And All The Rest...

Monday, May 30, 2011

Exclusive Release Of a Michael Populus Photo




Look up the word dedication in the dictionary and you will find a picture of Michael Populus, Local Photographer. The Man Does Not Sleep, and it pays off in his work. He will be launching his website in a few months and promises to keep us posted but until then he has graciously allowed us an exclusive look at one of the site photos. When the site does launch, I recommend paying him lots of money to take your picture to show your appreciation. On a serious note, We love you and your work Michael.




Lets not forget the amazing team that made this shot possible.

Makeup Artist: Rosalina Young
Hairstylist: Blane Hummer
Assistant: Hebah Saleh

The Stunning Photo.
Compliments to Model Catherine Monica.
Its Fabulous Michael Keep Us Posted and We'll be anxiously awaiting the launching of your site.
[Click to See Better Quality]





Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Looking For Something To Do This Weekend?



This is for my locals. Check out BlackWaterVendetta!
[WHAT:] Category 5 show
[WHERE:] Brunett Farms
[WHEN:] Friday at 9:00pm - May 28 at 1:00am
[WHY:] This is the big one! Friday may 27th at brunett farms, where the mudd boggs, party in the pasture, and good ole fashion ole farmers day is held! this is the first year the rock portion of this show! We have Blackwater Vendetta with gut wrenching solos and heart stopping solos kicking the southern rock! We have Leaving Soho with some sexy southern swagger, solos like smooth Tennessee whiskey, and a voice of a down right god! Last but not least we have First Fracture opening up the show with deep songs, fun twists and just an all around damn good band! 10 bucks at the gate or 15 bucks to see the category 5 show plus Chris Grey Saturday night! come and support local music BYOB if of age and be ready to rock!

Friday, May 13, 2011

This little blog is taking big strides! :)

Check Out NYLON Magazines Blog Today To See a Link To "Us Small Town, Southern, Hipster Kids" For all of you who remember this blog is my Inspiration!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

A word to the Baby Hipsters: Leaving behind a high school legacy



[This Post is dedicated to Kathrine, The sweet girl who is a sister in my heart! So proud of you for finishing eighth grade. High School is gonna be your time to shine baby girl so hold on tight!]


High School was a time of tears, laughter, fun and pain for me. I made mistakes and I made memories, and as I leave it all behind I want to leave something of myself with it. So here is my advice for my high school angels! Make the best of these years and I love you!




[#1] BE YOURSELF


Im sure you've heard it a million times but it's the truth. Don't ever compromise yourself for the sake of others. People come and go. They change a million times and over again. If you change yourself with them then when they fall away you will have nothing left of yourself. High school is when you begin to form opinions and make decisions that will define the type of person you will be. Just remember that when your setting the mold of you you're going to be in life your the one who has to be able to face the mirror at the end of the day.




[#2] GUARD YOUR HEART AND ALL THAT IS PRECIOUS


I won't waste my breath on the birds and the bee's rather something more important than that. The facts will never change, Premarital sex leads to consequences, and they are NEVER good. Theres more to it than that though. The truth is should shouldn't be giving ANY parts of yourself away in high school. Each person you come in contact with not just physically but emotionally leaves an imprint and if you let them close enough they leave a hole. The part of you they take with them will never be returned to you. The first time you fall in love is a wonderful, miraculous feeling that leaves you walking on clouds and shoots happy aches through the cheeks that wont stop smiling. Rarely though do high school relationships last. When its all said and done you want no regrets. Be strong and stay your own person so that when things end you can look back fondly on sweet memories and not feel shame or heart ache from broken promises. The most special relationship is one where you grow strong and learn to love, and anyone who's worth it will be just happy with that. The demanding person isnt a deserving one.




[#3] MAKE MEMORIES


Have Fun, Be Adventurous, Try New Things! Conqueror your fears and discover your passions! This is YOUR TIME! Enjoy it! Be active in clubs and school events. Get involved and keep a busy schedule. Have confidence and dont be afraid to stand out! Learn to be a leader. Charisma will take you far in life!




[#4] STUDY!!! BE PREPARED!!!


Senior year is not the time to be preparing for college. GPA is cumulative, that means a rough freshman year can set you behind the game for the rest of high school. Stay on top of your work, and keep up your grades. Its hard to pull up your GPA but it takes nothing to knock it down. Start looking at scholarships, colleges, and savings early on! Allot of deadlines pass your junior year which means you should be started your sophomore year. Hard work is the key.




[#5] STAY IN THE WORD


I cant stress the importance of a relationship with Christ enough. I'll keep it short and simple. God is your platform. Buildup all that you are and all that you do upon him. The Bible is your handbook, read it. Everything you need to know is in that book. Study it and learn to apply it. Press to know God.






