methodwriter85

Hey Blue and Private Tim...what are some great gay club tunes from '02?

Thanks. It's 2002 now, which means we're in the year of Avril Lavigne. It was kind of hard to ignore her, because she was hyped so much as the anti-Britney Spears, and we were at the start of the anti-pop years. Teen bubblegum pop didn't really make a return in the United States until the Jonas Brothers hit circa 2006-2008. Anyway... Chapter 13 -When Matt watches Wade, Tiffany, and JJ find their perfect house, and realizes that he no longer belongs with Wade, and Boston is not going to be home to him. "I'm Moving On" by Rascal Flatts -When Will drives J.P.'s 1963 convertible. "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys Every time I hear this song, I like to picture myself driving around early 1960's Southern California, hitting up the still relatively undeveloped beaches and getting a burger and shake at the hamburger stand for 50 cents. You know, the world of all those 60's beach movies and all that. -When Will realizes that being antagonistic towards Zach's parents actually helps him out. "Without Me" by Eminem Every time Eminem makes the diss at Moby, I just think, "Well, you're now 41, so there!" I don't mind his current music but I don't know...he can't really pull off the "angry young man exposing society's ills" role anymore. Still, in 2002 he was at top form, and his videos were pretty brilliant back then. It sucks that YouTube often censors the shit out of them.

Let me guess. You were an 80's hacker ala Matthew Broderick in War Games, and the feds busted your ass.

The other thing to keep in mind is that Manhattan has a square mileage of 33 miles, while Philly has 152 miles. For density reasons, it makes sense why Philly doesn't have a skyline like New York City or San Francisco. What has been driving skyscaper production, however, has been the increased popularity of Center City and University City- that's where most of the skyscapers and tall condo buildings are being put because of the demand for those areas. The real estate crash of '08 halted much of the plans, but they seem like they're back on again. Here's a video that explains the Curse of Billy Penn. The new Tower actually has a lower roof height than current one, so it won't be necessary to move the Billy Penn figurine to that one, I don't think.

Don't I know it. I was so disappointed when you told me under no circumstances that there would never be a love triangle between JJ and Will over the affections of some guy. Anyway, I loved how Zach's break-up lasted for about 5 minutes. I think Zach thought he could just cut Will out of his life, but then realized that he really couldn't do it.

As an aside Blue...Lionsgate announced they're splitting Allegiant into two movies. Ugh. What the hell? If the movie had done Twilight box office, I can see it, but it's not- it's done well but it's not the massive cash cow that would justify making this move. I wonder how Shailene and Theo feel about being locked in for 4 films now instead of the 3. I'm sure they figured it on being a possibility, but I bet they probably thought that given the fan backlash about Allegiant and the solid-but-not-astounding box office, it wasn't going to happen. Anyway, Chris Hemsworth as older Brent? I also thought Long-Haired Chris Hemsworth would make a good Roger in The Land Whore. I remember seeing Chris Hemsworth at this year's Academy Awards, and thinking, "Yep, I think he finally got tired of his Thor hair." It's probably for the best that he just go back to using extensions- really, there's a shot he could be playing Thor over many Marvel movies over a very, very long time.

Chapter 12 -When Will tries to contain his rage feelings. "The Red" by Chevelle -When Will angsts over Zach. "Alone Again" (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan -When Will and Zach try to work things out. "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne Yes. Avril Lavigne officially exists in Cap World now. She blew up over the summer of 2002. My god the hate comments on her were hilarious to read back in the day. She had to be the most annoying teen star of the decade, mainly because she had attitude like she was better than the Hilary Duff's of the world because she was "real", but she was just as manufactured as anybody else. I remember a rant session from college kids who were pissed that she mispronounced David Bowie's name at an award's show. -When Will and Zach cement their new resolve with a tumble in the sack. "Escape" by Enrique Iglesias -When Will and JP talk about the situation with Zach. "Hide Your Love Away" by The Beatles

So this week in Viral Videos, I'm going to post an Edlers React to #Selfie, the viral video with nearly 59 million views that basically serves as the Valley Girl for the Millennial Generation. It's now a Top 20 hit. I gotta say, I'm mostly on the side of the elders. I'm not sure that's going to leave a desirable digitial history. I don't really do the selfie thing, but I remember Adam once going off on how narcissistic and self-obsessed my generation is...and I gotta say, I can really see it. So many people chase online social media fame these days. It was an interesting mirror, I think.

