Go HERE to visit the NEW BLOG.

Alas… Tis Time for the Old Blog to be Shutting Down

Yes, I said it.  Dark Days, Crazy Nights and Cruise Control will be deleted soon.  I’m moving over to Word Press.

More details coming soon.

If you need me soon, please forgive me, I’ll take my time.

It’s the result of wanderlust, really.  The consequence of endless travel and half-minute acquaintances.  The feeling that nowhere is home and “home” is simply a state of mind, unattainable by the cynical and jaded. Home.

Such is the lasting result of the information age.  With every new experience tying us together several more emerge and lead us apart.  The tribal state of mind is leaving the western world and replacing it is a wayfaring state of wild experience and perpetual thrill seeking.

Moderation is boring.  Respect is defeat.  Tradition is wasting time.

We want more.  More.  More sex.  More food.  More YouTube.  More Access. 

More is less.  

The Student Agenda (Revised)

The phrase “student movement” conjures images of whiny little spoiled college kids who don’t know how good they have it, taking to the streets with signs and loudspeakers, bitching about war or democracy or animal rights. And yet, historically, students don’t show up at the polls during elections. They cause just enough ruckus to get some air time and news paper reports but nothing else. Yet, this new generation of students, the millenials, is showing up, according to the numbers. And they are speaking out against cuts in education and the resulting higher costs to the students.

Last month thousands of pissed off students skipped school and attended rallies across the nation to protest budget cuts in education and the higher costs resulting from those budget cuts. The movement started in California, where the recession forced the state to eliminate $520 million dollars from education. The cut essentially raised class fees and tuition costs while class selection was limited. So, the students organized and marched and the movement caught on around the country. And now, it seems, somebody finally heard them—sort of.

Tucked away in the belly of the new healthcare bill are pages dedicated to student loan reform. It’s officially named the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). Students around the country finally got a bone. Incredible! This isn’t some No Child Left Behind crap. Honestly, this isn’t exactly what students protested for, but it’s a start right?

SAFRA is less about students and more about the private lenders loaning them money at high interest rates. It’s the government’s way of sticking it to the big banks while saving taxpayers and students money in the process. Think of it as a big “screw you” to the largest, for profit, student lenders in the country, most notably Sallie Mae. SAFRA eliminates the subsidies given to the lenders, a move that isn’t popular with the banks. Many banks increased their lobbying efforts in response to the bill. Instead, the government will take on more of the student loan load, which keeps the interest low for students. Also, plans to increase the payout of Pell Grants, a financial aid staple, are in the bill. These moves by the government are to ensure every student, regardless of income, can attend college. Although this bill does benefit students, it’s more about saving as much money as possible. Beggars can’t be choosers.

So what does this mean for students and universities? Students should expect a decreased financial risk of higher education. This bill is meant to lower the amount of money that college graduates owe. For universities? It helps new students get access to financial aid easier and that will lead to continued enrollment.

In other words, it’s going to be easier to fail your first semester, be put on academic probation, get a ticket for underage drinking, catch Chlamydia and break up with your high school sweetheart because, “…it just won’t work out babe, I’m going to be at college”. Don’t forget to buy a bong, bong a beer and take disturbing pictures and videos to share with your 500 friends on Facebook. Seriously, the bill will help kids go to college and, hopefully, become valuable members of society.

So what about those state budget cuts? Is there anything we can do about those? Well, not quite. It’s up to the states to decide how to spend taxpayer money. And Ohio is still balancing the cost of education, or trying to.

The tuition freeze of 2007-2009 was part of Ohio’s solution for keeping education affordable. The freeze temporarily limited tuition increases across the state. However, in July of 2009, the tuition freeze on Ohio’s universities was lifted, a serious blow to students. Although Ohio is limiting the percentage schools can raise tuition to 3.5 percent over the next two years, that percentage does not include fees. And Ohio State University has already found a loophole in the policy. On March 23, 2010 Ohio State announced plans to increase tuition by 8.5 percent . The school is raising tuition 3.5 percent during the summer quarter and the rest during the fall. In reality, thanks to budget cuts and tuition increases, the cost of education is still going up although loans will have lower interest rates. It’s time for Ohio’s students to cause a ruckus.