[#6] FORWARD PROGRESSION!


I leave you with this, No matter what choices you make, take no steps back. Everything you do should be in the name of forward progression. Keep moving forward and you'll always get some where.




For anymore advice just leave a comment or message me directly, Good Luck In all that you do!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Amp'd Brass Band part I [More on Youtube]

Hipster Spotlight: AMP'd kicks Brass!



Genre Brass Band, Rock, Funk, R&B Members
Tuba- Miles Lyons
Trombone- Steven Polk
Trombone- Adrian Rotondo- McCord
Trombone - Jean-Paul Brion
Sax- Jonathan Lyons
Trumpet- Ryan Mccue
Trumpet- Matt Dallmann
Drums- Wesley Mannino
Description Contact us here ampdbrassband@gmail.com
Biography We are the AMP'D Brass Band. We are the Notrthshore's little piece of NOLA! The band is comprised of college students from SLU, and USM, as well has Mandeville and Ponchatoula High students. The band has played at many diffrent venues as well as parades. Nobody does it like AMP'd on the Northshore!

I had the absolute pleasure of hearing the AMP'd brass band perform last year at the annual Strawberry Jam festival, since then I have followed them virtually. This is more than a group of talented young musicians. These guys are passionate and vigorous. Their sets are Jazzy, Up-Beat, and fun. They lack nothing short of Immaculate Talent. One of the things that makes a great band is the way they speak to the audience, AMPd draws you into the performance. The boys are charismatic and undeniably lovable. Plus you wont find a Tuba player who rocks it like Miles Loyns. Two thumbs up boys, you kick brass!

Check them out Here!

A new song... [Id love comments]

(Photo compliments of Mike)

[Throwing Fragments]

You're on my mind today
came with a morning breeze that mingled with my dreams
and the tears that kiss my face
remind me of the purple days
you let your hazel rain grace
the silence is much too loud
and I remember when you broke away

I threw the pieces to the stars
because that's where you belong
shining as you are
with all your rights and all your wrongs
your legacy will rain
and as the fragments burn all I ask of you
is don't forget your small town girl

A mist of you fogged up my eyes
I drew a heart before you evaporated away from me
I remembered your sweet kiss
and the hands that glided sweetly
to tangle in my fingers
and when you broke your grip away

I threw the pieces to the stars
because that's where you belong
shining as you are
with all your rights and all your wrongs
your legacy will rain
and as the fragments burn all I ask of you
is don't forget your small town girl

Well obviously we changed
we grew up and found the other halves of only ourselves
and before we let go for another
we needed to learn our own hearts again
so there wasn't room for you
and there wasn't room for me
but when our dream shattered

I threw the pieces to the stars
because that's where you belong
shining as you are
with all your rights and all your wrongs
your legacy will rain
and as the fragments burn all I ask of you
is don't forget your small town girl

Sunday, May 8, 2011

The start of adventures..

So I attended my last high school class Friday and My friend Tiffany and I decided to celebrate with a night on the town... We hit up Tutti Fruti first opting out on the fro-yo and visited with my sweet friend and fellow senior Caitlyn, after that it was sushi time at Kirins. As we left an amazing meal of snow crab and crawfish rolls I dragged Tiffany into a private ally where I'd seen some amazing graffiti. Shes considering being a photography major so she pulled out her camera and we got a few shots. Then we saw a Tyle Perry flick (Which was AMAZING) at the theater where I chated with the one and only Michael Populis and ended the night at the book store where I picked up the new NYLON issue It was an amazing night and I can't wait for more adventures this summer.








[Had such a great time catching up with Cait at Tutti Fruti! Congrats to my beautiful and now a newly SELU Cheerleader Friend!] [P.S. While me and Tiff passed on the fro-yo this time, If you're in Hammond La This is the place to get it! Menchies is over rated and much less personal. Tutti Frutti Taste better and has an overall better enviroment.]
[Of course we HAD to eat at our favorite restraunt down town. If your a sushi person Kirin is the hottest place to get it at, and the food is the best!]








[So excited when I found some Legit Graffiti down town. Tiffany did an amazing job with the shots. ]










[#1) The Movie - Madeas Big Happy Family After four years at Amite High School, and being from Tyler Perrys own home town Myself, These movies are like home videos. Not that to say thats a bad thing. As allways Tyler Perry delivered. It was a fun film that had the whole theatre engaged in exclamations of "OH NUH UH" or "GRAB HER BY HER WEAVE!" Tiffany and I laughed that leg slapping laugh and The touching story line had pitiful lines of tears streaming down our faces. Two Thumbs up! #2) I had the pleasure of receving one of Michael's gorgeous smiles with my pop-corn and it was great bumping into my dear photographer friend. #3) AMC - Tiffany and I purchased Stubs Reward card and I have a feeling they will pay off.]










