I went to the movie theater having no idea what to expect from this movie. Honestly I hadn’t seen any previews for it. It was just a spur of the moment decision, but that just made the surprise better. The movie starts out as a comedy (with the largest amount of nudity I’ve seen in a while by the way!), but it turns into a touching story. If I was a crier, I probably would have shed some sappy tears towards the end. Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway put on a great and believable performance. You end up loving Jake even though he is a womanizer and asshole (in the movie). And you end up feeling for Anne even though she is a bitch (in the movie). I would classify this as a romantic comedy. So cozy up to a significant other over break and enjoy!

Tired of all the boring commercialized presents out there?  Want to support a good cause, but would also love it to be something artistic, and damn, there are so many out there how can you know what’s legit or not?

Well, here are three great places to give $5 or $500 bucks this Christmas season.  Do it for yourself, or give it to someone else.  Either way, you know your money will be well spent.

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1. Clare Means (pictured)

This LA based, soulful singer-songwriter has been on our show, and performs regularly on Universal City Walk and 3rd Street Promenade.

If you like unsigned music and want to support a local artist, this is as good as it gets. And her CD is only $8.99 here on CD Baby

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2. The Make.Shift Music Project

These guys are trying to provide a space for musicians and artists up in Washington to rehearse, perform, etc. And they’re doing it!  Throw these indie pioneers some love…even if it’s only a buck or two.  Every bit helps.

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3. Plastic Paradise

Acclaimed reporter (ESPN, Current TV, Yahoo!) and UCLA alum Angela Sun is making a  documentary about the mass pollution of plastic in modern society, and the great pacific garbage patch.

Go to the IndieGogo Page for Plastic Paradise and support the effort!  There’s a great video on there that I can’t quite figure out how to embed in this blog.  So please click the link.

Just do it. I’ll tell Santa.

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And…

Thanks! It really means a lot to me, and to those out there getting projects off the ground.

Merry X-mas to everyone out there creating something.

-DJ Octoon

Want to be on the radio? UCLAradio.com – UCLA’s official student radio station – is currently seeking enthusiastic students, staff, and faculty! UCLAradio.com is a great place to cut your teeth in the broadcasting world.

Former staff have gone onto KFI, XTRA Sports 690, KCRW, The World Famous KROQ, Fox Sports Radio and practically every other station in the LA market (as well as several more around the country). Others write for the New York Times, produce films for Universal and Paramount, are scribes for network TV, and much (much!) more.

As a member of UCLAradio.com you’ll not only learn to host and produce a live radio broadcast, but also have access to free concert tickets, thousands of CDs, and a chance to hear the newest albums before they hit the streets! We are currently looking to fill positions in Music, Sports, Web Design, Sound Engineering, and seek DJs of all styles of music, Talk Show hosts, News reporters, and behind the scenes radio-ites.

Sound like fun?? We think so too. To learn how to join the station, simply attend the UCLA Radio info meeting:

Tuesday January 11, 2011

6:30pm

Kerckhoff Grand Salon

Stick around – Interviews to follow the info session!

UCLA is better than expected

The defeat to the Kansas Jayhalks was an obvious heartbreak to students and the Bruin fans worldwide. The game was officially a loss in the record books, yet the performance could be considered a step up for the basketball team. The UCLA Men’s Bruins basketball team was considered a 17-point underdog before tip-off. None of the national sport networks picked UCLA to win the game. Everyone thought that the bruins would get run off the court. People were claiming a blow out by halftime.

Reminder: At UCLA, champions are born here! At least that is what my shirt says. There are positive things that the team could take away from the hard loss.

Tyler Honeycutt went off for 33 points in route to being the leading scorer. First year player Josh Smith scored 17 points and 13 rebounds, his best game to date. Smith was bumping and bruising Kansas’ big men all night. Finally reflecting the huge hype behind his recruitment. The bruins did more than just keep up with the number 4 team in the country; they showed everyone that they are a force to deal with.  It was sad to see a game come to down to a call by a referee. Games are supposed to be won by the players on the court and coach’s games plans, not a referee with an overacting whistle. With five seconds left in the game the Bruins tied the game and it looked like it would go to overtime. The next play resulted in Malcolm Lee fouling Kansas’ Mario Little as he set to try to avoid overtime. Following a discussion with the scorer’s table, the referees said to put 0.7 seconds back on the clock and gave Little two free throws. To be fair, if there is contact on a play referees should make the call. However, during close games the officials let the players play. The team showed its defense is getting better and almost reflecting a Ben Howland style D. The team has offensive player that are getting better. By the time March comes around, we can expect to see the Bruins in something called the NCAA tournament. The game was a loss but the nation now sees that the powerhouse in basketball is on its way back.

