17 Tracks Online

We've Moved

2010-11-29T22:05:00.000-08:00

17 Tracks has moved. You can now find us on Rhombus. Hope you keep reading!

The Beatles for Sale - Digitally

2010-11-16T07:32:00.000-08:00

     The Beatles are finally coming to iTunes.

     The Fab Four have been absent from the digital music world since its inception, but this morning, Apple announced that the band's entire catalog will now be available for download on the iTunes digital store. Full albums will be available for $12.99 and individual tracks will be available for $1.29. The entire Beatles box set will also be available for $149.

     "We love the Beatles and are honored and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes," said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. "It has been a long and winding road to get here. Thanks to the Beatles and EMI, we are now realizing a dream we’ve had since we launched iTunes ten years ago."

The Beatles might have broken up forty years ago, but they remain one of the most popular musical acts of all time. Their greatest hits compilation, 1, was the top selling album of the 2000s, and last year they were the third best selling artists, behind only Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift.

     Apple and the Beatles, whose record label is also called Apple, have been suing each other since 1978 over rights to the name.

Chart Watch: Rihanna Lands Eighth No. 1

2010-11-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

      Rihanna’s “What’s My Name” featuring Drake leaps 60-1 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna’s eighth No. 1 single and third this year following "Rude Boy" which spent five weeks at No. 1 starting in March and "Love The Way You Lie" with Eminem which spent seven weeks at No. 1 starting in July. The last time an artist managed a hat trick? Rihanna in 2008.

             The Barbados-born pop singer has ruled the charts since her appearance in 2005. In only half a decade, she has totaled the fifth most No. 1s of a female singer, behind only Mariah Carey, Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson. At the rate she’s going, it’s only a matter of time before she passes some of those ladies up.

   With each new No. 1, you wonder if Rihanna deserves to be numbered among some of the most enduring and influential female musicians of the rock era. It begs the broader question of the extent that the Hot 100 is a true barometer of the most popular songs and artists in the country. Although Rihanna has scored eight chart toppers, few would be willing to argue that she has had more of a cultural impact than say, Beyonce, Britney Spears, or Lady Gaga who have charted five, three, and two No. 1 hits respectively.

   You could also compare Rihanna to a female superstar who has never gone higher than No. 2 on Hot 100, but is the biggest singer in the America right now - Taylor Swift. Although Swift doesn't have any Hot 100 chart toppers to her name, she sold over 1 million album a week ago. Compare that to the measly 181,000 copies Rihanna sold of her latest record, Rated R, last November.

   The fact of the matter is Rihanna is a singles artist. Try as she might to put out compelling coherent albums, the buying public doesn't trust dropping $9.99 on iTunes for her records. She puts out catchy singles every so often, and more people are willing to spend $1.29 for a single song. Although that means less money for her, her songwriters and producers, and Def Jam records, it works in her favor when looking at the Hot 100 record books.

   "What's My Name?" will likely drop from the penthouse next week or the week after at the most. In terms of memorable Rihanna singles, this one isn't likely to be remembered as a classic, or even remembered a few years from now. Still, it's another notch in the pop star's belt as she marches on with Janet Jackson clearly in her cross hairs.

   The question of Rihanna's legacy in relation to other queens of the Hot 100 will only be answered with time. She could be destined to be one of the greats, or she could be another Paula Abdul (six No. 1s in two years, and I bet you can only name one of them, and even then it's only because she was a judge on American Idol), a flash-in-the-pan pop star. What's more likely is that Rihanna is the most obvious fulfillment of the new digital age of music. Rather than songs slowly building up radio airplay and sales over a period of time, they start their chart life out with a bang of high sales which taper off, leading to "hit" singles that spend relatively little time in the chart's upper echelons.

   Last week's No. 1, Ke$ha's "We R Who We R", drops to No.5. Katy Perry's "Firework" is this week's digital gainer, which boosts it to the top ten. This week's top ten is one of the worst I have ever seen. Can we get some good music up in here? Please?

1. "What's My Name?" - Rihanna feat. Drake (first week at No. 1, airplay gainer)
2. "Like A G6" - Far East Movement feat. Cataracs & Devs
3. "Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars
4. "Only Girl In The World" - Rihanna
5. "We R Who We R" - Ke$ha
6. "Just A Dream" - Nelly
7. "Raise Your Glass" - Pink
8. "Bottoms Up" - Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj
9. "DJ Got Us Falling In Love" - Usher feat. Pitbull
10. "Firework" - Katy Perry (digital gainer)

Why the Jazz Rock

2010-11-10T18:02:00.000-08:00

Anyone who can beat the Miami Heat, and their new 'Big 3', especially when King James has his 29th triple-double, is a friend of mine. I'm officially a Jazz fan, and here's why you should be, too:

-Utah trailed Miami by 19 points at halftime, then unleashed an impressive 84 points in the second half and overtime to beat the Heat. The Jazz also rallied from 18 points down to beat the Clippers on Saturday night. In other words, they can make a COMEBACK. They can FINISH a game. As much as I love my Celtics, there have been plenty of occasions they couldn't finish the game and come out with a win.

"It is speechless to be down like that to a team like this in a hostile environment and come out with a win," Millsap said. "We clawed our way out of there. But that says a lot about our team."

-Millsap. He's going places. LeBron couldn't bring him down. In eight previous games against Miami, Millsap had averaged 6.9 points. He became the eighth player to score at least 46 points against the Heat, a list that also includes Michael Jordan, James, Willie Burton, Jamal Crawford, Vince Carter, Alex English and Gilbert Arenas.

"He shows you what he's about. That's one of the things, when it gets tough he doesn't quit working," Sloan said. "That's why he's gotten to be better and works at the game to make himself better."

-Jerry Sloan. I have a bobblehead of Jerry that I got for being one of the first thousand people to a Jazz game when I was younger. Sloan is a great coach- he's been coaching the Jazz since 1988, and the Chicago Bulls before that.

"Jerry Sloan is one of the best coaches we have in our league," James said. "He kind of figured out what we wanted to do."

So, watch out for the Jazz. Now we just need them to take out Kobe and the Lakers! Stay tuned.

What Went Right: How Taylor Swift Sold a Million Records In a Week

2010-11-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

   Taylor Swift's Speak Now was predicted to have strong first week sales, but the Grammy winner's new album exceeded expectations and broke records last week, selling over a million copies in a time when many doubted that could ever happen again.

   Nielson Soundscan reports the album sold 1,047,00 last week, the first album to sell over a million since Lil Wayne in 2008 with Tha Carter III. Billboard reports that one out of every six albums sold last week was Speak Now, giving Swift the best first week numbers since 2005 when 50 Cent's The Massacre sold 1,141,000 copies in a week.

   In addition, Speak Now posted the best one weeks sales for a female since 2000 with Britney Spears' Oops!...I Did It Again and the best one week sales for a country artist since 1998 with Garth Brooks' Double Live according to Billboard.

   So, how did she do it? Taylor Swift is an anomaly in the collapsing record industry. Record sales continue to tumble, and 2010 is on track to be the worst year for record sales ever, but somehow, America's sweetheart pulled it off.

   The secret to Swift's broad appeal is similar to what politicians try to do election after election: energize their base and pull independents.

   Her base is country fans and pre-teen and teenage girls. Satisfying these groups is a hard task for a country crossover who just entered her twenties. To people who feed their ears garbage like Ke$ha, Taylor Swift is country. To people who actually listen to country, she's dangerously close to the dividing line separating their genre from pop. Swift makes up for this on her new record, sporting more twang than Fearless did. She's succeeding at country radio so far, as "Mine" currently sits at No. 5 on Billboard's top country chart. Her new record also carefully balances the puppy love and fairy tales that made her a household name with a more mature themes (Like husbands instead of boyfriends! The Twilight wearwolf instead of some guy named Stephen!).

   Taylor managed to energize her base, but there aren't enough record buying 17-year-old girls in America to shift one million copies of Speak Now in a week. You've got to build a coalition. Case in point: My brother who is a freshman in college, had several friends who live in the dorms with him go buy Swift's album the day it came out. They're not doing that for Miley.

   Swift's music, all self penned, appeals to a large audience. Her music is the type you can put in the car on a long family road trip and mom, dad, and all the kids will be OK with it. Even though she's singing about a boy in "You Belong With Me," there are plenty of guys out there pining for a girl who doesn't know that they belong together. Speak Now is a record 17-year-old girls buy, but so do their twentysomething brothers and their mama grizzlies. Name another current recording artist that has that kind of appeal...that's what I thought.

   The 20-year-old singer also has Kanye West to thank. The rapper's interruption during her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards did more to make her an American institution than a year's worth of radio airplay, and it cemented her sweet, likable persona. Singing that she forgives him in "Innocent" isn't enough; she should be thanking him.

   Target was the Swift's top retailer, selling 350,000 of her one million albums according to Billboard. The store featured an exclusive edition of Speak Now with bonus tracks, and it benefited from a $7 million commercial campaign where the singer promised to "name names". She also reached an estimated one million students when she performed and answered questions as the Scholastic 90th Anniversary Literacy Event. On top of these events, Swift had multiple TV appearances and performances, providing excellent exposure the week of her record's release.

   Behind Target in share of sales were iTunes (Speak Now had the best digital sales week for an album since Coldplay's 2008 Viva La Vida), Wal-Mart, Amazon, Costco, and Best Buy. A number of non-traditional chains including Starbucks and Rite Aid also carried the album, which gave her sales a boost.

   Industry insiders predicted Speak Now will continue to sell strong through the holiday season. After one week, the album is the eighth best selling-album of 2010. It could be a fight to the finish to beat Eminem's Recovery, 2010's  current best seller with 2.9 million copies sold to date.

Robyn "Indestructible" Music Video

2010-10-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

The music video for Robyn's "Indestructible" is out. The Body Talk Pt. 3 singer dons a water tube dress as various Scandinavian couples make love and put their clothes back on. Check it out below.

Robyn 'Indestructible' Official Video

Robyn | Myspace Music Videos

The NBA Where Amazing Happens

2010-10-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

``I think the NBA did an unbelievable job of picking a great first game" -Dwayne Wade

The NBA is back!

In just a few hours, the highly anticipated Heat v. Celtics game will begin, followed by a Phoenix v. Portland showdown and finally Lakers v. Rockets. What I wouldn't give to be in the TD Garden tonight.

Miami @ Boston will begin at 7:30 ET on TNT
Houston @ LA will begin at 10:30 ET on TNT

Bryant, Jackson and the Lakers will watch as the franchise's 16th championship banner is raised tonight. Celtics fans like myself are still bitter about the outcome of last season's final game.

But even though they the defending champs, the Lakers spent most of the summer being outdone in the media by the decisions of free agents LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade with Miami. So now Miami has their own 'Big 3' to try and defeat Boston's ever-aging version of the 'Big 3' (possibly 'Big 4' now if we want to include Rondo, which I do).

One of the teams looking to challenge the Lakers in the West is Houston, who missed the playoffs for the first time in four years last season.

The absence of Yao was a major reason for the Rockets rough season, but the seven-time All-Star center appears set for his first action since May 8, 2009, when he broke his foot in the Rockets' loss to the Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.

"I am very excited," Yao said. "I am just looking forward to playing a great season. I think I can count on my foot now."

Miami is up against the reigning Eastern Conference champion Celtics in a matchup for the ages.

So many things to consider and be excited about: LeBron James' opener with Miami after seven seasons in Cleveland. Wade's first time with James and Chris Bosh as his Heat running mates. Shaquille O'Neal - once a teammate to both Wade and James - playing his first game in green. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett motivated by a Game 7 loss to the Lakers in last season's finals.

Not to mention the fact that Wade and James were both kicked out of the playoffs by Boston last spring, defeats that helped along their decision to play with one another.

#NBA: @Celtics @iamBigBaby11 works on his corner J for tonight's opener vs. Heat.

``There's never been an opening game that has been more heavily anticipated,'' Allen said. ``I do believe that people are definitely excited to see them more than they're excited about seeing us. Truly they know, as a team, what we represented. The two teams are Eastern Conference powerhouses. It's going to be a game.''

``As far as the East, we're the champs,'' point guard Rajon Rondo said. ``But that's in the past. New season. We're not going to go down without a fight.''

``I think it'll be a very hostile environment,'' James said. ``And us being the most hated team in the world right now, I think it'll be even more hostile.''

Kanye West "Runaway" The Movie

2010-10-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

If Lady Gaga thinks her 10-minute music videos are ground breaking, she's got another thing coming. Her former tour mate Kanye West has released a 35-minute movie entitled Runaway to promote his upcoming album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. West said the film draws inspiration from other extended music videos and music films such as Prince's Purple Rain, Pink Floyd The Wall, and Michael Jackson's Thriller as an expression of West's music.

The film is, "an overall representation of what I dream," West said at the London premiere. The rapper said that 90% of the music in Runaway, including "Power", "All The Lights", "Devil In A New Dress", and the title track will appear in his forthcoming album.

The storyline features West's character, Griffin who rescues a phoenix who crash lands on earth. Griffin shows the phoenix what life on Earth is about. ("The first rule of this world is: Don't pay attention to anything you see in the news," Kanye says.)

Watch the full length film below.

Speak Now: If Taylor Can't Do It, No One Can

2010-10-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

   In the crumbling record industry, there are few bright spots. Twenty-year old country crossover Taylor Swift is one of them.

   Swift became the youngest artist to win Album of the Year at last year's Grammy Awards for Fearless, which also was the biggest selling album of 2009. Her successes have led to high hopes for her third record, Speak Now, with some industry insiders wondering if she can break the illusive one million sales mark in its opening week.