[Nylon Magazine and a Culkin? Oh the perfect way to end my amazing night]

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Melting My Stone Heart

Feeling Slightly down I posted this poem in my writing group, a dear fiend of mine responded with the poem that will follow. He's an amazing person and it melted my heart.

Jade among Diamonds


It hurts my heart
to see her so radient
and wish that i could be
so beautiful
so special
but like my name I remain a semi precious stone
a rock amongs diamonds
and their hardness saves them while wind and dust turn me dull
for how I wish to be beautiful
to be lovely
my fairy tale was just a lie
and I feel hallowed and dejected
and I wonder if Ill ever be
precious to anyone.

The Envy of Kings

Did you know that war was waged over you?
That your semi-precious face
Has been the envy of kings?
...
Did you know...
That your value is above that of diamonds?
Yes diamonds...
Which are so many that many do not even shine...
They are bound by their very necessity to be something...
Everything shines through them...
And that is what they emulate.

But you!
You who are "semi-precious!"
You have been given the choice--
The birthright and the ability...
To reflect...
You have been shined
-Thou beautiful green miracle-
And your life is your choice
To reflect and give light of your own color...

And one day...
Oh, one day, I promise!
A king will cradle you
-In and on his crown and pedestal-
For you are the envy of Kings

Another Poem By a Fellow Hipster

Another amazing piece of work by Mr. Trevor Newman (Previously noted in the post on Stranger-Stranger)



Trevor Newman
Patriots and Idiots



You talk with no fluidity,
and live in such stupidity,
you cry about your liberty,
but no tears for those who fell.
You're lost inside your ignorance,
of course you only asked for this,
you feel so warm in all this bliss,
but you're drowning deep in hell.
I fail now just to recognize,
who told the truth and told the lies,
because both of which I do despise,
when it vomits from your mouth.
One nation under God we say,
but only on the brightest days,
and even then to my dismay,
you run and scream about.
The sky is falling no dear it fell,
Your heads collapsed oh can't you tell,
so say goodbye and bid farewell,
to rationalism and his children.
And if the lord may one day come,
I'm sure he'll show you all he's done,
And all you people will be so drunk,
to say no sir I built this Heaven.

Vlog Brothers


Oh Hank Green! I love you so! DFTBA

Monday, May 2, 2011

Hipster Research [No more Mr. Nice Guy]

No more Mr. Nice Guy:
Do nice guys really finish last?

“I’ve had it. After today, I know its true, nice guys really do finish last.” This particular Facebook status expresses a common truth believed by many exasperated young men in today’s common society. In a personally conducted interview the same poster expressed “Nice guys are destined to be overlooked way more than bad guys are, and thereby destined to be thought of after the bad guy. We finish, just last. lol.” (Davis) Is it true? Do nice guys really finish last? It’s far from rare that the fact is stated. When the elements of relationships, workforce and overall success are combined, who truly wins the “race of life”? Is it the “Nice Guy” or the “Jerk”? To ones dismay, at first, research might seem to provide the answer that it is the latter. Though, a closer look will instead provide a different question: What is a “Nice Guy”? Popular culture continuously cognates the phrase with terms lacking a certain amount of self respect, such as “push-over’” “Loser” and “Clingy”. Today’s society associates being a nice guy as being a negative thing. If one were to take the term “Nice Guy” from the negative brackets common society places around it, then when redefined “Nice guys” do not in fact finish last.
“Nice guy is a term in the general public discourse and in popular culture describing an adult male with friendly yet unassertive personality traits.” (McDaniel) The term “Nice guy” has become a negative association in today’s society. It is repeatedly stated that nice guys finish last. How is it that the word “Nice” which is defined as “of good character and reputation; respectable” (Free Dictionary) has come to have such a negative disposition when it is applied to people. The answer is this; these so called “Nice guys” are not as nice as they’d like to think. According to Dr. Robert Glover, therapist and author of the book “No More Mr. Nice Guy”,
Because Nice guys tend to have a hard time making their needs a priority and have difficulty asking for hat they want in clear and direct ways, they frequently resort to manipulation when trying to get their needs met. (Glover)
It’s not to say that being nice in particular is a bad thing rather that, what these men describe as nice is only a way of avoiding conflict and creating excuses. In his book Dr. Glover describes “Nice Guy Syndrome”. The nice guy syndrome refers to a behavioral pattern in some men of being very nice to others. The typical nice guy puts other people’s needs first, always helps others, avoids confrontation, does chivalrous things, and is proud of it. His nice behavior is particularly obvious with women. The nice guy syndrome has been getting increasingly more attention in the past few years in psychology, as the less than satisfying effects it creates makes it start to lose its positive image. (Eduard)