So what now? Well, the young people of this nation are gaining momentum with everything from presidential elections to the fight for medical marijuana. This generation is not only protesting for what they believe they are showing up at the polls as well. Students are a dynamic political force to be reckoned with, but their job is not finished yet. It’s still an uphill battle. And the only way to get heard in this wild, politically driven, nation of ours is to be a thorn in the side of authority. Between bong rips and drunken mistakes students are actually accomplishing things again, they’re screaming for answers and they won’t stop until they get them . The times, they are a changin’.

New Layout

I’ll be testing some new layouts and designs over the next few days.  Please be patient.  Or not.  We’ll just go through this together.  With resolve.  And courage.

Spring Feeeva!!

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s Party!’” – Robin Williams

We have the fever. After months of chilly temps and snow, our bodies are finally waking up. And they’re ready to get busy. It’s frantic really. We emerge from our garages, apartments, houses and caves one by one and go to town on that “to-do” list that piled up all winter. The first day of spring is northeast Ohio’s favorite, sun-centric, holiday.

So let’s party!

Spring is like Mardi Gras; women bounce from place to place in less clothing and guys stumble through the streets drunk and drooling. Mistakes are made. Couples break up. And everybody humps in unison then passes out only to be discovered in a brown patch of grass between the sidewalk and the bar parking lot. Remember, the party started at noon and didn’t end until somebody called the cops on the drive by super soaking. In Ohio, we don’t need beads to get crazy. We simply need sunlight. And beer.

Interestingly, spring fever does have some real science behind it. It isn’t just a folk myth after all, people study this stuff. In winter, our bodies do, in fact, hibernate—kind of. Our brains produce more melatonin and less serotonin during winter, because of the lack of sunlight. Melatonin is that wacky little chemical that governs our sleep cycles, among other things. And serotonin is the chemical that scientists call the “happy chemical”. In the spring melatonin production slows down and we, essentially, wake up. Serotonin production increases, making us happier.

Also, “spring fever” refers to the feeling of weakness felt after a long winter; typically, it was experienced by colonists 200 years ago. They suffered from scurvy because of the lack of nutritious foods in the winter months. They crawled through their doors in spring time and were weak and smelly and sick. This doesn’t happen anymore. Unless you work for Buzzbin.

Regardless of the science, spring fever is freaking awesome. Birds sing, flowers start to bloom, people walk their dogs, road crews tear up the roads, the price of gas increases and spring training begins, what a great time of year! Who could forget the spring booty calls?! Yes! Enjoy it!

Because it won’t be long until those damn spring allergies take hold. Nobody is ever as vulnerable as they are on a Benadryl binge.

News Bites

Naptime!

A University of California, Berkley study suggests that naps may improve learning. In the study two groups of students were required to learn material. The group that was allowed to nap for 90 minutes scored higher on the exam than the students who did not nap. Now when your boss yells at you for sleeping on the job, give him the finger and show him this article!

Seniors Dig the Green

We’re not talking about money. As baby boomers are becoming senior citizens their old habits are dying hard. Reported marijuana users aged 55-59 more than tripled from 2002 to 2008 from 1.6 percent to 5.1 percent. Thankfully, Grandma isn’t using your bong as a flower vase anymore. She’s not making tea from your shake. Medical marijuana is now legal in 14 states. Toke on seniors, toke on.

The Web is a Fundamental Right

People believe access to the internet is a fundamental right that should not be regulated, according to BBC World Service. A poll of 27,000 adults from 26 countries shows that 78 percent of web users believe the internet gives them greater freedom. Half of those polled also believe that the internet should not be regulated, in any way. Welcome to a new era folks. Soon web-surfing will be written into The United States Constitution. Until then, keep stealing wireless from your neighbor.

Today’s Young People are Mostly Bark

The Millennials are not biting on the green movement—yet. A study finds that young people are more likely to talk about green technology, the environment and chemicals in food, but they are just starting to back up all the talk with action. Millennials are 23 percent less likely to change behaviors or make green purchases. Way to go you young liberal debt monsters. Yet, those between the ages of 18-24 are more likely to walk or carpool or take public transportation.