   The last artist to shift 1 million units in a week was Lil Wayne who did so with Tha Carter III in June 2008. No album since has come close to matching the feat.

   "It feels like if anybody can do it now, she could be the one," said Will Botwin, president/CEO of Red Light Management and ATO Records to Billboard.com. "She has the sales base and heat from the last few albums. And with all the amazing things she has going on, she is as likely as anybody to reach a million units."

   Swift's broad appeal stems from her ability to court pop radio while not alienating her country base, often a difficult task. Her job is made easier however, by her sweet and authentic temperament which is impossible to hide during interviews and performances. This was cemented in pop culture following Kanye West's interruption during her acceptance speech for Female Video of the Year at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. She is America's Sweetheart.

   Regardless, the singer faced criticism that the fairytale and young love themes common in her music would get old soon. Swift got the message. Her forthcoming record was initially entitled Enchanted, but that was soon scraped. Still, listening to the song "Enchanted", it's evident that this isn't the same territory charted in songs like "Love Story" and "Today Was A Fairytale". "This night is flawless, don't you let it go," she sings over building strings and timpani. "It was enchanting to meet you." It's a sentiment that is probably scribbled in countless 15-year-olds' diaries, but Swift no longer sounds like a teenage girl obsessed with boys. She's grown up.

   2 million copies of Speak Now have been sent to stores, meaning it won't be hard to find a copy. With such high expectations, it makes you wonder if Swift feels any pressure on her record to be a blockbuster.

   "I have a lot of anxiety about things on certain days, but I have anxiety because I care," she said to Billboard magazine. "It's not anxiety that's crippling. It's a five-minute conversation with myself about if a [sales] number really defines this piece of art that I've created and what that means, and what the number's going to be. I try to predict what it's going to be, and then I realize that I can't predict what it's going to be, and then I realize that I can't predict what it's going to be, and then I sit there and say something to myself like, 'Well, you're happy today. Enjoy this and be proud of the music that you've made."

   Speak Now is available at Best Buy for $9.99 during its first week in stores and a special edition featuring bonus tracks is on sale exclusively at Target.

Pros and Cons of Toms

2010-10-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Toms have exploded in popularity among younger crowds. On any given busy sidewalk during passing time at BYU, at least one pair of Toms can be spotted on the feet of a student. So, what's all the rage about?

Pros:

1. By buying a pair of Toms, you buy a pair of shoes for a shoeless child. Essentially, you're donating to charity.
2. Toms are comfortable: a light, airy canvas is sewed to a comfy, suede insole (not to mention a latex sponge for arch support).
3. Toms look awesome with skinny jeans. Skinny jeans will be going out of style any day now, but as far as shoes go, Toms compliment the skinny style the best.
4. Toms can be worn with any style:: bohemian, preppy, sporty and average Joe without a sense of style. (However, they may look a little out of place with Carharts.)
5. Toms come in dozens of shapes, styles and colors. You can buy lace-up shoes, canvas wedges, glittery flats, classic canvas shoes, wrap up boots, and even wool lace-up shoes. The materials and styles are endless; they have something for everyone. Toms virtually come in every color and they often have "limited-time only" designs. Sometimes, artists will even go to a Nordstroms and draw on your Toms. (For a full list of Toms products go to Toms.com.)

Cons:
1. You can't wear socks with them. Well, you can, but you'll look like an idiot. Because you can't wear socks with Toms, there is a big chance that they'll start stinking within a couple months.
2. If you get the sole wet, the edges of the inner suede soles start to warp and it irritates your feet.
3. They aren't very winter friendly. The soles are made of relatively smooth rubber that offer little to no grip. Gripless shoes and icey sidewalks are not a good combination. Also, Toms won't keep your feet warm because the canvas and other materials are light-weight.
4. Toms don't fit everyone. If you have pretty wide feet, you probably won't be able to wear them. If you have abnormally skinny feet and ankles, you probably won't be able to wear them. Make sure you try a pair on before you buy them or your might regret it.
5. There is absolutely no water protection on these shoes. If Toms get wet, then so do your feet and it takes them a while to dry. When they do dry, they will stink. So, be careful to not walk through puddles, sprinklers, or wet grass.

Overall, Toms are cool because they support a cause. If the One for One movement wasn't a selling point for Toms, then Toms wouldn't be as popular as they are. Toms will be around for a long time because their products are so versatile. But before you think about buying a pair of Toms, consider waiting until the snow melts next April. You don't want to wear these in winter.

Corruption in Local Law Enforcement

2010-10-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

Mark Peterson, a veteran officer of the Provo Police Department is currently undergoing investigation. Not too long ago, Jeffrey Westerman, another Provo officer, was investigated for threatening to send a woman to jail for a traffic incident if she didn't show him her breasts (more information on the story available at HeraldExtra.com and DeseretNews.com).

Investigations of local law enforcement are often rooted with corruption and abuse of power. How many times have we heard of demented, gross and horrifying stories of police officers harassing female drivers? How often do we see footage of police officers beating up someone from their "dash cam"?

It seems that a qualification for a police officer is to have a knack for abusing power and taking advantage of civilians. Police officers in these situations deserve to be thrown to the curb and defamed in order to ensure that it won't happen again.

However, in the case of Mark Peterson, being thrown to the curb may be too harsh of a punishment. According to the Deseret News, Peterson has been accused of holding his police-issued gun to the head of his girlfriend, who Argyle found with another man.

If these accusations are true, Peterson may be guilty of making a rash, angry and obscene decision--but not abusing his power as a police officer.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2010-10-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

With only 29 days remaining until the premier of the seventh Harry Potter film, fans have been waiting in anticipation for tickets to finally go on sale.

Utah theaters released the midnight showing times and locations earlier this week, and by the late evening of Oct. 19, tickets for both midnight shows at the Provo Towne Center were sold out.

With two big universities within a ten mile radius,the Provo-Orem area is populated with over 55,000 young students. Most of these students have grown up with the Harry Potter series; as Harry went through adolescence, so did many students in the 18-24 age range, making it easy to relate with and grow to love the characters of the series.

Nearly 50 movie trailers have been released, each adding to the excitement and expectations of the upcoming film. Earlier this fall, a screening was held for the film, and reviews came back positive, accrediting the film as true and accurate to the book, more so than a few of the films in the past.

Die-hard fans can't wait for the film, while a small percentage of the world observes in awe, not understanding the phenomenon because they don't like or haven't read the books.

The Orem University Mall still has tickets for the 12:05 a.m. and the 12:07 a.m. showings. But buy your tickets now, or you may have to wait and watch it with less-enthused fans!

Bing Teams Up With Jay-Z To Promote Memoir

2010-10-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

   Search engine Bing is teaming up with Jay-Z to promote his upcoming book, "Decoded", in an unprecedented campaign.

   Beginning next Monday, pages from the book will be released in places as varied and unusual as the bottom of swimming pools and the felt of pool tables as well as traditional advertising spaces like billboards. Fans will be able to use the web page Bing.com/Jay-Z to participate in a scavenger hunt to find the entire contents of the book over the course of the month. The first people to discover a page win a copy of that page signed by Jay-Z and are entered for a chance to win tickets to see Jay-Z and Coldplay perform in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.

   "People were lining up to be part of this, like premium hotel brands and sports stadiums," said David Droga, the creative chairman of Droga5, the agency handling the campaign to the New York Times. "It's a sincerely mutually beneficial partnership. At the center is Jay-Z's book, but all the players at the table stand to benefit."

   Don't expect any pages to pop up in Utah though. The campaign targets 15 locations that have played a pivotal role in the rapper's life and music.

   "Decoded" is set to hit stores Nov. 16. The book describes, "the hidden meanings behind some of [Jay-Z's] most provocative songs and provides a highly personal narrative of the culture that so powerfully shaped his life and art."

   The following week, The Hits Collection Vol. 1 will be released. The record will feature some of the rapper's biggest hits including "99 Problems," "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," "Izz (H.O.V.A.)," and "Empire State of Mind".

Hayward Proves Valuable to the Utah Jazz

2010-10-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

Utah Jazz rookie Gordon Hayward, age 20, dropped 26 points on the Lakers this Sunday, as well as five rebounds and one assist in 32 minutes off the bench. He scored 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to help beat the Los Angeles Lakers 99-94 in an NBA preseason game.

In the Jazz’s 6-0 preseason, he is averaging 9.5 points per game and shooting 43.6 percent.

“A game like tonight just gives you a little confidence,’” Hayward told the Associated Press. “It’s a learning process, and I have a lot to learn from this game. I’m already thinking about what I could have done and what I should have done. It was fun out there tonight. I just wanted to go out there and play hard, don’t think about it and let my instincts take over.”

You might recognize Hayward from Butler, last year's almost-champions in the NCAA tournament.

Willow Smith's 'Whip My Hair' Hits 'Sesame Street'

2010-10-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

Arson destroys Seattle LDS chapel

2010-10-18T10:47:00.001-07:00

Photo courtesy of komonews.com

MUKILTEO, Wash -- A LDS chapel in a Seattle suburb has been determined to have been started early Saturday in response to statements made by Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer.

President Packer's speech about protecting what has been defined as a family at the LDS General Conference October 3 is thought to be the catalyst for the response when he said that homosexuality is a trial that can be overcome. "Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn temptations toward the impure and unnatural. Not so!," Packer continues, "Paul [the ancient apostle] promised that 'God ... will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; ... that ye may be able to bear it.'"

Activist group spokesman have also responded to the statements including Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. In an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune, Solmonese said, “Same-sex attraction cannot be repaired, it cannot be washed away and it certainly cannot be changed simply be praying more.” He continues by expressing the dangers and implications the statements may have including increased rationalized discrimination or violence as well as self loathing or suicide for those struggling with same-sex attraction.

Many protests have been organized and executed since the presiding apostle spoke to members of the LDS church within the city of Salt Lake but this seems to be the first outside the state of Utah since Proposition 8 in California. In an article for the Deseret News, Steven Lee, who attended church meetings at the Mukilteo chapel said, “It’s really devastating, this is a place of worship for hundreds of people who come here to worship as they believe. It’s just horrible to watch it.”

Robyn "Indestrubtible" Single Mix

2010-10-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

     The single mix of Robyn's "Indestructible" has hit the web, and in true Robyn form, it's phenomenal. "I've never been smart with love. I let the bad ones in and the good ones go, but I'm gonna love you like I've never been hurt before," the Swedish pop star sings. "I'm gonna love you like I'm indestructible." While not as immediate as her two previous singles, the song has a certain urgency that Robyn is known for.

     The third and final installment of Robyn's Body Talk trilogy is set to hit stores and online music retailers in November. Unlike the previous two EPs, Body Talk Pt. 3 will feature five songs from each of the first two mini-albums as well as five new songs. I prefer eight new songs and no old material. Maybe Robyn just ran out of steam after a grueling songwriting, recording, a touring schedule. But seriously, with five new songs and an acoustic version of "Dancing On My Own", you just need two more songs to match the length of the two previous EPs!

     Hear the new dance mix of "Indestructible" below.

Kanye West "In For The Kill" with La Roux

2010-10-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

La Roux is set to guest on a track for Kanye West's upcoming My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and as a preview of the collaboration, the Brit synth band let West remix their "In For The Kill". While the pairing sounds exciting, it doesn't exactly sound as great in real life. Hear for yourself below.

Will.I.Am Explains the New Twitter Through Song

2010-10-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

Twitter has recently unveiled a new layout for the website that includes functions meant to make sharing media, content, and conversations easier. The new clean look might be a little disorienting to users of the old format, but luckily, wannabe Voice of our Generation and lover of all things cutting edge will.i.am has created a video with the help of Nicki Minaj and the Buggles showing off the microblogging site's new feature. It's actually pretty neat. #Checkitout

Brandon Flowers "Only The Young" Music Video

2010-10-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

I've never seen a Cirque de Soleil show, nor do I ever plan on seeing one...that is unless it's a Killers themed show(and even then, it could only be at the Sam's Town or Flamingo casinos). Brandon Flowers gives us a taste of what that might look like in the music video for "Only The Young"."Redemption keeps my covers clean tonight, baby we can start again," Flowers sings amid thunder, lightning, and girls twirling in the air on hoops.

Kanye West Rocks SNL

2010-10-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

Response to Kanye West's forthcoming album has been somewhat tepid. The album's lead single only managed a No. 22 chart placing and even though his new music Fridays have lit the blogosphere up, the general public doesn't seem to care very much. The rapper's appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend should change all of that. Talk about performance art. Watch videos here.

How Facebook Changed Our Lives

2010-09-30T23:40:00.000-07:00

   This past weekend I ran in the Dirty Dash, a six-mile obstacle course race that I did with some brothers and friends that involved a lot of mud.

   A month before the race, disaster struck. I was out for a run one evening and twisted my ankle. It ballooned up and gushed blood down from my knee. I was devastated and worried how I could possibly be in shape for a race that was only four weeks away with a busted ankle.

   After countless days of ice, a short stint on crutches, and doctor medicated steroids, I found myself ready to start training again. The only problem was that the race was only a week away.

   I realized my lack of training wasn't that big of a problem the instant the race began. I was surrounded by runners dressed in all kinds of costumes, and none of them seemed to be taking the race too seriously. The course began up a steep soggy and muddy hill. As my friends and I charged up, a lot of runners stopped to throw mud at each other.

   The race ended up being a blast and I'm glad I did it, but as we drove away from Soldier Hollow that Friday afternoon, I couldn't help but think most people did that race not for the thrill of racing, but for the photo ops.

   I don't mean to disparage the five ladies who wore wedding dresses or the Mario and Luigi who all trudged through the mud, but what did the Dirty Dash mean to them? Was it not just a Festival of Colors with only one color? Was is not a chance to get a sweet new profile pic and generate discussion about the cool weekend they had?

