I recently had the honor of interviewing James who plays the drums for the post-hardcore band Oceana.  The band is from just out of St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida. They currently released their debut album called “The Tide,” on March 4th, 2008 through Rise Records.

Manufacturing of the band

How did you all meet?
We were all in previous local bands, and finally just all came together and started writing stuff, and it went on from there.

How long have you guys been playing together before being signed?
About 2 months

Was it difficult getting signed?
We actually lucked out on that, we recorded 2 demo songs and Rise loved them, so we hit it off with them very quick. It was definitely a right place right time type of situation.

Other Jobs

What jobs have you worked at?
We’ve all worked various jobs like pizza places, K-mart, Tijuana Flats, etc. Just low wage jobs pretty much

If you were not involved in music as a profession, what would you guys do?
We would all be in college/finishing highschool. I (James) was originally planning on going to school to be an aerospace engineer before Rise threw a contract at us.

The Record

Who wrote the lyrics for the album Oceana.
All of us did, we all wrote to ourselves and then sat down with what we had written and used that.

This question is for any and everyone.  What is your favorite song on the record?
We don’t have one favorite song to be honest, we all love different ones. Personally, mine would have to be The Portrait.

Touring

How is touring going for you guys?
Amazing! It’s so much fun and we’ve had some really amazing shows along with life changing experiences that I wouldn’t give up for the world. We’ll be out with Destroy the Runner, In Fear and Faith, and Sever Your Ties in July/August.

Where do you guys like touring the best?
We just got back from our first West Coast tour and it would definitely have to be out there, especially Cali!

Is everyone excited about touring on the Van’s Warped Tour?
We’re so rediculously stoked about it, it’s been a big dream of ours for a long time and it finally came true. It’s just a few days but that’s way more than we could ask for.

How did you get selected to tour on Van’s Warped Tour?
Kevin (the guy that runs Warped) personally selected us to play his stage after listening to us.

Musical TasteWhat bands are you guys inspired from?
We get a lot of inspiration from bands like As Cities Burn, Confide, Misery Signals, etc.We get a lot of inspiration from bands like As Cities Burn, Confide, Misery Signals, etc.What bands did you guys grow up listening to?
Garth Brooks, Pink Floyd and Zeppelin when I was younger, some of the dudes listened to a lot of Hip Hop and Pop Rock also.

Video Games

Are any of you guys video game enthusiasts?
I definitely am!

If so, tell me about your favorite video games.
I play Counterstrike a lot, mainly while on tour. It’s too much fun, I’m also a fan of Metal Gear Solid 4 for PS3, and all the Grand Theft Autos for sure.

Miscellaneous Questions

Tell me about your free time is spent.
I lounge in my hammock and on the beach, and eat haha

What are some of your other hobbies?
I’m really into astronomy and I also work a lot with a new clothing company I have getting off the ground (DeadTree Brand)

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Come see us on tour! And hang with us, we love meeting new people everyday. And listen to The Tide! Love yas

Please visit Oceana’s Myspace page here.

Barrett Phillips and his brother Wes won the Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” competition in 2006. Internet users were to submit a 30 second video promoting Doritos. The winner was chosen by internet votes and judges.

Their commercial was shown live on national television among the other various super bowl commercials. Ever since making this video, the Phillips video company 5 Point Productions, has neve more busy with a constant stream of clients in need of their video services.

So I asked Barrett how he became involved in filming. as well as what life has been like after winning the Doritos competition.

Business Questions:

When did you take an interest in web design and
filming?

Around the the time I could understand what either of them were,
approximately – very early on.

What do you like most about filming?

I love being challenged with something I’ve never done before and
figuring out how to do it; which happens at almost every shoot we
take part in.

What do you like least about filming?

I’d have to say tapes… With all the technological advances this
world has gone through, the fact tapes even exist (particularly the
fact that they’re still better than many other video capture options)
is absurd.

Do you like how things are going in the filming industry?

Most certainly; I think the ability to make a film is becoming
cheaper and easier to do so we’re having to rely less and less on
Hollywood to manufacture so much of the nonsense that it does. It’s
allowing those with a great idea to actually go out and make
something of it, and that’s exactly what the movie industry needs.

What do you think about user created content such as
blogs, indy films, podcasting etc?

I believe they are great ways for people to get themselves heard
should they want to be. No longer does someone have to impress a
bossman to get a job, they have to impress the public – and that’s
the way it should be.

How did you and co-founder Wes start up 5-Point
productions?

We looked around and realized that there simply aren’t many good
commercials on television, particularly local ads. We knew we could
do better if we gave it effort and we both have absolutely no
interest in working for anyone else or sitting in a classroom, so it
was a natural step for us.

What are some of things your company has worked on in
the past?
We’ve done quite a few miscellaneous projects but a few of the more
notable ones would be ads for Transworld Radio, Mix 101.5, Rex
Hospital (for the Carolina Hurricanes) and Doritos

What are some things your company is working on now?

