Texting teen falls into open manhole

I found this too hilarious to pass up. A 15-year-old New York girl fell into an open sewer manhole while texting and walking at the same time. She fell four or five feet, but suffered nothing more than a few scrapes and a big surprise. Several crewmen, who were flushing a high-pressure sewer line, immediately helped her out. But despite the fact that it was largely the girl's fault, her parents are still intent on suing (on what charges, we don't yet know). Her mother even said that the girl's multitasking "doesn't matter."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31853449/?GT1=43001

Thoughts? Surely I'm not the only one who laughed at this, not only that she fell in but that her parents are filing a lawsuit about it. Has texting become too much of an obsession?

Popping the top on energy drinks

They're everywhere: Energy drinks, including Monster, Red Bull, Amped, and even Rockstar, can be found in the hands of some teens at nearly every hour of the day. This is the biggest concern of Kentucky, Michigan, and Maine lawmakers.

According to The Nutrition Business Journal's website, each of these states have considered passing bills banning the sales of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 18. The state of Kentucky would also prohibit drinks containing more than 71 mg of caffine per 12 oz serving and the ingredients taurine and glucuronolactone, stating reasons such as "child safety." Yet, (especially with the 'Starbucks-boom'), coffee is much more readily-available and packs over a whopping 100 mg of caffine.

So...get 'carded' to buy your Red Bull? Will these proposed bills hurt the drink-manufacturers?

Top Ten: Nice and Frozen...

So. I absolutely love lists, (and my profile definitely proves it...). Here's a little list that's very near and dear to my heart: The list if the Top Selling Ice Cream Flavors. A survey ranked each flavor from 1 to 10 based on popularity, delicious-ness, and how fast they're flying off of grocery store freezer shelves! Grab your bowls and spoons, it's time to dig in to the best ones! Enjoy your first Top Ten!

1. Vanilla - Plain and simple, always a classic.

2. Chocolate - Mmmm, hard to resist!

3. Butter Pecan - Unexpexted 3rd-placer, but still good!

4. Strawberry - Ahhh, the sweet and berry-ful option.

5. Neapolitan - Like numbers 1, 2, and 4? Go with #5!

6. Chocolate Chip - Hard to resist those little bits of chocolate.

7. French Vanilla - Do you have to eat this with your pinkys up? (proper manners?...)

8. Cookies 'n' Cream - Ohhh, cookies AND ice cream? Match made in heaven.

9. Fudge Ripple - Yeah, definitely like a river of awesome.

10. Praline - Never tried this one, but if it's ice cream, it's gotta be good!

Totally age-old question: Which IS the best? What should be added to the list?

Hollywood Undead Review!!!

Coming at you is the official Nick Wright review of the Hollywood Undead show!! Though the show is three days over with I still find myself in AWE of the extreme talent of the seven men who graced the stage that night!! So before I get to the main event I feel that it is only right to say a little something about the opening bands. First up was a band by the name of The Sleeping. They were okay if you are into really hardcore screamers!! The next act on stage was a four-piece punk band from New York entiled Mest, and they were very good classic punk much like the sound of New Found Glory. After the two opening band, who would soon be slammed to the back of our minds, Hollywood Undead took the stage!!! Fully masked, the seven men came out all at once, only preseated by the drummer who was the only unmasked man on stage at this point. He opened with a solo and they ripped into there first big hit, Undead!!! So here was the real kicker, and I am sorry if you lose some respect for the masked men by me telling you this, but by the third or forth song all the men were no longer masked!!! I know, I was floored too. But not to worry, the show was still as amazing as ever and lived very highly up the the statement made by the founder, "we ain't like other rap shows": with two live drummers and a guitar that switched hands throughout, they are most definitely not like other rap shows! I would say that if Hollywood Undead ever comes back to a place near you, spend the twenty bucks and go because it is 100% worth it!!

So one thing, do you respect their choice to remove their masks, or should they have kept them on?

More Summer Fun

Well, we're well into summer now and I wanted to create a post where people could comment as they pleased, all about summer. I have a few things to say first, though.