Me, neither. I always kind of figured that if/when JJ becomes big enough that he's got agents and sponsors hounding after him, he'll be asked to distance himself a bit away from his family because of the surprising amount of homophobia in figure skating. At the very least, I can't see JJ marching with Will in Gay Pride 2004 or making public statements about gay rights. He'd have to be very tight-lipped about his very public gay brother. Especially when Johnny Weir's rise to fame means the figure skating community desperately wanted a wholesome Disney counterpart and therefore groomed Evan Lysacek to be "straight" in public. In any event, Mark, kudos to you for making me give a damn about Zach and Will. This is the first relationship that Will's had that I'm actually really interested in, and rooting for to happen despite all the problems. I think it's because there's nothing really about Will and Zach's dynamic that reminds me of anybody else, I like that Will's got a very "warts and all" attitude towards Zach instead of the other times when he had his love interest on a pedestal, and I like that Zach really does seem to care about Will despite the fact that it's actually in his best interest that he doesn't. Like the 90 percent selfish part of him would have dropped Will in a heartbeat, but this 10 percent part of him...that part is clearly agonized about doing it. And the fact that two years ago I would have bitched HARD about you having Will fall in love with a Hayes football player from Claremont makes it all the more impressive. You really did make it so that this doesn't in any way feel like a retread.

Nice, Tim. Maybe that look above is probably just more of a "bro" look than a surfer look. I've seen a lot of guys rocking that look- the EDM types, in any event.

I can't believe I forgot these two: Pumas: Adidas Throwbacks:

So is this like how Coastal surfer kid types dress now? I feel like the funky tank tops, usually with graphics, have been pretty popular this decade...I think this guy kinda is a good example of the "2010's look" that I'm thinking of with this. The only thing he's missing would be a tattoo sleeve or ugly chest tattoo. I had a moment of clarity, when I was checking out the clothing at American Eagle, that I really can't stand what's in right now. LOL. That made me feel very old. American Eagle was my favorite clothing store when I was in my mid-teens to early 20's, and now I can't stand the stuff in there. I think the details for male clothing right now have gotten "fussier" compared to the minimalist mid-90's to mid-00's. In my opinion, I really liked circa 2005 clothing, with the pastel polos, the cargo shorts, and the layered t-shirts. I thought it was the most flattering part of that decade.

I was walking in the mall today, and I noticed a LOT of paisley-print pattern shirts for men on sale, especially at H & M. I guess that's coming back in?

Try being someone who went to high school in the first half of the 2000's. That song was ALWAYS trotted out.

Because having fraternal sex worked out so well for Aaron and Nathan, and Gathan and Zach. I'm going with a resounding "no" on this. I think Matt needs to learn how to be a brother to Will, and it's not an easy thing for either of them. It'd be one thing if they were two brothers who had grown up together and were naturally curious about exploring- but they didn't grow up together, Matt was never really Will's big brother, and I think sex would complicate whatever tentative bond they've got going on.

Chapter 11 -When Matt recounts his graduation day weekend, 2002. "The Graduation Song" by Vitamin C I still can't believe that I'm actually 1 year away from my 10th year reunion. Damn. Time sure flies, huh? *Raises fist* Class of 2005 still rocks! -When JP takes Matt out for a ride and they talk. "Ventura Highway" by America -When Brad tells Will about what he's uncovered about himself in therapy. "In My Place" by Coldplay I really liked Coldplay in the early/mid-2000's. I can't think of a single song after "Fix You" that I liked though, though. -When Will and Zach end up at pretty much the place you expected them to end up at. "What I Did For Love" from A Chorus Line "A Chorus Line" is such an awesome musical. It's a shame that the musical film adaption basically gutted the whole thing and made Michael Douglas the star even though he shouldn't have been.