We are currently in a transitional phase – our ultimate goal is the
creation of a feature film and we are working towards that raising
money where we can, which at the moment happens to be (the planning
phase of) creating and selling video related products; products that
we feel fill a gap in the marketplace and that are cheap to buy for
those indy filmmakers who aren’t filthy rich (which is nearly all of
them).

Is there any changes you feel you should make 5 Point
Productions?

The office could use a bit of vacuuming…

You won the Doritotos Live the Flavor Contest-which is
very sweet. Do you plan on entering any other videos
to any contests soon?

The Doritos contest did exactly what we were hoping it could do for
us – make us known – and we haven’t seen another one since that would
bring anywhere near that amount of publicity our way. The prize
money on this project was a pittance in the grand scheme of things
compared to the fact that we had an ad solely created by us on the
Superbowl. We were very fortunate, and we couldn’t dream of asking
for the same thing twice.

What is your favorite camera to work with?

Canon HV20 - if you think this is a joke, don’t be fooled – this
camera produces an image ten times better than our so-called
“Professional” equipment. And if you don’t mind me getting a bit
technical – there is an HDMI port off the back which bypasses any
encoding that would be put onto a tape, so if captured properly you
can get full progressive HD 1920×1080 video at 24 frames per second
with no quality loss, so basically you can get what looks like film
to the average eye from a camera the size of a brick.

When your not working with your company what do you do
in your free time?

Hanging out and talking movies with friends, that’s my ideal free time.

Any great experiences you want to share about your
company?

The day after our Doritos ad aired on the Superbowl, the Today show
did a brainwave comparison of it vs. an ad for Emerald Nuts, and
showed that people’s brains were heavily stimulated watching ours,
yet the Emerald Nuts ad garnered next to no response whatsoever.
This alone made us feel quite proud, but then we were told that the
company that produced the Emerald Nuts ad was actually Doritos’
current ad agency which happened to be hosting the Crash the
Superbowl contest… We were told not to tell anyone this, but there
you are.

You have told me your dad got you started into film
making. Does he ever get involved in your projects?

I wouldn’t say he ever gets involved in the process but he does like
to offer opinions. He has very good business sense so when it comes
to that sort of thing, we listen.

Nick Dimondi starred in your “Live the Flavor” Doritos
commercial. Do you think you will ever use him again?
http://www.90millionfans.com/

What is your schedule like?

The beauty of this job is the fact I don’t have one – I enjoy my
sleep…

> Personal Questions:

What kind of music do you listen to?

European downtempo/lounge – Zero-7 and the like

Do you play video games?

Most certainly – I just got Rock Band which though wildly nerdy is
insanely fun.
>
> Are you involved with sports?

Nothing organized but I enjoy snowboarding, tennis, golf, football,
ultimate frisbee, disc golf, biking, skateboarding…

What is your favorite type of car and why?

Fenomenon Stratos – A modern remake of a classic (and radical) rally
car – in essence it’s a 500bhp supercar that’s one of the best pieces
of design I’ve ever seen, AND it goes off-road.

Any last thoughts?

Here’s one: Global warming is a myth.

Thanks for answering these questions bro!

No, thank you!

Visit Mr.Phillip’s website: www.5pointproductions.com

Craig Zablo runs the Sylvester Stallone fan site site, Stallonezone.com.  This site is the most well known Sylvester Stallone fan site in the world.  Both Sylvester Stallone and his brother Frank Stallone have visited the site.  Stallonezone.com also features an honors section, which consists of a page of praise from various people and websites including Frank Stallone, AintItCoolNews.com, and PlanetHollywood.com.  But the popularity of Mr.Zablo’s site would eventually lead him to even bigger web projects.Mr.Zablo was selected by MGM studios to run the official blog for the movie “Rocky Balboa”.  This blog featured news and pictures of “Rocky Balboa” before the movie was released to get fans excited about the upcoming picture.So I wanted to learn how Mr. Zablo became a Sylvester Stallone fan and how managed to create such a popular website that is dedicated to Sylvester Stallone.  Here are the questions: 

Bill Pruitt is a painter with a passion for detail and realism in his pieces.  From a young age Pruitt knew he wanted dedicate his life to art.  He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1987 with  bachelor of fine arts degree.  In 1991 he moved to Los Angelas to pursue his love for painting.  He paints everything from people to cars to animals.  His most notable work is his portraits of Sylvester Stallone.  Stallone has purchased 7 portraits of himself from Pruitt.  Pruitt’s passion and talent for painting has turned into a lucrative business. 

Let us learn about Pruitt’s passion for art and why he decided to devote his life to this field.

Becoming an artist

When did you first get into art?

I have been an artist really since I can remember. Since about age 4. It came to me pretty naturally.

Why did you want to pursue art-particularly painting?

I thought it was the best thing I could do and I enjoyed it, so I majored in it in college and got my degree in BFA. Also, regarding painting, I enjoyed that after I took a class in it. I really like the way you can get bold colors and details with oil paint.