Fig. 1. A Cartoon illustrates the “Nice Guy” who feels that acting “Chivalrous” gives him a right to some form of compensation. (Dragoon)

The reason these men calling themselves nice guys are so unhappy is that they are the owners of a fake complexity. Most of these men are only exhibiting these so called “Nice Guy” behavioral traits as means to get something that they want.
On the surface nice guys appear to be selfless, kind, caring human beings but this is far from the truth. Beneath their generous acts and humble words lurks something darker. A dark side few nice guys care to admit because nice guys aren’t really that nice. (Strandberg)
Nice Guys give to get and expect some kind of reciprocation. (Glover) When these men don’t receive what they believe to be proper compensation for their so called “Nice” actions. They become angry and resort to the familiar phrase “Nice Guys finish last” as comfort.
Their overall theme in life is one of seeking approval. They want everyone to like them because on a fundamental level they don’t like themselves. They reach out for the approval of others because they aren’t content with their own. (Glover)
People can sense when someone is not being genuine and this is the reason that these imposters are more than often rejected. Its not that women like “Jerks” better, but women seek men who are true to themselves and their own personal needs. One Urban Dictionary poster express’s this sentiment exactly in their definition of a nice guy.
A badge of martyrdom. Men who spend their most of their time whining about how women “just want to date jerks”. Oblivious to the fact that no one finds people who feel sorry for themselves attractive, much less people who blame others for their lack of success. Most self proclaimed “nice guys” are just as self-centered and misogynistic as the jerks they gripe about, they are just much more spineless. To stupid to figure why women don’t find them attractive, they conclude that in order to get laid they must treat a woman like [by waste products]. (OneBadAsp)
The reason the phrase “Nice Guys finish last” has been coined by society is the definition “Nice Guy” has come to own. The way to disprove this statement is by redefining the term nice guy. To correct the term one must first define what makes a genuine nice guy. Nice is defined as “Executed with accuracy, delicacy, and skill” and “Showing or characterized by great precision”. (Webster) Another way of redefining the term is to mirror what it has become and take the opposite on as means of definition. Therefore, if society’s perspective of a “Nice Guy” entails him to be pitiful and unhappy then a genuine nice guy would be incredibly happy and accomplished. In this case happiness would be defined by six things: good health, sufficient source of income, affection, productive work or activity, good attitude, and defined goals. (Templeton) Also, considering the argument to be that nice guys finish last, the genuine nice guy would incredibly successful. Success is defined by these factors: peace of mind, health and energy, loving relationships, financial freedom, worthy goals and personal fulfillment. (Ron) It can be noted that the factors listed for both success and happiness are closely related.
There is a misconception that being nice means not being assertive. Most people are not assertive for fear of displeasing others and of not being liked. However, although you may avoid some immediate unpleasantness by not being assertive, you could also jeopardize the relationship in the long run if you refuse to assert yourself and then feel taken advantage of over and over again. (Counseling and Mental Health Center, University of Texas at Austin) This is due to a misunderstanding of what exactly assertiveness entails. There is a difference between being assertive and aggressive. Aggressiveness is standing up for your self in ways that violate others rights. One can be what is called empathetically assertive, in a way that they understand and are sensitive to the needs of others while still ultimately fighting for what the believe to be right. Assertiveness goes hand in hand with the technical definition of nice.
In conclusion, when redefined, nice guys do not finish last. Rather those who use being nice as a tool of manipulation and an excuse to be unassertive are normally socially shunned to due lack of true personality and charisma. In terms of general success and happiness a genuine nice guy would be well liked and successful. Ideally he would be athletic, with a steady job, stable healthy relationships and ambition. If society took away the degrading stereotype and enforced a more accurate list of compliance it would be obvious that genuine nice guys are in fact ahead of the game. So if “Nice guys” come to correctly be defined as well rounded, assertive and accomplished men, then the theory that “Nice guys finish last” will be disproven and the stereotype will be broken.







Works Cited
A.K., McDaniel. Wikipedia . 25 April 2011. 2 May 2011 .
Davis, Aaron. Public Opinion: Do Nice Guys Finish Last Jade Patton. 2011 May 1 2011.
Dragoon, Laigh. The Girls Guide To Nice Guys (TM).
Glover, Robert. No More Mr. Nice Guy. Running Press, 2003.
RON. "How do you define sucess? Sic factors to consider." The Wisdom Journal (2008).
Strandberg, Alex. "Recovering from being a "Nice Guy"." Inner Game Refrain. 1 May 2011 .
Templeton, Simon. How to find happiness and keep it. n.d.
"Webster's II." Nice. Howard Webster.