Wild Week Two

The second Sunday in the NFL has just finished up with some surprises. A notable early game was the Cleveland Browns (1-1) facing the Indianapolis Colts (0-2). This was the second game the Colts played without their star quarterback Peyton Manning who is still sidelined with a neck injury. The Colts who have been known for their fast starts have been struggling without Manning and this was their chance to rebound against the notoriously weaker Browns. However, the Browns have a new look offense led by Madden cover boy Peyton Hillis at running back. Hillis had two touchdowns in a win over the dejected Colts.

Another perennial powerhouse that was looking to rebound after a week one loss was the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1). They were up against another lower echelon team in the Seattle Seahawks (0-2). The Steelers had better luck than the Colts and were back in old-fashioned Steeler form shutting out the Seahawks in a 24-0 win. Ben Roethlisberger led the Steeler offense with almost 300 yards passing and 126 of those yards were to speedy receiver Mike Wallace.

The Baltimore Ravens (1-1) embarrassed the Steelers in week one and they were looking to roll over the Tennessee Titans (1-1). The Titans offense thought otherwise. The pressured Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco throughout the game. Ravens gave up three sacks and Flacco threw two interceptions. The Titans quarterback is the veteran Matt Hasselbeck who torched the Raven's aging secondary with 358 yards passing.

In the later games the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) traveled to the west coast to face the San Francisco 49ers (1-1). The heavily scrutinized Dallas quarterback, Tony Romo, needed to have a big game to silence the critics (at least for a few hours). He had a slow start, trailing the 49ers by 14 at one point. Romo who was diagnosed with a cracked rib, played through the pain and brought the Cowboys back. The game went into over time. Romo threw a 77-yard pass to receiver Jesse Holly to set up the game winning field goal.

The New England Patriots (2-0) beat up on the visiting San Diego Chargers (1-1). Tom Brady threw for over 400 yards after his record breaking performance last Monday night. Deion Branch led the Patriot receivers with 129 yards. Rob Gronkowski, the Patriot's tight end caught two of the three Brady touchdown passes. The Chargers had four turnovers which led for 17 points for the Patriots.

The last game of the day was the most hyped and for good reason. The Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) invaded Atlanta to face the Falcons (1-1). Star quarterback Michael Vick visited his old stadium and his old team. Vick played a tough game. He had over 200 yards passing and two touchdowns, but also had three turnovers. The Eagles were leading into the fourth, but Vick took a hard hit and left the game with a concussion. Mike Kafka, the Eagles back-up, stepped in and played pretty well for his first NFL game. However, the Falcons rallied in the fourth to comeback and win their home opener. Falcon's quarterback, Matt Ryan, played an amazing game, racking up 195 passing yards and 4 touchdowns.

The Buffalo Bills (2-0) and the Detroit Lions (2-0) are two of the surprising teams this year. The Bills led by Harvard graduate, Ryan Fitzpatrick, put up 38 points against the Oakland Raiders (1-1). Fitzpatrick has thrown seven touchdowns and 472 yards with only one interception. The Lions are also off to a hot start beating the Kansas City Chiefs (0-2), 48-3. Their 2^nd year quarterback, Matthew Stafford, threw four touchdowns. Javid Best, the Lions running back, caught a touchdown pass from Stafford and ran one in on his own. These two notoriously, bad teams are putting up huge numbers these first two weeks of the season. These next few will show if they are serious contenders.

Local musicians honor Kelly Thomas

By now, the beating of Kelly Thomas has made national news, and the Fullerton Community is still waiting for the six police officers, who allegedly beat Thomas to death in July, to be held accountable. The community's outrage towards the Fullerton PD was channeled towards benefiting the homeless and the mentally ill, Saturday.

Fullerton punk rockers, Sederra, organized and headlined The Kelly Thomas Memorial Concert and Canned Food Drive to raise awareness of the homelessness problem in Fullerton.

Supporters from all over Orange County came to show their support on a beautiful afternoon to honor Kelly Thomas, donate food and clothes to the homeless, and enjoy performances put on by local musicians.

There were performances by John Paget, Julian Porte, New Skool Kings, Mr. Mirainga, Robert Guta, Sederra, and 80 Proof.

Donations continued to come in all through out the event. As more people showed up, so did the donations. Some of the local homeless that showed up were given donations right on the spot. They were given everything from food and clothes, to deodorant and toothpaste.

The event was held at the Fullerton Downtown Plaza off of Wilshire Avenue.

