OFFICE HOURS
DESIGNER ANGELA SCOTT KEEPS BIG D STYLISH
UFC IS READY TO
#BREAKINGBREWS WE DISPEL THE MYTHS OF THE MICROBREW DRINKER
THE AGE GAP OF NFL COACHES
WIDENS
WHO ELSE IS ON YOUR COMPUTER? THE INTERNET AS YOU KNEW IT IS OVER
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7 Things Every Man Should Know This Month The most anticipated album on the planet G I R L by Pharrell Williams hits iTunes on March 3.
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Kate Upton. Zero Gravity…Google it now.
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Publisher Kelly G. Reed Editor-in-Chief C. Craig Patterson Creative Director Jette Stephens Cover Design Jonah Gilmore/Jette Stephens Photo Editor Darryl Briggs Staff Photographers Jarrod Fresquez, Jonah Gilmore, Steven Hendrix, Kevin Jacobson, Rick Leal, Chuck Majors
Staff Writers Arthur Bellfield, Peter Gerstenzang, Ethan Harmon, Keysha Hogan, Frank LaCosta, Amber LaFrance, Will Martin, Mark Miller, Hannah Allen White Contributing Photographers/Artists: Teymur Madjderey, Adam Paige, Mr. Peruca Contributing Writers: Gary Dowell, Andrew J. Hewett, Lance LeVan
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College Spring Break is coming. Be prepared. In whatever way that applies to you, be prepared.
5 There is no surefire way to win your office NCAA bracket but Syracuse would be a good bet.
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SXSW will take over your Facebook Timeline, Twitter Feed, and Instagram posts. Just accept it.
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March is National Women’s History Month. So maybe you shouldn’t Google Kate Upton.
Controversial director Lars Von Trier’s even more controversial film Nymphomaniac starring Shia Labouf & Charlotte Gainsbourg premieres March 21.
VOL. 7 - ISSUE 2
MARCH 2014
ARE YU READY?
Rangers Enter Spring Training with New Set of Questions BY MARK MILLER – MMILLER@BLITZWEEKLY.COM
pring training 2014 has a decidedly different feel for the Texas Rangers. Yes, the manager remains Ron Washington. And sure, players like Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre are still around. But for the first time since the 2010 camp, the team isn’t coming off a playoff run. It’s been well documented what general manager Jon Daniels and his staff have tried to do to put the Rangers back in the post-season hunt. And while it will take an entire season to determine the outcome of those decisions, some will become clearer between now and the March 31 opener. Here are just some of the questions needing answers in Surprise, Ariz.: 1. Who Will Make Up the Starting Rotation? Okay, let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. Even with a healthy Derek Holland, the five pitchers who would form the initial rotation were not set. But with the lefty out possibly until after the All-Star break, who will toe the mound in April? Much depends on health as every candidate except Holland missed some time in 2013. Yu Darvish is the obvious ace even after missing two weeks at mid-season with fatigue and undergoing back treatments over the winter. He had a 13-9 record, 2.83 earned run average and 277 strikeouts in 209.2 innings last year.
Martin Perez shined in his rookie season after missing the first month when he was hit by a ball in the spring. His 10-6 record and 3.62 ERA included a team-leading seven wins after the AllStar break. In a perfect world, Alexi Ogando would be in the bullpen but in the Rangers’ world, he must start even after three trips to the disabled list in 2013. When healthy he was 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA. Nick Tepesch was an inconsistent 4-6, 4.84 last year and only pitched in three games after the All-Star break. Non-roster invitee Colby Lewis missed all of 2013 and the last two months of 2012 because of flexor tendon surgery but if healthy is an option. One potential candidate, 2013 Opening Day starter Matt Harrison, is questionable again after experiencing lower back stiffness just days after reporting to Arizona. After missing nearly all of last year following back surgery, he said he was in top form but it will take an MRI exam to determine his status. Others in the mix are veterans Tommy Hanson and Jose Contreras and youngsters Robby Ross, Tanner Scheppers and Michael Kirkman. 2. Is Feliz the Closer He Was in 2010 and 2011? With Joe Nathan now in Detroit after two seasons as the Texas closer, it may be a case of back to the future for that important role this year.
Neftali Feliz shined in 2010 (32 saves) and 2011 (40) before moving to the rotation in 2012. Unfortunately, he was hurt after seven starts and underwent Tommy John surgery. He returned in September for six uneventful relief outings but used winter ball in the Dominican Republic to work on regaining his velocity. If it truly is back, problem solved.
