Disappointed with the New Harry Potter Movie?

Yeah, I was too. The book is enjoyable, even if it is the weakest of the series, but the film adaptation is just painful. Too long, too much focus on teenage love and not focus enough on zombies and main character killing. Though, I found Helena Bonham Carter's performance hilarious.

So, try this instead.



Video not by me. But by this awesome guy.

Just a Thought

If you pay attention to the news media enough, you're bound to become the slightest bit paranoid. I don't know how many times the television news reiterates that it's not safe to step outside your door. According to "the news," there's bad people everywhere, just waiting to kill you. Or it's something about Michael Jackson. (But who knows, he may be old news by time I finish writing this).

And if that's not bad enough, now, it's not safe to eat.



Or drink water.

Journalism is dying. There's plenty of reasons why. Readers of this blog, I'm sure you have your theories. So do I.

But maybe, just maybe, if the news media outlets could stop telling us that the world is a shit place and that we're all going to die in some horrible fashion, just maybe, journalism could find an audience again. Maybe, the news media could tell us something nice once in awhile. Provide some hope in this failing economy, failing environment, lying politicians, war torn, blah, blah, blah world.

Just a thought.

Notice Anything about the Dolphin Show?

These photos were taken at the National Aquarium in Baltimore's dolphin show. During the finale, audience members stood on each side of the tank and waved flags while one of the dolphins jumped and hit a ball.

See anything slightly wrong with how the groups were separated?

Side A


Side B


Or should I say segregated?

See the below post for some nice shots of the Inner Harbor.

Some Nice Pictures of Baltimore's Inner Harbor

To the Recent College Graduate who Studied Journalism

I and many other journalism students knew this wasn't going to be easy. Hell, if you went to Temple University almost every class had a "Journalism is doomed and so are you" speech at the end of the semester.

But this is ridiculous. With newspapers and magazines folding everyday, the recently-graduated journalist has to compete with the 15-plus-years-experience journalist for the same job. Who's going to get hired? The former Decibel intern or the former Editor-in-Chief of Metal Maniacs?

Yeah, it sucks. I know that many recent grads are still at the minimum wage paying, bullshit job they had in college (myself included), or they don't have a job at all.

But it can't stay like this forever. The economy has to pick back up eventually. And until it does, try these things while you're waiting for that job that utilizes your career.

1. Learn another language. Journalism is about communicating with your sources, and you never know whose story you're going to tell. With the My ____ Coach games on the Nintendo DS (there's Japanese, Chinese, French, and Spanish), learning a new language is cheap and relatively easy. Sure, they're no Rosetta Stones, but they're a talking dictionary, with over 100 lessons. And there's games. Hai!

2. Start your own zine or blog. Forget what your school said, the Internet is awesome. It makes publishing easy and almost free. A domain name costs 10 bucks, and for those who are less Web savvy, blog accounts are free. Who cares if you're not making much (or any) money? It's a resume builder, and the experience is invaluable. See my zine Tainted Tea or my friends at Damage Control.

3. Pitch, publish, repeat. Neil Gaiman wrote, "Better I should call to people who aren't there than that people who are there should miss us because I didn't say anything." Find publications. If you're really stuck, try the Writer's Market Guide. Or just go to a coffeeshop, bar, or bookstore and see what free publications are there. Write to editors. The worst they can do is say, "No" or ignore you. And you never know who might be reading your blog.

So, with these words recent journalism graduate, I bid you farewell. Keep your head up. And remember, story ideas are everywhere. You just need to know where to look.

A Quick Thank You Note

I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by this blog of mine and took the time to look around.

I placed Google's AdSense on my blog about a month ago, and now it's paid off.

Readers of my blog, I made my first one cent today from Google ads!! You know, it is one penny that I didn't have before.

Thank you for your support. Please keep coming back for more Kris Fossett.

A Few Words on Regina Spektor

If you enjoy life, then you should listen to Regina Spektor's new album, Far. Though it's not as varied in sound as her last album, Begin to Hope, it's quirky, cute, and upbeat. It's like rainbows and ponies, in singer/songwriter/pianist form.

However, clearly, the Pitchfork hates life. Those poor critics, no one taught them how to love.

Speaking of love, here's a picture of a cloud.

Re: Tainted Tea Help

Never mind, I've found someone. Her name is Allie, and she's amazing.

But feel free to submit, still.

Tainted Tea Help

My web zine, Tainted Tea, is looking for artists to help with posters, stickers, and maybe Web design. Send me an email at TaintedTea.Editors@gmail.com

Tainted Tea is also accepting short stories, narrative poetry, artwork, and movie reviews. Please see my other blog for more details.

Scary Wolves, Michael Jackson, Asia, and a Bee

I highly enjoyed celebrating my nation's independence this weekend. Do any of these photos have anything to do with the Fourth of July holiday?

Well, I think so.

I am...

...extraordinarily happy this trailer exists.

Pure cinematic gold. Like Dragonball: Evolution. Actually, no. This looks even more awesome.




I don't why YouTube videos are cut off at the edge, so here's the link.