   Social media has dramatically altered the way we live our lives. In the 90s, a lot less people would be willing to run for 6 miles through the mud in costume because there wasn't any way to publicly display it. So many people live their lives not to live them, but for others to see online. You really think that tool didn't give it much thought before he posted a video of him shirtless playing "Wonderwall" on the guitar 12 seconds after making his status a Bible verse? Facebook is filled with opportunities to say "get over yourself" to the cocky or passive aggressive status updates or the weekly photo albums of things as trite as trips to Wal-Mart and filling up the gas tank.

   But for all the eye roll inducing Facebook causes, it's also changed our lives for the better. If it wasn't for Facebook, Betty White wouldn't have hosted SNL and students upset about BYUSA misusing student tuition dollars would have never come together to voice their opinion online.

   The Internet took the whole communications process and the news cycle, and put it on (doctor medicated) steroids, but sites like Facebook made it personal. Remember how it used to be OK to not use your real name online? My first e-mail address was aztrackstarrunner or something. Sites like Facebook made you use your real name, it made you put your picture online. It made the Internet a personal experience.

   Today, "The Social Network" hits theaters. It is predicted by some critics to be the movie of our generation, a romanticized semi-accurate account of the creation of an online empire that has changed the way we live and drastically dropped the GPA's of people across the world.

   Although there is a chance Facebook could last and change to meet the needs of the future, the social networking site could one day be a relic of a forgotten age, viewed by people the same way we view MySpace today. Regardless of what happens to the site, social media is here to stay. For good or ill, our lives have been changed.

John Stewart Reacts to Reactions of Colbert Congressional Testimony

2010-09-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

Daily Show host John Stewart tackled the topic of Stephen Colbert's Congressional testimony this week, criticizing Fox News and those who believed Colbert's five minute comments "ruined Congress". Check the video below.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Truthiness to Power

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Rally to Restore Sanity

If Mark Zuckerberg Directed "The Social Network"...

2010-09-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg wasn't supportive of the creation of a quasi-non-fictional movie based on the social networking site's founding. "The Social Network" hits theaters tomorrow, but until then, check out what it might have been if Zuckerberg directed it himself.

The Top 7 Best Britney Spears Covers of All Time

2010-09-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

The second most awful show on television is airing an episode dedicated to the legendary Miss Britney Spears tonight, and it will include several uninspired covers of the pop star's catalog (with one exception, an acoustic take on "Toxic"). Instead of listening to those cheap knock offs, spin these covers of classic Britney tunes after the jump.

"...Baby One More Time" - Fountains of Wayne

"Overprotected" - Joan as a Police Woman

"Toxic" - Local H

"Gimme More" - Chris Dallman

"Piece of Me" - Tricky

"Womanizer" - Lily Allen

"Circus" - The Sunset Takeover

Oh No She Didn't: Woman Picks Her Nose During Newscast...Then Eats It

2010-09-27T22:55:00.000-07:00

It's one thing if it's in the car and the person next to you sees it. It's another thing if you do it on television and it ends up all over the internet.

Jimmy Eat World "My Best Theory"

2010-09-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Jimmy Eat World's Invented is finally out. Here is the music video for "My Best Theory". It's not your typical Jimmy Eat World video. It's pretty creepy and is highly reminiscent of an Intimacy era Bloc Party video. This isn't your big brother's J.E.W.

Sarah Palin Has Nice Legs

2010-09-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

This video is ridiculous. It features Bristol Palin walking around with her child, not speaking to the cameras, while in LA for Dancing With the Stars. It also shows hot mom Sarah Palin walking around in running shorts, which is apparently a really big deal. The Palin's have become well-known celebrities and paparazzi targets.

I took a poll. It may or may not be representative of the entire nation.

9 in 10 people asked could identify both Bristol and Sarah Palin.

From the same 10, 7 could identify the Obama girls, but only 5 knew their names.

And just 2 people could identify our current Vice President, Joe Biden.

Why are we obsessed with the Palin's?

Stephen Colbert Testifies Before Congress

2010-09-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

   Comedian Stephen Colbert testified before Congress today on the conditions faced by migrant farm workers.

   Invited to speak at the request of Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif, Colbert cited his "vast experience spending one day as a migrant farm worker," and said that he was, "happy to use my celebrity to draw attention to this important complicated issue."

   The comedian was one of 16 individuals who volunteered to participate in the United Farm Worker's "Take Our Jobs" program where people spend a day doing the work commonly done by immigrant workers on a farm.

   "I'll admit I started my work day with preconceived notions of migrant labor, but after working with these men and women...side by side in the unforgiving sun I have to say - and I do mean this sincerely - please don't make me do this again. It is really, really hard."

   Colbert, who testified in character familiar to fans of his Comedy Central show "The Colbert Report", was commended by Lofgren for attending, but others saw his attendance as a distraction. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich, asked Colbert to submit his remarks and refrain from testifying, but the comedian stayed and stood up proudly for"truthiness".

   Watch the video below. And remember, "USA, number one."

Complete Guide to Turning Blue

2010-09-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

     People are always looking for the "secret" to health and wellness; some magic cure-all that can fix everything from a cold to cancer. Countless companies and multi-level marketing organizations exist for this very reason, and they stand to make very good profits. Consumers need to be vigilant and remember that if something is too good to be true, it probably is.

     One such "cure-all" is colloidal silver. Made of small pieces of silver, yes the same silver used in jewelry and some silverware, suspended in liquid, the antidote comes in digestible form or as a spray. Touted on one manufacturer's website as capable of healing an incision after surgery, boosting children's immune systems ("It was fun to watch the baby open his mouth, eager to get his spray!"), and healing burns, they claim it's harmless and effective.

     Others disagree, including Brent A. Bauer, M.D.

     "Colloidal silver isn't considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim," Bauer said on Mayoclinic.com. "It's not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in argyria, a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums."

   Bauer points out that although turning blue isn't a serious health problem, the condition is irreversible.

   Perhaps the most famous case of a person's skin turning blue-gray is Paul Karason of California. Karason, a firm believer of the health benefits of consuming silver, has been interviewed on local news and Oprah for his condition.

Rihanna Teams Up With Doritos for 'First Ever Interactive Music Video'

2010-09-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

   Rihanna's "Only Girl (In The World)" continues its domination on iTunes' digital charts and is expected to make quiet the splash on the Hot 100 in the coming weeks. The good girl gone bad has yet to release a music video for the track, so it was puzzling when a music video for a song entitled "Who's That Chick?" leaked last Friday.

   Rihanna's record label, SRP records, then tweeted, "Its a leak,defjam is pulling it down as fast as possible. This song is not a single-4 the clubs only."

   Now it seems that the video was a piece of the "first ever interactive music video" in "Late Night: A Global Music Event Starring Rihanna". Doritos has put the whole mysterious event together, which means it's going to be life changing. Doritos has always been known for putting together interesting ad campaigns that get the attention of young people used to zipping through Tevoed TV shows.

   Check the promo video below.

The Return of Modern Family

2010-09-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Who's excited for Modern Family?!

The new season starts this Wednesday, September 22 at 9/8 central. This week's episode will follow Mitchell and Cam as they attempt to build a Princess Castle for Lilly. See a sneak peek here!

If you didn't watch last season, here are some highlights that will convince you to tune in this Wednesday. And if you did watch- just enjoy!

Cheryl Cole "Promise This"

2010-09-19T23:20:00.000-07:00

     What separated British girl group Girls Aloud from predecessors like the Spice Girls wasn't only the fact that they were celebrated by critics and actually made good music, but that they realized that they were stronger together than they were apart. The group recorded five albums in as many years, and not once did it seem like any of them had any thoughts of going solo.

     Maybe that's why it seemed more natural for singer Cheryl Cole to go solo when the group went on hiatus in 2009. There was no public animosity within the Aloud and Cheryl seemed to be doing it only because making music was what she loved and not to feed a massive ego.

     With Cole's second album only months away, and fellow bandmate Nadine Coyle's solo project nearing completion, any hopes of Girls Aloud getting back together seem dim. With music as inventive and interesting as "Promise This" though, it doesn't seem so bad.

      "Promise this: If I die before I wake...take the time to say your grace," Cole sings in the song's very 90's music video. Another instant classic for Miss Cole.

Kele Live

2010-09-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

     Had it been a Bloc Party concert, the Summit Music Hall in Denver probably wouldn't have been large enough to accomodate the crowd. Instead, it was just the band's lead singer, Kele Okereke. For a rock star used to playing at massive European festivals, he sure seemed at home in this smaller, more intimate venue.

     Still, Kele's set was essentially a Bloc Party show. His debut solo album, The Boxer, is a natural successor to the band's 2008 Intimacy, continuing the evolution from guitar heavy syncopated indie post-punk to electro-clash rock. And the show was a natural successor to the band's last tour. Rather than sing on themes of love, loss, and pain, the theme of the show was self empowerment and finding strength.

     "You are stronger than you feel," he sang during "Rise". "Raise those arms that once were broken."

     With hands raised, the energetic crowd sang along, often with the same British accent Kele sings with. At one point, a voice in the crowd yelled, "Take your shirt off!"

      "This isn't an Usher concert!" Kele said back. Within five minutes however, he lobbed his Notre Dame jersey into the crowd.

      The majority of the show consisted of solo material, although he did perform a Bloc Party medley of a pumped up "Blue Light", "The Prayer", and "One More Chance" (The finale also consisted of a even more synthed up than usual "Flux"). The majority of the show was also up tempo, and allowed for much moshing.

     "You were made for greatness," he sang to the crowd during "Tenderoni", one of the show's highlights. The crowd seemed to agree.

     Kele Okereke is the voice of our generation, yet he is the type of musician who is uncomfortable with media and spotlight. He loves his music and he loves his fans. The passion is palpable. During a slow number, "All The Things I Could Never Say", he had the crowd quiet down before beginning. You could feel the pain as he sang, "Where did you stay last night? You didn't come home."

     But the entire set was passionate. From the slowest saddest songs to the most hyped up and euphoric. In a short hour-long show, Kele proved he is one of the elite musicians of our era, and the voice of our generation.

Willow Smith Defines Decade with "Whip My Hair"

2010-09-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

As a generation wanders aimlessly, trying hopelessly to find something to grasp onto, something to define their struggle, and something to give voice to their feelings of alienation and angst, an unlikely figure comes to fill that void. Her name is Willow Smith. The 9-year-old daughter of Will Smith is making waves with her debut single, "Whip My Hair".

It's profound, empowering, timely, and timeless. "Don't matter if it's long, short, do it, do it, whip your hair."

With Host Chelsea Handler, VMAs Earn Best Ratings Since 2002

2010-09-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Handler has taken a bit of a beating today for her host performance at last night's Video Music Awards.

The New York Times called it "among the worst in the show's history." And a TV Guide poll shows most people felt "she was bad."

However, with her as host, the VMA's earned their best ratings since 2002.

But whatever. These people obviously don't have a sense of humor. Chelsea was funny.

Other memorable moments include:

Every time Gaga spoke. Most especially when she made good on a promise to fans by revealing the title of her next album, due in 2011: Born This Way. Gaga then sang "I'm beautiful in my way, because God makes no mistakes, I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way."
When Gaga said, "I never thought I'd be asking Cher to hold my meat purse."
Kanye toasting the douchebags, assholes, scumbags and jerk-off's.
Cher, just in general.
Ursher's DJ Got Us Falling in Love/OMG Medley.
Eminem and Rihanna's emotional and amazing "Not Afraid" and "Love the Way You Lie" perfomance. Not so much Rihanna's tutu, red wig and weird boots. But still, amazing songs.

Fashion Hits and Misses:

That's how Sue C's it.

Hit: Ashley Greene looks smokin'

Jason Derulo stays on trend with black on black.

Katy Perry should have worn a shirt.

Ke$ha wore a straight up trash bag. But, she didn't even look that bad.

No, this is ridiculous.

Ay yi yi, Sofia Vergara! We want Modern Family!

BFF's Ursher and J. Bieb

Lady Lamanite. I mean, Gaga.

The 5 Most Annoying Things About Roommates

2010-09-12T17:15:00.001-07:00

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

We all have been there, but what is it about roommates that we just can’t stand?

5. Eating your food. The reason it has become necessary to carry around a sharpie at all times. How many times have you been at school all day long, wanting nothing than to enjoy that delicious (insert your favorite food/snack here) only to discover it gone when you arrive home? Too many times.

4. The door is locked even when they’re home. Okay, I realize that in most cities in the United States this totally makes sense. However, I find it odd that in broad daylight here in Provo, Utah they would find necessary to lock the doors at all times.

3. They are ridiculously loud at all hours. While we all love to have fun, why do you find it necessary to listen to music/have people over until 4 in the morning? Please, find somewhere else to party and not on the other side of my bedroom wall.

2. Leaving their mess all over the apartment. Is it really so difficult to stick a dish in the dish washer? No, I submit that it is not. Please, I am not your mother so clean up after yourself.

1. Finding your possessions have suddenly disappeared. I have lost count of how many movies of mine have suddenly disappeared. Where on Earth is my copy of John Tucker Must Die? Nobody seems to know.

Republican Boehner, Trustworthy Speaker?

2010-09-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

As the November elections draw closer, Democrats in the House are aware that Republicans may very well take control. With this in mind, minority leader John Boehner is taking full advantage of the malcontent towards Democrats within the inner circles of lobbyists and big corporations.

Boehner, who is in the running to replace Nancy Pelosi as the House Speaker, is known to be in cahoots with big names in the tobacco industry as well as Google, Goldman Sachs and Miller-Coors. In return for $37,800 checks, Boehner has given the big names and lobbyists ample room to push their agendas within the legislature.