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Unfortunately both have struggled in ensuing years prompting their initial teams to give up on them and both ending up on the Rangers. But they also hope Texas is their second chance. And their team desperately hopes both return to previous offensive form in addition to handling the pitching staff.
If not, former All-Star closer Joakim Soria returns though he too had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and didn’t seem completely comfortable in 28 outings last year (14 walks). If Feliz and Soria falter, look for Scheppers to become the closer.
If they do, memories of last year’s solid performance by A.J. Pierzynski and previous success by Mike Napoli, ironically both now in Boston, will vanish. That will especially be true if the pitching staff continues to improve its statistics.
3. Can Mitch Moreland Be a Full-Time DH?
6. What Team Personality Develops in Arizona?
With the acquisition of first baseman Prince Fielder, who rarely takes a day off, and the retirement of Lance Berkman, incumbent Mitch Moreland is the top choice at designated hitter. But for any chance to be there every day, he must be more consistent.
The Rangers clearly were a power-laden team during their playoff runs of 2010, 2011, and 2012 and more speed and pitching heavy last year. What’s their vibe in 2014?
Yes, he hit 23 home runs and drove in 60 last year, but the left-handed hitter batted just .227 against right-handed pitching and .232 overall. He must improve on all of his statistics if he wants to remain a Ranger very long.
Fielder, Beltre, and Alex Rios are a solid surge in the middle but they are surrounded by speed in Shin-Soo Choo, Elvis Andrus, Leonys Martin and Jurickson Profar. So this team might establish itself as a combination of the past with balance the optimal word.
4. Who’s on the Bench?
7. New Coaches
The Rangers made it a point to improve their reserve corps in 2013 and succeeded quite well with the likes of infielder Jeff Baker, outfielder Craig Gentry and catcher Geovany Soto. But Baker and Gentry are gone and Soto is the No. 1 catcher so who fills these important roles this year?
Gone are Washington’s long-time bench coach Jackie Moore and base coach Dave Anderson. In their place are Tim Bogar and Bengie Molina. Bogar is a former Boston Red Sox bench coach and Molina, who will handle first base and help with the catching, played for the Rangers the last part of 2010.
One likely candidate is veteran infielder Adam Rosales who joined the team late last year. Another is former University of Texas-Arlington outfielder Michael Choice, who came from Oakland in the Gentry deal. There’s also J.P. Arencibia at catcher and possibly outfielders Engel Beltre and/or Jim Adduci. 5. Will Soto, Arencibia Return to Previous Form? Both Soto and Arencibia have enjoyed early career success as catchers with other teams. Soto was the 2008 National League Rookie of the Year with the Chicago Cubs while Arencibia enjoyed strong seasons in 2011 and 2012 with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Another addition is assistant hitting coach Bobby Jones, a long-time Texas minor league manager who knows most of the team’s younger players very well. How well the new coaches mesh with Washington and holdovers Mike Maddux, Gary Pettis, Andy Hawkins and Dave Magadan in the spring could prove critical throughout the season. 8. Conclusion It’s been a few years since the Texas Rangers played under the radar but that might bode them well. Letting the Angels, A’s, Red Sox, Yankees and Rays attract all the attention now would make it sweeter if the Rangers come out of Arizona strong.
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NO SIDELINE
FOR OLD MEN
WITH THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LONGEVITY AND JOB SECURITY, THE NFL’S FRATERNITY OF HEAD COACHES IS STARTING TO RESEMBLE AN AGEIST SOCIETY. THE QUESTION IS: WHY SHOULD WE CARE? BY KEYSHA HOGAN – @THEKEYSHA If we only look at the numbers, a coach’s regime just lasted longer in the 20th century. Chuck Noll served as head coach for 22 seasons, Tom Landry for 28 seasons and Don Shula for a record-breaking 33. Nowadays if there are a succession of shaky seasons, there is a good chance a coach will be demoted or let go before they could build their empires. There is no time for a staythe-course attitude in the modern NFL and few are wise enough to know what strategies should be kept and which should be discarded. Some teams are quietly learning the age old lesson that with age comes experience. The average age of NFL coaches is 51.5. And in the 21st century league the actual daily job of coaching is changing. Working 18 hours-a-day with few days off can be physically and mentally taxing on the most dedicated of men. There is no question that keeping these long and stressful hours can whittle a man down to nothing.
