F*ck Off! Punk Music is Dead

This Ain’t The First To Be Said

Punk Music Is Dead

This Ain’t The First To Be Said

Punk Music Is Dead

Calling Of The Social Misfits Of Society

Created The Punk Scene

Seeing Rules As A Gag

And Spitting On the Flag

Made Kids Embrace This Fad

Society Said It Wouldn’t Last

It Wouldn’t Last

It Didn’t Last

Where Are Your Leaders From 30 Years Past?

Dookie Seemed Hopeful

But Got Tainted By Bubblegum Flava

Suburban Kids Took Hold Of The Punk Scene

That’s Now Just A Fashion Accessory

Offspring Gave Birth To A Generation of So-Called Rebels, Indeed

That Was Choked By The HOT TOPIC Of Fashion

And The Soulless Aim Of Money & Fame

Out Went The Punk

In Came The Kiddie Play

Rebels Left The Scene

Away From The Shitty Mainstream

Society Won This Victory

Chanting To The Rebels Underground

Punk Music Is Dead

Na Na Na Na Na

Punk Music Is Dead

Died A Long Time Ago

Not Coming Back

Punk Music Is Dead

(Written By: Bridget Campos)

District 9 Movie Review

A rather unique concept to an outlived story line.

Note: Spoilers throughout this review.

District 9 is a sci-fi, thriller that’s directed by Neill Blomkamp and executive produced by renowned film director, Peter Jackson. The movie is based on the 2005 science-fiction short film, “Alive in Joberg,” which Blomkamp had directed.

District 9 was released on August 14, 2009 and did well in the box office, grossing $37 million in the U.S.

The beginning of the film explains how the government/humans showed empathy to the aliens that are unable to go back to their home planet. Since being “stuck” on earth for some 20 years, soon afterwards the aliens take advantage of the kindness shown to them. They are seen as an annoyance to humans and are then treated as outcasts.

In order to control the disruptive aliens, the government of South Africa moves them into make-shift homes in the slummy, outskirts of the city of Johannesburg. The aliens are seen as weak and part of the low totem pole of society that shady characters mistreat and take advantage of.

At first the movie comes off like a documentary, which gives the impression of a Cloverfield- like film. However, towards the middle of the movie, the format changes into a typical cinematic film.

What makes this movie’s concept unique is that past films that are based on aliens evading the earth, show these powerful creatures as being a great threat to the planet and it’s the humans’ job to stop them from destroying mankind. But District 9 is different. It shows segregation from an ethical and moral standpoint, though it’s about aliens. This notion in an alien film is bizarre when you think about it. Empathy for the aliens, or “prawns,” is only reached when the main character, Wikus van der Merwe played by Sharlto Copley, who’s a field operative of the Multi-National United (MNU), a private, “security enforcement” company that handles research in space-age technology and specializes in alien weapon-use, is assigned to relocate the 1.8 million aliens into a more appalling location that’s further away from the city.

Due to an unsuspecting incident, Merwe begins to face the same treatment as the “prawns.” These events allow him to better understand the aliens and develop a friendship with one of them. Towards the end of the film, viewers will find themselves rooting for the aliens and seeing the humans as the monstrous, villains.

The film’s ending is actually pretty sad and comes off as if it’s incomplete. But gives the impression of maybe a District 10 could be in the works.

Though being a good film, I disagree with critics that have labeled District 9 as being one of the best films of the year.

Despite District 9 having its fair share of gory scenes throughout the film, it contains more drama than suspenseful-action. The film is rated R and contains bloody violence and pervasive language.

Reviewer's Rating: 7 out of 10

Written by: Bridget Campos

Originally posted on August 17, 2009
Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/movies/full_review/13350.html

The Misguided Viewpoint of Love and Relationships

Relationships have always been on the minds of people throughout history. Several authors, psychologists, relationship experts, and even celebrities have given their opinion on how to make a relationship work. People are astounded when hearing of couples that have been together for 60+ years. The common question they ask them, “What’s your secret?” Why do people feel there is a secret to a successful relationship? Even with all the advice given in the past, people are still looking for the answer. Some have turned to the internet for relationship advice, only to find hundreds of millions of articles, which can seem a bit overwhelming. So why haven’t people found the true answer to relationship problems? Well, it’s a question that can’t be given a clear-cut answer. Everyone is different. So what may work for one couple could have the opposite effect on another.