An article in the New York Times said, "The members of this inner circle said their association with Mr. Boehner translates to open access to him and his staff," which essentially means that his financiers openly and conveniently share their demands with Boehner.

The same Times article exposed Boehner's spending on travel and "popular golf spots". The expenses are paid through Boehner's his political action committee, the Freedom Project. "In the last 18 months, it has spent $67,000 at the Ritz-Carlton Naples in Florida, at least $20,000 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., and at least $29,000 at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio," for fund-raising events.

While Boehner exceed in fund-raising, the public should be asking "How is Boehner helping legislature pass laws that help the general public?" Instead, we're asking, "Why is Boehner's support so easily purchased?" I can't take him on a fancy golf trip, but I can give him a piece of my mind. Why should we support a politician who can be so easily persuaded?

20 Worst Status Updates Ever

2010-09-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

I may be guilty of a number of these, so I am passing no judgment on any of my facebook friends. But really:

1. "Friday can't come fast enough!" "Can't wait for the weekend" "Longest week everrrr.\

2. Solicitations for money for charities.

3. Health updates- TMI! For your immediate family that are concerned for you, CALL THEM or at least send a private message.

4. Politics.

5. SUPER long status updates- please no longer than 2 lines. We get bored.

6. "Just got back from the gym!" "LOVES spin class" "Went to the gym for the 28th day in a row!"

7. "Bored at work- someone come visit me"

8. Children's sleeping habits.

9. Wedding planning updates, or "48 days until the big day!"

10. Counting down to some event that no one else is going to. Especially when you don't say what it is. "7 days until the best day ever!"

11. Spoiling a TV show. Some of us watch it on hulu later. Try to remember that.

12. Depression. "Just can't do it another day" (Disclaimer: If you really are clinically depressed, please get some help! We care!)

13. Nonsensical quotes.

14. Passive-aggressive statuses meant to make your ex feel bad.

15. "So tired from my trip to Spain" "So tired from working and homework and class. ugh" "SO TIRED!"

16. Alcoholic's complaints about yet another hangover.

17. Overuse of obscure song lyrics.

18. Pleas for fb friends to come to your show.

19. Repeated statuses about love.

20. "is in class" Well, that's nice that you want the world to know how much you AREN'T paying attention.

Shaq vs.

2010-09-03T12:13:00.000-07:00

Now that Shaq is a Celtic, I guess I have to learn to like him. His "hit" show Shaq vs. features the top athletes in a variety of sports competing against him. While obviously a gifted athlete, O'Neal is typically nowhere near as good at any sport on Shaq vs. as his competition. But now, against J. Bieb, Shaq really showed his stuff! Boy can dance!

A Creepy Reason to Keep Your Apartment Clean

2010-09-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

With Fall just around the corner, be prepared to not only bring out the sweaters, but also keep a look-out for some 8-legged friends. According to a recent article on KSL, we're right at the beginning or spider breading season, and they're on the prowl. Ryan Davis, from the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab Insect Diagnostician, said in the article, "Between the end of August and early October, hobo spiders especially are a common one that can be found migrating into homes."

To protect yourself from risk of a bite, experts suggest that you move your bed a few inches away from the wall (hobo spiders can't climb walls) as well as get rid of your bedskirt (they can climb up fabrics). As spiders prefer to hide in cool, dry places keeping clothes off the ground will also will help keep spiders from hanging around the apartment.

From personal experience, don't believe when you've killed one you've killed them all.

10 Dumb Things You Don't Want to Do Your 1st Week at School

2010-09-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

1. Get in a car accident. Not only did you just spend a couple thousand dollars on your tuition, books, and rent, you probably don't want to be paying for repairs on your car. Getting in a car accident is horrible for you and the 1/2 mile traffic jam you just created. Be smart and pay attention to where you are going.

2. Start your question in class with "I know that this might not have to do with the subject, but..." Aside from the numerous groans and eye-rolls from everyone in the class, you aren't usually adding to the class discussion. We want to get out on time and the professor is starting to wish that summer break hadn't finished so early.

3. Go to the BYU Bookstore and/or Cougareat during lunch time. It is a mad house there. Long lines, barely edible food, and closed cash registers. Enough said.

4. Make mention of your mention of your mission in every class discussion, social event, or flirtatious remark. I'm sure your mission was great, mine was, but we really don't care that you learned Spanish while serving in Somalia. Share experiences when appropriate and relevant.

5. Choose seats that are apart from each other for you and your special friend. I don't want you to be leaning across me to whisper something cute or have you stare deep into each others' eyes while I'm stuck between you two. Request that I move to the next chair or sit together in the aisle-way.

6. Figure out the best way to have the TA do help you do your homework. Wait maybe that's not that dumb of an idea.

7. Be stuck in traffic with only 5 minutes to spare before class starts. Leave early because traffic is a nightmare around 8 AM and 9 AM. But in about two weeks half the campus will realize they don't really need to go to their early morning class, then the roads will be clear and you can cruise on over to class.

8. Walk really slow with you friends up the middle of the stairs. I'm late for class that's on the other side of campus, get outta my way!

9. Eat too many mint brownies. That's how you gain the freshman 20.

10. Send out emails to all 250 classmates about your "get rich quick" scheme or how "I missed all the lectures and will someone please give me your notes?" I'm pretty sure that the mass email button Blackboard is for questions regarding difficult concepts or setting up study groups.

Have a great year at BYU! Follow these Don'ts for the rest of your stay here and you'll leave happy and people will like you in class.

Bikestravaganza in Provo

2010-09-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

Joe Biel of Portland, Or.

Tuesday night, two bicycle enthusiasts traveled to Provo as part of a month long tour across the western United States. Bikestravaganza, hosted by the Provo Bike Committee, was a hit that attracted more than 30 Provo residents.

The event was a held to celebrate the addition of over 60 miles of new, bike-friendly lanes. The plan, which has been in the making for the last three years, was finally passed by the Provo Municipal Council in early August.

Zac Whitmore, the Chairman of the Provo Bike Committee said that some of the roads that will be effected are 9th East, 5th West, Freedom Boulevard, Bulldog Avenue and University Avenue.

Joe Biel and Elly Blue, the two people in charge of Bikestravaganza, presented the room with clips, information, and videos on the effectiveness of the Portland bike lanes. They also discussed the struggles that a community experiences as they grow to become bike-friendly. While a community may struggle, new communities are formed.

"I think there's a common thread in life that everyone needs a community around them," Biel said. "Biking is like a makeshift family."

For further Provo bike news, visit BikeProvo.org and ProvoBC.com.

UVU Renames Event Center

2010-09-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Orem -- Utah Valley University's Mckay Event Center has been renamed following a donation from Utah Community Credit Union. The facility, one of the largest in Utah Valley seating 8,500, hosts sporting events, concerts, as well as dances not only for the UVU community but for all residents of Utah County. The event center will now be known as the UCCU Center.

The name change came about when the Credit Union paid 2.5 million dollars, dispersed over the next 10 years, for naming rights. Previously the rights were held by the Mckay family since 1995, who decided it was time that someone else supported the university.

Val Hale, UVU’s vice president for institutional advancement, said “This was an unselfish gesture by the McKay family. We probably would not have moved forward [with renaming the building] without the McKay family."

Spokesmen from the university said the funds donated to the school will be used for student
scholarships, the athletics program as well as other educational priorities. The donation comes at an important time for the university as the school is experiencing more enrollment as well as less state funding than in the past.

"I couldn't be more delighted with this announcement," UVU President Matthew Holland said. "I envision it to be a long and very productive association for these 10 years."

Happy VI Day

2010-08-31T19:38:00.000-07:00

     President Obama declared "combat missions in Iraq" over from the Oval Office Tuesday evening.

     "From this desk, seven and a half years ago, pres bush announced the beginning of military opperations in Irag. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency," Obama said.

     The president mentioned that he had spoken with President George W. Bush about the future of Iraq.

     "It's well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush's support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq's future," he said.

     Republican and House Minority leader John Boehner of Ohio also made remarks about the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

     "Some leaders who opposed, criticized, and fought tooth-and-nail to stop the surge strategy now proudly claim credit for the results," he said, referring to then Senator Obama who opposed the surge which proved successful in fighting Iraqi insurgents.

     Obama promised to continue the fight against al-Qaeda, and remarked on the future of operations in Afghanistan.

     Beginning in July, "we will begin a transition to Afghan responsibility. The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the ground, and our support for Afghanistan will endure. But make no mistake: this transition will begin -- because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people's," he said.

Happy BYU Independence Day

2010-08-31T18:43:00.000-07:00

     The same day Barack Obama declared the Iraq War over, the West Coast Conference declared Brigham Young University's independence - in football at least.

     Beginning in the 2011-12 season, BYU will leave the Mountain West Conference and compete in the West Coast Conference for all sports but football where it will compete indepdendently.

     "I support our administration’s decision," BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Exposure does change perceptions of programs."

     Some Cougar fans however, weren't so pleased.

     "How in the world do you spin this as a good thing for BYU sports? I've got to be completely honest here. I just don't see how this is a good move for BYU," posted Peacekeeper on the website Cougarboard. "I guess BYU will be ok for a while because they still sell a lot of tickets. I just wonder how long people are going to pay good money to see such a horrible basketball schedule (Gonzaga notwithstanding)."

     The Mountain West Conference released a statement following the announcement of BYU's departure.

     "Since its inception, the Mountain West Conference has worked strategically to grow and strengthen the league, to position itself at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics," it read. "We look forward to the future with great excitement — particularly welcoming recent additions Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada into the Mountain West."

     They kind of left out any mention of the Cougars leaving...oh well.

     BYU is currently working on the 2011 schedule and is in talks with ESPN to televise games. So far, BYU is already scheduled to play Oregon State, Texas, and MWC newcomer Boise State. Mendenhall also expressed interested in competing with Notre Dame, another university that competes independently in football.

     The WCC includes Gonzaga, LMU, Pepperdine, University of Portland, St. Mary's College, the University of San Diego, the University of San Fransisco, and Santa Clara University. The Conference does not include some sports BYU competes in such as track and swim and dive. The University has yet to release information on where those teams will compete.

Bad Turnout for World Record Attempt

2010-08-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

Last week, a Craigslist ad asked L.A. residents to dress up as superheroes in order to beat Melbourne, Australia's current world record for most people dressed in superhero costumes.

Considering 1,245 Australians took time out of their busy schedules to break the last record, it was a definitely a disappointment to see only 8 heroes from America.

Not quite the "hundreds of costumed characters" promised by the ad, which has now been deleted. Since the organizer didn't show either, we'll assume this was a some kind of cruel practical joke. I hope they at least had fun.

The Hundred in the Hands - Pigeons

2010-08-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

Being a graphic designer I am constantly looking at all media forms through a visual filter. That's why I usually prefer to watch music videos over just listening to the album. To be successful in the music industry you have to create a style for yourself both musically and visually.

During one of my late-night perusals of blogs I ran across a music video by a band I had never heard of, The Hundred in the Hands, who are from NY. The vid is for the song Pigeons which in and of itself is original and catchy. But what I loved most about it was the cinematography. You literally feel as though you are just as wasted as she is with all the camera movement. And how awesome is it that her vomit becomes fireworks. The visual creativity and pacing is what makes this a great music video.

The Hundred in the Hands - Pigeons (Music Video) from DANIELS on Vimeo.

Eminem Reigns Supreme on Billboard 200 Album Chart

2010-08-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

     Rapper Eminem spends a seventh non-consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart with Recovery, giving him the longest stay at the top for a male artists since Usher in 2004. In addition, Recovery has the longest stay at No. 1 for an album since Taylor Swift's Fearless spent 11 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 in 2008 and 2009.

     Recovery is 2010's biggest selling album so far, shifting over 2 million copies in the past two months. 17 Track's heralded the album as "an Eminem album for people who don't buy Eminem albums," and that it has turned out to be. The pop crossover success of lead single "Not Afraid" has been overshadowed by the Rihanna collaboration "Love The Way You Lie" which sits atop the Hot 100 for a sixth week. People who usually only quote Ke$ha lyrics on their Facebook profiles are quoting an Eminem song (sure, they might be quoting the Rihanna part, but it's still an Eminem song).

     Chart watchers are predicting Eminem will relinquish the top spot next week as Katy Perry's Teenage Dream is expected to debut at No. 1.

Is "Do You Know Who Snooki Is?" the Defining Political Question of Our Time?

2010-08-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

     New York based blog Gawker called "Do you know who Snooki is?" the defining political question of our time yesterday. For someone who is famous for being famous, the Jersey Shore star sure has caused quiet a commotion on America's political scene. It all began this June Snookie revealed her preference for Republican presidential candidate John McCain over President Obama.

   "I don't go tanning anymore because Obama put a 10% tax on tanning," Snooki said. "And I feel like he did that intentionally for us. McCain would never put a 10% tax on tanning because he's pale and he'd probably want to be tan."

      "@Sn00ki u r right, I would never tax your tanning bed!" McCain posted on Twitter. "Pres Obama's tax/spend policy is quite The Situation. but I do rec wearing sunscreen!"

   President Obama apparently took Snooki's public remarks seriously because he vowed to give her and the entire Jersey Shore cast an exemption to the tax provision of the health bill.

     "The following individuals shall be excluded from the indoor tanning tax within this bill: Snooki, JWOWW, The Situation and House minority leader John Boehner," Obama joked at White House Press Correspondents Dinner.

   Only two months later however, the president claimed he didn't know who Snooki was during his appearance on The View. This is flip-flopping at its worst.

See the video after the jump.

     The question was brought up again during a debate between two New York Republican Senate candidates. Both denied knowing who Snooki was. They then moved on to questions about water boarding.