Better Watch your Rearview…

New Jersey passed anti-cell phone legislation 23 months ago designed to eliminate drivers using cell phones while operating motor vehicles. The result? Over 200,000 tickets. That’s about four percent of the state’s moving violations. The tickets include a $100 fine as well as a spot on your ‘permanent record’. What’s the lesson here? Put your cell phone down when your cross into New Jersey.

Cheese Rolling, Just not Safe Anymore

A 200 year old cheese rolling festival in England was cancelled this year because of too many injuries. Basically, these guys chase a 7lb cheese wheel down a steep-ass hill. Sounds like entertainment to us! After last year’s spectator turnout of 15,000 people, those who organize the event decided they could no longer keep up with the crowds. Ohio, how about we roll a keg of beer down a steep-ass hill?

A Win for File Sharers

A judge in Spain recently declared non-commercial file sharing websites and the use of P2P networks to file share legal. The judge said, “P2P networks, as a mere transmission of data between Internet users, do not violate, in principle, any right protected by Intellectual Property Law.” Also, the RIAA started shouting to a wall only to realize that nothing good ever comes from talking to a wall. We love you Spain.

C’mon Man, Wanna buy some Coke?

Recent studies suggest that the recent rise in soda prices is linked to better health. The study followed a group of young adults for 20 years and found that as soda prices increased, caloric intake decreased. Yup, that’s right, if you charge more for something people do tend to buy less of it. Here at Buzzbin, we quit buying milk a long time ago. Instead, we just buy soda, it’s cheaper.

Texts from Beyond

This is just creepy. A new headstone company, called RosettaStone, has just released a headstone that texts a final message to those who are interested. Headstones typically display three things: Name, date of birth and date of death. Now, even your dead grandmother can finally get a grip on technology! By God, she couldn’t text before but now, with her new high-tech headstone, she can T9 like a pro!

A look Ahead: Bonnaroo’s Indie Bands 2010

Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival is consistently on the cutting edge of diverse line ups.  For the past several summers the line ups have continued getting more and more eclectic and interesting.  This year is no different.  The headliners this year include Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Jay-Z and Stevie Wonder.  But, the real gems that Bonnaroo offers aren’t the big acts, rather, the smaller bands that gain exposure through word of mouth rather than marketing.  Here’s a few bands to keep your eyes (and ears) open for this year at The Roo.

The XX

This band is a cool, new age and funky three piece from London, England.  The band’s debut album was met with tons of critical acclaim.  They have an addictive sound that showcases a female vocalist (Jamie Smith).  They jam, groove and move in all the right ways.  Due to copyright issues, I can’t post a video here so, here is their website.  VIDEO 

 

Phoenix

  Phoenix is a French, Grammy Award winning, alternative rock band that is growing in popularity right now.  Although they’ve been on the scene for several years, the band’s latest album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix solidified their indie sound and their place in the festival circuit this year.  Website  Video 

 

Mayer Hawthorne

   Mayer is one of the artists I’m looking forward to seeing the most.  Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mayer later moved out to California when he was signed to a record label.  He’s brining back old school rhythm and blues.  He draws from Isaac Hayes and Barry White.  He’s also multi-talented, playing many instruments himself.  Website  Video 

 

 

Here We Go Magic

   These guys are newcomers on the scene.  They hail from New York City, a place where fame is harder to come by than one would think.  The band has a trance sound with some unique acoustic pieces thrown in for fun.  Website  Video

Short Attention Span

According to a study, the internet leads to short attention spans.

Conspiracy? Yes Please!

So, I was just surfing the bowels of the internet last night (as I typically do when I’m bored) and I stumbled across something very interesting; The Norway Spiral.

Here’s a bit of info about the whole thing:

Apparently on December 9, 2009 folks living all over Norway reported seeing a strange, spiral-like, object in the sky.  The phenomena lasted around 15 minutes or so and freaked a lot of people out.

Newspapers around the world jumped on this story and soon discovered that the Russians, apparently, admitted to being the cause of the strange lights.

The Russian military said it had fired a missile into the sky at the same time.   The missile failed in it’s 3rd stage and the spiral was created by the missile's fuel reflecting light from the moon. 

The next day the Russian military denied everything.

Strange.