Thank you for clarifying that was a movie adaption change- I really didn't remember reading that, and I could've sworn that Four doesn't realize that Tris was divergent until the simulation crisis. Anyway....Hailee Steinfield as Madison Graves? I was watching True Grit and thought, "I can see her as Jeanine's "take no shit" teenaged daughter." I'm going with the idea of Maddy having Jeanine's coloring. She can't be blonde like Cody, because I showed off Kiernan Shipka for a blonde Maddy and Mark wouldn't sign off for that, and if Maddy were blonde, there's no way Kiernan Shipka wouldn't have been perfect.

He's eligible for parole in 2020.

You would think that, but repeat offenses are pretty high in the U.S.

Right. On one hand, I really do hope that if this guy gets out at 37, he can lead a productive and fulfilling life. At the same time, I'm with the poster in being frightened at the worst case scenario, which is that this guy is still very much obsessed with her, and will do anything to be with her. She's planning on living out of the U.S.A. by the time this guy gets out, so she should still be okay, but still.

In my mind, Insurgent was the last book and I have not touched the third. LOL. I hope they are planning a massive overhaul of the third book. Normally I'm for book authenticity (I'm going to admit it bothered me a little how much they changed Silver Linings Playbook from the book even though it was still a good movie), but if what people have been saying about the third book is true, I'm willing to throw that out. Seriously, they apparently turned Four into this little emo bitch for the third book. Can you honestly see THIS being an emo little bitch? It's not going to work on a 30-year old guy. I actually like where they went with 4's casting- getting a rugged looking, older guy instead of a 22-year old pretty boy, but it's pretty baffling for what Four's characterization for the third book is, unless there are some big changes.

I don't think the kid in this case was evil, though. Joe was suffering through years of abuse, had one thing that made him happy, and his abuser was standing between him and the one thing that made him happy. That doesn't excuse it, but I think this case was a bit more nuanced than the kid being completely evil.

I'm actually pretty happy with how it's performing- it's at 105 million domestic right now. The movie will probably wind up with at least 120 million. It's doing well enough that the movie will get sequels, but not so well that they'll get the ridiculous idea to split the third book up. I've been rooting for Shailene Woodley ever since I saw her on an episode of Cold Case back in 2007 (although not enough that I watched that horrid Secret Life) so I'm happy with her cemented stardom.

Oh, you know it's true, you Dallas Frankenbro. LOL. ;-) (Just kidding. I know you're nothing like this.)

I've taken to browsing Reddit, and I came across this fascinating story of a woman who, when she was 14 years old, had a boyfriend that killed his mother. This happened in Fort Worth in November of 1999. Here's an article about the case- he was sentenced to 40 years in 2000. They were in this cute, puppy love very innocent kind of relationship, and one day he got the idea to spend their half-day off at her house, before going back home, with his mother being none the wiser. His younger brothers snitched, the mother became furious, and he was forbidden from seeing her. His reaction was to stab his mother while she was sleeping, and when his brothers tried to save her, he stabbed them as well. They survived; the mother didn't.The writing's not on Adam Phillips-Level, but I still think the story is fascinating from a psychological point of view. The boy was getting abused by his mother, and it seemed like this cute puppy love deal with the reddit poster was probably the one thing that made him happy. After years of abuse, then having his mother keep hm from his "true love", it makes sense that the guy snapped. You have this cute little 10th grade hearts and flowers innocent love story leading to something completely horrific. I think the juxtaposition of that- the innocence and quite frankly immature nature of courtship against what he did to his mother in the name of said relationship- is just fascinating to me. As for the poster, could you imagine being a 14-year old girl with all of this saddled on you? He started sending her long, rambling letters about how he was glad to have done it for her. *shudders* I can fully understand that the poster is scared about the fact that he could be paroled as a 37-year old in 2020. She's hoping that the guy has forgotten about her, but she's not taking her chances. So do any of the numerous Texans here remember the case? It seems like this does happen- kids killing their parents in the name of "true love", although in this case the girlfriend didn't set him up to do it. Although of course, kids being kids, they tried to blame her for it and she got harassed for awhile.