Sederra’s Eric Bootow was the one who thought of the event. “I want to help out the homeless,” said the bassist. “Orange County is the number two per capita in the United States for having the most homeless. That’s over 45,000 people and 22,000 of them are kids,” he said.

I recognized many faces at the event. I have covered a few of the protests, for the Daily Titan, that take place every Saturday in front of the Fullerton Police Station and many people at those protests, of course, came and showed their support at the concert / food drive.

All the performances were very entertaining. My personal favorite was Julian Porte. His style of music makes me think of a modern Bob Dylan. He performed an original song called The Ballad of Kelly Thomas, which I found very catchy. It can be watched here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrJhUSXY3Ns

At the event, the Kelly Thomas Memorial Fund was also selling T-shirts at the event. Some of which read, "JUSTICE 4 KELLY THOMAS" and "KELLY'S ARMY." All the money goes to help the homeless and mentally ill all over Orange County.

All in all, Bootow feels that the event was a big success, "I'm very happy just to know that I made a little difference. At least we were able to open people's eyes to the situation. That's what I'm most stoked about," he said

Goodnight America!

The United States of American has proudly adopted the term “American Dream” as a symbol of where dreams come true. “Inaccuracy” is an understatement of what we call the American Dream.

Some students working two or three jobs, put themselves through college while coming home to Top Ramen on the menu or maybe the infamous Mac and Cheese diet? It all sounds pretty familiar since many of you are in the same sinking boat while sticking your fingers in the holes, trying to stay a float.

As if that was not enough, the fee increases sit perfectly on the the mountain of issues. Even when school loans are not enough to fully support the student, the stress of the child is stacked up on American parents that are already practically camping at their jobs to pay for college tuition and other living expenses. Looks like the only American Dream we are looking at is the “American” that sleeps and “Dreams” after a forty-hour week at work

Now don’t get me wrong, opportunities are still out there for those that are willing to claw and shed thick blood for these competitive jobs. Think about it; how many students graduate each semester with a BA, an MBA, or a PHD? Now with the ever decreasing job market and company budget cuts; the American dream seams to be painfully unobtainable.

Mark H., 24, a CSUF alumni, just graduated last semester with he’s MBA Business degree. He recently got a job with Warner Brothers in the participations analysis department. Mark seemed to have spent more money on college tuition alone (as he is an international student) then he would make in the next two years at the company that he had dreamed to work with; the American Dream that he was determined to have, merely fell short of its promises.

We see the "American Dream" as a mirage of hope for many, but as hope turns into desperation, we should call it "When America Dreams." Goodnight America!

Who Rules Burgerdom?

When Southern Californians hear the word 'burger', it's natural for them to think of In 'n Out. The burgers there are the standard against which all other fast-food burgers are measured. Some restaurants come close to matching an In 'n Out burger's deliciousness, but none come close to matching the chain's consistency. Even sober people go there after midnight--they all know that their burgers will be done right, and taste exactly like their very first.

But there exist two realms of burgerdom: the fast-food realm (the champion of which is undisputed), and the sit-down restaurant realm. So what about the latter? It seems like every restaurant has a burger, and it seems like most of those burgers are total shit. You can order a burger three separate times at the same restaurant, and you'll get a different one every time. One day it's well-done, the next it's too pink and sits on a dry bun, and the last time it's served open-faced with a wobbly pickle and too much mayo. Poor form. The sit-down restaurant had no champion, and I yearned to find a place that could take the crown. Then one day I drove east on the 91, and I found that champion. Its name is Slater's 50/50.

Tucked away in a corner of a strip mall close to the border of Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills, Slater's doesn't look like much from the outside. The signage is simple and sleek, the inside looks dark, one door is always flung open, and the neon signs in the window tell no tale but that Bud and Coors are served. Walk in, however, and everything changes. You notice how crowded it is. There are two bars, one of which is packed with diners, and the other is packed with young people catching a buzz and trying not to go deaf. TVs cover every line of sight in the house. The chalk-board beer list is posted in multiple locations, and yes, it is impressive (you can even get high-ABV Belgian beers in massive, 22-ounce glasses!). Finally, you realize that the place has a distinctly savory smell. You ask yourself what that excellent reek is, and the answer comes quickly: yup, it's bacon.

