as successful forms of media in the United States. Even big blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean, Spider Man, and Harry Potter have some sort of violence. Media violence continues to rise and in the outcome more violent crimes among teens and young adults are happening on a daily basis.

In the early Fall a wave of teen suicides began when a homosexual student at Rutgers University committed the crime upon finding out that his room mate and his friend were video taping the homosexual student and a confidant. This started a wave of suicide and hate crimes across the nation, which sparked attention especially from gay celebrities who wanted to spread there word that being gay is ok, and that it is the hardest as a teen.

Why was this violent crime happening so often and at such a consistent basis? These teens were taking their lives affecting themselves the loved ones around them as well as the country as a whole. These teens see violence on a daily basis on the internet such as cyber bullying. As cyber bullying and such violent crimes rise how can we as individuals as well a united country stop such crimes and the spread of violence. Who knows the next victim of violence could be you.

Bravo Brava!

DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA

What show(s) must I be talking about... Bravo's franchise of Real Houswives. Real Housewives of Orange County premiered on the up and coming network in 2006 Bravo, owned by NBC Universal, and has taken off ever since.

Director of Programming Andy Cohen has made Bravo and the Real Housewives a hit across the world. Women and Men alike turn to Bravo on a nightly basis for new and old episodes as well as check Bravo's website for blogs, photos, and video bonus clips of the various casts. (guilty as charged)
From Top Chef to Millionaire Matchmaker to the Housewives Bravo is TV as people of the 21st century want.

Since 2006 with the original OC Houswives, Bravo has ventured to Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and the newest and my favorite, Beverly Hills. Each and every franchise is different and has its own set of characters that arises such drama that you may remember from your High School lunch table. Every franchise provides more style over substance. Every Monday, Thursday, or during reruns Bravo provides you with an inside look at some of the more wealthier lives of people across the country. We see what they are buying, where they are traveling, and who they are talking about. Sometimes when I watch I feel like I am watching a conversation between my friends and I chatting about boys, clothes, drama, and the weekends events,but at a much grander and more fabulous scale.

For some reason with every franchise I get connected with one or two characters in particular. I feel like i "know" them and that I connect with their ethos and pathos. Orange County- Tamra, New York- Bethany, New Jersey- Teresa and Caroline, Atlanta- Sheree, and Beverly Hills- Lisa and Kyle.
Do I connect with these ladies or emulate them and wish I had their fabulous lives or could just hop on my personal Gulfstream 5 and go to a Jay Z concert in Las Vegas at a hotel that I conveniently own. As I think about this more I think it is interesting that the Housewives franchise has survived as well as grown as the American and World economy has been in a recession. We view the lavish lifestyles of many of the women but at the same time Cohen and his team are smart and add bits and pieces of some of the ladies struggling making mortgage payments or paying for their newest Gucci Spring Bag.




Whether you love them or hate them, Bravo and The Real Housewives of various cities and the Bravo Network are defining pop culture of the 21st century. We gab, read, blog, text, tweet, and watch their every move.

Follow Andy Cohen on twitter for fab ideas, tweets, and insiders
http://twitter.com/#!/bravoandy

Home for The Holidays

Thanksgiving was a holiday to express thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation to God, family and friends for which all have been blessed of material possessions and relationships.


As a college Junior this is my third Thanksgiving break.... well it starts in about 7 hours and twenty minutes. I have learned from experience that teachers most likely will cancel class on Tuesday as well as our University cancels classes Wednesday, thus some students use the days off and extend there break leaving the previous Thursday or Friday before Thanksgiving. One of my friends is traveling to Hawaii and getting out of the cold snowy Spokane for a holiday in the sun... I am more than jealous as others are venturing home by bus, plane, and automobile to spend time with the people they are most thankful for. 


This year more than ever I am most thankful for my family. My parents, married 28 years, and my older brothers are the people I turn to through thick or thin. I know that they will always be there no matter what. 

As a pop culture enthusiast I began to wonder what different celebrities may be thankful for this week of thanks and love. What is someone like Eva Longoria who recently filed from divorce from her husband of three years, Tony Parker, thankful for this Thanksgiving when the wounds of her divorce are still fresh? Celebrities lives are so public that we assume things like oh well she is going through a hard time in her life what could she possibly be thankful for? We assume, we think we know, but in actuality we don't. Eva as well as other celebrities have private lives and private thoughts just like you and me which they try and keep as much out of the public eye as they can. They are human beings trying to enjoy the company of family and friends on the most joyous day when millions across the nation sit down and ask each other..
What are you thankful for?

Keenan Cahill

Lip synching is something that many pop stars do on and off stage, but now for a 15 year old from Chicago lip synching to top 40 songs has become a hobby as well as made him famous.

Keenan Cahill has become a youtube phenomenon overnight. I saw him after my friend posted his "Teenage Dream" lip synch on her Facebook page... now he does a great job... but part of me can't listen to the Katy Perry song anymore because I just see Keenan.

Celebrities alike have become great fans of Keenan's work and through Twitter Keenan was able to land guest appearance on the comedian Chelsea Handler's late night talk show, Chelsea Lately.

As Keenan becomes more than an internet sensation I have to wonder does it just take lip synching to popular songs to get one famous? What is the definition of famous in this world of hyper reality where everyone broadcasts their every move on the internet? Just because I have 125 followers on Twitter... does that make me famous?