Tell me about your first painting.

hmmm, that’s hard to remember which was my actual first painting. I did dabble in it in jr. high in classes and did those in acrylic. I remember doing a landscape of a sunset/desert scene that my parents still have in their house. It wasn’t bad.

Your projects

My projects now are plentiful. I never run out of things to create. Currently, I am doing a commissioned portrait of this 1 year old baby but here’s the kicker: The customer only provided photos of him as a boy from ages 6 and 10. I have to use those photos to paint how he MIGHT look as a 1 year old. Challenging but its looking very good so far. He was adopted at an older age. Hence, no early photos. After this, I am gonna do this movie poster style “Indiana Jones – Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” piece. Can’t wait to start it. Will submit it to George Lucas and Steven Spielberg for consideration in the future.

You are a major fan of Sylvester Stallone. You have painted many pictures of him in various movies. Your most recent painting have included Sly in Rocky Balboa and Rambo. What inspired you to paint these incredibly realistic renditions of Sylvester Stallone?

Thanks. Well, he inspired me to paint them. He gives off this aura of strength and power (especially as those characters) and to me, that is inspiring to paint.

Stallone has also purchased 6 of your paintings. How did he find out about your work?

Actually 7, but who’s counting. When I was living in Missouri, I contacted him in the summer of 1986 by writing a letter(with copies of my work included) to the owner of the Santa Monica bodybuilding Center where Sly worked out and asked him to please give the enclosed package to Sly. About 3 months later, I received an autographed picture of Sly and a letter from his personal assistant saying he was not interested in purchasing anything at that time but they’ll keep my samples in their files. I then had a direct contact to his office and assistant. I followed up by doing a really nice montage painting of him and sent an 11″x14″ exact photo print of it just to give to him. About a week passed and I wasn’t expecting it but I recieved a call from his assistant regarding Sly being interested in the original. I gave her a price off the top of my head and she asked if it was a “firm” price. I said yes and she said she’ll get back to me tomorrow. She called back and informed me that I sold a painting!

What was it like to have Sly buy your paintings?

It was very exciting to say the least, having been a big fan since I saw “Rocky” in the theatre.

What was it like meeting Sly?

It was a nice experience each time. He was very kind. The first time was on the set of “Lock Up” in L.A. He, personally invited me inside the soundstage to watch filming. That was an incredible experience.

Advice

What advice would you give to those who are just getting into painting?

Well, depends on if they were pursuing a career in it or if just a hobby. If it’s a career, then I’d say study other painters, particularly ones you really like. Then I’d say paint from your heart, doing what you REALLY want to paint for yourself. That’s the only way you can grow because you’re enthusiastic about it. This prepares you for later to have the skills to do commission jobs that you might not be so enthusiastic about. Also, in today’s digital age, it might be a good idea to learn computer graphics to have as a backup.

What advice would you give to those who have been painting for a while?

To just keep painting and try making and selling prints of your work whether it be on Ebay or art shows, etc. Prints can be lucrative and can be made as you need them so its not a big up front investment for the artist.

After all the paintings you have done, what have you learned to do better or different?

Good question. I am constantly learning. I believe you never “peak” as a painter. I have learned how to give my paintings depth so they look 3-d by making the backgrounds blurry or foregrounds too. I have learned how to make lighting more dramatic. Having a good understanding of light hitting a person or object will result in a more 3-d painting. I have learned how to make better compositions so the painting is balanced. Also, have learned how to bring a person to life as opposed to the photographic reference I use. Bringing them to life is all in how you paint the eyes. I have learned how to get the likenesses more dead on too.

What type of mind set should a painter have?

A very visual mind set. They should always be observing things in life especially how light falls on a person or object and not take that for granted. True artists/painters see things much differently than a “non” artist (I say “True” because so many people call themselves artists when they’re really very amateur). Painters should also be patient with their careers and do what you have to do to pursue it whether it be having a part-time job or even a few jobs.

What types of mistakes do painters usually make and how can they avoid these mistakes?

Not being so hard on themselves. I have been guilty of that and still am. True Painters are their own worst critics. To avoid this mistake, you just have to have the courage to call a painting finished and not to keep trying to perfect it. This has been my biggest obstacle.

General thoughts on being a painter

What is it like to be a painter full time?

You gotta make a LOT of sacrifices. Meaning social life and personal life. Managing your time is very important. You have to give it 110% because it is not a stable job with a weekly paycheck. You have to work that much harder to get ahead.

What do you like/dislike about this job?

I like the actual painting part and sketching ideas part. The whole creative process I like. That part is therapeutic. I dislike the business part of it really or dealing with ignorant people who are shocked by my very reasonable prices for commission work.

What should people who want to get into this profession know about this job?

They should know most of the stuff I mentioned above and that is has its ups and downs. When the economy isn’t so great like it is now, you have to always have money saved on the side because art is usually the last thing people need or want in a slow economy. It is not a necessity but a luxury.

What type of art supplies do you use?

I use water mixable oils, color pencils and sometimes acrylic paint. The brushes are various bristle brushes. I also paint on canvas and illustration board.