Whoever thought to put bacon on a burger was fucking brilliant. Too bad the execution is often less-than-so. Either the bacon is too crispy, or too greasy, or an entire strip slaps you on the chin when it's pulled out by the first bite. Not good. Slater's found a solution. They put the bacon in the patty. That's where the 50/50 comes from: it's 50% ground beef, 50% ground bacon. And it is 100% delicious. They have to cook it fully, of course, but the inside of the patty is still pink from all that yummy bacon. You'd think it would be unbearably salty, but you'd be wrong. The flavor is something akin to pastrami, but with an extra dose of beefiness. Like its competitor, The Counter, Slater's lets you choose from a few pre-configured burgers or build your own. Every topping and sauce you could ask for is listed, from baconnaise (yes, it exists) to gruyere to cucumber to fried pickle chips. It sounds criminal, but they'll even let you put bacon on top of your burger. And it's all piled onto your choice of a light, slightly sweet brioche bun, a tender wheat bun, or a toasted, dry ciabatta (which is to be avoided at all costs. You have been warned). The trick is to keep it simple, so as not to make the burger too tall. A tall burger equals a messy disaster of mouthwatering proportions. Try this: the 50/50 on brioche with baconnaise, grilled onions, jalapeños, gruyere, and fried pickle chips. It's just an unbelievably good burger. You could even swap in garlic aioli and roasted green chiles and you would still have something incredible.

I've gone several times, and it just keeps getting better. Now when I hear the word 'burger', I think of Slater's 50/50. Go ahead, brand me a traitor to In 'n Out, I don't care. My loyalty lies with one thing, and one thing only: bacon.

The Internet; Use Your Resources

Whether you love it or hate it, social networking and blogging sites just may be one of your best resources. Think about it, sites such as Twitter (and others) have connections to all kinds of people and all kinds of companies, all around the world.

After receiving months of conviction from friends, I recently joined the so-called “Twitterverse.” Though I thought the site was all hype, I decided to give-in and see what all the fuss was about.

Being the celebrity-obsessed person that I am, I knew it would at the very least, be a great way to keep up with celebrities, and maybe even “tweet” a few while I was at it. But, I had no idea that this would become an obsession.

Knowing the last thing I need is an obsession with something that will virtually have little rewards in the end, I decided to change this obsession into a potential portfolio for future work.

If you were to look at my twitter page, I am sure the fist thing you would notice is the fact that almost all my tweets are to celebrities and companies. Therefore, noticing this about myself, my idea began; especially when I received some tweets back.

My idea to document tweets started when I tweeted the country radio station KFROG. I tweeted them saying I needed an internship, and I was hoping to get one with them. They tweeted back asking what kind of internship I was looking for and if I was a student. I answered them back and mentioned I would even be glad to write tweets for them. They responded saying they would let me know if there were any internship openings in their web department. After this, I decided it might be a good idea to save all my important tweets to keep for a portfolio. You never know when it may come in handy. If the chance for an internship with KFROG does arise, I will be sure to show them these messages and more.

Not only have I tweeted KFROG and got a response, but some celebrities have responded as well; ok well, semi-celebs anyways, lets say D-listers. But regardless, I figured I could also save these tweets in order to show that I can actually get some people (especially ones who are usually hard to get a response from) to respond. Along with these, I am saving some Tweets that I believe present some “inventive” ideas of mine. Regardless if these ideas would work or not, I think they showcase that I try to be creative and think outside of the box; all while using Internet resources to do so.

With our current society constantly revolving around computer and online experiences, I think showing that you know how to work with these assets is a good thing. Whether its blogging about something extraordinary, being able to write something witty in 140 characters or less, showing your photography/videography work, simply used for networking, or whatever you may want to use the Internet for, it’s simple way to use your talents, hobbies, and (possible) addiction the Internet to potentially boost your career. They say companies are always looking for fresh and new ideas; it’s a way to show that you can give them what they are looking for.

Maybe this is wishful thinking. However, I think it is worth a try. As of now, all I know is that I have potential luck with getting an internship in the web department of a radio station due to Twitter. If I am able to show them what I can do through Twitter and the Internet, it just may “up” my chances of actually landing the internship. Then, in the long run, as I hope to add more tweets (and now blogs) to my list, it may help in acquiring future jobs as well.

My advice to all reading is take advantage of your resources. With Twitter, Facebook, and other social network and blogging sites, you have countless possibilities and connections with people and companies; you never know who is looking. So show them what you got and network while you are at it. Make sure you remember them; but more importantly, make sure they remember you!