So what do you all think?  Huge conspiracy?  Alien invasion?  Black Hole?  Here’s the video.  Tell me what you think!

 

‘Kick-Ass’ Preview

What do you get when you mix amateurs, costumes, comedy, martial arts and Nicholas Cage? Not the new ‘Ghost Rider’ movie. You get a new and exciting addition to the super hero movie genre, ‘Kick-Ass’. Director, Matthew Vaughn brings to life Mark Miller’s comic book creation in what is likely to become an instant cult classic. When asked about his decision to bring Miller’s comic book to the big screen Vaughn said, “It's a very unique story and it's fun and it had stuff I hadn't seen before, and I just knew I could make a good film.”

‘Kick-Ass’ is about Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), an unnoticed high school student and comic book nerd who decides to become a super hero, minus the super powers and martial arts training. Lizewski inspires other super hero hopefuls to join the fight against crime including; Damon MacReady (Nicholas Cage), his daughter Mindy MacReady (Chloe Moretz) and, Chris D’Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). The unlikely super heroes then team up to defeat Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), the movie’s, drug dealing, villain.

‘Kick-Ass’ is a great jumping off point for many of the young actors the film pushes into the lime light. This is a big year for Moretz in particular, who is staring in several films in the upcoming months. Nicholas Cage is also benefiting from his off-beat role as the super hero Big Daddy. Expect to see him several times this year, amid his financial breakdown.

This movie looks great in a quirky sort of way. It mixes indie aesthetic with a dose of comic book action and a bit of humor. But, ‘Kick-Ass’ isn’t the movie that will break box office records or create a huge cultural phenomenon like ‘The Dark Knight’. In fact, don’t expect ‘Kick Ass’ to stir much mainstream buzz at all. What ‘Kick-Ass’ does do is add a new dimension to super hero films. Hero films lately have focused on the human aspects of being a super hero, ‘Kick-Ass’ takes the human side to a new level. The heroes lack any kind of extraordinary powers or skills or gadgets. It’s liberating to think that anybody can be a bad guy punishing, cape wearing, super hero. ‘Kick-Ass’s new approach to crime fighting earns it a place in super hero movie lore.

‘Kick-Ass’ promises to be a great alternative to the more conventional super hero movies. If you’re tired of the gadget using, power flaunting heroes of the past, check out ‘Kick-Ass’ In theatres on April 16^th.

“If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit.”

My future has never concerned me much.  It always comes eventually.  The clock tics and the calendar days get marked off one by one in what is a to do list with 365 1/4 projects, all categorized and counted for.  My attendance at the table of forward thinking has been inconsistent, I must admit.  My thinking as a chess player never extends beyond my next two, impulsive, moves.

Then, yesterday I had an awakening.  Somebody asked, “How old are you?”  I replied, “21, no—I mean 22, I think.  1987….yea, I’m 22”.  This momentary lapse of thought can be explained by one of two things:  My former, very close, relationship with copious amounts of drugs and alcohol or my legitimate forgetfulness about how many years have passed since I poked my head out and ordered my first Captain and Coke.  I started young.

Maybe I just get caught up in the day to day things, who can blame me?  With the news as terrible as it is, depressions, recessions, wars, earthquakes, Micheal Jackson, Sara Palin and Glenn Beck mind fucking the tea baggers, it’s easy to forget I actually have a future to look forward to.

I’m not talking about a GOOGLE SUPER POWER CORPORATE ARMY future, rather, a more human approach.  Mainly, I asked myself the question, “So, what now?”

“So, what now?” A burrito perhaps or maybe a bottle of warm merlot?  I’d love to go to a movie or read that George Carlin book I’ve been flirting with.  Seriously, what now?  I’ll be graduating soon with a degree in English, that’s cool.  Still writing for the magazine, that’s cool too!  Still living in Ohio…Yea, about that… that needs to CHANGE.  West anyone?  I heard California has some great Mexican food and millions of pounds of legal hallucinogens.  Cannabis Candy Land, here I come!

My choices are literally limitless and lovely.  California, New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Portland but, where do I begin?

So, I will be marking off those days, one move at a time.  Patience, diligence, integrity, dignity, planning, scanning, don’t hesitate .

Check Mate.