Christmas Shopping Spending

                During the holidays consumer expenditure rockets through the roof as the average spending peaked in 2001 at $1,052; however the average spending has recovered and the predicted spending for 2013 is below the typical norm of $859 from the year 2007. Of course Christmas is the first holiday that comes to everyone's minds when it comes to big spending, and many may be quick to harshly judge this costly tradition. Truth is, people have the right to spend as much money as they please on their kids, family, even themselves, but is it time to stop making Christmas such a publicized event and go back to the simplicity of it all? When did Christmas start becoming a main focus on receiving physical favors rather than spiritual ones?

                People today are all about the obtaining the physical items that they think will make them happy. Sure if you have the money go for it, heck buy yourself something pretty, but in most cases people are putting themselves into debt trying to buy what everybody else has just so they can say they have it to. This usually leads to a series of unfortunate events such as; maxing out one’s credit card, getting oneself into debt, and realizing that Christmas is not the fun it used to be. It used to be all about baby Jesus coming into this world, December 25^th is not just a day about getting presents but it when our messiah, our savior came into this world and we tend to look past that.

                Commercializing Christmas has taken away the simple joy it brought and family values are becoming less important. Stores have a quota they need to make and our parents’ generation was a very profitable one where there was a lot of work, and the economy being so bad right now, prosperity is not as easy to come by as it used to be. Therefore people should not impoverish themselves to enrich others.  

Merry Christmas!

Albulm Review

 Emblem3 Nothing to Loose (deluxe edition)

        Emblem3 is an American pop band consisting of brothers Wesley and Keaton Stromberg, and their friend Drew Chadwick. After rocking four seasons of stellar performances on The X Factor USA, they signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco records and Columbia records. Their first single Chloe was released April 15th, 2013 and their completed album Nothing to Loose soon after on July 30, 2013. 

         The overall theme of the album is fun and uplifting. Listening to their songs can be a real pick me up on those upsetting days. It is very L.A and you just get drawn into the atmosphere their catchy lyrics create. They album does not typically have slow song, but always positive and leaves you wanting to listen only to the sound of their voices!

 

          Chloe was the first single released and was a big crowd pleaser from the start! This type of song is what makes all the ladies out there want the boys to be singing about them. It is one of my favorite songs produced by these boys and I cannot wait to see what awesome work comes from them next time! Sunset Blvd is what the boys decided to audition with for The X Factor and made them stick out to the judges! It was a lovely change from other sugary pop songs that all sound the same. A favorite slower song of mine from the album is called 3000 miles. This beautiful, emotional song of wanting to be home makes me feel glad I get to be home, not that a life of fame and fortune would be nice, but you know what I mean. This album is absolutely addictive and I suggest that every single teenagers goes and purchases it right away!

 

Album Review Samples

Daughtry    Baptized    19/RCA

Rolling Stone: star rating: 3 1/2 stars          

Community: star rating                                    

5 2.5 0

 

By Chuck Eddy

November 19, 2013

Seven years after he placed on American Idol, Chris Daughtry and his band are opening up their would-be grunge to more nuance: folk instruments and synths, smoother high notes tempering Daughtry's bellow, "boom-b'boom" vocal-bass hook lightening the gender war in "Battleships." The sound on Baptized somehow links U2 to Rascal Flatts, adding Springsteen stances in "Wild Heart." More unexpectedly, there's also a banjo shuffle where Daughtry chooses Van Halen over Van Hagar, catalogs some of his other heroes and wonders who wrote Hole's songs. "Long Live Rock & Roll," it's called – a defense, perhaps, against anybody claiming guys like him helped kill it.

The Wanted

Word of Mouth

Island

Rolling Stone: star rating: 2 stars                                   

Community: star rating

5 2 0

 By Mike Powell

November 18, 2013

The Wanted are a boy band with a man's disposition: They drink, they get into arguments, and they tend to see women as passive creatures waiting around in heels to be redeemed or get their hearts broken. They cloak their casual misogyny in trying to look sensitive, alternating rakish club pop like "Walks Like Rihanna" with post-Coldplay ballads in which everyone gets a chance to brood. In either case, the sound is big and lead-footed, using gang choruses to remind you to have fun and string sections when things stiffen and get sad. The truth? The promise that they're gonna pour their love all over you is twice as charming – and half as creepy – as the one that they're gonna keep you safe.

 

Jake Bugg

Shangri La

Island

Rolling Stone: star rating: 4 1/2                                   

Community: star rating

5 3.5 0

           

By Jon Dolan

November 19, 2013

"I wake up/Check my phone/Jump in my whip/And off I go," Jake Bugg sings on "Kingpin." It's a song about the lush life of a drug dealer with a steelback giddyap that connects Eddie Cochran to the Smiths' "What Difference Does It Make?" And that knack for yoking today's restless energy to yesterday's jangle is what makes the 19-year-old U.K. chart-topper likable. Bugg's debut was at its best giving '62 Dylan and Buddy Holly a cocky Oasis charge, and the Bugg Man backed it up by calling fellow roots lovers Mumford & Sons "posh farmers with banjos." Dude has balls as big as Rickenbackers.