What is the most difficult and time consuming project you have worked on?

My Rocky Balboa spiritual painting because it was totally created from scratch by using well over 100 reference photos for total accuracy In all, it took over a year to complete.

Describe a typical day at the studio.

A lot of time isn’t in the studio but running errands like going to art supply stores or post office to send off prints I sold on Ebay. I do make my own prints in the studio and I paint as well after I get the errands done. Then in the afternoon, I usually go to my studio away from home at Universal City walk(right next to Universal Studios-Hollywood). I paint my own paintings up there and sell prints of my work that are on display.

Other Hobbies/Interests

Doing magic is another hobby and watching movies. Working out with weights is something I try to do on a regular basis just to feel better and help keep my mind clear. I also do power walking outside to get the heart pumping and to clear the mind.

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite movie is without a doubt “Rocky”. I have never felt better leaving a theatre as I did with “Rocky”. It was that inspiring and uplifting even as a jr. high kid.

What did you think of Sly’s latest movie, “Rambo”?

I think its really good. Really the best artistically of all the Rambo’s. The first one was great except for the national guardsmen. They were a little too much comic relief. 2 and 3 were more like fantasies but Very entertaining movies.

Tell me about your future

My future? Just to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully somehow break into the movie poster art business but from what I understand, it is mostly all digital art from photos. I am hoping someday the trend goes back to traditionally hand painted poster art. Also, to find representation one day soon so I can concentrate more on the art and a lot less on the business part of it.

What are some projects that you are working on right now?

I mentioned that above as well – the baby portrait, then Indiana Jones and then I also have on the drawing board another Rambo piece of him in the jungle with rain. Look very forward to the Indy piece and Rambo.

To learn more about Bill Pruitt and his work, please visit his website: www.billpruitt.com 

Brian Edman is a Freshman soccer player for the Liberty University Flames soccer team.  With his help, the Liberty Flames soccer team won the Big South Championship.  I had to know what it was like to be on and contribute to a Big South Championship team.  Below you will find out what it is like to be on a college soccer championship winning team.

History of your soccer experience

When did you star playing soccer?

When I was 4.

Why did you decide to play soccer?

 I don’t really remember.

What kind of league were you first in?

Rec league

What posistions have you played?

Every possible position except for goalkeeper

General Questions about soccer

What posistion do you play now?

Defender/midfielder

Who is your favorite soccer team? Why?

Don’t really have a favorite club team

Do you have a favorite soccer player?

Thierry henry

What do you like most about soccer?

The enjoyment i get out of it and the opportunity God has given me to use my talents to reach out to others

What do you like the least about soccer?

Getting injured

What is the hardest team you have ever played?

The national team

Your involvement with the Liberty University soccer team

So why did you choose to come to Liberty University?

Wonderful enviroment, unlike any other, havent found something i dont like about it yet.

Congratualtions to you and your team for winning the Big South Championship for the first time in your teams historty. How did your team accomplish this victory?

Lots of hard work and determination from the Lord. The Lord didnt let us grow faint or weary, He lifted us up to do something we couldnt have imagined.

What do you like most about college soccer-particulary playing soccer at Liberty University?

The coaches, the teammates. Everyone plays with such passion but still has fun, futhermore, everyone is united in the deep bond of Christ and what can be better than that

What kind of adjustments did you have to make going from playing soccer in highschool to playing soccer in college?

Faster play , more physical

Future Involvement with the Liberty soccer team

So what type of training are you engaging to prepare for the next soccer season?

Hard, tiring, workouts, some involving the use of an alarm clock at five in the morning-haha.

Other hobbies/interests

Do you play any other sports besides soccer?

Not really

What is your favorite sport besides soccer?

Ping-pong

What are some of your other interests besides soccer?

Jesus, family, friends,

To learn more about the Liberty University soccer team or any Liberty sports team, please visit www.Libertyflames.com

Devin Olson loves roller coasters.  He road his first roller coaster in 1998 and has been hooked ever since.  He runs the most sucessful roller coaster site in existence.  (coaster-net.com)  In this site you will find a catalogue of information about hundreds of roller coaster around the world.  So let us find out why this man started this website and why he loves roller coasters so much.

 General Coaster Questions

You are a self professed roller coaster geek. Just why do you like roller coasters so much?
Seriously, where else can you experience the unique type of excitement that a roller coaster provides in complete safety without fearing for your life once? Roller coasters are really an ultimate escape from the monotony and stress of life.

How many roller coasters have you been on?
Thirty-eight steel coasters, eighteen wooden, and a dozen junior coasters –– not nearly as impressive as a lot of coaster freaks out there, and yet I can still recite facts even the most seasoned globe-trotting theme park maniacs never knew. I could pretty much narrate any roller coaster in the world on my first ride. Sad, I know.

Which one is your favorite?
I don’t have to hesitate for a second here –– Millennium Force at Ohio’s Cedar Point. This ride is the world’s exemplary design of everything a roller coaster should embody: sheer, ridiculous intensity; beauty, uniqueness, impressiveness, comfort, and so many other qualities, all rolled into one ride. Everyone should put this list somewhere on their “to-do-before-dying” checklist.