I'll be gone at camp until the 12th, so adios until then, but before I go, I want to make sure that everyone in Washington knows that Never Shout Never is coming to The Big Dipper (in Spokane) on July 6th. I highly reccomend you attend, as I will be unable to *tears*. (http://www.myspace.com/nevershoutnever)

Ok, enough of me...now it's your turn!

• What are you doing for the Fourth?
• Do you have any camp memories to share?
• Are there any special summer rituals you have with your friends or family?
• What is your favorite summer treat?

(My answers; Lake, building a camp casino in the woods, Star-tripping with friends in the forest [a great activity, fun for all ages], and watermelon!)

Stay Safe!

Read. Think. Type. Rock.

-Katie

Good Symposium, I suppose...

We're saying 'hello' to a new month, and with this new calender-page comes the celebration of *INTERNATIONAL ZINE MONTH!* (Yeah, there is a website alllll about it...)

As you all know, I am a total zine-lover! (My little "cut n' paste" obsessions are currently threatening to take over my room floor...) Therefore, you know I'm gonna be jazzed to read up on a great upcoming event : The Portland Zine Symposium!

Taking place over July 24, 25, and 26 in the Portland University's Smith Memorial Ballroom, the Symposium will celebrate everything zine-related. You'll find ad-tables by local zines publications and their authors, collections from popular distros (short for 'distributions', that's where you BUY a zine...), and TONS of people to talk to about the awesome-ness of zines and their creation. Yes, yes - that means workshops, discussions, and zine-trading galore; favorite pastimes of the zine-lovin' group.

The Symposium is organized by 'old-school' zinester, (well...old school to us, seeing as she started nearly 13 years ago...), Alex Wrekk. Ever heard of her book, Stolen Sharpie Revolution? Or her zine, Brainscan? Or her custom-button company, Small World Buttons? They're basically the 'holy standards' that people who make zines try to live up to. A great example of how a living can be made purely by expressing yourself, (and inspiring others to do the same.)

This event sounds like a great time - especially if you're into self-publishing, zines, handmade crafts, or even just supporting the community and it's local vendors. (All of which I LOVE!)

Anyone interested? If you were publishing a zine, what would be your main topic? Music? Food? Reviews? Movies? Photography and art?

New Music For Your Ears

It was proven at approximately 12:28 p.m. today, that I am not infallible. The Films (an AMAZING band) released a new album entitled Oh, Scorpio and I did not know about until NINE days after the release. I know, I'm just as ashamed as you are. But, to insure that this is not repeated, I have compiled a list of all known upcoming release dates of some of my favorite bands for you and I to enjoy. Also included are recently released albums that you may have missed. (Order= Band, Album, Release date)

1. Built To Spill - There Is No Enemy (October 2009) http://stereogum.com/archives/progress_report/progress-report-built-to-spill_073321.html
2. OK Go - The Influence of the Blue Ray of the Sunlight and of the Blue Color of the Sky (September 2009) You can listen to the first single here :http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/05/ok-go-skyscrape.html
3. Matt Hires - Take Us To The Start (July 28, 2009) You can Pre-Order on iTunes (http://www.myspace.com/matthires)
4. All Time Low - Nothing Personal (July 7, 2009)
5. Discovery - LP (July 7, 2009) This is the much anticipated release from Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij & Ra Ra Riot's Wes Miles...Fun!
6. Cobra Starship - Hot Mess (August 11, 2009)
7. Nathan Maxwell And The Original Bunny Gang -White Rabbit (August 18, 2009) This one is for Jeremiah...it's got Flogging Molly's bassist :)
8. The Dead Weather - Horehound (July 14, 2009) This is Jack White (of the White Stripes) new project
9. The Flaming Lips- Embryonic (Summer 2009)
10. The Shins, No Doubt, and The Long Winters will also be releasing something in 2009!

Can't wait until these albums come out? Wilco, Ben Kweller, Grizzly Bear, The Decemberists, The Cab, Mew, Spoon, Meg & Dia, Hawk Nelson, The Hollywood Undead, and The Bombay Bicycle Club all have brand spankin new releases! So enjoy, and Happy Listening!

Read. Think. Type. Rock.

-Katie