But what experts can agree on is that all relationships have to be based on love.

Love can have a powerful, emotional effect on people, whether it is positive or negative. It can bring out the best in some, or, if it’s taken on an obsessive level, it can bring out the worst in others. Some are scared away by it, seeing it as being emotionally vulnerable, and so they try to avoid it altogether.

Though love can start off strong it can easily fade away if not nurtured properly. Some people constantly fall in and out of love quite easily. This sometimes is in line with having a misconception of love. Meaning they confuse infatuation with love. Or they feel that being in love is controlling someone else or being overly needy. This can in fact drive people away from them.

The word love can be a difficult thing to say. Men can feel like it’s no big deal if they don’t say the word all the time to their loved one.

When married some husbands might say, “Of course I love my wife. I come home everyday from work don’t I?” In all honesty that is commendable, but when was the last time you said it? The same applies for wives too. Those four letter words can make a big difference in a relationship, but so does someone’s actions. If you don’t get any thing out of this article do keep this one point in mind; you never know someone loves you until they do something to prove it. However, this doesn’t mean it's ok for a person to emotionally manipulate you into doing something you don’t want to do. True love is based on two factors: Honest communications and respect.

Can people find love without it leading to marriage? Yes, only if both parties agree to not getting married. Some people choose not to fall in love, or get married, and that is understandable. However, you need to let the person you are dating know about this. Within three to six months of dating, the other person could already be talking about wanting to get married. Don’t string the person along by playing mind games. Like saying, “Yes, I would want to get married”, then the next day say, “No” and then “Yes” again. It adds more confusion and pain to the other person. This could probably lead them into thinking that something is wrong with them, when you know very well it’s you that’s afraid to commit.

But this too goes for the person being misled. Beware of people, preferably men, which claim to be “damaged goods” or have “issues.” It’s a way to make himself, hopefully, seem less appealing to you. In guy terms it’s his way of saying, “Hey, don’t take this thing between us serious.” In reality, when a man really likes a woman he wants to impress her; whether by his wits, charm, smarts, material possessions, finances, handiness, or humanitarianism. A guy’s demeanor speaks volumes. So when you think about it if a man really likes a woman, why then would he put himself down?

It reminds me a lot of someone being interviewed for a job. Now if the person really wants the job would they tell the interviewer “Well, I’m lazy, unreliable and almost never come to work on time.” Does it really seem like that person wants the job? Of course not! But, rather, they would do their best to prove that they are the one qualified for the job. The same analogy could be applied to a potential relationship. If a guy is really interested in someone, he'll prove that he’s worth their attention.

But, if you feel you are being strung along and the person never gives you a straight answer, because they change their mind back and forth, it’s best to run from that relationship. Don’t be surprised if one day that person, out of frustration over the commitment issue, will cut you off completely with no explanation whatsoever. You will be left wondering what happened and suffer from the pain. As for them, they will move on, continuing to do the same thing all over again. History will repeat itself.

I know relationship experts always say be honest when first meeting someone. But in reality no one is ever honest when they just start dating. That’s why it's important not to rush into a serious relationship right away. Wait until you know the person well. As the old saying goes, “Time reveals all.” One way to speed up the process is seeing how the person you’re dating interacts with their family and friends. You might see a side of them that could shock you. However, some women will see the bad habits/attitude of the man they are dating, and though being repulsed, they will continue to stay in the relationship, even up to the point of marriage. Why? Because they want to settle or think that “they can change him.” It is a bit presumptuous to think you change a person. A man will change only if he wants to. The same person you are before marriage is the same person you’ll be after marriage. The only thing that changes is the living situation and responsibilities within the home.

