War.

This video is amazing. I once spoke with a translator, contracted to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, who told me all about this sort of stuff and how the media is not given access to anything important. Or, if they do publish anything that looks bad they will likely get their future access revoked. This is probably my biggest pet peeve about our wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. I understand the argument that some things need to remain secret, be it for strategy, personal safety, or whatever, but to simply suppress any and all negative coverage robs US citizens and the rest of the world a chance to form any realistic conclusions about the side effects of our wars in the middle east, beyond what the Administrations want us to believe. We need to understand that war causes a huge amount of pain and suffering for the people caught in its path. When US soldiers blindly shoot Iraqi citizens and journalists from a helicopter, because they appear to possibly be insurgents, for example, I can see both sides of the coin. This is war. Innocent people are going to perish. People are guilty until proven innocent. There is no time to make well-researched decisions when your life could end at any moment as a result. And it's just that which makes me dislike all the killing being done in our name, while a large percentage of us are too busy to notice, or care, about anything beyond what's on television or how annoying it is that our flight to Miami is delayed for a few hours due to mechanical problems. Ho hum. (youtube)

Just Desserts 11

It's time for this month's Just Desserts! We're stoked to have one of our all-time favorites on the bill tonight. Hailing from NYC and one of Trouble & Bass' founding members, Drop the Lime knows how to get the party started. In support, two of Chicago's best round out the bill. Dark Wave Disco and Ghetto Division will act as a perfect compliment on the night.

Doors are at 9pm. Party goes til 1:30am. We have $4 Syn vodka and $3 Bud all night. The event is 18+ and there's a $10 cover. Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincon Ave.

Music Video: JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound

I had no idea this video existed until today. Well done and still a great tune. (youtube)

Plumbers For Quinn

Many of Illinois’ biggest Democratic politicians were in the building to show support for incumbent Governor Pat Quinn, including headlining speaker and Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden. I was originally hired to take fundraising photos of donors posing with Mr. Biden, however, things changed last minute and that didn’t happen. No fear, I instead wandered around and documented the actual event upstairs. These political events tend to be interesting affairs and you never know who you might bump into. At one point, while waiting to pass thru a metal detector, I turned around and was greeted with a handshake by the one and only Jesse Jackson. Did you know he came in 2nd place, behind Michael Dukakis and in front of Al Gore, in the 1988 Democratic nomination for President of these United States? I didn’t either until I read it on wikipedia later that night.

Click here to see my photos from the rally for Governor Quinn...

Photo Blog: Severin Koller

Severin is a super talented and young photographer from Austria. I've been following his work since way back in my early days of photography and the internets over on deviantart. While he is solid in many areas of photography, he is notably one of the few photographers I can think of still shooting large portions of his work in film and developing it himself. And I'm not talking about point and shoot stuff, either. His blog is incredibly detailed and lengthy, as he tends to post almost everything he shoots, it seems. For a more refined and organized approach, check out his portfolio. But if you have a few hours to spare

Check out the photo blog of Severin Koller...

Get Familiar! w/ Drop the Lime

This Thursday at Lincoln Hall, Willy Joy & everyoneisfamous.com presents Just Desserts #11 with Drop the Lime along with Ghetto Division, Dark Wave Disco and DJ Just Desserts. Drop the Lime hails from New York City and is a member of Trouble & Bass. He also happens to be one of the best DJs around and is not to be missed! Hope to see you at Lincoln Hall this Thursday!

Photo Portfolio: Alex Boerner

Alex Boerner has a great photojournalistic eye and a talent for catching unique moments. You should definitely 

Check out the portfolio of Alex Boerner...

Photo Blog: Yvan Rodic

Yvan Rodic, best known as the facehunter, spends his time traveling the world and taking photos and blogging about fashion. He also recently put out a book of his fashion work. In addition to all that, he posts a wide variety of photos on his photo blog.

Check out the photo blog of Yvan Rodic...

Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand

I've been out of town for three weeks or so, thus the complete lack of anything going on around here. My first day back home in Chicago and getting back into the regular grind of things when this video popped out of the internet clutter. It's a lot of fun and in general just made me smile an awful lot. (vimeo)

The Big "O"

The off-season is wrapping up and I won't lie to you friends I am curling my toes like that ONE chick, in that ONE movie, when that ONE thing is happening!!

This being the biggest off-season in league history we were treated to what can only be described as every NBA beat writers Hannukah present for the next 6 years (Yes they're all Jewish. Yes they usually get socks) But I'll give it to them, the NBA is writing one hell of a script. One built for Hollywood blockbusters that DON'T include Rick Fox, Common, or Whoopi Goldberg.

As you now well know the NBA has a new Evil Empire. Lebron Skywalker turned to the darkside joining Darth Wade and Boba Bosh through an intelligent design orchestrated by the sinister Palpatine Riley. The Miami Heat are the consensus A-Team, spelled with a capitol ASSHOLE, and the target on their back could not be any bigger, brighter, and more rewarding.

Now to be fair. This is a business, it's Two-Thousand-Fucking-Ten so get over it you baby. The Brooklyn Dodgers have no place in today's world. And getting upset about it isn't going to bring back your dead goldfish. 

NBA, MBA, PAY-TO-PLAY.

Sure I cried when Kevin Garnett left me. But you know what? HE didn't hold a national press conference to spit in Minnesota's eye. Say what you will, he may be a grizzled old coot these days, but damn it he was a class act then, now, and when he left as far as Minnesota is concerned! Say otherwise and I'll give you a shiner that'll make Kirby Puckett double take... (note:R.I.P. Kirby Puckett...)

I have no problem with Bron leaving Cleveland. Sure it's a sad day for Lids and NBA jersey salesmen. But he knew what he was doing. There are still no illusions that Miami is Wade County. (That's right fantasy ballers Dwayne Wade will continue to put up phenomenal numbers this year!! His FG% and Assists will be up from last year and it all comes at the cost of a slight decrease in scoring output. Plus he'll may still be available with the 7th or 8th pick!!) James knows it. Bosh knows it. But let's get serious. You want predictions. So here goes:

THE MIAMI HEAT WILL NOT, I REPEAT NOT, WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR. BUT THEY WILL WIN 3 OF 4 THE FOLLOWING!! THAT IS 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 5 YEARS!! DO THE MATH!!

You heard it here FIRST!!

That being said I'll apologize for the hiatus in entries and announce I'm officially back on the blog grind!! So buckle up, knuckle up. It's going to be a huge year and there are a lot of teams who SUBSTANTIALLY improved their roster. SPOILER ALERT: CHICAGO AND PHILLY ARE GOING TO BE SERIOUS PLAYOFF CONTENDERS AGAIN!!

But come on, this off-season belongs to the HEAT so leeeeezzzzgoooo!!

-Dylan via trippell dubbell