panasonicyouth Blog and Journals

The Internet truly is a terrifying place. I mean, there's an entire legion of people out there who willingly enjoy Twilight. Sheesh. Lucky for you, you've got your friendly Buzz Guides to help you find all the wonderful, positive, and joyous things in the world. Each week, we'll bring you the stuff that gets our gears turning and our hearts melting. And this week, PanasonicYouth pens his second entry into the series. Don't miss out!

INTERNET

Let's just start off with the best. If you follow me on Twitter (WHICH YOU SHOULD, BECAUSE I BASICALLY DO A VERSION OF THIS EVERY DAY. GOD.), you'll remember this.

Ah yes, The Juggalog. It's just about complete, so you'll have the extreme pleasure of getting to read the whole thing. Basically, a guy gets a job selling merch for the Insane Clown Posse. He takes photos. He gives you insight into the most bizarre and fascinating subculture of all time. Enjoy the ride.

TECHNOLOGY

Yeah, I'm inventing a new category simply because I can. Last week, Netflix sent out these nifty discs that allow you to play anything in their Instant Watch catalog on your PlayStation 3. I bought a PS3 earlier this year because I wanted to JOIN THE 21ST CENTURY and because I grew up being denied video games because they were SATANIC. Plus, I live off Netflix! So now I can watch thousands of movies and tens of thousands of episodes of television shows on my TV. And the quality looks like a DVD. It's wild. Which brings me to my next category!

TELEVISION

This. This is what is consuming my life right now. All TEN SEASONS of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit are available for me to watch at any time of the day and I've watched 15 17 episodes since Sunday night. I plan to finish the second season by Sunday night. I don't know what precisely appeals to me about this show. Maybe it's that Olivia Benson (played beautifully by Mariska Hargitay) is such an outright feminist and there aren't many of those on TV. Plus, IT'S SO ENTERTAINING. Anyway, the 11th season is currently airing and I'm on my way to catch up with it. By the end of the month. Oh god HELP ME.

MUSIC(als?)

Something happened a week ago. Before coming home from touring with AFI, I went to my friend Kat's house in Michigan. And we watched RENT. I was a fan of the musical but, somehow, I had never seen the movie adaptation. IT IS SO GOOD. Not the same as the original production, but still, it is QUITE AMAZING. And since I got back on the 10th, I have done nothing but listen to the soundtrack for RENT. Guys. I really want to cover the theme song. And now I'm seriously considering a way to be in a production of this musical before I die. Also: JESSIE L. MARTIN. I NEED NOT SAY ANYTHING MORE.

FOOD

I don't think I can be an atheist anymore. Because, ever since going vegan, there's been on thing that just isn't right with the world: vegan cheese. It's just not that good. Follow Your Heart makes a decent substitute, but it has a strange taste to me. But now, the heavens have answered: Daiya Cheese. It stretches. It melts. And it is so ridiculously delicious. It is the best vegan cheese on the entire planet. LOOK AT THIS PIZZA RICHARD MADE WITH IT. Seriously, guys, if you were worried about giving up cheese to go vegan, you need not worry. Daiya is here and it is wonderful.

VIDEO GAMES

You get two of 'em today.

Let's start with the old one. I do not and have not ever played a first person shooter aside from Silent Hill like....8 years ago. They're generally not my thing, I'm weirded out by realistic killing in video games, and most of them are too SUPER MASCULINE for me to care about. But my friend got me into Resistance: The Fall of Man last weekend and I just beat it last night. WHY IS THIS SO FUN. I've never been good at dual joystick controls, yet I was able to get the hang of it. The game was smart, creepy, fun, and the other main character (the narrator) was actually a smart, non-sexualized female! Hurrah! Plus, you get to blow up SUPER SCARY ALIENS.

Katamari Forever, only available on PS3, is the greatest video game of all time. The King of The Cosmos needs your help repairing the solar system, so you, The Prince, must roll your "katamari" around and pick up all sorts of garbage and miscellaneous items. And that's it. You roll a ball around different "worlds," collect stuff, get bigger, and collect more stuff. Deceptively simple, absurdly hilarious, and insanely addicting. You will not regret it.

Enjoy!

Signing off,

Mark

On the heels of the release of their new album, Crash Love, perennial rockers AFI have announced a new string of tour dates, taking them throughout the West in January. Fans who have checked out the band's East Coast dates have been treated night after night with a mix of old and new songs spanning AFI's massive eight album catalog. I have been on tour capturing AFI In Transmission ... Check it ...

We're starting a new weekly feature here at Buzznet in an effort to spread propaganda share with you things that we think are awesome. Each week, a different Buzznet staff member (and sometimes, a band member or community member) will give praise to the best in music, movies, art, television, books, and whatever else they're digging. AND YOU WILL LIKE IT! Or not. But come on in and enjoy the fun!

