On Why I Find Twitter Incredibly Useful (and comments on Gossip Girl)

In our technologically-driven world of gadgets and gizmos, there are limitless avenues to receive information. You can be a traditionalist; read the paper or call your friends by telephone to find out how they are, maybe even send a postcard if your handwriting isn't ruined by constant keyboard strokes. Or you can be what I would call the typical college student; facebook and myspace account, reading status updates through the news feeds, and having a few websites bookmarked, maybe just for news or sports.

Or, if you so dare, you can be a completely tech driven individual, facebook news feeds, RSS feeds for favorite blogs/websites, and finally a Twitter account to follow everything from friends and family to restaurant discounts and the latest TV ratings numbers.

I love Twitter. Instead of spending time browsing numerous websites for information, I receive everything in a nice, concise 140 character tweet. And if I need to read an article, a convenient tinyURL is placed so I can go straight to it without having to drive through avenues of ads and banners. I use an app called Tweetie where I can do everything that I need to with Twitter without having to open my browser and go to the website itself.

I've had the account for a pretty long time now, and I'm ecstatic at the fact that its gained such enormous popularity, because now everyone has one. I used to follow a couple of blogs and that was it, but now I can follow all of my favorite video game sites, television gossip sites, game developers, friends, and more. And the simple fact that more of the hometown people are jumping on the twitter train is awesome because it keeps me updated on all the news that would've just passed me by. How else would I have known that Alexand was doing his laundry, or that Raf got excused from jury duty? Without simple, small status updates I'd never know!

But all faux internet sarcasm aside, I really do find it incredibly useful. Every now and then I see a facebook status update of someone saying "twitter is for people who have no lives, gonna go pick up New Moon!!!" or something of that nature, and I'm like, no, you just don't see the advantages of it. So, if so inclined, if you don't have a twitter account yet, go sign up for one, and follow me @nazer858 and follow the coolkids @coolkidsroom too. And Direct Message on twitter is seriously the best way to get in touch with me, sends a text straight through my phone, awesome.

And I finally caught up on Gossip Girl. Is it just me or when all the kids work together to solve a problem at the end of the seasons does it remind anyone else of the Scooby gang? And if you haven't checked out PopCap Games' (the makers of Bejeweled) latest drug, check out Plants vs. Zombies, its awesome. Thanks for reading, I'll see you all in San Diego, I'm coming in Monday night at 8:30 PST.

TM Doesn't Make It Into Americas Best Dance Crew

No Team Millenia, are you serious? Who the hell am I supposed to watch now?


...not these guys

[MTV: Americas Best Dance Crew Season 2 Breakdown]

Note: Read the comment thread in the article, seems like the community is outraged.

Ramiele Malubay, EXPOSED

A Cool Kids Room Exclusive... The Ramiele Malubay Scandal!

The current pride of the PI, Ramiele Malubay, is apparently in some “deep shit.” Recently, there has been a set of controversial pictures floating around on the internet which critics claim, jeopardize her capacity on American Idol. Several gossip sites, such as this one, have been leaking the photos, commenting on its ‘scandalous’ and risque nature.

Disclaimer: What you’re about to see is not for the faint of heart. If so, I advise you to put the kids to bed, cover your eyes, and skip to the next section, for they represent the worst of the human condition. These shocking photographs prove that Ramiele is past any chance at redemption, and her standing as a contestant on American Idol is, without question, inexcusable.




OMG!

...And yeah… back to reality – I really hope I catch a segment on Fox News about this “scandal,” or get to hear Bill O’Reilly rant about how unforgivable these photos are, and even better, hear him denounce Ramiele and complain about how she should be kicked off the show. “There is no reason she should be on American idol! – Do you want Ramiele being a role model for your children?? – This is un-American!” Then, after the program, they’d follow up with a special investigation story on the state of the Philippines, making sure to mention that the country is full of terrorists plotting to kill Americans; Then, they’d run another special segment, “Filipino youth in America - Where is this country headed?”