H
onestly, there’s something to be said for older men. Wisdom and grit show through on graying temples and calloused hands. The assuredness we all feel when they give their word and look you square in the eye. There are few professional comforts in the world that compare to being led by someone who has tasted victory and still takes the time to drag you through your adolescent angst, so that you can taste it too. Like most of the western world these qualities are being tossed by the wayside for whatever is newer, faster and younger. There is a gravitas that comes with time, but over the past decade National Football League owners are turning over the helm to younger and more inexperienced head coaches. In every industry there is the race to be the best. These days, being the best means energetically embracing innovation and the latest trends to outfox the opponent. Picture yourself as a NFL coach who has wrangled young bucks into winning teams for decades, only to be told there are newer, kinder, gentler ways of team building. There’s only a few ways that this scenario can play out. Either you stick by your tried and true methods or you will be shown the door and treated as an antique. As an older coach it’s probably tough to navigate the politics of a head office. Right out of the gate, you’re not given the same opportunity for failure that a young coach would have. If an underdeveloped coach loses a few games at the start of the season, SMARTER, SHARPER MEN
all we’d hear about is how he’s learning, growing and finding his stride. If an older coach starts off with a losing streak, we hear rumblings of “the fossil should have known better,” and “it’s time to put him out to pasture.” In 2003, Bill Parcells came home to the Cowboys when he was 62 years old. The team went 10-6 that season and lost the NFC Wild Card round. And over the next three seasons, Parcells went 24-24. Admittedly, that was a tough time for all the fans. Now we have Jason Garrett who took over the helm at age 44. He stands with a 29-27 record with three straight 8-8 season finishes, and times are feeling decidedly tougher. But as Garrett enters the last year of his contract, the grumble of discontent has barely reached resonance. Now, a man of 44 is certainly not a babe in the big bad world but he has been afforded the privilege of patience and understanding. It will be interesting to see if Jerry Jones throws down the gauntlet with Garrett or gives him time to turn things around. We all know that football is a team sport and all faults cannot be laid at the feet of a single man. Basics such as draft position, player ability and the difficulty of the schedule all contribute to the final outcome. Rebuilding a team through meticulous drafting is a sure way to invest in future success but as the world demands immediate results, owners and aging coaches are easily criticized for lacking the stamina to see the lengthy process to completion.
But where most falter there is always a success story. The Arizona Cardinals moved past the failures of their 2012 season by hiring 61-year-old Bruce Arians to guide the franchise forward. He came to the table with 20 years as an assistant and boldly decided to recruit men aged 68 to 78 to serve as his support staff. This group of football’s elder statesmen had become specialists in the mechanics of the game. Arians then paired his senior staff with younger coaches who could handle the rough hours and grunt work. This overwhelming influx of discernment, wisdom and maturity forced the players to new heights. Last season the Cardinals were in playoff contention with a 10-6 finish after not having a winning season since 2009. And it’s worth mentioning that good ole Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots is 61 and has regularly led his team to the playoffs. Or that New York Giants’ Tom Coughlin who brought home championships for the 2007 and 2011 seasons and is still coaching at age 67. Or I could drag out this year’s Super Bowl champs the Seattle Seahawks’ 62 year-old coach Pete Carroll. Correlation is not causation, but there is something to be said for the lethal effect that a well-seasoned coach can bring to the table. In time, all things will become equal and only winning will guide the choices of owners across the league. A young class of coaches will tout revolutionary ideas, and the more mature coaches will preach that time honored techniques can and will pay off in the end. Eventually everyone gets older and finds themselves on the ropes, but it’s the men who delight in the fight who end up on top, no matter the obstacle. To quote the great Samuel Ullman, “Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
VOL. 7 - ISSUE 2
MARCH 2014
March Serves U p Revenge Quite Warmly in a at Put Plethora of Flicks Th
Getting Even A
bove All
his home town to investigate his brother’s death and uncovers more than he bargained for. Ranked by Total Film magazine as the best British film ever made, it became one of Caine’s signature roles and its DNA can be found in Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey and others.
DEATH WISH (1974) The mother of all modern revenge movies, featuring Charles Bronson in arguably his most memorable role, playing an architect who goes on a vigilante rampage after his wife and daughter are brutally attacked by a gang of thugs. Said rampage continued through four sequels and spawned countless knock-offs.
