God, Please Save These Troubled States

You may think you know everything about Buzznet’s own prolific blogger, NewAgeAmazon, but you don’t. Ashly’s knack for the written word was inspired by science fiction heroes like Neil Gaiman and Warren Ellis. But the root of her passion for justice and equality? We guarantee it’s a surprise. – Mark Oshiro, Community Manager, panasonicyouth

Learn more about NewAgeAmazon inside…

Our Taking Back Sunday-inspired photo assignment, suggested by Millie, was a doozy and we've got some of the creepiest entries to date. No, seriously, I expected some spooky ghosts, some misdirection, and some out-of-focus trickery. But, as always, I'm blown away by the sheer creativity you guys have. Want to see how your peers responded? There's only one way to find out!

See the results of this week's photo assignment inside...

Alex Vance (or AlexV, as Buzznet may known him by) is a lifelong Beverly Hillbilly. Over the many years he’s been active in our community, he’s shared tidbits of information about his life as a lawyer in Los Angeles. Through our interview with him, we scratched past the surface of his humorous personality to discover the origin of his wit, how his snapshot photography has changed, and which Buzznet member would totally die in a plane crash. –Mark Oshiro, Community Manager, panasonicyouth

Learn more about photoblogger AlexV inside…

Hey guys! I have decided to do the AIDS/LifeCyle again this year. (If you recall, last year Rich and I did the ride. It was, honestly, one of the best weeks of my life and I plan to make it even better this year.

NOTE: FLICKR LINK TO PHOTO PRINTS IS NOW DOWN BELOW!

If you have no clue what I'm talking about, allow me to explain. The AIDS/LifeCycle is bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The route is usually around 545 miles. (Though this year, due to construction, it might be 20-30 miles longer.) There are three main reasons for having this ride:

1) The physical challenge. I mean, seriously, 545 miles in one week. HOLY GOD. Also, this year, Rich and I will be doing the entire ride on FIXED GEAR BICYCLES because we cannot resist the temptation to be RIDICULOUS HIPSTERS AT ALL TIMES. (Actually, it's for the challenge, but let's not kid ourselves. I need the cool points.)

2) Fundraising! This year, we're required to raise $3,000. About a 1/3rd of that goes towards funding the ride: providing camping, food, showers, etc while I'm riding. The rest? It goes to the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center to provide funds for their HIV/AIDS healthcare services and work towards HIV prevention. This is INCREDIBLY important this year, as California has essentially stripped The Center of all of their government funding. I've been to the Center myself and the amount of help and medical care they provide to the community of Los Angeles is without parallel. Trust me when I say that this is one organization that needs and deserves any help you can give this year!

3) Awareness! A lot of people ask why this event is not just a fundraiser and why there's cycling attached. First of all, it's hard to get anyone to give to a charity, but if you feel as if you're "sponsoring" a friend or a relative, it's a bit easier to convince someone to help out. But I was shocked and pleasantly surprised how much direct activism and awareness goes into the ride itself. I had so many conversations with strangers while I biked down from Northern California. Obviously, people want to know where there are 3,000 cyclists coming through their city. And when you tell them you had to raise $3,000 each in order to ride, that you care so deeply about ending the plight of AIDS, and that you want others to know how they can help, it creates the kind of lasting impressions most activist organizations fail at.

So here's the deal! I am about $2000 short of my goal this year; with the economy in the toilet like it is right now, it's been really hard to make my minimum amount. (I think it took me less than a month last year to make all $2,500.) So, this year, I'll be offering SHAMELESS GIFTS in exchange for any donations you can give me!

If you donate $20 or more to my fund: I will HAND DELIVER you an "I Bike LA" shirt if you live in Los Angeles or any surrounding cities withing 20-30 miles. Otherwise, I'll mail it out to you!

Here's what it looks like:

If you donate $50 or more to my fund: I will HAND DELIVER you a print of one of my photographs if you live in Los Angeles/surrounding cities! Or...well yeah, I'll mail you the print if you don't live close.

LINK TO MY FLICKR SET. There are 18 photos in the set!

IN ORDER TO DONATE, PLEASE VISIT MY DONATION PAGE TO GIVE MONEY! The site takes credit cards and you will also be given a receipt for your taxes! (It will arrive in the mail a few weeks later.)

This is also important: Please provide your email address when you donate so I can contact you to give you the shirt or the photo print. YAY!

Anything helps, even if it's not $20. If you can't donate, please forward this journal on to other people so that they can possibly help! Send it to your parents, your friends, to teachers and counselors...more exposure helps the cause!

Thanks a million, guys. This really means a lot to me.

This is our second user-suggested photo assignment and I'm kind of surprised how long it's taken me do one about the band Taking Back Sunday. I mean, like half of you adore this band and their lyrics are rife with opportunities to create art. So MillieAnn282000 gave me this lyric today: "What's It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?" You know what to do! Get those cameras out and start shootin'.