The next games scheduled for the bruins:
12/11 CP 8:00pm
12/13 UCD 10:30pm
12/18 BYU 5:30pm
12/21 MTST 10:30pm

Don’t forget that this year the UCLA student’s Den Pass includes all the UCLA b-ball home games! Lets go support the team as they begin to mesh and show their skills.

I never would have guessed I would have taken a singing and bagpipe playing class but this has been my favorite class that I have taken at UCLA so far.  I decided to take this class for a few reasons.  Number one, I needed two more units, and this seemed like the best choice on the list.  Number two, I was getting bored with the GE’s I was taking.  From air pollution to chemistry, all I could think of was, who cares.  I am a psychology major, have an intense love for music, and also strive on a daily basis to be independent, so taking a class where I could play an instrument nobody plays, sing beautiful songs, and learn about a culture that I’ve never encountered seemed perfect for me.  Anyways, I made the right choice.  The Balkans ethnomusicology class I first took unnecessarily seems very necessary to me now.  I have discovered the classes of UCLA that make time here more enjoyable.  For the first time ever, I went to office hours every week and I looked forward to a class that was three hours long.  I have made a pact to myself that I must take one class every quarter, which will expose me to a new culture different from my own.  My love for traveling does not need to be suppressed while at UCLA because through this class I feel I have traveled to Bulgaria and have tasted the local culture.  I hope more people take this class because it is an amazing opportunity that should not be missed.

I’m not a big facebook fan, but I couldn’t have loved the site more when it let me know about an amazing event that was going down on our campus.  Yes, Immortal Technique was performing.  Now, I didn’t learn until I was at the concert, but the event was raising money for children in a hospital in Gaza and was being hosted by Voices for Gaza.  This apparently created a huge controversy because of the war in the Middle East.  When Technique performed, which was beyond beautiful, he addressed this issue and made a very good point.  He was performing to help raise money for children.  The event was to help raise money for children.  He noted that it doesn’t matter where the child is from, if they are in need they deserve to be helped because the war is not their war.  I thought this was brilliant and insanely true.  It is important to look past racial disagreements for those who are not part of the problem.  I have always been attracted to Immortal Technique’s lyrics because they address underlying issues that speak to everyone, that are boundariless and that can say things that I have been able to put into words but are inexplicably perfect.  He takes these issues and creates a story, a piece of lyrical ingenuity that not only leaves you breathless but intrigued to learn more about world politics and society and do something to improve it.  While I couldn’t help but sing along to some of my favorites “The Point of No Return”, “Crossing the Boundary”, and “Peruvian Cocaine”, most of the concert I was thinking; thinking about what he was saying, and about how amazing it is seeing someone who can create such beauty with words perform.

The Yankees are known as the team to keep an eye on every baseball off-season. For the last decade the Yankees have not been scared to open up their wallets. They already have Alex Rodriguez, who is making more than 300 million dollars in total from his current contract. They are known for  signing star players, one after another, but this year may be a little different. Derek Jeter, the captain and one of New York’s most popular people, is a free agent and he wants to get paid. Current reports reflect a failure to communicate between the Yankees and Jeter. The organization feels he is worth about 15 million, and he feels his worth about 25 million (a year). Jeter is a future hall of famer but he is coming off his worst statistical year ever. Its obvious that the Yankees are cautious about paying a 36 year old the top dollar deal. Jeter has made an impact with his 5 championships with the Yankees, but if he feels he’s going to get paid, he may be wrong. The Yankees didn’t want to pay Joe Torre a long-term big figure deal, even though he’s known as one of the legendary managers of all time.

Jeter may need to just realize that he is a great baseball player that is at the end of his career. He is a future Hall of Famer that doesn’t need the negative attention. If players were paid based on beautiful women and sex appeal than yes, I can see the Yankees paying him 25 million a year. Unfortunately for Jeter the Yankees are like the rest of the millions of Americans in today’s world. They are trying to save money everywhere possible. Jeter already has millions coming from Nike, Gillette, and other endorsement deals. At this moment the issue is more about respect and pride. Jeter does not want to be a multiple champion, captain, and alpha male that is not the best compensated player on the team. The Yankees wont convince anyone with the argument of saving money, especially after reports from New York are saying they will be going after the best pitcher in baseball, Cliff Lee. The signing of the dominant pitcher is expected to be around 20 million a year. Lee already has been recorded in saying he wants a long-term deal, so the Yankees would be forking over 100 million dollars for the pitcher. The Yankees have told Jeter to explore the market, but can anyone imagine him wearing a Red Sox jersey? The image makes me want to laugh then cry, then laugh again. Jeter will probably end up a Yankee until he retires. Until then we will have to feel bad for the guy with the gorgeous fiancé and a lifestyle that makes Bruce Wayne look twice.