     "These politicians all know who "Snooki" is, but they're required to say that they don't, to look sophisticated. (John McCain being the notable exception.)" writes Jim Newell. "It's just bizarre how this question, "Are you aware of this specific celebrity from television, Snooki?", keeps appearing as a political topic."

   Although Obama clearly has to explain to America why he has flip-flopped, McCain has to answer for his own actions. Sure, he might have been a maverick who mocked Obama's "celebrity status" during the 2008 presidential election, but how can he still do that when one of the stars from one of America's most popular shows is clearly on his side?

So Much for Anti-Establishment: McCain Defeats Hayworth in AZ GOP Primary

2010-08-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

     Last night, Senator John McCain handily defeated former Congressman J.D. Hayworth in Arizona's highly publicized Republican primary election.

     In a year full of "anti-establishment" feelings and rhetoric, McCain, who turns 74 on Sunday, was originally seen as vulnerable to Hayworth, 52, who branded himself as a true conservative in comparison to McCain's "mavericky" ways. Hayworth attempts to appeal to Tea Party activists however wasn't enough to overcome McCain's vigorous campaigning.

     The former presidential candidate didn't take his reelection for granted, spending $20 million according to the Arizona Republic, unprecedented in an Arizona U.S. Senate race. McCain also got help from his former vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin, Massachusetts Senator and Tea Party poster boy Scott Brown, and former Massachusetts governor and Latter-day Saint Mitt Romney who spoke at an event in Mormon heavy Mesa.

     "I'm happy with the win - we had to do what it takes," McCain said Tuesday night in an interview with The Arizona Republic. "As you know, this is an anti-incumbency environment and I had to prove to the Republican voters of Arizona that I can be the most effective person for them in these very difficult times."

McCain's campaign attacked Hayworth's claims of being a Washington "outsider", citing his time in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2007. McCain pulled away in the polls when it was revealed Hayworth appeared in a late-night infomercial about free government money programs in 2007.

     "The thing I would like to stress: We may not like the results, but we abide by the results," Hayworth told disappointed supporters at the Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale. "Elections are clarifying moments. Our fellow Arizonans believe the other candidate will be a better custodian of their wants. We gather amidst disappointment but the cause endures. Despite challenges, America's best days still lay ahead."

In addition, fellow incumbent and Republican Jeff Flake of the staunchly conservative 6th district won his primary for the House of Representative. Flake's opponent ran on a theme similar to that of Hayworth's, calling on voters to oust "establishment" candidates who were allegedly not conservative enough.

'Teenage Dream' A Pop Music Dream

2010-08-24T16:27:00.001-07:00

I like Katy Perry. I like that she's a spitting image of Zooey Deschanel. I like that her boobs are real. I like that she writes her own songs. And I like that she has wholeheartedly embraced her role as a sugar-coated pop starlet and doesn't take herself too seriously.

"California Gurls," Perry's inescapable summer smash, was, as Perry herself put it, "a no-brainer." Perry later admitted, "I'm not saying..."California Gurls" is a f***ing genius opus!... I just know what kind of card this summer needs, and that's the one I'm playing."

It wasn't until she released the follow-up single to "California Gurls" that my listen buds were whetted. "Teenage Dream," the title-track and second single from Perry's sophomore effort is neon lights, rollerskates, and convertibles. It is dance parties in parking lots, high school crushes, and lollipops. It is also one of the most delicious doses of pop confection in recent memory.

And that pretty much sums up the entire album Teenage Dream. Packed with infectious pool-side pop gems from beginning to end, the album aptly captures the delights of being a teenager in the 90s and perfectly highlights Perry's strengths: naughty-but-nice attitude, tongue-in-cheek charm, and off-beat, quirky lyrics. Perry enlists the help of two pop-pros, Dr. Luke and Max Martin, giving the album its glossy finish.

Did I mention the album is packaged in cotton-candy scented paper?

Katy Perry was once pegged to be a one-hit wonder, but has since gone on to deliver four #1 singles ("Teenage Dream" will almost inevitably become her fifth) and a slew of other memorable ditties. This album includes a handful of potential smash hits, most notably "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" and "Peacock." The former is a impeccably composed pop anthem about Friday night shenanigans (think of it as a more grown-up Ke$ha track with a groovy saxophone interlude), while the latter will inevitably become a smash hit and stir up quite a kafuffle of controversy. I'll let the obviously suggestive title speak for itself.

Even the quieter songs on the album are strong, showcasing a softer side of Perry, reminiscent of her past days as a Christian singer/songwriter. Just look how far she's come.

Album rating: 8.5/10

Songs to download: "Teenage Dream," "Last Friday Night," "Peacock," "E.T."

The Single Entendre: 'Peacock'

2010-08-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia... "A double entendre is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué, inappropriate, or ironic."

Double entendres have a long history in pop music. Pretty much anything can sound dirty if delivered correctly. Katy Perry's new single uses shocking single entendre. The song is called "Peacock." It is not about a bird. It goes: "Word on the street / You have something to show me / Come on baby let me see / What you're hiding underneath / Are you brave enough to let me see your peacock? / I wanna see your peacock, cock, cock / Your peacock, cock, cock." Notice how when Katy said cock, you thought of a penis. Thats what she wanted. Pretty simple. No inuendo required.

"Peacock" it is not the only pop song entendre that is more single than double, meaning that 95% of the population gets the dirty and sexual aspect of it, and it doesn't require a dirty mind or sex smarts to understand it. Recent examples of the single entendre include:

Britney Spears' "If You Seek Amy"
Lady Gaga's "LoveGame"
Flo Rida's "Right Round"
Katy Perry's "Peacock"

See the 'Peacock' video below:

Janelle Monae Releases Music Video of the Year

2010-08-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

     Up-and-coming artist Janelle Monae has accomplished quiet a bit in her short time as a signed artist. Last year, the 24-year-old Kansas native was nominated for a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the song "Many Moons". Still, Monae isn't exactly a household name. She doesn't really have the budget to make a nine-minute long music video crammed with product placement and elaborate storylines with Beyonce. Still, she managed to make the music video of the year.

     The 3:44 video for "Cold War" is a one take shot of the singer lip synching her song in front of the camera. She looks straight into the camera, mouthing "I was made to believe there's something wrong with me". Suddenly, she breaks her flawless lip synch. The smile on her face makes the viewer think it was a mindless flub. Then she looks down. When her eyes reach the camera, she is no longer the strong self assured singer she was just moments before. She's vunerable. It takes her a while to get back on track with the song, but she does, a single tear streams down her face.

     "Cold War" is the 21st Century cousin to Sinead O'Conner's "Nothing Compares 2 U". It's not a complex music video, but it's beautiful and it's powerful. Music video of the year.

Janelle Monae "Cold War"

You might also like reading: "Violence, Nudity, Simplicity, and Excess: Music Videos in the Post-MTV World"

Lady Gaga Passes Britney Spears as Most Followed Person on Twitter

2010-08-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

     Pop artist Lady Gaga has recently been crowned the "Queen of Twitter", passing up Britney Spears to become the most followed account on the social networking site. Spears, who passed up Ashton Kutcher in May for the top spot, became the first person to amass over five million followers. Lady Gaga currently boasts 5,779,780 followers compared with Britney Spear's 5,717,362.

Gaga joined Twitter on March 26th, 2008. Her first post read, “Rehearsing for my video ‘Just Dance’ and am now at WMC to perform at the Armani and Nervous Records party. But I am no nervous record.”

     Since then, the pop artist has posted 447 tweets. To commemorate her achievement, Lady Gaga posted a video dressed up as the Queen of Twitter (see below).

   Gaga also passed up Barack Obama as the living person with the most fans on Facebookwhen she topped 10 million in July. Only the late Michael Jackson has more Facebook fans.

Katy Perry/Genesis Mash-Up

2010-08-23T16:01:00.000-07:00

"California Gurls" [sic] is a horrible song. But take Katy Perry out of it and add Genesis and it gets a little better.

Animated Taiwanese Guide to the 2010 Election

2010-08-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Too busy studying statistics and working your dead end job at a fast food joint to be up to speed on the 2010 mid-term elections? Take a moment to watch this animated Taiwanese guide to the election, and you too can sound educated when discussing politics with your friends.

Brandon Flowers Opens Up About Album

2010-08-20T16:29:00.000-07:00

     The release date for Brandon Flower's solo album Flamingo is approaching, and the singer is opening up about the record. Like many of the Killer's previous album, Flamingo is about his experience in fabulous Las Vegas.

     “It’s about the experiences I’ve had with Las Vegas,” Flowers told Spin. “A lot of my life took place on Flamingo [Road]. It’s part of Vegas mythology, and now it’s part of my own mythology. My first job was at a golf course on Flamingo. Sam’s Town [a casino that inspired the title of The Killers' 2006 album]… is on Flamingo. I met my wife at a clothing store on Flamingo. That’s my ‘hood.”

   Flowers also admits to missing his band.

     "At first I thought [going solo] would be this liberating thing, and now I've come to realize that it's nice to have the guys there with you going through the experience. I have a renewed admiration for the band."

A few songs from the album are available for preview on the Spin website and a handful of other tracks have been performed live and landed on YouTube. Catch the clips after the jump.

"Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts"

"Hard Enough"

Your Canoe Is a Little Big

2010-08-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

Someone in Provo plans to go on a canoeing trip. With the canoe hanging in front of the windshield there might be a problem actually arriving at the river.

Bee-Money a Provo Legend

2010-08-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has been in Provo for sometime has probably had a run in with Bee-Money, the local rapper. A few nights ago he stopped by my house as my friends and I were enjoying an evening on the porch. We shared some pie with him and he shared some of his new music.

Bee-Money is not the typical rap artist. For one thing he raps about Provo. He also raps about staying out of trouble, not doing drugs, believing in God, and living the life in the 801. Bee-Money has been rapping for around 15 years and records over at the Muse.

Check him out and maybe share some pie with him next time you see him.

Free Download: Kanye West "See Me Now" feat Beyonce & Charlie Wilson

2010-08-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

"And I’mma let you finish, but I got Beyonce on the track," raps Kanye West in the second single from his forthcoming album. Entitled "See Me Now", the song features the Single Lady herself and Charlie Wilson. It's world's away from the swagger of "Power", and it is reminiscent of Ye's more retro influenced tracks of the Late Registration era. For a limited time, Kanye is offering the song as a free download on his website. Download the song here.

M.I.A. "XXXO" Music Video

2010-08-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

M.I.A. announced the world premiere of the Hype Williams directed "XXXO" music video today by tweeting, "“WORLD PREMIA XXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOO XXXO XXXO XXXO VIDEO!!!YO!”

A little much? Probably. But that's until you see the video. It's like the Sri Lankan anti-pop star's MySpace exploded, shooting animated unicorns, swans, and those goofy sparkly stars that people used when they posted "Thanks for the add!"

McNugget Rage

2010-08-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

An Ohio woman with a mad craving for Chicken McNuggets flew into a violent rage at a drive-through window when the restaurant told her they were only serving breakfast.

Melodi Dushane really, really wanted her chicken nuggets. So she wasn't loving it when a worker at the Toledo McDonald's told her they stopped serving the meal at 2:30 a.m.

In fact, she completely flipped out. The 25-year-old reacted to the news by getting out of her car and throwing punches at the employee, then pounding on the glass with her elbow and then finally smashing it. Girl, are you serious?

Skip ahead to about 1:15 to see her violent reaction:

Dushane has been charged with vandalism and 60 days in prison, where she will not be permitted to eat any nuggets. She was asked not to return to the same McDonald's restaurant ever again.

My usual problem is that they aren't serving breakfast anymore when I want it at 11 a.m. But I've never punched anyone because of it. I can only hope some good came from this and McDonald's will decide to serve their entire menu 24 hours a day.

Jimmy Eat World "My Best Theory"

2010-08-09T20:43:00.000-07:00

The boys are back. Jimmy Eat World released "My Best Theory", the first single from their forthcoming Inventions, today. From the band that told a generation "don't write yourself off yet," and "it's only in your head you feel left out," comes a single that isn't about being so sure of yourself. We're a long way from the days of being the only clothed one in a party of pretentious barley dressed posers. "Not like one side is any better...My best theory is already ending," sings Jim Adkins. The track hits radio tomorrow. Listen to it here.

Lady Gaga Crowd Surfs, Gets Licked at Lollapalooza

2010-08-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

There were over 150 acts at Chicago's Lollapalooza 2010, but Lady Gaga stole the show. The singer brought an abbreviated Monster Ball to the festival's main stage, but she also showed up at Semi Precious Weapon's set. The band has been opening for the Lady during her tour, and Gaga decided to to pay them back by playing drums, being a back up singer, and jumping into the crowd. One crazed fan even had the opportunity to lick Lady Gaga's stomach.

Kanye West "Power" Music Video

2010-08-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

We've entered a new era of music videos, and pop stars are more willing to create 10-minute-long mini-movies than ever before. Kanye West turns that notion on it's ear for his "Power" clip. Sure it doesn't have a plot like "Telephone" or a breakdown like "Alejandro", but in just 102 seconds, Mr. West has got people talking and has created some pretty impressive art.

Eminem featuring Rihanna "Love The Way You Lie" Music Video

2010-08-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" featuring Rihanna has spent the past three weeks at No. 1 and has become the first Eminem song quoted in the Facebook statuses of people who usually only quote Ke$ha. You know you have a major hit on your hands when that happens.

The music video, directed by Joseph Kahn who has worked on such iconic videos as "Toxic", "Womanizer", and "All The Lovers", features Megan Fox and "Lost" actor Dominic Monaghan caught in a violent and passionate relationship. Rihanna, who recently told "Access Hollywood" that this song was what she "needed" following the physical abuse she experienced with Chris Brown, sings her hook in front of a burning house. "Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, but that's alright because I love the way it hurts."