Full instructions for this week's Taking Back Sunday-themed photo assignment inside...

For almost everyone on Buzznet, there comes a time when you’re rendered speechless by a photo taken by Sandrrra. A high school student in Poland, she has used her lens — and her practiced eye — to capture herself, her life in Europe, and to transcend the conventions of photography. Our interview with her, just one week prior to her graduation, revealed her inspirations and aspirations as she dons the cap and gown. -- Mark Oshiro, Community Manager, panasonicyouth

Find out more about Sandrrra inside...

You guys are just too good. We decided to celebrate the music of Depeche Mode this week with a photo assignment about one of their most popular songs, "Personal Jesus." Armed with the line, "Reach Out And Touch Faith," the Buzznet photography community churned out 112 pieces of original art. No, that number is not an exaggeration. Love! So much love!

Full results of this week's Depeche Mode-themed photo assignment inside...

The Gaslight Anthem aren't afraid to wear their hearts--and their influences--on their sleeves. Playing the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for the first time, however, may have been a bit daunting for the Jersey-based trio of Springsteen-obsessed punk rockers. We spoke with bassist Alex Levine in a candid, exclusive interview about the constant doors that seem to open for The Gaslight Anthem. The band hoped their mature message, their infectious energy, and their passion for playing real, genuine, and emotional music would win the desert crowd over.

Find out more about The Gaslight Anthem inside...

It goes without saying that the rock duo of The Ting Tings appreciate art and the culture that comes with it. So we weren't surprised to find out during an exclusive interview with Katie White and Jules De Martino at the 2009 Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival that the band have set up shop in the art suburbs of Berlin to record a new record. They were candid about their experience of signing to Columbia Records and gushed about appearing in a commercial for iTunes.

Find out more about The Tings Tings future prospects inside...

Ok, so people were REALLY stoked to hear that I might do a Photo Assignment based off of Depeche Mode, so I couldn't resist. Here's your photo assignment for this week: Take this lyric from "Personal Jesus" ("Reach out and touch faith") and go absolutely nuts with your camera. What does that phrase mean to you? Have fun!

Full instructions for this week's Depeche Mode-themed photo assignment inside...

Buzznet caught an exclusive interview with the boys of TRV$DJAM before they took the trek out to the desert to play this year's Coachella Festival. When Travis Barker (Blink-182, +44) and DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) join forces even Michael Jackson might be caught dancing. Find out which artists would make DJ AM and Travis' ultimate tour. [cut=For the full interview, read on ...]

Buzznet: No Doubt's summer tour with Paramore and The Sounds is the ultimate summer tour. If you could assemble three artist to tour with to create your own "ultimate" tour, who would come on the road with you?

DJ AM: Biggie, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix... But I don't think that's gonna happen.

Travis: Kid Cudi, The Police and AM and I.

Buzznet: When choosing songs for mash ups and remixes, is it a collaborative effort?

DJ AM:  Its always a colab. I may bring up a song Trav is not feeling so we keep moving. We both gotta make that, "Oh shit, this sounds good" face.

Travis:  Adam usually comes with the some songs, I have some song ideas and then we see what jams and what doesn't. 

Buzznet: Travis, what challenge does drumming to remixes provide you? What techniques do you have for coming up with a beat when you hear what Adam's created?

Travis:  It's always a challenge. Sometimes it sound good just to double up on drums and improv when I want. It's always a challenge learning all the programmed drum parts to different songs. 

Buzznet: Adam, what one artist have you found to be the most fun to remix?

DJ AM:  I love hearing Travis play live, HARD drums over Rush - "Tom Sawyer." It just sounds right. 

Buzznet: Why did you decide to release the "Fix Your Face" mixtape for free online?

DJ AM:  Why not? 

Travis: It was one of our sets from the Roxy shows and we figured we'd record it. 

Buzznet: Travis, you mentioned in an LA Times interview last summer that creating beats "is really natural" for you. Can we expect you to integrate that technique into your work with Blink-182 this summer?

Travis:  Here and there I'm sure there will be some programming I create but for the most part Blink calls for live drums. 

Buzznet: What type of energy do you bring to your live show? Do you work off a traditional "setlist" or is everything improv?

DJ AM:  We make a set of tons of songs we like and that sound good, then we whip 'em together! 

Travis:  It really depends on the set; sometimes we improv and just feel things out. 

Buzznet: Travis, since you come from a background in punk/hardcore, any chance we'll see more TRV$DJAM mash-ups with old hardcore songs (perhaps some Dag Nasty)?

Travis:  That would be fun. I don't know if it fits though. Dag Nasty rules. 

Buzznet: Adam, if you could choose one song apiece from Blink-182, No Doubt, and Green Day to throw on a mix tape, what would you choose and why?