Update: December 7, 2010

The Yankees sign Jeter to a 3 year, 51 million dollar deal.

Jeter explained at his press conference that he always wanted to remain a Yankee . He mentioned that he did not enjoy that information leaked about his contract negotiations. Jeter is 74 hits short of reaching the 3,000 hits milestone and it seems he will reach it as a Yankee.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted in a new set of rules to govern any electronic dance festivals, otherwise known as raves. Although these rules are not strictly law, it is expected that any venues who do not comply will face stricter regulations, and already most of the Los Angeles area venues have agreed to the new guidelines.

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Finals week is upon us, but if you can make it through to next Saturday alive and well, a concert of gigantic proportions is taking place at the Gibson Amphitheater. Some huge names are coming to LA for this entirely for-charity event. Put on by LA’s own KROQ 106.7, the Almost Acoustic Christmas show has been going on for 21 years now and has become one of the biggest events of the year. (more…)

Stay tuned next quarter for The Morning Show At Night, Wednesdays from 8:00 to 10:00 pm on UCLAradio.com.

Here is The Eggman’s Playlist from our last show Fall Quarter.

• Destrokk – MGMT – Time To Pretend
• E-Pro – Beck – Guero
• Working For The Wind – Julie The Band
• Wild As The Sky – Julie The Band
• I Heard It Through The Grapevine vs. Feel Good Inc. – Marvin Gaye vs. Gorillaz – DJ Hero Soundtrack
• Storm Coming – Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
• We Used To Wait – Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
• Swimming – The Smiles – Hermosa EP
• Take It Easy – Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
• Lord Only Knows – Beck – Odelay
• It’s Over – Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders – Red Light Fever
• Soundtrack – The Damnwells – One Last Century
• It’s OK – Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killer
• A Little Bit Of Everything – Dawes – N/A
• Our Prayer – Brian Wilson – Smile
• Heroes and Villains – Brian Wilson – Smile
• Rock Plymouth Rock – Brian Wilson – Smile
•Shake Shake Tambourine – Beck – Beck Remix EP#2
• Heaven Hammer – Beck – Beck Remix EP#2
• Emergency Exit – Beck – Beck Remix EP#2
• Broken Drum – Beck – Beck Remix EP#2
• Terremoto Tempo – Beck – Beck Remix EP#2
• Wish Coin – Beck – Beck Remix EP#2
• The Dawn of Your Happiness – Violens – Amoral
• Full Collision – Violens – Amoral
• Are You Still In The Illusion? – Violens – Amoral
• It Couldn’t Be Percieved – Violens – Amoral
• Until It’s Unlit – Violens – Amoral

- The Eggman

Lillard, Chris, and Al are Putnam Hall, a three man rock/pop/punk act of out Orange County. On Saturday night, they came to Club Spaceland in Silverlake. Here’s what happened.  (Photos by Loma)

My girl and I get to the show ten minutes before the band is supposed to go on, but it turns out to be plenty of time because I spot Lillard talking with the group ahead of us. I think they look like fans of his, 1. because they’re talking to him and 2. they’re mostly Asian and as Lillard is mostly Asian – or all Asian, I’m not sure.(1)

After a few moments, Lillard spots us, slides by the group, wraps me up in a hug and whispers in my ear, “You’re on the list,” only, that’s what I’m guessing he whispered since I didn’t hear him that first time, distracted by the alcohol wafting from his breath/clothes/hair/being, so I whisper back (while continuing in our tight embrace), “What?” to which he repeats, in a louder whisper:

Al and Chris of Putnam Hall

“You’re on the list!”

“Cool,” I say, and with a manly pat, we separate our chests from each other.

I say my name to the bored hipster in the booth and go into the club.

Putnam Hall goes up before too long – but it’s enough time for my girl to finish her Vodka tonic and me to finish my Stone IPA which I drink even though I’m not a fan of IPAs.(2)

But before I describe the show – let me tell you briefly about the layout.  If you’ve been to Spaceland you know there are essential three rooms – the stage and floor, the bar area, and the back room.