Moreover, it seems a lot of the other contestants this season have made headlines due to their ‘controversial’ backgrounds. One of the other top 12 finalists, David Hernandez, allegedly used to work at a gay strip club as a bartender and performer.

But this supposed Ramiele Malubay scandal reminds me a lot of a similar situation a few years back, when Fantasia Barrino won American Idol. The controversy stemmed from revelations that she was a high-school dropout, a 19-year-old single mother, and rumored to be illiterate. Critics, haterade drinkers, and those still living in the 1950’s were concerned that she was a poor role model for youth and her background was ‘unfit’ for a proclaimed American Idol.

While I can agree that being a high-school dropout and illiterate is far from being in the best of circumstances, I thought it was uncalled for and disrespectful to judge her based on her history, especially how the media hyped it up. Whether you want to blame black people, the government, or runaway fathers – that’s just the reality of America; not everyone grows up in the ideal or fabricated America where everyone lives behind white picket fences. Perhaps she is a reflection of America in the 21st century, although some people ignore the fact that people like Fantasia do exist, and ignore the truth that not everyone can live by that expected American standard.

To me, while I’m not much of a fan of her singing, have utmost respect for Fantasia for being able to put up with all that shit. Also, her being a single-mother and still being able to pursue her dreams as an artist is something to be much-admired. More power to her.

And back to Ramiele... it will be ridiculous if the media hypes up the story to the extreme; although if I was her, I wouldn’t be too worried. In all certainty, those leaked photos might actual help her in the voting. So to Ramiele, keep on reppin, and good luck tonight. (you are hot by the way.)

Social Injustice!!! (o.k. not really, but yeah)

Last night I drove around by myself for hours… I guess it was one of those nights where I just needed to be alone. Before finally arriving home I looked up to the sky and cried “What is wrong with this world!??” Then I proceeded to cry myself to sleep…

A great social injustice just occurred – and no, I’m not referring to the homelessness and uninsured in America, or the constant violence in the Middle East, or the thousands of children dieing as civil war plagues Africa, or even to the fact that New Orleans remains in no better shape than it was after Hurricane Katrina struck. No, these trivial things I mentioned are insignificant compared to the wrongdoing that transpired last night…

Yes, you know what I’m talking about. You’re probably tearing up just as I am right now… But don’t be discouraged, I too, feel your pain. But yeah, something is truly wrong with the world now and days…

This is hard for me to even type, but on last night’s episode of America’s Best Dance Crew, the girls from Fysh n Chicks were… VOTED OFF.

“This is absurd! That’s ridiculous!” I know, I know, I couldn’t digest the news myself. I could barely watch as A.C. Slater declared that their “banner must fall.” Sure they’ve survived on the bottom of the voting for most of the show, and sure they’re a little sloppy, and dull at times, and not quite nearly on the same level as Jabbawockeez or Kaba Modern – but that’s not the point. Should i even watch this show now? Should I start a boycott?? But no matter what, they’re gone, thanks to another group, ON ROLLER SKATES.

aka BreakSk8. Apparently there’s more than just corn in Indiana – theres douchebags on wheels.

Fuck you BreakSk8. Fuck you.

On That Serious Tip: Outrage

Disclaimer:This Post is gonna be long so bare with me its important

If you know me well enough, you would know that I'm proud as shiet of who I am and where I come from. I also consider myself someone who believes in working towards social change. I just want to say I take offense to those that can ask questions that are deep and expect a simple and short response. I also am frustrated with people that are fearless in their ignorance. For example, a article located on the North County Times website stresses the importance of student organizations and praises these student organizations for their ability to actually take part in social conscious events. "Since 1991, at least 200 clubs have been created only to fall off the university's roster, according to Berhane."(North County Times) All i have to say is that is progression at its best. Sadly with every positive their has to be some kind of negative. The website gives a chance for readers to leave comments on the article, one comment from someone named GREG stated,