DJ AM:  'Josie' by Blink, 'Big City Train' by No Doubt and 'Longview' by Green Day. I love them all. The BPMs wouldn't allow me to mix em, but those 3 songs rule.

Buzznet: Coachella is known for drawing popular musicians and high-profile celebrities as attendees. Who would you be excited to see dancing along and enjoying your music this weekend?

DJ AM:  I don't really care WHO is there, as long as they are there for the right reasons. The music. I'd rather see Joe the Plumber going nuts when we play Queen then a reality TV star trying to look cool. 

Travis:  Hopefully Michael Jackson. 

 

TRV$DJAM play Coachella on Saturday in the Sahara Tent, from 7:20pm - 8:20pm.

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Missielmay is a wellspring of artistic excellence on Buzznet, and her profile provides just a glimpse into the life of a profound talent. She writes, she takes photographs, and she produces stunning hand-drawn portraits. We found out where her drawing talents came from, the one "genius" writer she can always depend on for inspiration, and whether she’ll be posting more portrait tutorials in the future. –Mark Oshiro, Community Manager, panasonicyouth

Find our more about Missielmay in today's Get To Know...

This past week, I decided to have a photo assignment celebrating the music of Queen. Now, not that I expected NO ONE to know who they were, but I've been pleasantly surprised (again!) at the overwhelming response to "Is This The Real Life?" Our "Bohemian Rhapsody"-inspired assignment has 86 entries (and counting!) so far and boy, they're incredible. There's only one way to find out how your peers responded!

Full results for this week's Queen-inspired photo assignment inside...

You may think that the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is just like every other festival on the planet: huge, overwhelming, and outside. Oh, quite the contrary, my Buzznet friends. It is hardly ordinary in any sense of the word. This will by my fourth year attending the fully-submersive music experience and, while I'm certainly not the MEGA EXPERT on all things Coachella, I've picked up a thing or two that will help those people referred to as "n00bz" navigate the desert fairgrounds.

Find out how you can survive Coachella this year...

See? I promised we'd do these every week. And we've got a lot going on in the Buzznet community. Hunter Burgan from AFI has a new feature, new bands are blogging on the site, and our users, as always, are coming up with more fascinating and interesting blogs and photos. Dive on in and see what's happening' round Buzznet.

Learn more about your Buzznet community inside...

Oh man, we're busting out the big one today. It's high time we did a photo assignment based on one of the best bands to ever exist on the face of this good earth: Queen. And, of course, we're also going to derive our inspiration from one of their most popular songs, "Bohemian Rhapsody." Your lyrical inspiration this week: "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" Have at it!

Full instructions for this week's Queen-inspired photo assignment inside...

As one of the co-admins of the Buzznet Originals group, Seb knows a thing or two about our community. He’s very active in forums, comments, and, in the two years he’s been a part of this site, he’s gone from photo-blogging to posting stunning works of photographic art. But we knew there was more beneath the surface. We found out why Seb got involved with the Originals group, where Spanky The Monkey came from, and why drama can be fun.

Learn more about Seb in today's Get To Know...

Ted Leo would be proud. Proud! This week's photo assignment, drawing inspiration from "Me & Mia" by Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, inspired 70 submissions in less than a week! What really struck me this week is the combination of humor and deeply personal revelation in the batch of photos posted. Come on in and check out what your peers contributed!

Full results for this week's Ted Leo-inspired photo assignment inside...

Olivia (SmilingOnTheInside) may have just turned 13 today (Happy birthday!), but this young woman has the practiced eye of a veteran artist. She turns her Nikon D40 on herself and her peers to capture a fractured, honest, and refreshing view of life in urban Michigan. We found out what makes her tick, who inspires her, and what the world needs to find peace. –Mark Oshiro, Community Manager, panasonicyouth

Learn more about SmilingOnTheInside in today's Get To Know...

As promised, I'm starting a new blog feature every Monday that wraps up what's going on around Buzznet, both for the community and the site itself. This week, we've got a new journal tool to discuss, the winner of the illustrious Skittles contest to show off, Bamboozle madness to gush over, and more fun with the Buzznet Twitter account. Come on in!

Find out what's going on around Buzznet this week...

Kasper first joined Buzznet over two years ago and since that moment, we've been constantly surprised and impressed with his sense of humor and his frank honesty about the world and his own life. We've followed his witty comments, his insightful blogs, and his revealing self-portraits. But we knew there was more under the surface, so we had an impropmtu conversation with him about gender, his musical progression, and why we should blame everything on Pete Wentz. -- Mark Oshiro, Community Manager, panasonicyouth

Read more about Kasper inside...

We have gone far too long without spreading our love of Ted Leo & The Pharmacists through photography. This week's photo assignment is going to draw inspiration from a line in the song, "Me and Mia." Your task: "Do you believe in something beautiful? Then get up and be it." Get to posting those photos, my friends!

Full instructions for this week's Photo Assignment inside...