Lady Gaga

Artpop:

Streamline/Interscope

Rolling Stone: star rating: 3 stars                                   

Community: star rating                                   

5 3 0

Comment

100

By Caryn Ganz

November 13, 2013

Lady Gaga is at her peak when she's playing the neon queen of all the world's outcasts. And with her constant prodding, her Little Monsters have filled the biggest big tent in modern pop. But in the five years since Stefani Germanotta's arrival, weird has become the currency that overwhelmingly fuels pop culture – from seapunk Tumblrs to American Horror Story. So for Gaga to stay on top in 2013, she has to keep cranking up the cray.

The Who

Tommy: Super Deluxe Box Set

Geffen/UMe

Rolling Stone: star rating: 5 stars                                   

Community: star rating

5 5 0

Comment

2

By Will Hermes

November 12, 2013

As the first popular "rock opera," Tommy has plenty to answer for. But measured against pale 21st-century Broadway offspring, the Who's magnum opus still rules. Besides an impressive book, the news on this box is a virtually complete set of Pete Townshend demos, with the composer's warm tenor taking lead on every song. It makes for remarkable alternate versions. "The Hawker (Eyesight to the Blind)" hews closer to its Sonny Boy Williamson roots; "Sally Simpson" as a sort of music-hall piano romp. Semi-acoustic versions of "Acid Queen" and "Pinball Wizard" are delicious; a minor rocker ("Trying to Get Through") and a backward-tape jam ("Dream One") appear as well. The fierce '69 live recording comes from tapes that were thankfully stashed away by the band's sound man after Townshend ordered them destroyed. They prove the music's power even without actors – just the four dudes who cooked it up in the first place.

Various Artists

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack

Republic

Rolling Stone: star rating: 3 1/2                                   

Community: star rating

5 2.5 0

Comment

2

By Rob Sheffield

November 19, 2013

Phil Collins has retired, but his legacy endures in the new Hunger Games soundtrack, which channels his recipe for Eighties melodrama: synth strings, croaked vocals, crashing drums. (Even Lorde's cover of Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" sounds like she'd rather be singing "Against All Odds.") Apparent Hunger Games superfan Patti Smith does better with the Katniss-worshipping "Capital Letter," and Santigold contributes a blatant cop of "I Know There's Something Going On," a 1982 hit by Abba's Frida – produced and drummed by Phil Collins. Come back, Phil. District 12 needs you.

Bullying Repsonse

     Bullying is the same anywhere it occurs.  Whether it would be on the internet, the locker room, between adults or children, it all ends with the same patronizing effects. Professional athletes are bread to be ruthless and aggressive because they need to be strong for the game, and that includes mentally so it only expected when behind closed doors the level of banter escalates causing inappropriate behavior that should be dealt with in sensible terms.

Truth or Lie

French Vogue Model

               Alexa- Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau was on the cover of French Vogue in 2011. Wearing gold, stilettoes, and heavy make-up, Blondeau is sprawled out on leopard printed bed covers, which is a typical photo shoot for vogue; however this young lady happens to just be ten years old. Parent groups and other concerned French citizens express their dismay of these photos of the young girl being taken because some of them have her topless chest covered with her long hair and large beaded jewelry.

 

 

Woman Sits on Man’s Face to End Altercation

Gabby-Memphis woman, Harris, sits on landlord, Kellen Carroll’s, face during an argument. When approached about her late rent, the woman became violent with the man. She proceeded to choke the man. She then wrestled the man to the ground. When he tried to call for help Harris, an extremely large woman, sat upon Kellen Carroll’s face.

Water Tower Incident

Keenan-A water tower in Virginia fell on a surrounding house, killing one person, and injuring two. The house was demolished instantly, and water flooded the streets

Sink Hole takes a House

 Lizzie- A family living in Dunedin, Florida notices a screened in room fell into a hole. A sinkhole has formed on an early morning. About 70 feet wide and 50 feet deep and growing. If it rains the hole may get worse.  Seven homes in all were evacuated.  Hole will be filled in soon but not all families may return to their home.

"Potty Talk"

Lauren- News anchor Kyra Philips caught on the john. Kyra accidentally forgot to turn her microphone off and was talking “potty talk” while in the bathroom. After the potty talk ended she proceeded to call her sister-in-law a control freak. Due to the microphone being on, this was all on air for everyone to hear.

Man Takes 8 Mile Fall
 Nicole- Man takes 8 mile fall after traveling in air plane.  The pilot believes the  passenger may have jumped but the causes are still unknown.  Taking the leap of unfortunate fate the man has not yet been found.  Taking the risk without a parachute, once the plane had landed safely, safety crew began an immediate search of the area. Although searches were postponed Thursday due to weather conditions, the hunt still continues.

Wedding Ring Swap
 Kylie- A longtime Kansas City Chiefs fan says he swapped six game tickets for a wedding ring set advertised on Craigslist.49-year-old Kansas City resident Rusty Jones, said he first learned of the ring offer last week through a story in The Kansas City Star. He contacted the seller, who wanted to swap the rings and surprise a loved one with tickets to the Dec. 1 game at Arrowhead Stadium. The rings, which the newspaper said were from the seller's previous marriage, were appraised at $2,800

Topical Question

How do you feel about fashion trends and hairstyle of the past coming back in today's modern society? For example high-waisted shorts, leggings, and perms.