Check out the video below.

VMA Nominations: Gaga Reigns Supreme

2010-08-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

MTV revealed the nominations for the 2010 Video Music Awards yesterday, and while there are a few notable snubs (Rihanna! The Miley!), and even fewer suprise nods (Florence + the Machine! 30 Seconds to Mars!), there's really one thing people are going gaga over: Lady Gaga.

Not only did she score a record 13 nominations (17 if you count Beyonce's "Video Phone," featuring Gaga) she is nominated twice for Best Choreography in a video and Video of the Year for both "Bad Romance" and "Telephone."

MTV Video Music Awards have a history of honoring the popularity of a song or an artist more than the actual video itself and this year proves no different. Taylor Swift's video for "Fifteen," for example-- really? And while I revere Beyonce in the highest, I'm honestly shocked her video for "Video Phone" garnered such love from VMA voters; it made little to no impact and only received buzz because of the collaboration with Lady Gaga. And let's face it-- it's just an okay video to a terrible song.

So what if Rihanna's string of amazing videos this past year were almost completely ignored (one nod for "Rude Boy"'s editing...)! So what if Ke$ha's aaaaawwful video for "Tik Tok" earned 4 nominations! So what! It's just the VMAs! Like the videos really matter.

The nominations, please....

BEST COLLABORATION
B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams, “Airplanes”
Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga, “Video Phone (Extended Remix)”
Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé, “Telephone”
3OH!3 featuring Ke$ha, “My First Kiss”
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Ke$ha, “Tik Tok”
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, “California Gurls”
Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga, “Video Phone (Extended Remix)”
Taylor Swift, “Fifteen”

BEST MALE VIDEO
Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Usher featuring Will.i.am, “OMG”
B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams, “Airplanes”
Drake, “Find Your Love”
Jason Derulo, “In My Head”

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
B.oB featuring Hayley Williams, “Airplanes”
Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem, “Forever”
Jay-Z & Swizz Beats, “On To The Next One”
Kid Cudi featuring MGMT & Ratatat, “Pursuit Of Happiness”

BEST NEW ARTIST
Ke$ha, “Tik Tok”
Jason Derulo, “In My Head”
Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris, “Baby”
Nicki Minaj featuring Sean Garrett, “Massive Attack”
Broken Bells, “The Ghost Inside”

BEST POP VIDEO
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dog, “California Gurls”
Ke$ha, “Tik Tok”
Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga, “Video Phone (Extended Remix)”
B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars, “Nothing on You”

BEST ROCK VIDEO
30 Seconds To Mars, “Kings and Queens”
MUSE, “Uprising”
Paramore, “Ignorance”
Florence + the Machine, “Dog Days Are Over”
MGMT, “Flash Delirium”

BEST DANCE MUSIC VIDEO
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull, “I Like It”
Cascada, “Evacuate The Dancefloor”
Akon, “Sexy Chick”
Usher featuring Will.I.Am, “OMG”

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Florence + The Machine, “Dog Days Are Over”
30 Seconds To Mars, “Kings and Queens”
Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé, “Telephone”
Eminem, “Not Afraid”

BEST ART DIRECTION
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Florence + The Machine, “Dogs Days Are Over”
Eminem, “Not Afraid”
30 Seconds To Mars, “Kings and Queens”
Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga, “Video Phone (Extended Remix)”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé, “Telephone”
Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga, “Video Phone (Extended Remix)”
Usher featuring Will.i.am, “OMG”
Janelle Monáe featuring Big Boi, “Tightrope”

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Mumford & Sons, “Little Lion Man”
Florence + The Machine, “Dog Days Are Over”

BEST DIRECTION
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Pink, “Funhouse”
30 Seconds To Mars, “Kings and Queens”

BEST EDITING
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Eminem, “Not Afraid”
Rihanna, “Rude Boy”
Pink, “Funhouse”
Miike Snow, “Animal”

BEST SFX (SPECIAL EFFECTS)
Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance”
Eminem, “Not Afraid”
MUSE, “Uprising”
Green Day, “1st Century Breakdown”
Dan Black, “Symphonies”

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO
Dan Black, “Symphonies”
Gorillaz featuring Bobby Womack & Mos Def, “Stylo”
Coldplay, “Strawberry Swing”
The Black Keys, “Tighten Up”

Kanye's 'Chosen One'

2010-08-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Kanye West, who joined Twitter last week and already has 190 tweets and over 400,000 followers, chose to follow one lucky individual, 19-year-old Steve Holmes (@ste_101) of Coventry, England. "I just commented on something on Kanye West's account and next thing I know he's following me," Holmes told the Coventry Telegraph. "I was like, 'Oh my God!' But about 20 seconds later I had 20 messages from people I didn't even know and my phone wouldn't stop bleeping."

Steve had 60 followers, but an hour after being 'chosen' by Kanye he had more than 1,000. Now, he has nearly 5,000. But it's been strange, he says.

"A guy wanted me to look at his film trailer and people have been sending me links to their music demos -- as if I have some sort of influence over Kanye West. The funny thing is I like his music but I'm not his biggest fan," Steve said.

Kanye kicked off Steve's 15 minutes of fame with the words: "You are the chosen one dun dun dun dun."

Kanye is weird. I personally couldn't handle following him on Twitter for more than a day before I gave up. Not only does he over-tweet, he often doesn't make sense.

If you aren't familiar with Kanye's launch into the Twittiverse, check out a recap here

Justin Bieber to Publish 'Photographic Memoir'

2010-08-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

Justin Bieber is writing a memoir. Justin Bieber is 16. Granted, he has accomplished quite a lot for a 16-year-old, but hasn't most of it happened in the last ONE year? It doesn't matter though, because J.Bieb is coming out with a 'photographic memoir' (probably the best kind for his fans) which will be released in October by HarperCollins and will certainly be a hit. The colon-heavy title: 'Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story.'

"Every day I wake up and count my blessings," Bieber said in a statement released Monday by the publisher. "My fans have played such a large part in all of this and they help me live my dreams every day. I'm excited to share just a little bit more of my world with them through this book."

"I think this is going to be something they can all enjoy," Bieber said of his fans. "This is just another way for me to say thank you to my fans."

Former BYU Student Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping

2010-07-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

     A former BYU student plead guilty this week to charges of kidnapping and obstruction of justice in connection with a girl he home taught.

     Stetson Hallam, 20, of Lehi, admitted to luring the 19-year-old girl to the basement of their apartment complex by telling her he had a present for her. According to the Deseret News, the girl tried to "ellude" her home teacher, presumably feeling uncomfortable with him, but he waited outside her apartment until she came home. When she arrived, Hallam told her he had set up a scavenger hunt for her in the basement laundry room.

     When the two got to the basement, Hallam attacked the girl with a stun gun and tried to handcuff her when she fell. The girl bit his finger, and Hallam then told her it was only an April Fool's Day joke. He hid the stun gun and handcuffs from police, leading to the charge of obstruction of justice.

     Hallam was "dismissed" from BYU in April according to the Daily Universe, and Judge Christine Johnson of the Fourth District Court in American Fork ordered him to return to the court in September for sentencing.

     When the story first broke in April, it was absent from the Daily Universe for quiet some time. One can speculate that the faculty in charge of BYU's student paper were being overly cautious following the fallout of "BYUSA-gate", but this story is news, and it needs to be covered.

     This Tuesday, the story of Hallam pleading guilty was on the front page. Although it is a negative story, and it casts a former BYU student in a bad light, it's important that BYU students are aware that dangers like this exist, even in Happy Valley. I was disappointed however, that the fact that Hallam was this girl's home teacher was left out.

     Home teaching is an amazing program of the Church that provides opportunities for service as well as spiritual and temporal help for members of a ward. The vast majority of relationships forged through home teaching are positive but, there are examples of unhealthy relationships. Although these are far and few between, women need to be aware of them. I don't care if a guy is your home teacher or the Elder's Quorum President, or a former AP, if you feel uncomfortable about something, say no. If you have a creeper for a home teacher, don't feel bad about asking to be reassigned.

     Happy Valley is, for the most part, a happy place. Most people are good people you can trust. Most people won't try to taze and handcuff you. Still, there are the few exceptions, and students need to always be vigilant and be willing to bite a few fingers if their safety demands it.

Kanye West Embarks on Social Media Tour

2010-07-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

     Kanye West has a busy day today.

     The rapper started his day by joining Twitter using. the easy-to-remember screen name @kanyewest. He currently boasts 149,624 followers. I can't wait for the ALL CAPS rants Ye will be sure to tweet. One of his tweets of interest announced that he is scrapping his fifth album's title.

     "The album is no longer called "Good Ass Job" I'm bouncing a couple of titles around now," he posted.

     West then stopped by both the Facebook and Twitter offices to perform some of the songs off his upcoming record a capella. Poor Myspace.

     Check out Mr. West's performances after the jump.
"Chain Heavy"

"Mama's Boyfriend"

Unnamed song performed at Twitter headquarters

BYU Hosts World Record Breaking Water Balloon Fight

2010-07-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

   Brigham Young University broke the world record for largest water balloon fight this weekend when nearly 4,000 students met at the RB fields for the "Cougar Cooldown".

     The event broke the previous record set by the University of Kentucky in August 2009. 120,021 water balloons were used in the fight, and volunteers spent 48 hours filling them up.

   Students were divided into two teams. One side sported blue and orange shirts while the other side wore pink and green shirts. The blue and orange team was obviously the best team because blue is the color of the Cougars, and any guy who chose to wear a bright pink shirt is obviously a tool.

     The event was not planned by BYUSA, so you can continue to hate them for doing nothing for you and spending lots of money on themselves, but BYUSA vice president Sterling May was among the volunteers filling up balloons, so you can't hate too much.

     The fight was actually put together by the Spring/Summer Department and the award-winning Ad Lab who hoped the event would be a fun way to encourage students to attend classes during the spring and summer terms.

     “[Students] don’t realize that Provo is a really fun place to spend spring and summer,” said Sara Martinez, the BYU Ad Lab project manager for the event to the Daily Universe. “They just leave because none of their friends are here, they don’t realize what happens during these four months.”

   Yeah, like hordes of EFY kids running around chanting at the top of their lungs all day? Still, I wouldn't miss out on spring or summer term for anything. Getting pelted by water balloons that don't break half the time so it feels like you're getting slapped around is only one reason why Provo is the place to be during the break. Another reason is P-town is the most patriotic place on Earth when July 4th rolls around.

     Despite the fun students had in the fight, some people feel that the event promoted harmful Mormon stereotypes.

     "Okay, these record-breaking BYU activities sound like fun and everything, but is anyone worried about reinforcing corny Mormon stereotypes? World's largest game of capture the flag? BYU. World's biggest water balloon fight? BYU. What's next? World's silliest game of duck, duck, goose?" asked McKay Coppins in a Facebook post.

   No plans have been made for a silly game of duck, duck, goose, or a massive game of beer pong, but Cougars are eagerly awaiting the announcement.

Kid Cudi Gives Sneak Peak at New Album

2010-07-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

Rapper Kid Cudi will drop his sophomore album Man Of The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager on September 28. Let's just hope it isn't as criminally under appreciated as his debut. Cudi performed one of the new album's songs, "REVOFEV" (apparently stands for Revolution of Evolution) at New York's BAPE, a chain he worked at before becoming a world famous rapper.

Alleged Demos for Upcoming Britney Album Surface

2010-07-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

Pop star Britney Spears is rumored to be working on her seventh studio albums and a few demos have surfaced that are claimed to be recorded for the album. Producer Fernando Garibay posted on his website this week that he is responsible for "Outta My Head" for Britney Spears in 2010. He previously worked on two Britney B-sides, so good luck to him on that. The second track rumored to be for Miss Spears is "New York City" by Akon. Maybe instead of pretending to care about the current East Coast-West Coast "rivalry" in pop right now, Britney can record a song about Louisiana. "Louisiana Gurls" [sic] maybe?

Hear the alleged demos after the jump. Don't fall in love with them too much though. I'm guessing Britney will never even record her own version of either track.

"Outta My Head"

"New York City"

Justin Bieber's Segway Getaway

2010-07-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

Canadian tween sensation Justin Bieber was bopping around Glendale, Arizona on his own this week when a gaggle of girls spotted him. With no other way out, Bieber jumped on a Segway and tried to escape. I vote for this as the funniest video of the day.

Florence + The Machine "Cosmic Love"

2010-07-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

     British art school drop-out Florence Welch and her rotating band The Machine have made quiet the impact in their home country. The group's debut album Lungs reached No. 1 in the UK in January, and they have already won a coveted Critics Choice Award at the 2009 Brit Awards.

     Florence + The Machine have an epic soul inspired indie sound, and one of their best tracks, "Cosmic Love" has recently been released as the sixth single from Lungs. Hear what Americans have missing out on with the beautiful sweeping "Cosmic Love" below.

Jimmy Eat World Announces Tour Dates

2010-07-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

     Jimmy Eat World announced dates for their upcoming tour in support of their forthcoming album Invented. Curiously, the band does not currently have dates in front of a hometown crowd in Arizona or in Utah (For those of you unaware, Provo and Orem in Utah is just a Utah version of Gilbert and Mesa, so there are a lot of J.E.W. fans up here too).

     Some fans wondered if the lack of shows in the Grand Canyon state was a immigration related boycott, but Jimmy Eat World denied that.

     "FYI, there WILL BE an AZ date. Details to come. We are not boycotting AZ!!" the band posted on their Twitter account. Hopefully that means they'll make a stop in Utah as well.