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FULL CONTACT (1992) Hong Kong action director Ringo Lam turns in what could be considered the Eastern version of Point Blank with this tale of a thief (Chow Yun-Fat, hot off the success of The Killer and Hard-Boiled) who’s maimed and left for dead by his best friend (Anthony Wong) and a gang of psychos led by Simon Yam. Stylish, tasteless, and gleefully nutty, it’s worth seeing just for the bullet’s-eye point-ofview shoot-out and Chow’s closing one-liner.
THE CROW (1994)
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I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (1978) This controversial 70s exploitation flick centers on a young woman (Camille Keaton) who wreaks bloody vengeance after being raped and beaten by a gang of yokels. Notorious for its graphic content, it was named one of Time magazine’s Top 10 Ridiculously Violent Movies in 2010.
Alex Proyas’ (Dark City) adaptation of James O’Barr’s underground comic about a murdered musician (Brandon Lee) who returns to earth to bring justice to the criminals who killed him and his girlfriend, gained an immediate cult following. In a cruel twist of fate, Lee died during the filming of what would have been his breakthrough role, killed in a freak accident involving a prop gun. Script rewrites and some use of a stunt double and CGI allowed for it to be completed.
If there’s anything we here at Movie Night have learned from the movies (and most of what we know we’ve learned from the movies), it’s that there are many recipes for payback, and almost as many flicks on the subject. Here’s an extensive, but by no means exhaustive, list of some of our favorites:
MAD MAX (1979)
MEMENTO (2001)
One of the classics that put the Australian New Wave on the cinematic map in the 70s, George Miller’s enduring pseudowestern redefined road rage with its tale of a a tough young cop (Mel Gibson) patrolling the backroads of a post-crash near-future Oz, wreaking bloody vengeance after he loses his family to a biker gang. Miller’s years as an emergency room doctor and the ‘73 oil crisis influenced the movie’s vehicular mayhem.
With just his second feature film, auteur director Christopher Nolan made his Hollywood breakthrough and ignited a stellar career with this complex tale of a man (Guy Pearce) seeking to avenge the rape and murder of his wife. The twist? A beating by the perpetrator left him with a brain injury that crippled his short-term memory. Twisty and told with a fractured narrative that has part of the story play out in reverse order, it’s a brilliant work that demands – and earns – repeat viewings.
e’re a bit intrigued by this month’s Need for Speed starring Aaron Paul, partly because we love Breaking Bad and partly because we love a good revenge story. “Revenge is a dish best served cold,” as the old Klingon proverb goes; but truth be told, it also can be served hot, a la carte, and/or salty with a twist of lime.
POINT BLANK (1967) John Boorman’s (Excalibur) adaptation of the classic pulp crime novel The Hunter by Donald Westlake, starring Lee Marvin as Walker, a hard-as-nails thief who goes on a violent tear after he’s betrayed and left for dead by his partner (John Vernon) and wife (Sharon Acker). Walker doesn’t stop there, instead blasting his way through a crime syndicate to recover the money stolen from him. Moody, atmospheric, and graced with a cast that includes Angie Dickinson, Keenan Wynne, and Carroll O’Connor. Remade twice as Payback (1999) with Mel GIbson and Parker (2013) with Jason Statham.
GET CARTER (1971) Mike Hodges (Flash Gordon) made his directorial debut with this Brit noir cult fave about a gangster (Michael Caine) who returns to
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982) Arguably the best Trek movie ever made, this sequel to a 1967 episode of the original series (titled “Space Seed”) finds the crew of the Enterprise targeted by a villain from their past (Ricardo Montalban, rocking some amazing pecs). It touches upon MobyDick to develop its theme of the self-destructiveness of vengeance. Dark, fast-paced, and character-driven, it renewed interest in the franchise and kicked-off a story arc that played out through the two subsequent sequels.
KILL BILL VOLS. 1 AND 2 (2003-04) Quentin Tarantino’s revenge epic was so ambitious it had to be split into two films. Both star Uma Thurman as The Bride, a woman betrayed and left for dead on her wedding day by her former lover/ hitman and his cronies. Her quest for vengeance results in a body count seldom seen outside a war movie. Tarantino lifts tropes from samurai films, spaghetti westerns, grind-house flicks, anime, blaxploitation, and kung fu epics, and the results are breathtaking.
