methodwriter85

That is pretty damn cool. What incredible timing for the video that the city just happened to have workers weld the doors shut.

I do think if any place can compete with L.A. on that score, it's Dallas, Texas. Seriously, I don't get why it seems like so many hunky guys come from that area. Maybe it's just because jock culture is king there? I mean, there's a reason why Abercrombie and Fitch is based there. Texans do seem similar to Californians in liking their outdoor, active lifestyles and tans, so maybe that's it?

Alanis Morissette, who had spent the late 80's and early 90's as a Canadian pop star, shocked the world when she released her album, Jagged Little Pill, on this day in 1995. A searing and brutally honest album, it struck a chord with audiences and has sold over 33 million albums since its release twenty years ago today. Here's a retrospective from people who talk about what the album meant to them: Revisiting Jagged Little Pill Twenty Years Later On a personal note, my sisters were older so I got to listen to a lot of their music, and I remember just being astounded by listening to this as a 10/11-year old. There was such a great outpouring of wonderful female-centered music during the mid/late 1990's- Alanis Morisette, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan,Melissa Etheridge, Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crowe, Paula Cole, Shawn Colvin, etc etc. I'm glad I had teenaged sisters to introduce me to it. Anyway, to celebrate, here are my favorite tracks from that album, aside from the obvious. 1.) "Hand In My Pocket" This does such a great job of describing that twentysomething angst. I relate to this so much more now as opposed to when I was 10 years old. 2.) "Perfect" Brutally honest tune. I didn't have parents like that (one was too busy gambling, the other was too busy drinking like a fish), but it still struck a chord in me for some reason. Later on, when I got to high school and saw the immense pressure a lot of my peers were under to perform, I really understood it. 3.) "Mary Jane" I think it's a great tune to listen when you're depressed and need a pick-me-up. What a great "you just need to hold on" tune. 4.) "You Learn" I always found this to be a great philosophy to live by. All the shit you go through- try and learn from it. Her stuff still really holds up well. It's crazy when you think she was 21 when she pulled off such an epic music album

Kellan Lutz (Emmett from Twilight) as Brent Hayes? I always thought Kellan had a very Hayes look to him. I recommended him for Matt way back in the day but Mark kind of went "I can see where you're going but not quite." I can see this guy as the friendly, not-too-bright-but-gentle-giant kind of former high school jock that Brent is supposed to be. His hair and the texture/color of it is basically EXACTLY how I picture the typical Hayes hair type, as well.

I knew because I basically researched 2001-2002 music...I soundtracked like three stories set in those years.

Mark, do you know this tune? It was from 1985. I heard it in the movie Two Night Stand with Analeigh Tipton and Miles Teller...I totally wish I had remembered this tune when I was doing recs for Man In Motion: "Anything, Anything" by Dramarama It's a great tune. There's an epic scene of Analeigh Tipton dancing to this tune in the movie. It's better known for being in the soundtrack for Nightmare on Elm Street 4, which I watched a lot as a little kid. Seeing this tune again in a (relatively) new movie was pretty cool

Those are actually more like 2001-2002, not 2003-2004.

Not so much clothes, but LOVED the mall rat culture. It's a shame malls are dying out. My local mall is actually doing pretty damn well but mall rats are discouraged. But yeah, I learned about an 80's pop star named Tiffany on VH1's Behind the Music who actually performed in malls and just LOVED her: She was kind of like the second-rate Debbie Gibson, who I do remember because my sisters owned Electric Youth perfume. I think I recommended this for a Will scene circa Poor Man's Son and Blue immediately responded by hating on it...but come on, it's 80's cheese at its best!

If I re-lived the 1980's, I would try to do these things: 1.) Shop at the Sherman Oaks Galleria circa 1983... 2.) Going clubbing in Los Angeles circa 1986 3.) Hit up Gritty 1980's Times Square....maybe buy up some property. Also, of course, spend some time at the World Trade Center 4.) I would also buy up property in Center City Philadelphia....lol. Except for anything to do with the Galleria at Market East 5.) Try to bang early 1980's Harrison Ford... 6.) Spend a trashy summer at 1980's Jersey Shore, as well as hang out in circa 1989 Monmouth Mall...god the fashions. The fashions! 7.) Watch the fall of the Berlin Wall 8.) Live Aid at Philadelphia in July 1985...that must have been incredible! 9.) See circa 1987 U2 in concert. 10.) Coke. Lots of Coke. (Just kidding.) I do think the 1980's were a fun decade. I think people were past the hangover that was the 1970's, and they just really seemed to want to have fun. Also, that early/mid-80's preppy look was MAD flattering on guys, in my opinion. I bet 22-year old Mark Arbour looked hot as hell in that gear. But then again, fashion got really, really hideous by the end of the decade: Neon has made a big comeback, but thankfully nothing like that.