Here is one of my favorite videos of Keenan.... one celebrity even stops by.

hometown hero

I have only lived in three towns my whole life: LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Portland, and Spokane. Portland is where I am from when people ask me that question, and in college that question is asked quite often. Living in Portland from age 6 until I left for Gonzaga August of 2008 I never truly appreciated my city until I left.

Going through your teens in Portland and young adult stage at times I thought there was NOTHING to do or nothing cool for a 16 year old.... no I do not want to see a movie again no I do not want to do this no no no no no no. Going through my normal routine and going to my normal places of activities I did not see the city as anything else then where I was from or where my whole family is from.




Moving to Spokane was quite a change I didn't realize how much I appreciated the metropolitan feel and atmosphere of Portland. How much I had taken advantage of the Pearl District, the culture, the arts, the up and coming food scene. I missed driving from my house down burnside and seeing Mt. Hood in all of its glory beaming over the city. Now I know I am getting a little nostalgic, probably because it is very near Thanksgiving and I am getting a little homesick and ready to go back to my great city.

Now going to school at Gonzaga has allowed me to become great friends with kids who are from Western Washington and many who are from Seattle. I love all of these friends dearly as well as I love Seattle, but I keep quite when they talk about how great Seattle is because I know that they are missing the hidden gem, Portland.

Never Been Kissed- MUAH

If you are a gleek and have not seen this clip please watch now!
Last nights show was.... fantastic! Glee always has clever ways to deal with as well as overcome physical, emotional, and personal issues. After watching this week's episode I thought about a lot of things in my life and the friends and family that surround me and am glad that they let me be, well me.

A man on the moon

Scott Mescudi, or as many of us know him as Kid Cudi, a 26 year old born and raised in Brooklyn, released his second album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager this week. As an avid Cudi fan in the past two years I was excited for the release of this anticipated album. After much hype for Young Money and Lil Wayne's release from jail last week I was in dire need of something new in the music industry. Kid Cudi's newest album has done just the trick.




He is off the usual path and marking of a Rap or Hip Hop artist, Cudi is a new fresh take on Rap in the 21st century. When listening to some of his music certain emotions and feelings come up either happy or sad. Cudi dives deeper than some of his counter parts and allows the listener to truly hear as well as actively listen to his lyrics and music.




Kid Cudi is a great artist and here to stay.

Do I Need a Boyfriend?

I went home about a month ago for my Mom’s birthday and big birthday bash and could not count how many times I was asked if I have a boyfriend by different friends and family members. Why is this a big deal to them, I mean I am 20 years old and have the whole dating pool in front of me.

Dating in college….. this is something that some of my girlfriends and I talk about quite frequently. Dating in college is very different than High School or after college. “Dating” could mean solely hanging out on the weekends after 2 am and going on a “date” to the cafeteria in the morning for greasy eggs to cure your hangover or it could mean an actual serious and committed relationship, which in my opinion is harder to find in these four years of crazy schedules and sole searching.

Being single throughout college at times I have yearned for a boyfriend or significant other especially when some other friends are always with their boyfriend and cant stop talking about them. But then it dawns on me, you wouldn’t be able to have as much free time as you desire, you wouldn’t be able to do whatever you would like at all times. By Junior year I have gotten into my own schedule, made my own friends, and found my likes/dislikes on campus and in classes. This is the year to really key in and focus on my major and minors and gain internships and pursue what I would like to do in the future. Is this possible with a boyfriend? Yes I believe so but at the same time I believe that college is a time for soul searching and really finding you are. I know some couples that have been dating since the first week of Freshmen year and have isolated themselves and have not grown as individuals and found their niche on campus or in their specific fields.

I thank god sometimes that I am not that couple I see and sometimes gag that are making out in the Starbucks line or always holding hands. Even though at times I even yearn for a significant other I have learned that college is a time to grow, mature, develop as an individual not a couple. I am happy as a single young woman who is surrounded by quality friends and family members.

HALLOWEEKEND

As a college Junior I have learned over the past three years that Hallloween, which was just one night a year as a child trick or treating up and down the neighborhood, has turned into a weekend full of costumes, parties, and alcohol. Forgo the candy and one night a year outlook, in college Halloween is Halloweekend.

For a smaller school like mine Halloween seems to be a "big deal." Without date dashes or other Greek Life events weekends like Halloween or St. Patrick's Day are highlights of a semester.

Three or four weeks before Halloween peers of mine started to ask me what I was going to be for Halloween, I responded puzzled thinking that hey its only October 1st.... I have a lot of time. Some girlfriends and I decided on "The Seven Deadly Sins" for one night of the weekend. Greed, Sloth, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Pride, and Wrath were our costumes for Saturday night. I was assigned "Greed," which would not have been my first choice but I am easy going and did not put up a fight. I decided to take the costume into my own hands and make it my own. With a trip to Claire's to find cheap, sparkly, diamond like jewelry and a faux fur vest I was starting to feel and look more like a Real Housewife of Spokane than my assigned "Greed" character. With a few more touches including some Monopoly money as well as my Junior Year Prom Shoes my outfit was complete and I was ready to go on the town, or in my case... The Logan Neighborhood.

Halloween is one night, or in college a weekend where you can dress up like something out of the norm. Now some kids I know chose to wear little or nothing and may I add froze to death in what was a 30 degree night, but I was one that dressed up, had fun and laughed with friends... and hope I don't have to dress up like a Real Housewife ever again... or until next HALLOWEEKEND.