Urgency

I got out of bed to post. That's how important this is. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors I'm about to make.

Laying under my covers in warmth, I popped in my earphones and turned on Snow Patrol's new album, Fallen Empires. Snow Patrol has played a large role in my immediate family for years, since I bought my mom Eyes Open for Christmas in 2006.

The thing is, I haven't gotten to listen to all of Fallen Empires yet. After I heard track two (well, for some reason, it's track two on my iPod, but #13 on the disc), "The President," I had to stop. A song like this shouldn't go unnoticed. I put it on repeat, and after a dozen listen-throughs, I can honestly say that I have NEVER heard a more beautiful song in my life.

It is a masterpiece. Art at its finest. Music is incredible. It can bring you to tears.

If you are reading this post, I ask a favor. Listen to it. Listen to it with no distractions. Think of the people who are special in your life. Think of the things you have done on this Earth. Think of all the times you have failed, and think of all the times you have brought yourself back up.

This is what life is all about.



I've run to ground
I've run from everyone that I have ever known
I'm aching cold
I'm aching from the bones the very blood of me

And it's broke before you know it
Before you knew what it was for
All you know is you can't fix it
And you wish you'd listened more
To your instincts to your family
To the wisdom you'd ignored
Are you finally gonna ask us for help?
I've crashed to earth
But I'd fallen for so long that it was just relief
I saw your face
In everyone that looked me in my drunken eyes

And it's broke before you know it
Before you knew what it was for
All you know is you can't fix it
And you wish you'd listened more
To your instincts to your family
To the wisdom you'd ignored
When you finally gonna ask us for help?

I can see you at the front gate
As you wait on my return
The years have blurred to eons
But the tears have never dried
But I'm not coming to you like this
So battered down and sad
I will take the road forgotten again

Wolf Gang

Check this out:



That's THE Tyler the Creator performing the song "Sandwitches" with Hodgy Beats on Jimmy Fallon's dreadful late night show. I've seen a ton of live television performances before, but this one has to be the BEST I've ever seen. When Tyler and his crew come to the 'Burgh, it will be an incredible experience.

But that's not what I came here to talk about. Here's a portion of the REAL lyrics to this song. Children, look away.

Full of s**t, like I ate that John
Come on kids, f**k that class and hit that bong
Let's buy guns and kill those kids with dads and mom
With nice homes, 401k's, and nice a** lawns
Those privileged f**ks gotta learn that we ain't takin' no s**t
Like Ellen Degeneres c***oris is playin' with d**k
I'm jealous as s**t, cause I ain't got no home meal to come to
So, if you do I'm throwin' fingers out screamin' "f**k you"

I don't get it. If the uneducated a-holes over at MTV can air shows like Jersey Shore (which rides a fine line between traditional reality TV and softcore pornography), why can't Tyler sing his actual lyrics on NBC? Why are the words "bullet" and "gun" (Foster the People) bleeped out on local radio stations, but LMFAO's "passion in my pants"-esque lines can be screamed into the ears of innocent listeners?

We saw Rage Against the Machine preach against censorship when they yelled "f*ck you, I won't do what you tell me" in front of BBC's audience a few years ago.

Hell, even Kurt Cobain did it back in the grunge days on Saturday Night Live, when he belted out "Rape Me" while producers franticially jumped for the rooster noise button.

If you don't want Tyler to sing his explicit lyrics, don't have him on the show. It's as simple as that.

Grr, I don't understand this world we live in.

OFWGKTA

You Make Me Smile

I have to make this quick because I have to wake up early for school tomorrow. Oh...I'm getting a phone call..."Hello...huh..what is that? We don't have school tomorrow? It's Thanksgiving break? SICK. I guess it's blogging time."

What a fantastic way to start a post. I've always been a fan of hypothetical cellular conversations...

Anyways, today was "DOPE." <----this word, according to the underground hip-hop world, means cool, awesome, chill, or spectacular. Even though there was a whole lot of rainfall in Pittsburgh on this particular Sunday, I managed to stay active.

Here's some pretty big news: I'm recording again. Yes, that's right. Got to throw the ol' headphones on and 'lay down some tracks.' Okay, they weren't my songs. A friend of mine asked me to play an acoustic pattern and sing the vocals on a cover he is doing. The song is beautiful.



After I played a show last year, my dad told me: "In the words of Bob Dylan, I seen a shooting star tonight, and I thought of you."