9/21 - Atlanta, GA / Center Stage
9/22 - Asheville, NC / The Orange Peel
9/24 - Sayreville, NJ / Starland Ballroom
9/25 - Virgin Mobile FreeFest Merriweather Post Pavilion
9/29 - Los Angeles, CA / The Wiltern
9/30 - San Francisco, CA / Warfield Theatre
10/1 - San Luis Obispo, CA / SLO Veterans' Auditorium
10/3 - Denver, CO / Ogden Theatre
10/4 - Omaha, NE / Sokol Auditorium
10/5 - Milwaukee, WI / Pabst Theatre
10/7 - Chicago, IL / Riviera Theatre
10/8 - Royal Oak, MI / Royal Oak Music Theatre
10/9 - Columbus, OH / Newport Music Hall
10/11 - Philadelphia, PA / Electric Factory
10/14 - New York, NY / Terminal 5
10/15 - Boston, MA / House Of Blues
10/17 - Toronto, CAN / Kool Haus

Presale begins Thursday, July 29th and information about presale can be obtained by joining the jimmyeatworld.com e-mail list.

Robyn "Hang With Me" Music Video

2010-07-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

Robyn gives the world a taste of what being an indie-pop artist is all about in the video for her new single "Hang With Me".

Robyn - Hang With Me official video from Robyn on Vimeo.

Spanish Fork Rodeo

2010-07-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Cowboys tested their bucking bronco skills last night at the Spanish Fork Rodeo.

Muggle Quidditch

2010-07-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

A group of muggles prepare to play muggle quidditch on Morris Field at BYU yesterday.

Eminem Crashes Rihanna Concert, Performs "Love The Way You Lie"

2010-07-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

Last night, Eminem surprised the crowd at Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour to perform the No. 1 song in the country with the Rated R singer. The fans at the Staples Center shouldn't have been that surprised though, because Eminem and Rihanna were in Los Angeles filming the video for "Love The Way You Lie" with famed director Joseph Kahn (responsible for "Toxic", "LoveGame", "Womanizer", and "All The Lovers"). Reading @idolator's Twitter feed last night, it was evident that the crowd went nuts hearing the pair live, and now you can see it for yourself in the video clip below.

I can't say enough good things about this track. It's the early frontrunner for 17 Track's song of the year. It's an Eminem song for people who don't listen to Eminem, a Rihanna song for people who don't listen to Rihanna. It's the best Eminem track since "Lose Yourself", and it proves that "Live Your Life" with T.I. and "Run This Town" with Jay-Z and Kanye were just warm-ups for Rihanna.

Candwich Creator Has High Hopes Despite Setbacks

2010-07-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

     The creator of Candwich, a convenient sandwich-in-a-can, is hoping that despite recent setbacks his company has faced, the product will hit stores and vending machines soon.

     "There are 12 billion cans of soda sold in vending machines a year, so if they buy a sandwich, there's a real profit," said Mark Kirkland, a Sandy resident who has been working to capitalize on his idea for the past decade to the Deseret News. "It's actually good. I'm not kidding," Kirkland said. "The bread is the main thing. It's soft and tastes great."

   Candwiches faced a major blow earlier this month when it was revealed that a major investor was being sued by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. Travis Wright, a Draper resident, promised investors returns of up to 24 percent on real estate, but instead used their money to support Candwiches, a movie about Pinewoord Derbies, and on vacations and home improvements for him and his family.

   The negative publicity however, might be just the thing Kirkland needs to get the Candwich in the hands of consumers. Since news of the shady investor went public, Kirkland has been featured on Newsweek, National Public Radio, "The Colbert Report", and of course, 17 Tracks.

   "I'm getting 10 million bucks of free publicity now, but a month later would have been better,"said Kirkland.

   There are currently three flavors of Candwich planned - PBJ Strawberry, PBJ Grape, and BBQ Chicken, but Kirkland says he plans to roll out Pepperoni Pizza and French Toast.

   "I want it to be more of a convenience food, like bottled water," Kirkland said. "When bottled water first came out, everyone thought, 'Who would pay for that when there's a drinking fountain over there?' Now, I have a bottle of water every day."

Robyn Reveals Album Art, Tracklist for Body Talk Pt. 2

2010-07-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

Only days after the lead single for Robyn's Body Talk Pt. 2 leaked, the Swedish singer released the album art for her second EP as well as the tracklisting. In addition to "Hang With Me", the record will included another acoustic track, "Indestructible" (the first single from Body Talk Pt. 3 perhaps?) and a collaboration with Snoop Dogg entitled "U Should Know Better". Maybe this is Snoop's way of making up for the tragedy that was "California Gurls" [sic].

1. In My Eyes
2. Include Me Out
3. Hang With Me
4. Love Kills
5. We Dance to the Beat
6. Criminal Intent
7. U Should Know Better [ft. Snoop Dogg]
8. Indestructible (acoustic version)

Kele Releases "Everything You Wanted", Postpones North American Tour

2010-07-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

     Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke released the video for his second solo single, "Everything You Wanted", today, as well as announced new dates for his postponed North American tour.

     The video isn't as electroclash revival as the clip for "Tenderoni". Instead, the British singer sports a red Yankees hat, wandering around a city. Tears stream down his face as he sings, "I know the time for us has passed, but you must know one thing: I could have given you everything you wanted, everything you needed!" I've said it before and I'll say it again: Kele Okereke is the voice of our generation.

     Check out his new North American tour dates after the jump.

09-07 Boston, MA - Royale
09-08 New York, NY - Webster Hall
09-11 Chicago, IL - Double Door
09-12 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line
09-13 Omaha, NE - Slow Down
09-14 Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
09-16 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
09-18 San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine
09-21 Los Angeles, CA - Music Box

Tiger Woods Remains Top Earning Athlete in America

2010-07-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

     Golfer Tiger Woods might have lost millions of dollars in endorsements following his admittance of infidelity, but he still remains the top earning American athlete according to Sports Illustrated.

     Gatorade, AT&T and Accenture all dropped Woods after his off-course problems became public knowledge, costing him an untold millions of dollars. He still walked away with $10 million after winning the FedEx Cup bonus, giving him a comfortable lead on SI's list.

   Wood's estimated total of earnings over $90 million was down $9 million from his 2009 earnings, but still almost $30 million more than No. 2 , golfer Phil Mickelson. I guess if you're making bank, being a douchebag and cheating on your wife is barely a dent in your wallet then, right? Still, Woods has to pay up. His ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, is reportedly getting $100 from the divorce.

   In third place is boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. making $60,250,000 and rounding out the top 5 is LeBron James with $45,779,912 and Alex Rodriguez with $37,000,000.

   This year's list marked the NFL's best showing with 15 players making the top 50. The NBA was the top league on the list with 16 slots filled. MLB players took up 13 of the spots and three NASCAR drivers made the list.

   See the rest of the top list after the jump.

1. Tiger Woods - $90,508,163
Last year: 1

2. Phil Mickelson - $61,660,757
Last year: 2

3. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - $60,250,000
Last year: NA

4. LeBron James - $45,779,912
Last year: 3

5. Alex Rodriguez - $37,000,000
Last year: 4

6. Shaquille O'Neal - $36,000,000
Last year: 5

7. Kobe Bryant - $33,034,375
Last year: 7

8. Derek Jeter - $31,000,000
Last year: 9

9. Peyton Manning - $30,800,000
Last year: 10

10. Dwayne Wade - $27,779,912
Last year: 12

The rest of the top 50 is available to view at SI.com.

Brandon Flowers Announces Tour Dates

2010-07-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

Brandon Flower's Flamingo album isn't expected to be released until September 6, but the Las Vegas Latter-day Saint is already gearing up to hit the road. So far, only five dates have been announced. For more information on tickets, click here.

August 15 – The Shimmer Room – Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas Hilton
August 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
August 19 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
August 23 – Chicago, IL – Park West
August 26 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom

Chart Watch: Eminem, Rihanna Kick Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg from the Penthouse

2010-07-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

     After spending three consecutive weeks at No. 2, Eminem and Rihanna's "Love The Way You Lie" finally tops Katy Perry's "California Gurls" [sic] on the Billboard Hot 100, ending it's excruciatingly long six week stay at the summit.    This marks Eminem's fourth No. 1 single, and Rihanna's seventh.

     "Love The Way You Lie" appeared on charts as soon as Eminem's Recovery album was available for download. After selling 338,000 digital downloads in a week, the song materialized at No. 2. Strong first week sales for this track were to be expected; Eminem fans already proved their loyalty and buying power earlier this year when they sent "Not Afriad" to the penthouse on the strength of downloads alone. Teaming him up with Rihanna, a singer with an amazing batting average on the Hot 100, could only improve the single's showing.

     With radio still focused on "Not Afraid", "Way You Lie" was expected to drop the following week as sales cooled. Instead, Slim Shady and Riri stayed put at No. 2. Surprisingly, the song actually gained radio airplay rapidly following its release. It jumped from being the 34th most played song on American radio, to 15th, and then last week, it cracked the top ten, coming in at 7. Consumers also latched onto the song. Last week, "Way You Lie" had its best selling week, shifting 352,000 digital downloads.

   Recovery remains the top selling album in the country for a fourth week, and the success of songs like "Not Afraid" and "Love The Way You Lie" are a major reason why. Not only are rap radio programmers and fans listening to and buying these songs, but pop radio is involved too.

    Billboard reported that CBS Radio VP/programming and WXRK program director Dom Theodore admits to having "no issues playing both songs, given the audience demand."

     "'Love the Way You Lie' will easily be a No. 1 record. It's a very powerful song and is showing early research traction," Theodore said last week.

     KIIS APD/MD Julie Pilat says that, "when 'Not Afraid' came out, it seemed, at first, like a 'street single.' As soon as it started to cross over to pop radio, Eminem dropped ('Recovery') and people discovered 'Love the Way You Lie.'

      "I think that if anyone had doubts that Eminem was back while 'Not Afraid' was climbing the chart, 'Love the Way You Lie' closed the deal. Plus, Rihanna's voice on the hook is hypnotic. There's a ton of depth to this artist and album. Listeners want as much as they can get."

   I haven't been this excited for a No. 1 single for a long time. Well done Eminem and Rihanna.

1. "Love The Way You Lie" - Eminem feat. Rihanna
2. "California Gurls" - Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg
3. "Airplanes" - B.o.B. feat. Hayley Williams
4. "Dynamite" - Taio Cruz
5. "OMG" - Usher feat. Will.i.am
6. "Cooler Than Me" - Mike Posner
7. "Billionaire" - Travis McCoy feat. Bruno Mars
8. "I Like It" - Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull
9. "Find Your Love" - Drake
10. "Ridin' Solo" - Jason Derulo

Sure We're On Facebook. Doesn't Mean We Like It.

2010-07-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

     Social networking site Facebook will reach a major milestone this week - 500 million users, but the site's growing popularity doesn't necessarily mean everyone likes it.

     The American Customer Satisfaction Survery included Facebook in its most recent poll, and found that the site isn't all that popular. The site scored a 64 out of 100 which placed it in the bottom 5% of all private sector companies. Down at the bottom 5%, Facebook rubbed shoulders with the IRS, cable companies, and airlines. At least it was above MySpace, right? Other sites included in the survey were Wikipedia and YouTube. Wikipedia led the sites with a score of 77, while YouTube scored a 73.

     "When you think about Facebook three years ago versus now, it has a much more diverse audience than it did before. In my family, my 12-year-old son is on it, as is my 75-year-old mother – that’s three generations on Facebook with varying levels of tech savvyness,” said Larry Freed, president and CEO of ForeSee Results. “Facebook has to learn how to deal with consumers across a broad range as they make changes.”

     I guess the moral of the story is even if you have a lot of friends, it doesn't mean people actually like you. Eat that douchebag with 1,274 friends.

Jimmy Eat World Prepare For "Invented", Tour

2010-07-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

There are few things that excite me more than a new Jimmy Eat World record. If you're from Gilbert or Mesa, Arizona, you know what I'm talking about. These boys are like the Beatles down there and their music is part of the fabric of our youth. Jimmy Eat World's first new album since 2007's Chase This Light is set to hit stores on September 28th. Entitled Invented, the album was produced by Mark Trombino who also worked with the band on Clarity and Bleed American.

"Band practice. Rehearsing new songs. Can't wait to play these songs live," tweeted the band earlier today. Tour dates are to be announced shortly.

Wynter Gordon "Dirty Talk"

2010-07-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought one of 2010's best summer songs would be by a girl named Wynter? Ms. Gordon's debut single, "Dirty Talk", is the thinking man's "TiK ToK", and the No. 1 dance song in the country this week according to Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs chart. The music video for her song isn't exactly what you would expect for a song about talking dirty, but it works. Check it out below.

Robyn To Release "Hang With Me"

2010-07-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

Robyn's first set in her Body Talk trilogy hasn't even cooled, but she's already gearing up for Body Talk Pt. 2 EP. The new EP is slated to be released on September 6 and be preceded by the single "Hang With Me". An accoustic version of "Hang With Me" appeared on Body Talk Pt. 1. The track is destined to be another Robyn classic, but I'm upset that she didn't get to release "Cry When You Get Older" as a second single from her first EP. Oh well. Check out "Hang With Me" below.

New Spice: Study Like a Scholar, Scholar

2010-07-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

He’s ripped, he’s smooth-talking, and everyone is in love with him. “Old Spice Guy” now has some real competition, Brigham Young University’s “New Spice Guy.” Stephen Jones, a senior and president of Humor U (a BYU comedy group), stars as the charismatic A+ student who has a sweatshirt torn from his body, catches random things flying through the air, and rides a man-powered cart.

