Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me

One of my favourite songs of the summer so far, enjoy the new video!

Shrek Forever After

Shrek Forever After, the fourth and final installment of the Shrek series was a long time coming. With the Shrek series being so popular, hilarious and cute the fourth should have been all of those things. Sadly, I was left a little disapointed. It may have been that because the others were so funny I was expecting great things, or it may have been because it really wasn't that great. The story line wasn't ground breaking, it was very predictable. We all knew what was going to happen in the end, everything would be back to normal and they would live happily ever after. There were some tired jokes that got no laughs, but saying that there were many cute moments and things in the film. The characters are what really shone, with the new ones being the hilarious Rumplestiltskin and Piep the Piper who could only communicate through his flute. The best of the film was only on screen for about 3 minutes, so look out for the little kid that wants Shrek to roar. Kids would love this movie, adults will like it.
If you're a fan of the Shrek series, check it out, if not, save your money!

May Have Just Fell In Love

Lil Wayne and The Office Theme Song?
Let's Party.

Medical Term of the Week

I hear this term alot, but didn't realize that I had no idea what it was!
Aneurysm : A weakened point in a blood vessel where blood pressure can push outward creating a balloon like projection. This isn't dangerous in itself, but it is if it ruptures which would result in uncontrolled bleeding that can lead to death. Very common in the aorta (largest artery and carries blood from the heart to other organs) and in the brain. Genes may contribute because they find that aneurysms tend to run in families with the men most likely to have them. An aneurysm doesn't often cause pain but may cause other symptoms such as vision loss if it is in the brain.

Hommage to Vampires

What is it about vampires?
They've really taken over media lately, we can't go anywhere without seeing them, hearing about them or reading about them. They're everywhere.
Books; Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse Series etc.
Movies; Underworld, 30 Days of Night, Interview With A Vampire, Twilight
Shows; True Blood, Vampire Diaries
Music; (Vampire Weekend, teeheehee)
The story of vampires has been around long before Twilight, starting maybe even before Dracula but has mostly come and gone. Right now, is definitely a hot time for the vamps. What is so attractive about the idea of a Vampire, a person, who is dead who drinks people's blood and who is allergic to garlic? It doesn't sound too great when you say it like that.
For me, I love me my vampires because hey, they're sexy! But when you think about it, pretty much everyone in the media is sexy. An ugly vampire definitely wouldn't be as attractive to me, I might not even read about it or watch it. The way they're portrayed in movies and books can be partly blamed for this obsession. In movies and books, they are closely related to sex, something everyone loves. There's the superficial reasons for them being so popular. The danger is another thing, they have super strength and are pretty bad ass. People that come out only after dark are mysterious which makes us want to know as much about them as we can.
After so many books and movies there's been every sort of love affair, woman and woman, people from apposing families, people with a big age gap, so what's next? A person and a supernatural being! To keep the novelty in the things that we read and watch people have to come up with something new, some new love story to be immersed in. I think the world found that in the recent books, namely Twilight, but also in the Sookie Stackhouse series.
I know what I like about them, but next time, think about what you do. Don't just accept that they're hot stuff.

Summer Lovin'

With all this great weather I got to thinking of some fun things to do outside. I didn't want just the usual, go for a walk, suntan or ride a bike. I wanted some exciting ideas, some fun things that would make me smile, refresh me or create a great bonding experience with someone. Here's my top 10!

1. Go outside and write on your side walk with chalk! Now, how long as it been since anyone has done that? We might actually be old enough to make them look good too!

2. Lay down on a field on a day with clouds and just watch them go by, picturing silly animals or things as you do.

3. Roller blade or bike through Lakeshore's mansions and ooooh and ahhhhh.

4. WATER BALLOON FIGHT!

5. WATER GUN FIGHT!

6. Go and pick fruit, like strawberries, then eat them!

7. Set up a sprinkler ( if you don't have a pool ) and go nuts!

8. Go to a kiddy splash pad on a hot day and pretend to be a kid again.

9. Picnic!

10. Tie-Dye

Just get out, and enjoy. I just gotta remind myself not to forget my SPF 80...