Either the two stories are coincidental, or they act as a clear message; I need to get more music out there. 'A Quiet Mind' was supposed to be a way for me to release everything that's stuck in my head. Instead, it's gone.

Gone, but not forgotten. This week, I'm going to show my lyrics (which lay alone, tattered and torn, in a black notebook under my bed) to the world. All I have to do is plug in and play.

And you know what, it shouldn't be too hard. My mind is clearer than ever. God, it feels good to say that.

"One of the saddest things I've ever seen at a ballpark"

That's a quote from Rangers' owner and legend Nolan Ryan. Regarding the tragedy that struck the baseball world by surprise Thursday night.

It struck me by surprise as well. I never thought that something so terrible could happen inside a stadium. I mean, how "great" can the world be if there is risk/reward at an entertainment event?

This incident I'm referring to actually made me cry. In case you haven't seen or heard about it, 39-year-old Shannon Stone, when reaching for a foul ball tossed into the stands by Rangers' left-fielder Josh Hamilton, fell through a gap between the left-field wall and stands. While the television announcers laughed at what seemed like a "harmless topple" from an eager fan, Stone was being taken away by paramedics.

He would die later at a Texas hospital.

And his 6-year-old son witnessed the entire thing, sporting a mitt on his right hand and a Rangers' jersey on his back. How terrible?

Baseball is supposed to bring fathers and sons together. Instead, on Thursday, a lifelong bond that should have started in the stands was quickly turned into a horror story.

Makes me think. Life is truly a game of inches. If Josh Hamilton throws the ball a few inches upward, the ball would be in Connor (Shannon's son) Stone's room next to a ticket stub. If Texas starter Derek Holland delivers a pitch to Conor Jackson a few inches lower, Jackson drives the ball harmlessly to center field and Connor Stone still has a father.

Touching. I have been going to baseball games with my dad since I was Connor's age. And I have appreciated every single second, and will continue to do the same. Because we honestly don't know what is going to happen next. My thoughts and prayers are out to the Stone family, the Texas Rangers' organization and Josh Hamilton.

I'm a Lost Cause

Ever have one of those nights where everything gets you sad? I hate how sensitive I am. I hate it so much.

To get my mind off things, I guess I'll do a fun blog post. A post that will keep me from using my mind, because right now, all I want to do is fill my brain with fluff. We are humans, after all. We need time to decompress.

It's been a relaxing weekend for the most part. Everything is starting to fall into place. Yeah, my parents are being pretty tough on me, but I'm using it to "learn a lesson." Basically, I need a job. I am absolutely dollar-less as of right now. Empty wallets are depressing.

I have worked extremely hard in school this year. Academics have been my life since the end of 2010. And to be honest, I have done a very good job. I am building a solid future.

But the reward isn't going to come if I don't have the resources to produce them. Summer is supposed to be about "letting loose," yet it is impossible to accomplish that mindset without money. It's funny how much money can actually affect our lives. To the people who say that "money isn't everything"- you are full of it.

Wow, I never knew blogging could be so deep.

Anyways, if I can lock down a job, this summer looks promising. I love the end of the school year for one reason: the rush of summer concert dates. Everyone is announcing Pittsburgh dates, and I love it!

So far, I have only bought tickets to see these guys at Stage AE in August with my mom.



Tomorrow, I am probably going to buy my Foster the People tickets. I got a few bucks from my relatives for my SAT scores, so I can afford it surprisingly. I love Mr. Smalls theater with a passion, and I love FTP since the moment I first heard them last year (back when they were still babies in the industry.)



And last, but definitely not least, I am NOT going to pass up on Hollywood Undead. I have been waiting for two years to see them. They stopped by in Pittsburgh before I started to listen to them. Now is my chance. But it is going to be tough. Tickets are pretty expensive.

Regardless, I would probably trade 100 Hollywood Undead shows for a single Blue October performance. They announced their tour supporting their August album, but it isn't coming anywhere close. My parents promise a trip to see them if they come within five hours of our city. I will wait patiently. *fingers crossed*

So yes, concerts galore. I love it. The rush. The music. The happiness. I could use some of that right now. Goodnight.

It's Friday! Random, Spazmodic Thoughts

Three weeks since my last post? Wow, I'm going to lose my two followers.

I don't want to focus on one topic today. I feel like jumping around. It has been a very busy two weeks, and other than the daily Twitter updates (follow dentedfretboard!), I haven't really surfed the ol' Internet lately, so it feels good to have a free Friday night to explore.