I've already dedicated these, but if we're talking the 80's, these are some great Man In Motion tunes for Brad and Robbie: "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club "Tenderness" by General Public And of course, this fucking amazing tune: God, I wish I could re-live the 1980's, don't you? Anyway, the 80's revival is going on in 2003 Cap-world, so I'm looking to do a lot of retro throwbacks.

This song's kicking around my head right now...it would have been absolutely perfect for Robbie and Brad during Millennium: Did anyone catch the Lifetime biopic on her? I was actually surprised at how good it was. Anyway, the trailer that ran for it used this song, which was perfect. Of course, in retrospect- it's ironic that Robbie was so worried and terrified about aging, as he died at age 38. By some definitions he didn't even hit middle age.That was some nice dramatic irony on Mark's part.

Hmm, duly corrected. I guess it would have to be Bushwick or somewhere in Queens. (Isn't that the next hot borough after Brooklyn?) Anyway, it's 2003. Candy colored polos with popped collars should be coming in at this point. I started doing it in 2004, but I'm always late on stuff so I'm sure it started in 2003. The look remained popular until 2007-2008. God, I LOVED that look. I miss doing it. It will probably come back in circa 2023, but by then I'll be pushing forty and it would look ridiculous on me as a 38-year old as opposed to how cute it looked when I was 18. That look is just SCREAMING John Hobart. I can just see him walking around in a light pink polo shirt, layered over a dark pink polo shirt, both collars popped.

No, it did. Sergio mentioned the hipster look, and Marie likes wearing boho clothing. Boho is getting pretty big circa 2003, but the hipster look was still kind of fringe...it doesn't really explode until about 2007 or thereabouts. Apparently a book called The Hipster Handbook was released in 2003 and it was tied into Williamsburg. The phase itself was from the 1940's, but it's morphing into the way we think about it happened around 1999-2003, at least according to Wikipedia. It was accurate and forward-thinking for Sergio to know the term in 2001-2002. It's kind of a shame that no one seems to be thinking about buying up properties in Brooklyn. I mean, TriBeCa is nice, but they already bought at a high price point because it was already a hot neighborhood in 2001. I mean, I'm sure they're still making a killing on it, but imagine the profit margins on getting properties in Willamsburg or Fort Greene or even Bushwick circa 2002-2003.

Well, there's only one way to check. Private Tim, does looking at this guy make your eye twitch?

So we're now in 2003 in CAP-World...what are your favorite 2003 tunes? Here are some of mine: 1.) "Ignition" by R. Kelly 2.) "Milkshake" by Kelis This is going to be SO perfect for CAP. 3.) "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes It's a shame that Zach's championship season took place in 2002, the year before this song came out. Oh, well. It's interesting how this became a sports anthem. 4.) "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" by Jet 5.) "Intuition" by Jewel I think this was great satire, but it was so good at mimicking what it was parodying that people didn't really realize it actually was satire. It works on its own as a pop tune. 6.) "Right Thurr" by Chingy 7.) "Get Low" by Lil' Jon & The Eastside Boyz ft. The Ying-Yang Twins This song hung around for A LONG time. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard this at college parties, as late as 2009-2010. I'm hoping we can see Zach at some college parties where I can use it. 8.) "Hey, Ya" by OutKast Who didn't love this song? 9.) "I Believe In A Thing Called Life" by The Darkness 10.) "Stacey's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne I LOVED Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and I was a self-professed "80's historian" back when I was a teenager, so you can imagine how much I loved this tune and the accompanying video. 11.) "Move Your Feet" by Junior Senior 12. "Satisfaction" by Benny Benassi God, I wish I was doing clubs when this was out. I bet it was a blast to dance around to in a big, sweaty club. 13. "Transatlanticism" by Death Cab for Cutie 14.) "Swing Swing" by All American Rejects Tyson Ritter. Man, the drugs aged him HORRIBLY. He was so cute in 2003. He looked like a skinny Tom Welling. I remember he appeared on One Life to Live back in like 2009, and I got contact high watching him. Anyway, this is another one I can't wait to use, Great teen angst tune. 15.) "Numb" by Linkin Park 16.) "We Used to Be Friends" by The Dandy Warhols 17.) "Where is the Love?" by Black Eyed Peas I really, really can't wait to use this one as well. 2003 was definitely one of my favorite years for music. I was in 10th/11th grade then, so it was kind of the highwater mark for high school for me.

I really do wonder how Mark is going to handle having these characters exist in the mid-2010's, because he can't seem to stand beards or excessive tattoos, and young guys who are both clean-shaven and without any visible tattoos seem to be becoming a rare unicorn. And it's not just the alternative people who are like that- frat boys are getting like that now, too. Then again, Mark also ignored grunge when we were in 1995, and he also completely ignored the circa 1998-2001 skater boy aesthetic even though I think Will would have had A LOT of friends who rocked that look. I do think it's going to be hard for Mark to ignore the hipster look, because they're based in San Francisco, and these characters often mix with the creative class.