So I'm (Panasonicyouth) handling this week's inaugural run of the Buzz Guide. Expect the unexpected!

MUSIC

There's few things I am more excited and enthused by right now than Strike Anywhere's Iron Front. Released less than a month ago on Bridge 9 Records, it's a refreshing and inspiring slab of incredibly catchy melodic hardcore. Half this site listens to pop "punk" and completely ignores melodic hardcore. WHY. I am changing that. If you like your music to be infectious, fast, and thoughtful, get into this.

BOOKS

So, reading the Twilight series is painful to me, so I need something to wash away all the bad feelings. I've been doing that with John Ajvide Lindqvist's Let The Right One In before I go to bed. It's incredibly haunting, poetic, and terrifying. I've got less than 60 pages left and I'm in love. THIS is how you write about vampires and love. Also, it's all about being bullied and we all know my childhood was TRAUMATIC, so this book has already earned a soft spot in my heart.

MOVIES

Look, call me a hipster. I DON'T CARE. This movie is so wonderful for expanding on the subtext in the children's novel to create a two-hour extravaganza of joy, anger, fear, and sadness. THIS IS NOT A CHILDREN'S MOVIE, ALSO. It's a movie for adults who read the book as children. And it is glorious. Near tears? Yep. Smiling ear to ear? Gotcha. Wishing it never ended? That makes a fine movie. Go see Where The Wild Things Are.

TELEVISION

I don't actually have cable (THANK YOU, HULU), but I don't miss this show. GLEE is not perfect, but what it does get right redeems everything else. Subversive, hilarious, and wildly entertaining. It's an appreciation of music and, to a greater extent, of all of us in high school who did what we loved, even though it made us unpopular. Also: Jane Lynch. I'm a fan.

ART

The Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles (located in Little Tokyo) just started their sequel to their 2007 Giant Robot exhibit. Let it be known: I LOVE GIANT ROBOT. This exhibit is a celebration of all things Giant Robot and focuses on artists who have either appeared in the pages or on the cover of the magazine. If you live in Los Angeles or you're going to be here before January 24, 2010, make a point to go.

INTERNET

And the best thing I've come across on the Internet this week is Movember, a movement to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer. Grow gross, disgusting, and slightly ironic mustaches during the month of November for a good cause. I'm sorry, that sounds like the best idea of all time. Head on over to the Movember site and see how you can help!

Signing off,

Mark/Panasonicyouth

Look, if you're not watching GLEE these days, you're missing out on a show that's unique, hilarious, subversive, and FULL OF MUSICAL GOODNESS. In honor of one of the best shows on modern television, Buzznet is giving away 5 prize packs to the best representations of your love for GLEE. Bust out your cameras and get entering!

Full instructions on how to win a GLEE prize pack inside...

In an attempt to break a world record or two and to capture images for their upcoming video for their new single, "Kings and Queens," 30 Seconds To Mars will be shutting down the world-famous Santa Monica Pier on the evening of October 12th. Additionally, they'll also be taking over Hollywood and Highland. What do they need from you to help them reach this insane accomplishment? Your bicycle!

Find out why 30 Seconds To Mars need bicycles for their new music video...

It's already October! That means that somewhere, someone is celebrating Octobeard by growing some grizzly man chops or getting ready for Halloween. Facial month shenanigans aside, what are you doing to get ready for the 31st?

It's never too early. In fact, times running out!

Dudes. Dudettes. Do you love Where The Wild Things Are? Are you excited to see Spike Jonze's adaptation on the big screen? Do you have an endless supply of wit? Then I have the best contest for you! Buzznet is giving away 15 special edition "furry" editions of the The Wild Things that covers the making of the film. All you have to do is provide the best caption for one of the images pulled directly from the movie in order to win!

Full instructions for our caption contest inside...

You would think that after making a QOTD thread specifically to remind me to post this new photo assignment, I wouldn't forget about it. Talk about irony. Anyway, we're marching forward by wrapping up assignment #57 (Near/Far) and moving onto our new assignment: Light/Dark. Yes, this is going to fun. Yes, it's going to rule. Get out your cameras and start shooting!

Full results of assignment 57 inside, along with instructions for new assignment...

With a band like A Fire Inside (AFI), fans become used to seismic shifts in appearance and musical direction. It's been three years since decemberunderground and the band's widespread exposure influenced a scathing and upbeat set of songs that make up their new record, Crash Love. And, of course, they've brought with them a complete shift in their sound and presentation. Will you love Crash Love?

Full review of AFI's Crash Love inside...

So, we're set to host a really interesting interview with the wonderfully talented Tegan and Sara. We're going to have the two singers/songwriters interview each other. Here's your task: What would you have them ask of each other? What would you want to learn about the band from its members? Get out your thinking caps!

Full instructions for our unique Tegan and Sara interview inside...