So, funny story. When I got home, I took a nap so I could be rested to watch the huge Yankees/Red Sox game at 7. Well, it turns out that the game was at 2 o'clock. I missed all of it. Classic me.

But that has been a model of my typical days lately. I wake up, drag myself through eight periods of high school, and come home to watch baseball. Actually, that is what every baseball season is like for me. (I will have to post more about it eventually, but my family's love for baseball is crazy. During baseball season, it is all I think about.)

The Yankees are doing pretty good, even after that rough loss against the slumping Sox. I hate to jump the gun, but I don't see any other team in the AL East that will stand in our way. I mean, come on. Who ISN'T afraid of this guy?

Obviously, no one is afraid of Manny Ramirez anymore. Right? That guy quit steroids after getting caught once, correct? Nope. According to a report released today, he tested positive last season as well. Way to go Manny. Buster Olney on Twitter hit the nail on the head:

@Buster_ESPN: The guess from here: Manny will never get in the Hall. The precedent from McGwire voting is in place, and Ramirez tested positive twice.

Well put, Buster. As a Yankee fan, I wonder if Alex Rodriguez will ever get in. He admitted to it, but the same offense deserves the same punishment. Oh well. The commish will cross that bridge eventually.

Anyways, my best friend got me a CD from her boyfriend, an album that I have been anticipating for months: Hollywood Undead's American Tragedy. After listening to it all the way through four times today, I still don't know what to think. They sound completely different. I was a huge fan of Swan Songs, so this new sound may take a while to get used to. I will do a full album review when I actually develop an opinion! Here's my favorite song so far:



Okay, it's time for a much needed rest. Bed time! Have a wonderful weekend, world.

A Sunday Afternoon at the Cinema

I spent this wonderful Sunday at the movies with my friend. It was SO beautiful outside today. I can't believe Pittsburgh had sun. Anyways, we saw the new end-of-the-world, aliens-from-outer-space flick Battle: Los Angeles. I had very high expectations because, except for 2012, I love these type of movies. Anything with aliens/zombies invading the world gets me hooked.

I really can't say the same for this one, and I have my reasons. It was nothing more than two hours of fast-paced action that was too much to handle.

The best movie ever made is I Am Legend. You know why? Because it is REALISTIC. It is hard to believe that a human being would survive 150 chemical explosions and thousands of alien laser shots.

Oh, and it is equally hard to believe that one military squad (with less than ten people) can save the world and defeat endless waves of extra-terrestrial creatures. Things don't work that way.

Plus, it started too quickly. They barely introduced any of the characters and provided no background story. The plot was also very predictable. In the first five minutes, I could tell that the old, washed-up vet would somehow find a way to save the planet.

And that is exactly what he did. Hey filmmakers- if you want to keep me entertained, think of the REAL WORLD.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Irony in the Final Minute: NCAA Rant

It was a great day today, but the night didn't end too well. Pitt's ended another NCAA Tournament run in disappointing fashion. But what did you expect? We got an unfavorable early matchup with a Butler team who isn't any different from last year (remember, they were inches away from winning the championship game against Duke).

Still, that isn't what I am going to talk about tonight. Let me start by using my journalistic skills to paint a picture in your mind:

There are 40 seconds left in a matchup between two conference rivals. They have been battling all game, back and forth. It is tied up. Everything rests in the last 40 seconds. I, the fan, am standing inches away from the TV biting my nails. I am about to see an incredible end to an intense game. Coach #1 takes a timeout. They take the court again. The ball is inbounded, but Coach #2 takes a timeout. I sit back down in frustration.

I don't get it. The most exciting part of a sporting event is the last minute. With every timeout and intentional foul, the intensity decreases. The multiple stoppages in play are ridiculous.

In football, teams are given two timeouts. I realize that basketball is a fast-paced game, but what is getting accomplished when a coach calls three timeouts in half a minute? I can't imagine that the game's result would be any different if coaches were only allowed to use one timeout in the final minute. That is the only resolution I can think of. Or maybe they should add a "one-minute warning". All I know is that there needs to be a change.

A Lil Bit of Everything: From the Draft to Spittin' Lyrics

I feel like I want to rant right now, so I'm going to throw in a random topic along with what was supposed to be an NFL Players Union rampage. I'm about to drop a beat right now (that's the first of many rap-related references I am going to make). POSSE UP!