Moment of Vengeance
BY GARY DOWELL – WWW.MOVIEINK.NET WWW.BLITZWEEKLY.COM
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REPEAT AFTER ME,
The Internet is Not Your Friend
T
he Internet is not what it used to be. Now that the days of dial-up and AOL are far behind us and we have all upgraded to high-speed Internet, WI-fi and decent web browsers (seriously, who uses Internet Explorer anymore?), we have shifted into a totally different age of the Internet.
Now, we can find literally anything there, streaming of new TV content, torrents of any and every program, movies that are just now hitting theaters, an unlimited supply of music, etc. But the Internet also is not a safe place. Malware, viruses, users who steal information, hackers and a wide range of dangerous content floods the World Wide Web which has been the cause of some serious debate when it comes to net neutrality. The government takes action, protests counteract the action, new sites appear with loopholes around government sanctions which are then shut down, and the cycle continues. So what the hell is going to happen to the Internet? Well, to understand where it is going, we need to understand where it has been and what has happened. You learn history for a reason, right? By the time people migrated to Firefox and said goodbye to Internet Explorer, file sharing was commonplace. Limewire, Frostwire, Bearshare and dozens of other file sharing services were in almost every household.
BY ETHAN HARMON – EHARMON@BLITZWEEKLY.COM People didn’t feel like dropping money on iTunes for an album, and these services offered a way to download entire libraries of music for no cost at all. Eventually, movies, TV shows, pornography, and games were uploaded to these platforms. It was easier than ever to download whatever you wanted. That was until people began receiving subpoenas for downloading movies, such as The Hurt Locker (hey, it was late 2008 and early 2009 and a popular film). Suddenly, file sharing was more difficult and it had consequences. But Limewire and the other third-party platforms were on the way out anyway, and uTorrent became the new way to receive those valuable downloads. Essentially, users download a smallsize file, install the application, go to a torrent hosting site and simply begin downloading whatever was wanted. It was an easy set-up and it worked wonders. Torrent sites began to pop up all over the Web, including The Pirate Bay and Demonoid. Other streaming services began to form as well, such as Megaupload. For a good while, it was great to have free reign over Internet content. Money was not an issue and everything was readily available. It was hardly controlled – except for those hosting the servers – and it was, well, downright magical. But all good things come to an end, and WikiLeaks slammed the media hard.
For those who do not remember much of 2010, a little site called WikiLeaks hit every media outlet around the country with some very shocking revelations. Army Private Chelsea Manning was able to retrieve extremely sensitive information regarding United States foreign policy, monitored conversations, counterintelligence and more, which was uploaded to WikiLeaks, allowing anyone and everyone to read and watch exactly what the United States was up to. Of course, the private was jailed and the government went into “we need to fix this and fast” mode. There was worldwide outrage over the information released, and the now infamous hacker group Anonymous made its big debut. Although the group was around for several years, hacking sites like 4Chan, it became a loosely-connected network of Internet activists and hackers as the years passed. When WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested and put on trial, Anonymous made its move, hacking various government websites (internationally, mind you) along with attacking credit card companies and PayPal. Yeah, it was not exactly good publicity for regular Internet users, especially if you were a fan of torrents at the time. Torrents became the target of the U.S. government, something that Congress could rally behind so it could prevent the theft of any more information, especially after the bad reputation that stuck during the WikiLeaks ordeal. It was on Oct. 26, 2011 that the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, was introduced. The Act, which floated throughout Congress for months on months, basically wanted to expand on online law enforcement, allowing agencies (FBI, CIA, etc.) to monitor specific people or websites and police them. The idea behind this was to prevent information theft, stop copyright infringement and essentially have a degree of control over the Internet. And, as you might expect, it was not received well. There was a massive uproar after SOPA was proposed, and the nation collectively yelled, “That’s bullsh**!” The idea of the government watching everything clicked, everything downloaded, spying and waiting to pounce was just too much. The idea of privacy would vanish if it was successfully passed. Luckily, champions of net neutrality rose up to challenge the bill. Google held a mass petition to counteract it. Wikipedia, Google and an estimated 7,000 other websites went dark for an entire day, showing the world what the Internet would be like without their services. Companies that were in favor of SOPA were boycotted and lost a lot of loyalty and business. But, when shots are fired, it is only natural for other shots to be fired back. The massively popular streaming site Megaupload, and the ever-popular torrent site Demonoid, were officially and