Which one is your least favorite?
It’s a tossup here, but there’s this one little mostly-unheard-of coaster at Six Flags over Georgia in Atlanta that served up probably my worst experience of all time. Let’s just say this is a ride that should be sponsored by Advil, with an Advil booth at the exit. It would undoubtedly prove a huge money-maker.

How often do you visit amusement parks?
School has definitely complicated my amusement-park-visiting itinerary a bit, but I try to get in at least a couple park visits a month during the summer, with a couple media events each spring and a fall trip or two as well.

What is your favorite amusement park?
Without a shred of doubt in my mind, Cedar Point in Ohio. This is the crown jewel of the entire amusement park universe, and anyone who seeks out the best of the best needs to visit. This isn’t just an innocent suggestion; it’s a mandate of the amusement park world.

The Coaster Website

You are the webmaster of COASTER-net.com. Tell me the purpose of this website.
I started the site back at the dawn of my coaster-freak-ness in 1998, so it’s been almost a decade now. Wow! It was really a project meant to bridge the enormous online gap I saw in the cyber-coaster-world. I amassed the wide variety of features I couldn’t find anywhere else at that time, and over the years they’ve lost their uniqueness, but had time to grow into a collection that surpasses even older coaster sites now.

How many hits do you get?
We get between five and a little over ten million hits per month. However, I mainly focus on unique visitors when I look at stats each month. In terms of those, we get between 50,000 and 100,000 people checking out our site.

How often do you update your website?
This used to be a simple question; now, however, the site is updated almost on a minutely basis through user-generated content. Larger updates such as new feature articles arrive on a basis closer to weekly.

You told me that other people help update your website; how many people do this?
We maintain a staff of around twenty ranging from discussion board moderators, to news writers, to videographers. On the main administrative staff that oversees the largest and most basic functions of the site’s workings, two others work with me.

What do you like most about your website?
Very rarely does a hobby ever pay off. Usually, that hobby will just eat up your resources and provide you with some joy in your spare time. COASTER-net has taken my hobby beyond simply just a hobby. It’s turned it into a major part of my everyday life, and the site’s really provided me with opportunities I never dreamed of having in just its first decade online. Most of all though is probably the interaction with our fans. I love every single one of them and the conversations that we can have even just in passing. That’s really what makes it all worth the work.

Confessions

Have you ever thrown up while riding a roller coaster?
I’ve never come close, which is surprising considering how carsick I’m prone to get. One time, I was puking all the way to a media day for a new ride at Kings Dominion. However, while I rode it time and time again, I was fine. Then, on the way back home, there I was puking again.

Have you ever thought about never riding a roller coaster again?
Only the ones that are almost unbearably painful, which is thankfully fewer and fewer these days.

Have you ever blacked out while riding a roller coaster?
Never. The closest I’ve come is graying out on a couple.

Were you ever scared while riding a roller coaster?
Only the first one: Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion. From that point forward, not really. Thrill rides can really terrify some people, but they seem to have the adverse effect on me. I’m more relaxed while I’m flying through the air on a roller coaster than just about anywhere else on earth.

FOX News Interview

You were interview on FOX News a little while ago. How did FOX News find out about you and your former co-worker Clint Novak?
They contacted Kings Dominion looking for a couple roller coaster freaks for their segment as obsessed as they could get their hands on, and the park knew exactly who to ask.

Tell me the whole interview process-from the first phone call to saying good bye.
Clint, as my former PR director for COASTER-net, handled everything prior to the day of filming. On the day of filming, we showed the FOX crew around the park during their few hours in Virginia and we got some nice walk-on rides during the filming.

Who interviewed you?
One of the correspondents for the FOX Report with Shepard Smith flew down from New York City for a few hours with his cameraman and producer.

How did you like being interviewed on Fox News?
I loved it, especially since I’ve been a fan of Shepard Smith’s show for years. 

The Future

So what do you see happening in your future?
Life’s like a roller coaster. I’m just trying to hang on tightly and enjoy the ride! After graduating from Liberty University, I’ll be pursuing a career in mass media, wherever that leads me. I eagerly anticipate the ride ahead!

Is there anything you would like to add?
None of my accomplishments so far would have been possible without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s only through him that I can get up every day and face all the stresses and new challenges that seem to come along at a quicker and quicker pace every day.

Make sure to check out his website devoted to roller coasters:  www.coaster-net.com.  You can watch the Fox News interview with Devin on You Tube here.

Jason Baum has a passion for speed cubing.  Speed cubing is art of solving a rubiks cube as quickly as possible. Thousands of people around the world are involved in this activity.Jason enters speed cubing competitions all the time.  And he has done quite well in this activity- earning a slot in the top 100 speed cubers world wide. I caught up with Jason and asked him about his art.  And with humbleness and passion Jason shared with me his thoughts on speed cubing:

 History of your involvement with the rubik’s cube

When did you first pick up a rubik’s cube?
I picked up a Rubik’s cube about 3 1/2 years ago. I saw someone at school solve it in about 30 seconds and thought it was the coolest thing. I introduced myself to him and he taught me how to solve it.