Saturday Night Soundtrack

I don't have tons of new songs this week, but emerging rapper Sam Adams from Boston who does a great remix of I Love College by Asher Roth and Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Travis McCoy, the lead of Gym Class Heroes also has a great, light and fun song.

I Hate College - Sam Adams

Heads Will Roll (Remix) - Sam Adams

We'll Be Alright - Travis McCoy

Dynamite - Taio Cruz

Cell Research Breakthrough

With the amount of people on our earth growing every day we need a way to get what we need, from antibiotics and vaccines to ways to clean our water. Scientists announced that they took the DNA from one simple germ from the family of Mycoplasms, built it from scratch and twice as large. They then implanted it into another member of the Mycoplasms and watched what happened. That germ then proceeded to multiply and act like the first Mycoplasm that they copied the DNA from!
"This is transforming life totally from one species to another by changing the software" - J. Craig Venter (scientist)
With this breakthrough there are many of aspirations for the future. Knowing that they can do this, their hope is that they can program microbes to digest pollutants, or even produce fuels.
This step in science isn't all good news. Bound to get it's protesters for tinkering with nature there are many people that are expected not to be a fan of this news. Besides that, the technology to create DNA to do what we ask, there is potential for it to be used for war, hurt and pain.
This is just the first step though, we have a long way to go until we can create what we want.

Jumpers!

My favourite summer trend, jumpers!

Finale do's and don'ts

With all the season finales coming up, I decided to reflect on what really did make a great season finale, and what left me yelling at the tv (in a bad way).

Good : When something that you've wanted to happen all season long finally does.

The Office. Season 2 finale, when Jim and Pam FINALLY smooch.

Bad : A dream sequence. When the main character wakes up, and everything that just happened was a dream. HOW LAME! We might as well just erase all that from our memory, it's useless!

Good : When there's a big shocker as the last line of the show, and you need to wait until the next season to know more! This kind of ending is probably the most popular and the most sucessful. People have to tune in next season to see how things progress.

Alias. Season 2 finale, when Sydney Bristow get's told by Vaughan, also sporting a wedding band that, "It's been two years" (since he last saw her)

Bad : An ending like any other episode. These are season finales! They have to be special and exceptional, nothing regular will do.

Good : Answering an itching question, but opening a new one.

Bad : Not answering an itching question, but opening about 10 new ones which leads to frustration.

Lost. Every season, but the series finale is promised to close story lines.

Good : A death, as long as it's done well. Either in a shocking twist, or a long coming emotional story line. A death that's meaningful, not pointless and with a character that you care about, but that wouldn't ruin the show by not being there.

Finales can leave you content and excited for the next season, or eternally frustrated. But with all these outlines, there are always exceptions. Except for the dream rule, that should never be done, ever.

Super Situation #3

When you can close your calculus exam and jump up and down in the middle of other people doing their exams because you know you're done for the semester!

Gregory House & Stephen Colbert Love Affair

On the set of the Colbert Report, if you look close enough you can spot a framed picture of Gregory House. After receiving a honorary degree he thought of himself as a doctor, so why not put a picture of a great doctor on his shelf? Wanting to reciprocate the feelings, on the desk Dr. House from the tv show there is, you guessed it, a framed picture of Colbert! How hilarious, a cross show love affair.

Saturday Night Soundtrack

Two Door Cinema Club, a new find of mine is a great band to listen to all summer long. Mellow but with great beats and sound. Maybe, a harder rocking Kings of Leon? Check them out along with these new finds!

Riding Solo - Jason Derulo

Airplanes - B.O.B.

King of Anything - Sara Bareilles

California Gurls - Katy Perry (I'm predicting this is going to be the big hit of the summer!)

and a nice oldie, Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield

Yo Yo Man

Kenny "K-Strass" Strasser has been punking new stations all over the States. Posing as a yo yo expert, with no real experience he gets an interview, then when it comes time to show his skills, this happens!

High-larious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBzWHudBoiA&feature=player_embedded#!

More Maroon 5

A great video of them announcing their tour, showing their comedic sides.

A good line up for their tour too! Owl City, Kris Allen & V.V. Brown

Maroon 5 Announces North American US Tour

MAROON 5 NEWS!

This is the best news of the year so far!