The video appeared on YouTube this past Thursday and has gone viral within just a few days. With it appearing multiple times in a row on Facebook News Feeds that the same day, and now making appearances on the CBS Evening News with Ms. Katie, and today on CNN, it has reached over 1.09 millions views and there is no sign of the views slowing down.

It started with Jones doing a parody of the Old Spice commercial for Humor U performances. He was then approached by a group of students who work at the Harold B. Lee Library that wanted to stage a parody inside the library. It took a crew of 10 students and several volunteers to pull off the feat. Their goal was to create an entertaining video that would be close to the same level as the original without any computer special effects. After about three weeks of production Jones is now an Internet sensation.

It probably won’t get students to study more at the library, if anything it’ll probably just get more people there to use the free computers to watch the video.

Llama Fest

2010-07-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Utah Valley residents pet and fed llamas at the annual Llama Fest held at the Hindu Temple in Spanish Fork this past weekend.

1 Woman, 2 Uteruses, 2 Babies, 2 Due Dates

2010-07-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

Our fellow Utahn, Angie Cromar from Murray, who has TWO uteruses discovered that she is pregnant with TWO babies that have TWO different due dates. The condition is called a double pregnancy and is very rare. According to science, there have been less than 100 double pregnancies that have occurred in the world.

Cromar said that her first ultrasound ended in a huge surprise for both her and her doctor. Her doctor said that the babies have two separate due days which are about a week apart.

"I'm five weeks and four days in one, and six weeks and one day in the other," stated Cromar.

So how does one come to be pregnant in both of their uteruses?

Cromar was born with two separate uteruses which is a rare condition called didelphys, and she conceived in both this time. She has had normal, one uterus births before so just because she has 2 uteruses it doesn't mean 2 babies is a guarantee, or even likely. In fact, there is a one in 5 million chance of this happening.

In the female fetus, the uterus develops from two small tubes called Mullers ducts. As development occurs, the tubes normally join to create one larger, hollow organ. Sometimes – and I guess researchers don’t know exactly why – the tubes don’t join completely and each one develops into a separate cavity, giving the uterus a heart shape.

In most cases, the two wombs share a set of Fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix and vagina, but in some cases women have two of everything. Surgery can fuse the two vaginas into one, but the wombs are typically left separate.

Uterine abnormalities occur in as many as 4 percent of women who have normal pregnancies and of these 5% have a double uterus. Some women have the condition and never know it, unless it is diagnosed because of symptoms such as pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, or repeated miscarriages.

Ms. Cromar, a labor and delivery nurse herself, says that she is nervous, but very excited. Uterus didelphys carries a risk of preterm labor and low birthweight, but she has had normal pregnancies so far and so she remains positive.

Cromar is just 20 weeks along now, but the babies are already creating a buzz for the family and the medical community.

"As far as setting up bleachers and selling tickets, we are not anticipating that." chuckles jokester Dr. Terry.

"It's pretty rare. We are pretty thankful, pretty happy," Angie says.

Angie and her husband say they've gotten used to the anomaly. Now they're busy preparing for more of the normal parts of parenthood: exciting times and sleepless nights.

And if you think this is weird, read about an Italian woman's even crazier double pregnancy here.

Justin Bieber Beats Out Lady Gaga for Most Viewed YouTube Video

2010-07-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

     Tween singing sensation Justin Bieber recently over took pop artist Lady Gaga for the most viewed video on YouTube. Bieber's "Baby" featuring Ludacris topped Gaga's "Bad Romance" yesterday afternoon. "Baby" has managed to receive 246,353,903 views. "Bad Romance", the former top video, has received 245,688,071 views. In distant third is the classic baby video, "Charlie bit my finger".

   In terms of music video, Miley Cyrus has a strong YouTube presence. Her "Party In The U.S.A." is the third most watched video, while "7 Things" lands at No. 5 and "The Climb" at No. 7. Strangely, Pitbull's "I Know You Want Me" is No. 4 (Who watches that?). Lady Gaga also placed a second video in the top ten with "Just Dance" at No. 6.

     See the full list after the jump.

Here's the top ten music videos in bold along with the other top videos.

1. Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris"Baby" - 246,353,903 views
2. Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" - 245,688,071 views
Charlie bit my finger! - 210,251,092 views
The Evolution of Dance - 147,487,303 views
3. Miley Cyrus "Party In The U.S.A." - 138,671,331 views
4. Pitbull "I Know You Want Me" - 131,835,413 views
Hahaha (It's a baby laughing one) - 128,835,855 views
5. Miley Cyrus "7 Things" - 125,223,126 views
6. Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis "Just Dance" - 117,006,116 views
Juff Dunham- Achmed the Dead Terrorist - 115,605,281 views
7. Shakira "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" - 102,312,045 views
    Lo que tu Quieras Oir - 101,761,914 views
8. Miley Cyrus "The Climb" - 100,200,828 views
An Experiment - 88,369,176 views
9. Vanessa Hudgens "Say OK" - 89,101,173 view
10. Timbaland feat. OneRepublic "Apologize" - 87,367,914 views

And here are the rest of the top 25 music videos without other videos in the mix.

11. Katy Perry "Hot N Cold" - 82,703,723 views
12. Jonas Brothers "Burnin' Up" - 82,313,112 views
13. Rihanna "Rude Boy" - 81,154,711 views
14. Jonas Brothers "SOS" - 80,875,751 views
15. Jason DeRulo "Whatcha Say" - 72,988,996 views
16. Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce "Telephone" - 67,503,605 views
17. Justin Bieber "Never Let You Go" - 66,918,709 views
18. Flo Rida feat. T-Pain "Low" - 66,869,739 views
19. Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" - 66,437,027 views
20. Aerosmith "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" - 65,667,991 views
21. Akon "Don't Matter" - 65,272,091 views
22. Justin Bieber "One Less Lonely Girl" - 63,217,175 views
23. My Chemical Romance "Teenagers" - 59,617,172 views
24. Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind" - 52,339,717 views
25. Artists For Haiti "We Are The World 25" - 52,149,208 views

It's a very interesting list. There are a lot of entries that make me scratch my head. Besides the massive number of views for "I Know You Want Me", how on Earth did Aerosmith's 12 year old "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" rank as the 20th most watch video? You can't look at the list and ignore the power of Disney. Between the artist formerly known as Hannah Montana, Vanessa Hudgens, and the Jonas Brothers, Disney is directly or indirectly responsible for six of the top 25 videos (and if the list continued, the Disney love fest would continue). Although Lady Gaga does have two videos in the top ten, I'm surprised she didn't have more. And My Chemical Romance having a top 25 video while Britney Spears doesn't? It just goes to show you the demographic of YouTube users.

Facebook Movie: The Social Network

2010-07-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

“The Social Network,” directed by David Fincher, is a dramatic and comedic take on the founding of Facebook, starring Jesse Eisenberg as CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, who clashed with Zuckerberg after co-founding the company. Singer Justin Timberlake plays Napster founder Sean Parker, who became president of Facebook.

In theaters October 1, 2010.

value='http://flash.sonypictures.com/video/universalplayer/sharedPlayer.swf'>

Bridge Crushing: A Social Event

2010-07-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to 17tracksonline's newest section: UV Pics. It's completely devoted to photos of Utah Valley, and surrounding sister-cities, showcasing her awesomeness, strangeness, and beautyness (yes, I know I made that word up). Enjoy.

What better way to spend a hot, sticky Wednesday night than viewing the total demise of your local overpass? When almost every place in Provo closes at 9 PM, it's no wonder that people will gather to see Center Street shut down as Caterpillar Excavators demolish your former landmark.

See full photos after the jump.

Red States, Blue States, and Adult Obesity: What Fitness Levels Say About Our Politics

2010-07-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

     The 2010 "F as in Fat" report has been released, showing the levels of adult obesity across the United States. Colorado leads the list as the fittest states with only 19.1% of adults considered obese. Utah comes in 7th as the fittest state. For the sixth year in a row, Mississippi topped the scales with 33.8% of its adult population considered obese.

     What does this report tell us about the ongoing battle between red states and blue states? The above map shows all the states color coordinated based on the 2008 Presidential election and the message is clear: Republicans can stand to lose some weight.

     Of the 20 states with the lowest obesity rates, 15 of those are blue states. For the states with levels above 30%, all were red states. Utahans don't need to feel that guilty though, because the Beehive state was the fittest red state. In fact, the whole "Book of Mormon belt" of Idaho, Utah, and Arizona did well for itself, all falling below 26% adult obesity.

Find out how your favorite state fared after the jump.

State Obesity Rates for Adults

1. Mississippi 33.8%
2. Alabama 31.6%
3. Tennessee 31.6%
4. West Virginia 31.3%
5. Louisiana 31.2%
6. Oklahoma 30.6%
7. Kentucky 30.5%
8. Arkansas 30.1%
9. South Carolina 29.9%
10. North Carolina 29.4%
10. Michigan 29.4%
12. Missouri 29.3%
13. Ohio 29.0%
13. Texas 29.0%
15. South Dakota 28.5%
16. Kansas 28.2%
17. Pennsylvania 28.1%
17. Georgia 28.1%
17. Indiana 28.1%
20. Delaware 27.9%
21. North Dakota 27.7%
22. Iowa 27.6%
23. Nebraska 27.3%
24. Alaska 26.9%
24. Wisconsin 26.9%
26. Illinois 26.6%
26. Maryland 26.6%
28. Washington 26.3%
29. Maine 25.8%
29. Arizona 25.8%
31. Nevada 25.6%
32. Virginia 25.5%
32. Minnesota 25.5%
32. New Mexico 25.5%
35. New Hampshire 25.4%
36. New York 25.1%
36. Florida 25.1%
36. Idaho 25.1%
39. Oregon 25.0%
39. Wyoming 25.0%
41. California 24.4%
42. New Jersey 23.9%
43. Montana 23.5%
44. Utah 23.2%
45. Rhode Island 22.9%
46. Vermont 22.8%
47. Hawaii 22.6%
48. Massachusetts 21.7%
49. D.C. 21.5%
50. Connecticut 21.4%
51. Colorado 19.1%

17 Tracks Online

We've Moved

The Beatles for Sale - Digitally

Chart Watch: Rihanna Lands Eighth No. 1

Why the Jazz Rock

Top 10 Midterm Election Stories

What Went Right: How Taylor Swift Sold a Million Records In a Week

Robyn "Indestructible" Music Video

The NBA Where Amazing Happens

Kanye West "Runaway" The Movie

Speak Now: If Taylor Can't Do It, No One Can

Pros and Cons of Toms

Corruption in Local Law Enforcement

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Bing Teams Up With Jay-Z To Promote Memoir

Hayward Proves Valuable to the Utah Jazz

Willow Smith's 'Whip My Hair' Hits 'Sesame Street'

Arson destroys Seattle LDS chapel

Robyn "Indestrubtible" Single Mix

Kanye West "In For The Kill" with La Roux

Will.I.Am Explains the New Twitter Through Song

Brandon Flowers "Only The Young" Music Video

Kanye West Rocks SNL

How Facebook Changed Our Lives

John Stewart Reacts to Reactions of Colbert Congressional Testimony

If Mark Zuckerberg Directed "The Social Network"...

The Top 7 Best Britney Spears Covers of All Time

Oh No She Didn't: Woman Picks Her Nose During Newscast...Then Eats It

Jimmy Eat World "My Best Theory"

Sarah Palin Has Nice Legs

Stephen Colbert Testifies Before Congress

Complete Guide to Turning Blue

Rihanna Teams Up With Doritos for 'First Ever Interactive Music Video'

The Return of Modern Family

Cheryl Cole "Promise This"

Kele Live

Willow Smith Defines Decade with "Whip My Hair"

With Host Chelsea Handler, VMAs Earn Best Ratings Since 2002

The 5 Most Annoying Things About Roommates

Republican Boehner, Trustworthy Speaker?

20 Worst Status Updates Ever

Shaq vs.

A Creepy Reason to Keep Your Apartment Clean

10 Dumb Things You Don't Want to Do Your 1st Week at School

Bikestravaganza in Provo

UVU Renames Event Center

Happy VI Day

Happy BYU Independence Day

Bad Turnout for World Record Attempt

The Hundred in the Hands - Pigeons

Eminem Reigns Supreme on Billboard 200 Album Chart

Is "Do You Know Who Snooki Is?" the Defining Political Question of Our Time?

So Much for Anti-Establishment: McCain Defeats Hayworth in AZ GOP Primary

'Teenage Dream' A Pop Music Dream

The Single Entendre: 'Peacock'

Janelle Monae Releases Music Video of the Year

Lady Gaga Passes Britney Spears as Most Followed Person on Twitter

Katy Perry/Genesis Mash-Up

Animated Taiwanese Guide to the 2010 Election

Brandon Flowers Opens Up About Album

Your Canoe Is a Little Big

Bee-Money a Provo Legend

Free Download: Kanye West "See Me Now" feat Beyonce & Charlie Wilson

M.I.A. "XXXO" Music Video

McNugget Rage

Jimmy Eat World "My Best Theory"

Lady Gaga Crowd Surfs, Gets Licked at Lollapalooza

Kanye West "Power" Music Video

Eminem featuring Rihanna "Love The Way You Lie" Music Video

VMA Nominations: Gaga Reigns Supreme

Kanye's 'Chosen One'

Justin Bieber to Publish 'Photographic Memoir'

Former BYU Student Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping

Kanye West Embarks on Social Media Tour

BYU Hosts World Record Breaking Water Balloon Fight

Kid Cudi Gives Sneak Peak at New Album

Alleged Demos for Upcoming Britney Album Surface

Justin Bieber's Segway Getaway

Florence + The Machine "Cosmic Love"

Jimmy Eat World Announces Tour Dates