What did you think of this object?
I was very fascinated with it right from the start. I had never heard of anyone solving the cube before, so to see someone do it in 30 seconds was mind boggling. I soon realized that the Rubik’s cube, which looks so amazingly complex, is actually quite simple. There are a lot of thiings that continue to fascinate me about the cube even to this day.

When did you desire to see how fast you could solve it?
Well, at first I wasn’t interested much in speed, I just wanted to be able to solve the cube. After I learned how to solve it, I wanted to be able to solve it in under a minute. After I could solve it in under a minute, I wanted to be able to solve it under 40 seconds. After that, I wanted to go under 30 seconds… etc. So my desire to get faster has been a natural progression ever since I started. But I definitely never thought I would be anywhere near how fast I am today.

When did you first get into speed cubing?
I got into speed cubing right after I learned how to solve it. Speedcubing to me is simply trying to improve your times, no matter how fast or slow you are. So if you can solve the cube in 5 minutes and you’re working to get you times under 4 minutes, that’s still speedcubing to me.

Why did you get into speed cubing?
It’s a lot of fun. It’s also ridiculously addicting. There are so many aspects of speedcubing, and you just kind of get hooked into all of them after you learn how to do the cube. For example, there’s one handed solving, blindfold solving, different puzzles, solving with fewest moves, to name a few. Each branch of speedcubing is unique and is a different challenge requiring a completely different set of skills. So there is always stuff you can be working on to improve. Also, there’s something really cool about being able to do something that most people think is impossible in a matter of seconds.

When did you enter your first speed cubing competition?
My first competition was in May of 2005 in Brooklyn, New York.

How many competitions have you been in?
I have been to 7 competitions, including the 2005 World Championships.

What is the fastest time you solved a rubik’s cube in?
Outside of competition, my fastest time is 8.31 seconds and my best average of 10 solves is 11.44 seconds. My best time with one hand outside of competition is 15.31 seconds, and my best average is 20.53 seconds.

Fox News Interview

You were recently on the Fox News Channel television show “Fox and Friends”. How were you able to get on that show?
I was in New York City that weekend with Tyson Mao doing a promotional event for Rubik’s at FAO Schwarz. Tyson is another speedcuber who you may know from season 2 of Beauty and the Geek. We were contacted by Fox News and they asked us to come live on the air, so we did.

What was it like being on that show?
It was pretty cool. I’ve never been on live national television before, but I wasn’t really nervous. It was cool being inside the Fox News studio building though. I felt like a celebrity.

Current Involvement with the rubik’s cube

Do you still speed cube?
Of course. I will probably be cubing for the rest of my life.

Are you going to try to beat your record?
I’ve been working on learning a new method for the past year that should drop my average to sub 11, maybe even sub 10. The method is extremely difficult though. There are 800 cases. I know about 450 of them. I hope to have the whole thing learned two years from now.

How often do you practise speed cubing?
Way too much. I always carry a cube on me and I always cube when I’m walking to class or riding the bus or waiting in line or just killing time in between classes. I get a lot of practice time that way. Altogether I’d say I probably cube on average 5 hours a day. It’s pathetic, I know.

Future of your speed cubing

Do you plan to on entering any more competitions?
Yeah, my next competition is March 22nd in Princeton, New Jersey. I’m also going to the U.S. Nationals in the summer. They will most likely be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have a pretty good shot at winning the national title, so I really hope I win.

Tips

What advice would you give to those who are new to speed cubing or want to improve their speed cubing skills?
Just have fun with it. Don’t get frustrated if you’re not improving right away. Getting fast takes a lot of time mixed in with a lot of practice.

What is most important lesson any speed cuber should learn?
Don’t pop in public.

Other interests

What other interests/hobbies are you involved in?
I’m a musician. I play drums/percussion and guitar. I play snare drum in the marching band at Liberty University.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Solving a Rubik’s cube is something anybody can learn to do. You don’t have to be smart or good at math (I know because I’m neither). You just have to have the desire to learn, and a little patience when you’re first starting. I’m not a genius just because I can solve a Rubik’s cube quickly or because I can solve one blindfolded. Anybody can learn how to do it!

You can view Jason’s speed cubing competition results here: http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2005BAUM01

Emcee Hype is a rapper from North Jersey/Mansfield, Pennsylvania. He has been featured on MTV-U and is constantly touring. He is a down to earth guy who is doing what he knows he was born to do-rap!

How hard is it to get into the rap industry?

I’ve never looked at it as an industry you have to get into. Hip hop is something you live. You’re either in it or your not. I kind of approach everything in life like that. If you sit around and dream about doing something, you’re not doing it, you’re just thinking about doing it. If you’re doing it already- making records and rapping or whatever- you’re already in it.

What are some of the latest trends in rap?