Fullerton Resident Honors 9/11 Heroes and Civilians

Nearly 1600 American flags and hundreds of custom-made crosses lined Scott Townley's front lawn in Fullerton on the corner of Fern Dr. and Woods Ave. to commemorate the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks.  Flowers engulfed his lawn while a large white sign with bold letters read, "In Honor of the Heroes and Innocent People Who Perished / September 11th, 2001 / We Will Never Forget."

Townley, who has been a firefighter for the Santa Ana Fire Department since 1986, began memorializing 9/11 victims three to four days after the attacks.

"I felt compelled to do the memorial," Townley said.  "I placed a hand-painted sign for all the firefighters and followed it by putting between [20-50] flags on a mound by my corner lot.  Over the years, I've always had that up every single September 11th.  Last year as I was taking it down, I thought to myself, 'Next year is the 10th Anniversary...I need to do something bigger -- something that people will really remember.'"

Townley did just that, and so much more followed.

Over the past week, local residents, council men, and firefighters paid multiple visits to his home while media outlets flocked to his doorstep, requesting interviews for segments about the memorial and his journey to its completion, including CBS-2, KTLA-5, ABC-7, and more.

His project started soon after last year's anniversary and took about 11 months to complete.  The result was beyond imaginable: 1600 small American flags meticulously placed throughout the front lawn; hundreds of hand-crafted crosses to pay tribute to FDNY, NYPD, and Port Authority officers; three massive, handmade crosses, each standing 8-feet tall; and a table filled with facts about 9/11, the names and faces of deceased heroes, a guestbook for visitors to sign and water.

With the exception of one 8-foot-tall cross, the other two read "FDNY 393" and "NYPD, PAPD, NY."  The third cross was labeled "Civilians."  In blue and read font, it listed the names of all the civilians who perished on 9/11.  The list included 2,835 names from the World Trade Center, American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, the Pentagon, the United States Army and Navy, American Airlines Flight 77 and United Airlines Flight 93.

As for the 1600 flags, Townley mentioned that one small flag represented three lives lost, however, the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD were each given their own flags as a tribute to fallen heroes.

"What has been happening is that people who knew some of the firefighters personally, have been coming here to take the flags in front of their crosses.  Some are bringing it back to the widows and orphans of these firefighters.  Once they are taken, I take the flags surrounding the trees and replace them.  The policemen also have flags, but of those I have spoken to, none have known any of them," said Townley.

A year from now, Townley has a similar plan for his memorial, except this time, he will be placing over 3,100 flags on the front lawn.  He says one flag will represent a life lost as a result of 9/11, so no one will be forgotten.  Set up will begin on either Sept. 1st or 2nd and some locals have already stepped up to volunteer.

"It's a labor of love.  It was my honor -- an honor to my FDNY Brothers."

Lost October

We have a dilemma in California that not even Governor Jerry Brown will be able to fix. Yet again, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Los Angeles Dodgers have underachieved and may not make the playoffs.

The glory days of 2009 when the Angels and Dodgers were two of baseball’s best clubs are long gone, and possibly for the second consecutive year So-Cal will be left to watch the playoffs without their beloved teams. Though the Angels have an outside shot, the chances are slim to none (with the Dodger’s odds being significantly worse).

With the season almost over and local teams on the outside looking in, some fans have become apathetic as evident in the attendance at Dodger Stadium, which is only 65.5% full according to ESPN. It appears Dodger fans have lost faith.

Angels fans are showing up to home games at a much higher percentage of 85.7%, but there is only so much we could do. If the team owners (or lack there of with Frank McCourt) didn’t beef up their teams in the off-season or before the trade deadline, we can’t expect much difference than last year’s dismal season.

So what are us Californians to do come October? Do we root for the vile Yankees, Red Sox or Diamondbacks?

To answer that quickly: hell no, we don’t cheer for our rivals!

I don’t care if the Angels and Dodgers have a 1% chance of coming back and making it to the playoffs, as fans we shouldn’t give up hope all together. Yes we could get frustrated, throw a pillow at the TV when Jeff Mathis strikes out, and scream when the injury bug strikes again (sorry Andre Either). All of these reactions are natural and they are the side effects of bleeding the colors of your favorite team.

Therefore, if worse comes to worse, when October comes around we should do what fans are supposed to do when their team fails to live up to expectations: we suck it up and move on. This means not realigning with the rival or rooting for the team going against the rival. We must just watch silently and wait patiently for next year, like a bear in hibernation waiting for the season to pass by to rear its head from its cave.

And like a bear, we will soon be on the prowl again to hunt down our prey.