Another major topic that couples are concerned about is cheating. Today, more than ever, having an affair is becoming a common thing. Some psychologists even encourage affairs as a way to “spice up” the relationship. But there are many reasons as to why people have affairs. It can also be related to commitment issues. Or they are not getting something within their serious relationship, so they go outside the marriage and look for it. Surprisingly, it can have nothing to do with sex-at first. It can develop into an emotional-like friendship which could then lead to sex. Personally, I would never encourage someone to leave a person that is cheating on them. The choice to forgive or not is a personal decision that you’ll have to live with. The only exception would be if your partner constantly cheats and refuses to seek help. It would be best to leave in order to avoid contacting an STD; or if your life is in danger, such as facing emotional and/or physical abuse.

Don’t lose hope! A successful relationship is possible only if both people really work hard on making it last.

Written by: Bridget Campos

Originally posted on July 16, 2009
Link: http://sahmanswers.com/news.php?readmore=1017

Beyoncé Knowles - I Am . . . Sasha Fierce

I Am . . . Sasha Fierce became R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles third No.1 solo album upon its release in November of last year, and continues to remain successful not only on the Billboard charts but around the world. So far, Sasha Fierce has gone double platinum.

On Beyoncé’s Web site, she explained the album's concept and why she had chosen to reveal this alter ego of hers named, Sasha Fierce. She stated, “I am in a different place right now and I wanted people to see the many sides of me. The music is upbeat for the dance, fun side and it is reflective, passionate and serious for the personal side. I have taken risks here. I am not afraid and my music will explain it all. There is no label or tag on my sound. It's me and I am so excited to share it with the world.”

Beyoncé spent nearly a year making this album, more than on any other solo album of hers, even when she was with former group, Destiny’s Child.

The album contains two discs as a way to further the concept of the dueling personalities. The first disc is music from Beyoncé and contains the album’s first hit single, “If I Were a Boy.” Most of the songs on the first disc are contemporary/R&B ballads that sound a bit somber, but it does have a sweet-melodious tone to it.

The second disc contains more upbeat music. Aside from “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” the other tracks have more of a techno-like sound that features Beyoncé’s alter ego, Sasha Fierce, who displays traits of a strong, outspoken, sexy, and independent woman.

However, hasn’t this personality been displayed before in her other two albums, B'Day and Dangerously in Love? What about when she was part of Destiny’s Child? More specifically in songs like “Ring the Alarm,” “Baby Boy,” “Crazy in Love,” “Survivor,” and “Say My Name.”

Though Sasha Fierce is an inspiration of Beyoncé’s stage performances, her alter ego fails to make an impression in the album itself. If she had another title to this album, minus the alter ego, it would have been successful regardless.

Perhaps, the album’s concept was a prelude for fans to go see the full effects of Sasha Fierce in concert, which kicked off in March of this year.

Why do so many artists use alter egos, anyway? There can be several reasons why. Sometimes artists will use alter egos as a gimmick, in order to boost their career if they are starting to have declining album sales and/or star status. While other artists use alter egos as a way to branch out to another genre of music that is different from what they would normally do. Some past examples include Garth Brooks as Chris Gaines, Mariah Carey as Mimi, Christina Aguilera as Xtina, and so on.

Some of these alter egos have turned out to be memorable, while others forgettable. Some very successful alter egos that come to mind are: Eminem as Slim Shady, The Beatles as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust.

When presenting an alter ego, there should be something about the character that stands out as different. That includes a completely separate sound and image from the original artist.

The second disc failed to make Sasha Fierce stand out as unique, fresh, and edgy; or, dare I say, more appealing than Beyoncé herself.

One prime example is of the song, “Diva,” which sounded exactly like the Lil Wayne song, “A Milli.”

I know die-hard fans of Beyoncé will completely disagree with this review. But there was nothing significant about Sasha Fierce that hasn’t already been seen before. The album seems to have more of a marketing appeal than artistic effect.

Beyoncé is a very talented singer, songwriter, and performer. She doesn’t need a gimmick attached to her.

Overall, Sasha Fierce is a pretty good album. But if you must compare, Beyoncé’s last album, B'Day, was much better.

The best songs on this album, I Am . . . Sasha Fierce, are “Halo,” “Disappear,” “If I Were a Boy” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” Just these four songs alone make the album worth buying.

Reviewer's Rating: 6 out of 10

Reviewer: Bridget Campos

Originally posted on June 24, 2009
Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/cd/full_review/14278.html