Well, I think that there are two big trends in rap right now. There’s the bling-bling rap that’s commonplace in the mainstream right now. And then there’s this backlash of indie rappers, or backpack rappers, or whatever you want to call it. In my opinion, just make the music you want to make. Nobody ever became a trend-setter by following the latest trends.

What is the future of rap?

It’s hard to say what the future holds for rap. In the beginning, everyone thought rap was a fad. Now, people realize that rap is a legitimate form of music, and they acknowledge that it’s not going away. There’s no sure-fire way to tell where rap is going, but like rock and roll it’s going to evolve. Going back to the last question, it will be the trend-setters, not the followers, who will shape the future of rap.

What do you like most/least about being in the rap industry?

I don’t like to look at anything as an industry. Music. Rap. Film or whatever. Industry is a big, scary word that wants to control what the individual does. On the other hand, I like what I do. I enjoy the hip hop life. I enjoy writing and rapping. I’m in it, and I love it.

What advice would you give to those you want to rap professionally?

Soak up as much old school rap as you can. Learn about hip hop, KRS-1, Boogie Down, Sugar Hill… all that. Emulation is the highest form of tribute, or something like that. Like anything else, you learn the building blocks, and then expand from there. Beyond that, just do it. Don’t wait for your ‘big break.’ Don’t wait to find a touring DJ. Just enjoy yourself and immerse yourself in hip hop. Write, rap, read everything you can get your hands on and live it.

Questions about yourself

Do you have any new records coming out?

I’m currently working on a new ep with my people, Jersey Bound Trunk Crew (me, DJ Gumshu and Party.Picasso). That disc will be done sometime in early 2007. I also have a record coming out with MC Jabee, a rapper from Oklahoma City. That album is called, Songs for Debutantes, and features DJ Vadim on the tables and beats. That record comes out in March on Bomb City Records.

What do you like to rap about?

Well, I’m not a very linear writer. I’m not usually one to tell a story from beginning to end, whether it’s a story from my own life or something more universal. I tell stories like they appear in my mind, shattered and fragmented. When you remember moments in your life, they appear in pieces. Some parts you forget, other parts are accentuated or just plain vivid. And that’s how my raps come out…. like landscapes littered with thoughts, memories, ideas, feelings… did I even answer this question?

What has been your most difficult experience while rapping?

I just don’t want to repeat myself. I don’t want to be the rapper who raps about girls all the time, just as I don’t want to be the rapper who raps about cars and money all the time. I want each rhyme to be unique and fresh, and hopefully thought-provoking, and of course I want it to be a good song. The difficult part is holding myself to all of that, and still writing a song that’s cool to listen to.

Are there any funny times you can remember while on tour?

Gumshu and Party.Picasso (of Jersey Bound Trunk Crew) are two of the funniest guys I’ve ever met in my life. I tend to videotape everything on tour… the van ride, the pre and post-show, everything. Those guys are my best friends and when we’re all together funny stuff just happens. Some of the funniest moments occur out of the blue. Occasionally, Party tends to break into a character and just run with it. We’ll be talking and suddenly his voice and demeanor will change, and you’ll realize he’s suddenly playing a character. Everybody else will just get in on it and suddenly we’re all in a movie of our own devise. We have a very weird sense of humor.

On your myspace page you said that the Bible was one of your influences. Are you a Christian? And do you discuss your Christianity in your lyrics?

I grew up in a Bible-preaching church, so it’s impossible for me to separate the Christian influences from the rest of my life. Everything in life is a culmination of experiences and memories, and hurts and triumphs… all that. And intertwined in the mix is my history with Christianity. I’m not a Christian rapper, or a gospel hip hop artist or whatever. I’m just a rapper. My spirituality is impossible to separate from who I am, and therefore it comes up quite often. It’s different than a John Reuben or a KJ-52 who preach in their lyrics. I share moments and experiences, and the inseparable spirituality of those moments. I guess that it’s kind of like Christ and his parables. Sometimes his parables were horrific in content, but it was underlying message that was meant to permeate. You feel me?

What do you think about the Christian rap group Grits. Some say they are not “Christian” enough in their lyrics. Do you agree?

I’ve seen Grits in concert and they’re dope. They’ve got skills and they do their own thing. I say let them be. They’re making their art, saying what they want to say, and who is any outsider to criticize them for what they do or don’t talk about? It’s dangerous for an artist to say I’m this or that, because then you run the risk of pigeon-holing yourself. As a fan, take what you want from a rapper’s lyrics, interpret and think. But don’t judge. It’s the whole plank-eye mentality.

What are your future plans?

I plan to keep doing what I’ve been doing for years. I get to hang out with my best friends in the world and make rap music. There’s nothing I’d rather do. I look at the Beastie Boys, who helped get me into rap back in the day, and I think, that’s what I want to be doing when I’m 40!

What final thoughts do you have?

That’s my final answer. Thanks for the thought-provoking questions, Zach. Much love.