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completely shut down, forever banned from the Internet. And, damn, what a statement. It was almost as if the government was telling the people, “You can’t stop us.” Even with the protest of SOPA, there was a lingering sense of hopelessness to the situation. It was at this time, in early 2012, Anonymous hacked various websites, such as CBS, in retaliation for the Megaupload shut down. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity of Internet warfare, SOPA and its counterpart, PIPA, finally bit the dust and faded into memory. And again, it was back to business downloading torrents and streaming files, using free information sites like Wikipedia and surfing the net. Although there was a major dent for streaming/torrents since two major sites shut down. This was The Pirate Bay’s time to shine. With servers established in Sweden, it was not subject to the pursuits of the U.S. government to shut it down, although it did try quite a few times to do so. The Pirate Bay was, and still is, the go-to, all-free site for torrents. But, if you have been paying attention, you have already noticed the pattern and realized that the battle of the Internet was not over. May 2013 revealed something terrible and shocking to the world. In fact, this revelation has not left us since then and still carries on a debate to this day. This is when the media, Internet users, hell, the world was left to rage and fear what was unseen in their Internet browsers. This is when Edward Snowden revealed the National Security Administration was constantly spying on everything and everyone on the Internet and collecting data. No one was safe, and they still are not able to escape the all-seeing eye. Data collection was constant and wide-spread. Forget that Playstations were hacked. Forget that Apple had issues with user information. The NSA had it all and saw everything. The factor that made this worse was the fact that it was not denied by the government. And, to an extent, the reaction to this information was a bit over-blown. Google has been known to track users since, well, the beginning. Google logs every single thing searched and monitors Gmail, caching every bit and allowing algorithms to understand and track interests (this is how ads become tailored to users). Regardless of browser, Google can directly
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track everything searched and clicked. With this in mind, the NSA scandal just seems to be an evolution of what Google has always done. But, that does not mean it is right and that it doesn’t infringe on privacy. It completely removes privacy. There is no privacy whenever your browser and the government are watching every click and key pressed. The Pirate Bay had an answer to all of the madness. It released its own browser to combat the ever-looming “Big Brother.” The browser would allow users to freely search through information on the net and download torrents. And it has been a hit ever since. Due to the growing NSA scandal, people are more and more afraid. Their privacy has been compromised and the notion of a browser with no restrictions feels like a safe haven. So, now that we have explored the cyclical nature of Internet battles, there is really only one question that lingers: Where are we going now? And that is a very difficult question to answer. “History repeats itself.” Yes, it is a cliché statement, but it holds merit. Think about the nature of the Internet, government regulation, hackers, activists and protests. What’s next? Well, there are a few possibilities. A New York based company, known as MDIF, is attempting an ambitious project titled Outernet. The idea is simple: launch hundreds of small satellites into orbit and provide the entire world with free WI-fi. But, can it be done? And what will happen if it works? Where does the government fit into this and what will we do if we can use it? If the Outernet fails, then we might just be caught in a never-ending battle with restriction, with only a few champs of net neutrality pushing for Internet freedom. Ultimately, it comes down to this: either someone, or some company, needs to do something drastic, or we will be caught in a loop, battling for rights, trying to stop the madness. Can the madness be stopped? Can we prevent government regulation? Can we stop the spying? Is it possible to move to a new, shining future with free information on the web? I don’t know. But I do know that we cannot achieve anything if we continue to fight the same battles over and over again. Something needs to change if we truly want an Internet that isn’t controlled by something or someone with an agenda. And it will only change if we use a different approach. Until then, get used to someone watching.
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DALLAS SETS STAGE FOR UFC 171 AND A NEW CHAMPION
UFC 171 Preview BY LANCE LEVAN – @LANCELEVAN1 (#1) Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks (15-2-0) vs. (#3) “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (22-9-0) This is a welterweight (170 lbs.) title fight for the vacant spot left by GSP retiring. This is going to be a brawl. Both of these fighters are known for their punching power and neither one of them is scared to take a punch. Both fighters are former wrestlers, so it is possible to see some good take-downs. In the end, someone is going to get KTFO. My prediction: Hendricks gets the TKO in the second round. (#2) Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit (29-7-0) vs. (#10) Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley (12-2-0) This is going to be a very evenly matched fight (at least, on paper). Both of these guys come to battle each and every time they step in the ring. Both of these fighters like fighting on the ground and have numerous submissions between them. Condit has experience in his favor…he’s been fighting at the upper echelon of MMA for several years. Woodley is an upand-coming fighter who is just coming into his own and he is very hungry. This will be a very technical fight, right from the start. My prediction: Condit wins via majority decision. (#15) Diego “The Dream” Sanchez (26-6-0) vs. Miles “Fury” Jury (13-0-0) As much as I love to root for the underdog…I am not sure about this battle. Everyone knows Sanchez’s resume. He’s a brawler when he needs to be…yet laser-focused striking when he needs it too. He is a finisher and he does not know the word “quit.” Jury is fairly new to the UFC (only four fights in the octagon) and he is still finding his place in the UFC world. To his credit, he IS 4-0 in the UFC, which is nothing to sneeze at…but at the end of the day, I am not sure he can compete with all of Diego’s experience. My prediction: Sanchez wins via TKO in the second round. Disagree with me? Let me know via twitter @BlitzWeekly and we’ll see who has better picks the night of the fights.