Since I discovered the wonderful world of alternative when I was in my early teens, hip-hop and rap have been my mortal enemies. I have constantly spread the ever-so-popular argument that rap is just words without meaning. Maybe I'm just being stereotypical, but how many songs can you write about keeping your ladies (for lack of a better word) in line? This goes out to you, 50 Cent. I'm not going to get started on that, but it isn't right to tweet about hoes in Japan hours after the tsunami.

But now I am starting to see a light (somewhere, somehow). My cousin, who has unsuccessfully tried to get me to listen to classless rappers like Mac Miller, persuaded me to listen to some of the new Lupe Fiasco album last night.

<---------- Lasers by Lupe Fiasco









I rarely like songs the first time I hear them, but "Words I Never Said" is incredible. It has so much meaning, so much emotion, so much credibility. The cuz' did tell me that he is one of the only rappers who raps about world affairs, but I didn't believe it...until I heard it. I am probably going to head down to the Exchange this weekend and pick up the entire album (yeah, I'm shocked as well).

Anyways, onto the main topic of today. I heard a little bit about this yesterday, but Mike and Mike expanded on it this morning. The NFL Players Union, who has been in a battle with the NFL over the last couple months, is asking upcoming draft picks in the 2011 Draft to skip the ceremony.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, "when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces the name of the first player selected, the player will not walk onto the stage at Radio City Music Hall as has been the custom."

This is getting absolutely ridiculous. These players have been working their entire college careers to take the stage to meet the commissioner. It is their moment to shine, not the NFLPA's chance to take a shot at the NFL.

Yeah, the NFLPA is fighting for the betterment of the NFL. But is it really necessary to ruin a spectacular moment? No.

Hopping on the Bandwagon: Five Reasons why Kemba Walker is Incredible

After finishing up watching the Connecticut Huskies beat Syracuse in OT (not six of them this time), it is now clear in my mind. Yes, I have jumped on the Kemba Walker bandwagon.

"Julian, why didn't you like him before?'- Well, being a Pitt fan for life, I didn't like seeing him single-handedly dismantle the Panthers as the buzzer went off yesterday. (If you didn't see the play, Walker stepped back and hit an impressive shot from the top of the key, shaking Pitt big-man Gary McGhee out of his jock).



Now, I can come clean and admit that I was wrong for yelling "break Kemba's legs!" at the TV last night (while watching the replay, keep in mind). Here's my solid reasoning behind this new revelation:

1. UConn has now played FOUR games in FOUR days. That's the Big East Tournament for ya'. But Kemba hasn't let it bother him one bit. He has scored 111 points so far in the Tourney (best in the tournament's history), averaging over 27 PPG.

2. He led his team across the board in almost every category tonight: points (33), rebounds (12), assists (5), and steals (6).

3. I am pretty sure that I saw a stat during tonight's game that he has played 157 out of the 160 minutes in the team's four contests. He needs a break.

4. He has completely stolen the spotlight from Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough, who won the Big East Player of the Year. Kemba, you're in the spotlight.

5. He still managed to give a humbling post game interview.

Walker and the Huskies will play the winner of tonight's match between Notre Dame and Louisville. I would love to see ND and UConn battle it out tomorrow night. Hansbrough vs Walker. (And finally, I'm rooting for you Kemba).

First post ever...Lemme introduce myself

Hello everyone :)

I'm gonna introduce myself here, even though you can easily click on the "About Me" tab to your right --->

My name is Julian and I am 16 (yeah, I'm a junior). While the other classy children in my school are aiming to be the ever-so-popular superstar athletes and film actors, I want to go to school for journalism and spend the rest of my life with a pencil in my hand (wait, let me modernize that: keyboard and mouse in my hand). When I was in my younger years, instead of playing PlayStation and eating gummy-worms, I would sit in my room and make "fake" newspapers with a notepad. I would write stories about anything that would enter my mind (superheroes, ice cream, sandbox romance).

Basically, I have had my career decided for as long as I can remember. Journalism is my key to happiness. So now it is time to enter the great world of blogging (thanks to my wonderful friend, Michelle, who you can follow at http://www.trashyfoes.blogspot.com/). I have had a sports blog before but realized that I wanted to expand and write about a wider variety of topics that interest me. So here it is: My opinions on EVERYTHING. (sports, music, politics, popular culture!)

***Warning: One of the main reasons I started this is because I am sick of writing in a journalistic, formal style. This is going to be my informal blog. You can see more of my formal work at http://www.purbalite.com/***