Justin Morgan is a talented writer and instrumentalist.   Justin used to play the bass for the rock band Stereo Motion.  He also lived in Nashville, Tenessee as a song writer for BMI Publishing.  He has been to 47 states and five countries.  Currently, Justin is a student at Liberty University studying literature and expository writing.  He is also a journalists for the school newspaper.  He plays in the campus band Exodus.

In this exclusive interview we will learn more about Justin’s musical experience, his advice to start up bands, and what some of his future plans are.

Personal Music experience

Tell me about your musical experience.
I started playing violin in 1st grade. I got bored with that and picked up the alto saxophone in 5th grade and played up until 11th grade. I started playing bass guitar in 8th grade and from there slowly picked up acoustic guitar and drums. I started to teach myself piano when I was 20 years old. I traveled in a band, Stereo Motion, for four years (previous called Phat Chance). The traveling, recording, and writing with that group gave me the most experience.

What do you like most about being in a band?
The interaction with people. PLaying music produces an automatic opportunity or outlet to relate to people and strike up conversation. Music brings people together.

What do you like least about being in a band?
Musicians are easily stereotyped or labeled as just a musician or artist. Sometimes people can’t see a musician outside of their role in a band. They make it his or her identity.

Tell me about some funny occurences while on tour.
Running around in the snow in Canada wearing only swimming trunks.

What has been your favorite band to play in?
Exodus.

What do youl like most about music?
It’s power to move the heart.

What is your favorite type of music?
I really enjoy pop music (slick, polished, well-produced music)

What are your favorite bands?
Although U2 does not necessarily fall in the genre of slick and polished pop music, they are my favorite band of all time.
I also love Peter Gabriel, Delirious, Rich Mullins, Newsboys, and Annie Lenox.

Do you have a favorite musica instument?
Piano

Exodus

How are things going with Exodus?
Wonderful

Are you tourig this summer?
Maybe. It is in the works.

Advice

What advice would you give to those who want to pursue a career in music?
You must have a unique calling and passion for music. It is a competitve and challenging field, so one must have a true calling and passion for music and the ministry that can be done through it. Oh, and it’s also good to be talented.

What type of mind set should a start up band have?
Must have a unified vision and goal for the sound and purpose of the band. The band must know who they are and what market or audiece they are going to target.

What mistake do start up band often make?
Lack of unity, vision, and talent.

What can musicians do to keep their integrity while on tour?
Accountabilty. Constant dialogue with a trusted friend.
Time alone with God to pray, listen, and learn.

Future

What are you going to do after you are finished with Exodus?
I have no idea. I’d love to teach English at a university.

What are some of your immediate goals?
Know Christ more. Bring more glory to Christ.

What are some of your future goals?
Teaching english
Writing and publishing novels

To learn more about Justin visit his website: http://www.justinkeithmorgan.com/.

You can visit his band’s link here: http://www.liberty.edu/ministryteams/index.cfm?PID=7301

Laine is one of the many fantastic VJ’s on TVU music television.  She also hosts the Instant Request Service weekdays at noon eastern standard time on Radio U.  These 2 networks are part of Spirit Communications inc located in Colombus,Ohio.  She has a down to earth appeal and love for her job that made me wonder why she works for this company.  So I caught up with her and asked her about her job.  Here’s the interview:

 How did you hear about TVU?

- I actually heard of RadioU first, since I lived in the Columbus, Ohio area. I heard of it through some middle school friends that listened. I eventually heard of TVU from going to RadioU sponsored concerts.

What made you decide that you wanted to be apart of TVU?

- I strongly believe in what’s going on here. In fact, if it wasn’t for RadioU, I wouldn’t know about a relationship with Christ. Because I found God through RadioU, I wanted to be a part of what RadioU (and TVU) were doing.

How did you become a DJ at Radio U?

- I started out as a volunteer for the street team and was asked to try out as a DJ.

How did you become a VJ at TVU?

- Once I was an established DJ, there was a need for VJs, so I was trained and became a VJ too.

What are some qualitites a potential VJ/DJ should have?

- Basically, one shouldn’t be afraid to mess up, because you will, and you’ll just have to get over it. Other than that, be yourself, otherwise TV and radio become boring!

What do you like most about your job?

- getting to hear new CDs before they come out, going to concerts for free, talking to people about how RadioU and TVU have affected their lives

Are there any humorous occurences that have taken place while at work?

- Something funny happens almost every day…

What are some of your favorite bands that are featured on TVU/Radio U?

- Relient K, Underoath, Showbread, Emery, House of Heroes

What are some of your favorite bands of all time?

- same as above, along with dcTalk and Five Iron Frenzy

Why should people watch TVU and listen to Radio U?

- The music is better than anything else out there and it will affect you POSITIVELY, while other stuff out there will bring you down.

What is the most important task you want to complete while working at TVU and Radio U?

- I’ll do whatever is needed to keep this thing going…so whatever that is, I want to do it.

You can check out Laine’s Myspace profile here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=16903991

Check out TVU’s website here: http://tvulive.com/

TVULIVE, TVU Music Television, and the TVU logo are trademarks of Spirit Communications, Inc