Well, his body is pretty damn nice as well. I liked him because he's good-looking, but not really in a pretty-boy way, more like a boy next door way, and he seems like he has an honest, trustworthy face, which I feel like Tony has to have in order for him to be such a two-faced, manipulative lying ass.

Alright, I guess this is where I should admit that I didn't watch the movie because I was so distressed by the trailer and Jonas's conversion into a hunky looking 25-year old. I mean, I've loved that book ever since I ran across it in the library in 3rd grade. I guess I can give the movie a chance. Who knows? Maybe Jem will turn out to be a good movie? Well, probably not. I do get why all these Gen Xers around Tim's age are losing their shit over the trailer, given the reaction I had to The Giver trailer, although this REALLY looks like it's just a name-only adaption. I basically get a "Josie and the Pussycats" vibe, but one taking itself seriously, instead of the campy fun that movie was. Luckily I'm not too attached to the material here, but whatever. Anyway, Ryan Guzman is pretty cute: I'd say he'd be a good Tony, but Mark has been extremely picky on the Tony thing that I've given up hope of ever finding a Tony. LOL. Not that it really matters now since Tony seems to have ridden off into the sunset. However, if a really cute Latino/Italian/Mediterranean-looking guy in his mid/late 20's shows up, I'm recommending Ryan. LOL.

I enjoyed getting to know Adam Becker's family. I like that Phillip is written as being pretty overbearing about trying to get Adam to be more like him, which explains why Adam is very into creating his own world at Tulane, and why he doesn't want his sister to go there. I also liked the bit about how insanely hard it was to get into the Ivy Leagues circa 2006. Welcome to the height of the Millennial Baby Boomlet.

Asa Butterfield (the apparently new Spiderman) as Alisdair? God, I hope the character makes a comeback. I'm with Tim in hoping he comes back into the story at some point. I'm not sure I want him to marry Will, though. Asa Butterfield would have made SUCH a good Jonah in The Giver. Not that I'm not bitter about how they cast a hunky 25-year old for that part and then apparently turned it into the Hunger Games, or anything.

This annoying tune is stuck in my head right now: "Shower" by Becky G

Vice President Joe Biden's son, Beau Biden, has died at the age of 46. Beau Biden Passes Away at the Age of 46 It's weird. I'm pretty shocked by it, although not shocked. His health had seemed sketchy for the past couple of years, but I didn't think it was like life-threatening because he was still so active. I have a very vivid memory of watching the 2008 Democratic National Convention on the t.v. with the Delaware Young Democrats Club at Kildare's Pub in Newark, DE, and just the beaming amount of pride we all felt as Democrats and Delawareans when we saw Beau Biden give his speech about his father. I still remember the typo they had, where they captioned him as "Bo Biden" instead of "Beau", and our club president basically clutching her peals while they fixed it. I honestly thought that Beau was going to continue his father's legacy, and the Biden family was going to become its own little mini-political dynasty. He for damn sure was going to be governor of Delaware in 2016. It's such a friggin' shame. Beau really seemed like he was poised for big political greatness.He had the chops and the know-how. And to be honest, I was excited at the thought that maybe, just maybe, Beau could've become president someday and we'd have our first First State president. I can't imagine what it would be like to have outlived two of your own four children. My condolences to the Biden family. It does go to show you though- cancer doesn't really care who you are or what your father is. If it wants you, it'll take you. America seems SO divided these days- along class, along race, along political lines- that this is kind of a little reminder that there are some things that are universal and bond us all. Man though ,what a waste. Forty-six is too damn young to go out.

I've never really been an album guy, but these were my favorite tunes the year I was 20/21 (2006-2007): "Where'd You Go?" by Fort Minor "When You Were Young" by The Killers "Phantom Limb" by The Shins "Open Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessional "It Ends Tonight" by All American Rejects "Objects of My Affection" by Peter, Bjorn, and John And by the same guys... "Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn, and John Yep, those are my favorite tunes from circa 2006-2007.

I'm just got off my third shift as a concessions guy at a large movie theater. I can't stand it. I don't feel like I'm particularly good at this and I'm just not feeling it. I also don't really fit in as a guy who's 29 among a bunch of teenagers. Should I just up and quit? Or should I just see it through to the end of the probation period, and then quit? I do really need the money but I really don't know if they'll keep me. I'm thinking about asking the managers for advice so they know I'm trying. Luckily if they do decide not to keep me at the probation mark I don't need to mark this on my future job applications but eh. This is just not fun. The training has been almost non-existent...you were pretty much just thrown out there, and the first two days were okay, but today just flat-out sucked. The main idea was to work this job to pay the bills, and hopefully get some money set aside to take some computer classes. But man, I do not know if I can make it. Part of me wants to gut it out, do my hardest, and seek out feedback to see how I can be better, but the other part wants to get out now.