Hands All Over, their their third album has been announced for release September 21st 2010. They are also kicking off a tour, with a date at the Molson Ampitheater!

I'm going to go FREAK OUT now.

Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
Doug Firebaugh

Medical Term of the Week

As a widely used term, Autism was very interesting to research and to learn more about.

Autism : A neurological disorder which affects normal brain function and is usually presented during the first three years of life. People with autism usually have trouble with non verbal cues, social interaction, communication and playing. The correct term, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) means that there is a wide variety of levels, types and intensities of ASD. There are hardly any two cases that are exactly the same. Many of the same problems are duplicated but in different intensities. Sufferers are strongly affected in social situations, from just being clumsy and not saying the right thing to not wanting or noticing people at all. With communication problems, it is difficult for sufferers to relate and empathize with others, making sympathy a hard thing for most autistic people to grasp. Surprises are also something that bother autistic people deeply, ranging from a sudden light to a quick touch. Routine, repetitive and predictable behavior is craved. We don't yet know what causes autism, but studies are being done and more and more is being learned.

Saturday Night Soundtrack

My Ellie Goulding obsession has carried on to this weekend, so there's some new songs from her! And a few new fun ones! Mike Posner is a new find, he makes some good beats.

Enjoy!

Your Biggest Mistake - Ellie Goulding

Every Time You Go - Ellie Goulding

Guns and Horses - Ellie Goulding

Lights - Ellie Goulding

Can't Be Tamed - Miley Cyrus

Maniac - Girlicious

Smoke and Drive - Mike Posner

Cooler Than Me - Mike Posner

Still Not Over You - Mike Posner

Cudderisback - Kid Cudi (Notice the Vampire Weekend sample!)

Be Warned

In honour of the fast approaching release of season 2 of True Blood.

Act of Kindness

In sports you are taught to win, and that's it. You're taught to do your best to move yourself ahead and do well, not to think about who deserves to win. Grant Whybark (left) , a college golfer, was already headed to nationals with his team but was facing off against Seth Doran (right) to go individually. Knowing that if he won he would take up that spot even if he was already going, he made a move unheard of in the world of sports. He approached the first hole and hit the golf ball 40 yards right of the fairway making a double bogey. Doran made par and won, moving on to nationals. Whybark said, "It was one of those things where I couldn't feel good taking something from him like this. My goal from the start was to get to nationals with my team. I had already done that."

A great act coming from a good place, but maybe Doran would have actually won and his fluke wouldn't have been needed. Whybark made an assumption that he would win and that this would be the only way that the deserving player could go to nationals, but it's sports, why not make it fair?

Happy Birthday Lamb

Super Situation #2

When you wake up in the morning, and you realize it's your birthday!

There are presents on the table and love coming from everywhere, you can buy lottery tickets and vote.

Loves it.

Medical Term of the Week

Dyslexia : A learning difficulty which affects the reading and spelling of words. It disrupts the brain's ability to translate written images from the eyes (words) into an understandable language. It is caused by a malfunction in areas of the brain that control language(Broca's area, parietotemporal region and occipitotemporal region) and is most likely to be hereditary. This learning disability is the most common one in children, affecting 5-17% of the population. In languages where there are consistent rules like Italian and Spanish there are less cases, but languages like English with exceptions (cough doesn't pronounce like it's spelt) dyslexia is more common. With treatment and attention around 95% make progress with reading and writing.

#1 Super Situation

Realizing that, hey, I could wear shorts today if I wanted to.

That finally people will be able to see my ruby red toe nails.

That my pasty white skin may see the sun again.

And that I can drive my car with the windows down.

Saturday Night Soundtrack

This weekend I introduce you to Ellie Goulding, UK's electro pop wonder. An amazing artist and performer her songs instantly caught me. Think of a mix of Lights and Little Boots.

Under The Sheets - Ellie Goulding

Black & Gold - Ellie Goulding

Starry Eyed - Ellie Goulding

Apart from her I have some other great indie finds.

Good Morning (The Future) - Rogue Wave

Set Me Free - Sally Seltmann

And then my bad ass music side, well, about as bad ass as it gets.

Ride To California - Paper Tongues

One More Mile - Paper Tongues

Hot N' Fun - N.E.R.D.