And that’s it.  I told you it would be brief.

So when Putnam Hall goes on, there are a TON of people in the bar area, but NO ONE on the floor in front of the stage.

People are shy – hell, I’m shy – and don’t want to be the first on on the floor.  But when a stringy-haired hipster and his friends saunter to standing spots in front of the stage, it’s easy for us to follow. (more…)

The UCLA men’s soccer team had to beat Dartmouth in round 3 of the playoffs, the round of 16, in order to get their ticket to the quarterfinals. The game against Dartmouth was as exciting as a soccer game could be ending in a 2-1 victory for the Bruins just seconds before the second overtime period was about to end.

Eder Arreola of the Bruins, who was also named the UCLA/Muscle Milk Student Athlete of the Week and the Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Week, was to credit for both goals for the Bruins on the evening of November 28th. The game started out with Dartmouth possessing the ball much more than the Bruins were able to. One of the first challenges that the Bruins had to face was that they have never played Dartmouth before, therefore it was a whole new game for them, and the Bruins definitely learned from the first half as they were able to see the way Dartmouth played the game. Eder’s first goal game at the 25:55 mark when he shot the ball with a curve and put it nicely into the left corner of the box. The Bruins were up at halftime, however Dartmouth got the equalizer in the second half at the 59:34 mark. From that point it really looked like it could be anyone’s game.

The two teams remained tied until the end of the 90-minute regulation period. After playing the first overtime period they were still tied. And with just 27 seconds left to play in the second over time period, the two teams were still tied and preparing to start penalty kicks. Dartmouth knocked the ball out with 27 seconds left. Bruin Joe Sofie had a nice throw in deep into the box where one of the Dartmouth defenders was able to head the ball up into the air, but Bruin Eder Arreola was there to kick the call off the header into the goal with just 8 seconds remaining in the second overtime period. This second goal put the Bruins up 2-1 on the match and opened the doors for the Bruins to move on to Quarterfinals!

The Bruins are looking to face the number one seed in the country, Louisville, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament this Saturday night, December 4th. The game will take place at Louisville’s Cardinal Park. This will be the first ever meeting between UCLA and Louisville. Congratulations on the round of 16 win and good luck to the Bruins as they head to quarterfinals!

After fighting hard to make it through the first two rounds of NCAA playoffs, the Bruin women’s soccer team saw there season come to an end in round three against Stanford on November 19th. The Stanford Cardinal beat the Bruins 3-0 in this round of 16 game. Stanford has been undefeated all season and continues to remain undefeated after this game, moving on to the quarter finals of the NCAA playoffs. The Bruins ended their season with an overall record of 13-8-2.

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Who is Michael Cassette? The best description to be found about this producer hailing from Helsinki is that he enjoys total anonymity despite the fame he has accumulated since his first appearance. He maintains no contact with his audience and has authorized fellow Helsinkian producer duo Komytea to fully represent him. With so little known, Michael Cassette may be nothing  but a facade for Komytea. Despite these doubts about his true identity, one thing is for sure: Michael Cassette’s music is a skilled fusion of the long forgotten soundscapes from the 70’s and 80’s collided with the production sensibilities of this decade. And after 7 singles/EPs and a variety remixes since 2005, Michael has made another public appearance with his debut artist album “Temporarity” released on November 29th.

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It’s about that time of year for us Jews. We might feel a bit lonely on Christmas, but for now, we take pride in our eight crazy nights, the first of which began at sunset on December 1st. In honor of a holiday that promotes gambling, consumption of anything fried, and conspicuous spending (dreidel, latkes, and eight nights of gifts, respectively), here’s to celebrating the biggest Jewish names in popular music.

From top left: Marc Bolan; Ben Harper; The Ramones; Bob Dylan in Jewish attire; Mirah; Regina Spektor; Chris Cornell; David Lee Roth; Benny Goodman; Sammy Davis, Jr.; Mike D; Lou Reed; Paul Simon; John Mayer in manthong; Joaquin Phoenix; Gene Simmons; Ike Turner; Jack Black; Scarlett Johansson; Perry Farrell; Pink; Stan Getz; Adam Lambert

Et voila, some of the world’s favorite Jewsicians. This holiday season, be responsible: go easy on the Manischewitz, keep the menorah candles a safe distance from the Hanukkah bush,  and occasionally eat food your mom didn’t deep fry.

In the words of the old country, L’Chaim.