Bethlehem Skate Plaza Needs Your Help!

I'm not sure how many people still read this, but the ideas are still fresh for a new Big Ugly in the twenty-ten for Dianca London and I.

I've already attacked tumblr and twitter with this business, so why not fill in the ole' blogosphere?



Last year I did a story on a local Philadelphia skate park (POPS, for those of you who live here.) being built in the community. The project gained a lot of support all around, and was a big win for the city.

This year, I've come across another town (near my mom's house, actually) that needs help building a skatepark for the kids in the community, only this time, they really seem to be in dire need for any financial help they can get.

So they've entered themselves in the Pepsi Refresh challenge. This is where you can help.

1. Click on this link.

2. Click on the tab for $250,000. Click Category: Neighborhoods.

3. Vote for "Complete a skateplaza in our community. - City of Bethlehem Parks Department."

And you're done. You might have to register but you don't have to actually receive any e-mails from them ever again once you vote. Vote once, vote everyday if you want. You have the entire month of March.

Thanks! And Happy Spring!

Tweet For An A

Australia's Griffith University has made twitter usage a requirement for journalism students. The university hopes to promote more "in depth" twitter usage by students by making the website part of their curriculum, preparing journalism majors for the future of "social media" in today's world. Students have had mixed feelings so far, some dubbing the class "a waste of time." The Mashable.com article goes on to say students don't know how "good they have it" with the new course.

In a few words, I find this idea to be absolute bullshit. Sure, I've come to accept the online universe as taking over the media. But this can only lead to one thing, and already has: inaccurate news. You might remember a few days ago outlets reporting that Kanye West was dead, when indeed the rapper was alive and well. This isn't the first time inaccurate deaths have been reported, nor will it be the last. Imagine a world where all our news is obtained from social networks? Twitter producing the most read headlines? Or will twitter die out like myspace? Only time will tell.

Back 2 Back

If you follow sports at all or live in Philadelphia, you may have heard "the phillies are back for seconds," or "fuck the yankees" several times in the past 2 hours. It's all about the broad street celebrations people, so let's do this again for the second year in a row.

WORK IT

Sick of the job hunt? Want a discount on Deep V's? AA's UPenn Community Store is holding open calls this Thursday from 12:30pm-4:30pm. Grab your tri blend and make sure to bring your resume with references to 3661 Walnut St. Can't make the call? Email AA's Beth Elsenheime for further employment info. Best of luck. Click here for the ad.

Vampire Weekend's Latest Track

Indie Ivy Leaguers Vampire Weekend unveil the first track off their forthcoming full length Contra. Not set to release until Jan. 2010, "Horchata" is available for download via the band's website. Click here to download or here for more deets.

Happy Birthday Kip!

Philly native Kip Berman (aka the twee-tastic frontman of the Pains Of Being Pure at Heart) turns 30! Celebrate with the masses tonight at FUC. Doors are at 8pm. Too tired to make the show? No worries, crank up the vid below.

Gone Too Far

Prior to his death, Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein had been working on a series with MTV about bringing adolescents and their families to terms with sobriety. After his fatality, it was uncertain as to whether or not the series would air. Goldstein's family has decided to allow the show's airing, in order to represent the man Adam really was. The series, Gone Too Far, begins airing on October 12th.

Flava Flav Turns Back Time

Flava Flav in my mind put VH1 reality dating shows on the map. Since then VH1 has created a slew of spin-off shows, none quite comparable to Flav's "charming" appeal. Well, he's back, this time, with a different agenda. Public Enemy's finest plans to go back to high school and get his diploma, having dropped out shortly after 10th grade.

On his return to, Flav says:
"I just want to show the world it's never too late to get your diploma, and show kids they should stay in school and not wait until you're old to get it," said Flav. "Everybody sees me as this big love mogul. Now I got a baby girl, I've been there and done that and now it's time for the next episode."

Despite my hatred for recent reality television, this just might get me back in the game. If Flav can do it, I can too! (And you.)

Jude Law Does Poker Face

Well, sort of. Watch the still sexy man-cougar recite "Poker Face" in poetic form below:

Guilty Pleasure To The Max

It's a gloomy, fall day in Philadelphia and about the only thing getting me through it is this little gem. Definite UPGRADE from the band's previous sound.

When We First Met

Softporn Tour 2009

Okay, so not really, it's just a 30second promo by Kanye West & Lady Gaga for their upcoming Fame Kills tour this fall. Truth be told I don't think it's either of them in the video, just an imitation. Regardless, don't let your boss catch you watching this at work.

And the message of this video is....

Fame Kills from kwest on Vimeo.

Want To See MGMT For Free? All You Need Is A Drivers License

WHO: Kia Soul Collective
WHAT/WHEN: Sept. 25-27, test drive a Kia Soul to get tickets to see MGMT Sunday.
WHERE: 23RD STREET ARMORY
22 South 23rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

TEST DRIVING BEGINS FRIDAY AT NOON UNTIL 8pm. GET YOUR ENGINES STARTED!

Patrick Joins The Ghosts

It is being reported that Patrick Swayze has passed away today, September 14th, 2009. The Ghost actor died at 57 years of age, losing his battle to cancer. One of the great actors of my time and yours, for sure.

This Is How It's Done

Love her or hate her, she sure knows how to bring a happy ending.

First Reading Rainbow, Now Philly's Libraries

It kills me that after 3 months of unemployment, I still haven't found a job. But what kills me more (if anything) is the above sign of information. Books...remember those things? Well I sure as hell do; they made up my childhood, transitioned into my adolescence, and made me the writer I am today. There is so much I could say (and will, in the future) on the closing of Philadelphia's free libraries but instead, I'll ask a favor.

Go to freelibrary.org.
Contact your elected officials (or just mine if you're not from Philly!).
DO SOMETHING.

Representatives say we cannot afford to keep the libraries open.
I say we can't afford to lose them.

LOVEQUEST 2000 COMING SOON

More deets tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy the vid.

I LOVE TO RIDE MY BIKE... NAKED

Footage of Philly's first Naked Bike Ride compliments of City Paper. Vid by Neal Santos.

Osama Bin Laden <3s Whitney Houston

Sudanese novelist Kola Boof has revealed some disturbing information on Osama Bin Laden's preferences in Diary of a Lost Girl, an autobiography of her time held as Bin Laden's sex slave ten years ago. Here are just a few disturbing quotes from the book:

"He told me Whitney Houston was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He spoke of someday spending vast amounts of money to go to America and try to arrange a meeting with the superstar. It didn't seem impossible to me. He said he wanted to give Whitney Houston a mansion that he owned in a suburb of Khartoum."

Aside from dreams of marrying Houston, Osama Bin Laden also detailed to Boof some of his favorite TV shows, including The Wonder Years.

Wonder what he thinks of Whitney's new album?

Philly's First Cupcake Truck!

Cleverly titled Buttercream, Philadelphia has turned a former postal-truck into the city's first cupcake truck. The truck debuted on August 28th, and will be continuing it's delicious run again tomorrow at noon in Love Park, its permanent spot. 2 bucks a pop is kind of harsh when you can get a slice of pizza for 50 cents less, but hey, some days only a heaping mouthful of frosting takes the cake.

You can learn more about the city's tasty edition here.

Marriage Equality

MarriageEquality has released a commercial in Ireland promoting the necessity for equal marriage rights. As the commercial states, imagine having to ask 4 million people if it was okay for you to marry? Watch it for yourselves.