"Wow, a hip-hop club? How about the G3 Association, like 'Getting Good Grades' association? How about a 'Community Service Association' where students work on community service projects? Too many self-serving, racist clubs and not enough clubs that promote unity and community togetherness."
"I guess it's a figment of my imagination the foothold groups like MEChA, NCLR, along with other racist groups have on CSUSM. And now with the Asian Pacific Student Society, Black Student Union, Middle Eastern Association, Oaxaca Student Organization, Vietnamese-American Student Association, I guess the members of these so-called associations can all hang out with their own kind. The university experience should be about learning a marketable skill, not more of the culture you came from or belong to."

This definitely has to be ignorance at its best......
If you wanna read the full article visit this link
http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2007/11/26/news/top_stories/20_16_3611_25_07.txt#blogcomments

So since I'm all riled up and in a radical kind of mood right now, I decided to write a new spoken word piece that I'll hopefully memorize soon and get spittin.

Outrage: Response To a Question

Ask me the question of who I am?
At first I respond not, providing no
answer to questions
That ask for answers deeper than
the procedure of finding myself.

As if my culture
was really so simple,

That it could
So simply,

be described.

I only speak truth
So I subtract the lies
While popular culture, continues
To Divide
And Deny

My people.

Whether your ripley and believe it or not,
If you resemble a bit of my physical features,
Then you should know
We were born into adversity

Living in a world where
skin n bones
is considered attractive

Where going out to house parties
Is considered active

Where despite the lack of color pigment
White is privileged,
And brown and yellow
is expected to be passive

Idolizing the Pac Man
For his south paw
Only respected for his ability
To throw a fist, But

We,
ignore and disassociate
Ourselves with those that
Call for social change

We,
critique them and say,
“Say they just thrown fits”

Better to knock down ignorance,
Than to use violence as a means
To educate

We,
Our people who can claim Mabuhay
But make jokes
and poke fun about our own

I myself choose to hold close to me
My history and my culture
You could almost call it an embrace

But less tight for fear of becoming
To close to one way of thinking

Privately wishing,
I grew up in a world
That didn’t force me into outrage
On issues of Oppression due to race

Living in a world where we admire
The hills

wish we could swim,
In Laguna beaches

Where hate
Does not have to be loud
sometimes a whisper

so quite and subtle at times
we fail to acknowledge the deception

Most of us are speechless
And would be like Korean shop owners
And mind our business

I fight with words,
That ring loud in eardrums
That beat like tribal war drums

So that my people cannot ignore
What hurts more

than

A physical abrasion
More painful Is the truth
that I’m relaying

As We,
taste the tears
Tears of women so salty
And so deep
They remind us of the Pacific Ocean.

Tears shed by wives
For the loss,
Of WW2 soldiers
they called them husbands

While We call the women
Lola

Fast forward to the present
Tears still shed this time by
The husbands and their children

And we call the men
Lolo

Yet their bravery and valor in war
Goes unacknowledged
Refusing to pay their pensions

While presidential candidates
Debate Multiple issues
Yet in no way,
has Obama or Clinton
Ever chose to mention

We call it discrimination

And we have the audacity
As a nation
To separate a day for soldiers
Like our Lolo’s

We call them veterans
Better yet veteranos

Except minus the equity
and less divided

So ask me the question
A question so broad it gives me a Migraine

Better to ask what I know
And my answer will be lengthy
As well as rather draining

But ask me who I am?

My answer will be just as broad
And subject to interpretation

If you want to know who I am
I’ll say look past me, I mean really look

At the land fertilized by
blood sweat and tears
Look directly towards my ancestors

Although at times we as a people
Turn our backs on our homeland

Magandang Pilipinas

Our souls and our hearts
have never left her.

JFAV


sorry no jokes tonight I'm on that serious tip....

Just Ray