Kanye West - "Monster" Video

FINALLY we now have a real video to look at instead of a terribly quality, terrible edit version of the same video with a Perez Hilton or World Start Hip Hop logo stamped over the top of it.

It's funny to me how controversial the first edit was when the hype over the song, the new album, and kanye himself was big talk for the masses... now that the buzz isn't there anymore people aren't NEARLY as offended by the material in the video... why?

OH cause it REALLY didn't matter to you that much in the first place. Bandwagon jumping sons of guns... all i'm sayin, is that if you're going to choose to be upset over something, be consistant, and have a real opinion that's your own consisting up of reason, justification and real thought from your own life.

Not choosing to loosely associate yourself with every issue under the sun while it's big in the media for 5 minutes. We do not have the time or energy to be worried and upset over every wrong doing of the society we live in... what we're going to spend every waking, and sleeping hour worrying? Choose something to put your time and energy into that REALLY matters to you, and spend the rest of your time enjoying everything else.

just sayin.

MONSTER

Sacrifice: Part 2

Last week I spoke of Sacrifice. Upon further reflection, I really need to elaborate about Sacrifice.

It’s simple really, there is a mathematical equation to success; you follow it, you succeed; you don’t, and you won’t.

The amount of work to become a professional in anything is 10,000 hours. Be it musicians, artists, athletes, writers, chess players, or master criminals…the equation is ALWAYS the same.

3 hours x 7 days a week (or roughly 20 hours a week) for 10 years = 10,000 hours or a professional in your craft (Caldwell 2008).

Now that we know the equation, lets take a look at famous people who have used it (whether they knew it or not).

One of the top selling bands of all time, the Beatles would travel to Hamburg, Germany to play in Strip Clubs. On their first trip they played a 106 nights, for 5 to 6 hours a night. Their second trip, 92 nights. Their third 48 but for a total of 172 hours on stage. Their final two times totaling over 90 hours performing. It was said that they preformed over 270 times in a year and a half. By the time they burst onto the scene in 1964 the Beatles had preformed over 1,200 times live, which is nothing short of astonishing. For, most bands don’t perform live 1,200 times in their entire career. But this is their 10,000 hours; this is what set them apart (Caldwell 2008).

Bill Gates, one of the wealthiest men on the planet, started Microsoft. However, when he was in high school, his teacher gave him and several students a pass to use the University of Washington’s Computer lab. Which was at the time, the most advanced computer lab in the country. Being a few miles from his house, young Bill would spend 5 days a week in that lab after school, often times staying in there until 3 or 4 am. 5 nights a week, from 4pm-4am from his freshmen year in high school until his senior year…10,000 hours (Caldwell 2008).

Are you beginning to see the pattern here? When understood, it seems so simple. There truly is a recipe for success. So learn it, apply it…and you shall achieve for dreams.

Colin Matteson
University of Alaska Basketball
Colin_Matteson@msn.com
206.697.2498

Tapout Thursdays

I can't tell you how to create success out of wishful thinking, or how much luck it will take to really capitalize on an idea. All i do know is that if you never take the first step you'll never know what could have been. If you're passionate about something, TRULY passionate, why NOT take a little risk and see how far you can take it?

Caleb and I analyze Mixed Martial Arts. We've done it for years for fun simply because we're passionate about it. A few months ago we struck an idea: "Hey, let's make a show out of it... it'll be like.... Pardon the interruption or something! We'll talk about the UFC events and pick who we think is gunna win... I mean since we do it already we might as well film it haha"

3 filmed events and 2,000 youtube views later I'm on the phone with Jeff "The Fish" Aaron, host of 3 to 6 with The Fish on KRKO am sports radio.

What started out as a passion turned into an idea. The idea turned into a phone call, and the call turned out to be a position on a radio show. Now you can hear my voice at 5:07 pm on 1380 KRKO's brand new Tapout Thursdays.

Caleb and I just as easily could have left the idea as an idea...

-Koa

On Creativity

I've been stuck on this video all week, because it definitely hit me close to home.

Growing up, when ever anybody asked my why I twitch so much, why I can't NOT shake my leg when I'm sitting down, why, when not asleep, I always have to be moving or pacing, I always responded with the same thing. I told them "well I have ADHD"

And they'd say "wait... really?"

I'd respond "Well about as much as half the kids in the country being put on Ritalin for it"

I was able to develop an opinion at an early age about how we all can channel our energy. For me, it was my hobbies. My drawing, my guitar playing, my photography. It's not necessarily easy for a lot of people to channel that energy into their studies in a classroom type setting. But what if we were all, at an early age, able to focus our creative energy into the path of least resistance?



-V
www.VerzolaPhotography.com

Fight Swine With Style

hey all...

i don't know much about this swine flu thing, but what i do know is that it is bringing out the creativity in the surgical mask folks. who knew a mask would be the big accessory for summer '09? not even galliano nor giles had any idea...there was no way of predicting it.

what i do know is that these are fabulous ways in which to avoid it. we're talking glitter and mustaches...what could be better? true, death maybe around the corner, but let's all take a moment to thank the pigs for the opportunity to partake!

also, these. bring out your inner beast to keep from being infected my one. these are the peak of functionality and style! and who are we kidding...i don't think there's anyone who didn't want to be some kind of animal when they were a kid. this is a perfect opportunity to live the dream.

i am not surprised in the least, but it never ceases to amaze me how we are still trying to make a profit- even in the face of a global epidemic. i've caught wind that the vaccines are on backorder, or something like that, but it pretty much equals danger for man kind. if there's no cure, we might as well laugh our way to our graves :)

...please stay healthy long enough to live to see next week's blog. peace.

-kate g

Be Nice

well as i see it power is not givin it is taken. but that doesnt mean you have to be mean in business. you can always be a nice, humble, caring person and still be a titan in business. but heres and example of someone taking control but still being humble... let me introduce BIG SEAN...

if you dont know who this kid is or ever heard his name... you will this year. he signed to GOOD music (kanye wests record label) about 2 years ago and hes dropping his debut album this year. anyway watch and get inspired.



-steviegunz

Sacrifice: Part 1

There are so many facets of this lifestyle that makes us what we are. Many things that force us to stand out.
As of late I’ve been thinking about Sacrifice, which in essence is the walk behind the talk. People say what sounds good, and then there’s the truth. People look at athletes, musicians, and artists, and think I want what they have. What those people see is the end result; all they see is the success. They don’t see the thousands of hours of work put in. They don’t see the blood, sweat and tears, that go into being successful.
Recently I was at a hip-hop show, listening to the opening artists, and as I was sitting there bobbing my head to beat, I looked around. What I saw was sacrifice. This man on the stage was playing for a crowd of four people at a no-name bar in Fairbanks, Alaska. While many people would laugh at this man, call him a fool, or dismiss him as a nobody. I admired him. For I have been there, and I understood, this is what it takes to make it. He poured out his heart into a hour and fifteen minute set, and stood around until the bar closed selling CD’s and merchandise.
Watching this man, reminded me of all that I have sacrificed. The thousands of hours I’ve spent alone in the gym, shooting, and dribbling until I couldn’t lift my arms. The lonely nights spent working on my game and perfecting my craft while everyone was out partying. Playing hundreds of games in empty gyms for just family and friends.
I do all of this because I understand that this is what it takes. I will continue to do this, to work tirelessly in pursuit of my dreams. This is sacrifice.

Colin Matteson
University of Alaska
Colin_Matteson@msn.com
206.697.2498