PRESENTED BY
THE GYM 921 West Mayfield Road Arlington, TX 76015 (817) 652-1555 SMARTER, SHARPER MEN
BY ARTHUR BELLFIELD – ASKARTHUR@BLITZWEEKLY.COM knew about the sport, and that now due to the media everyone knows you. “You can’t hide when you’re fighting in the UFC, because everyone knows what you’re up to,” he stated.
O
n March 15, Dallas will be home for one of the most anticipated UFC events in years with the return of UFC 171 at the American Airlines Center. The combatants Robbie Lawler and Johny Hendricks will come face-to-face to see who will claim the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title left vacant when Georges St.-Pierre opted out of the league to focus on personal matters. This will be a bittersweet fight for Hendricks who was the last man to face GSP, and whom many felt actually won the match. During a media luncheon in January both Lawler and Hendricks got a chance to sit down with reporters and give their thoughts on their upcoming fight, what it means for UFC171, Dallas, the evolution of the sport and more. When asked if he felt that fighting DFW resident Hendricks in his own backyard would affect his fight, Lawler simply replied “No it’s not going to affect me. I’ve fought a lot of places. It’s not going to be an issue. They’re not going to be in the ring with him, they’re not going to be in the cage. I’ll be ready to go. They can boo…they can cheer, but when push comes to shove they’re going to enjoy what I do out there. I come to fight and they’ll respect that as fans!” One of the big questions of the luncheon was Hendricks’ thoughts on the UFC171 event and if he would fight in it. “I had about 500 people go to the UFC fight (against GSP) that I knew and that I’ve met over the last couple of years. This one is going to have a lot more. But, I like that. I like that people are going to be able to support me. They haven’t been able to see the fights live. They’re going to see a fight live! That’s what it’s about, always building your fan base. Always building the UFC fan base as well, because the more the UFC gets involved the more fighters there are, the more fights there are, the more fighters they can get. It’s always a snowball effect!” Both men also gave their thoughts on the evolution of UFC. Lawler simply said that when he first started fighting in 2000 that not many
Hendricks opened up a bit about his thoughts on the opportunities for fighters moving up in the game and what it means to him. “It means everything. I remember just two years ago the welterweight class was still the same for like two years. Then I sort of broke the ice and everyone else just came through it. Now, it’s a totally different class. I think that GSP knew it, and all the guys coming behind me, he knew it would be a tough road for him to maintain. For us to come through now and make our stand, that’s the difference between not having to work the rest of your life or getting to work.” Regarding UFC 171 being here in Dallas and if it will have an impact upon future MMA fighters in the area he added “I think it’s going to do a lot of things for the sport, locally. Now, people have an opportunity to see things live. And, when you see things live it gives you a different outlook on what you want to do. There will be some kids watching it saying “I don’t want to do that. There will be other kids who will watch it and think that’s awesome. That they can’t wait to train in it. Then there are going to be kids who don’t know what’s going on and it’s going to blow up. And, that’s what it’s about. That’s the most important thing, building it up and building up the community of MMA and wrestling. I’d like to do it for wrestling too. Anytime you can build up your sport that’s a great thing.” Hendricks went on to add that he views the addition of MMA gyms opening up around the country much like he views building a football team. Stating that if you have four million players than that increases your chances of building a good team. Therefore, if you have a lot of UFC gyms opening up, the chances of producing some great fighters out of them increases 10 fold. It’s within those very gyms that fighters like Hendricks and Lawler are produced. When asked about how he got into fighting, Lawler told an interesting and familiar tale. “I did martial arts growing up. I had an older brother who beat me up and made me tough. I just loved competing. I played a lot of sports growing up. I’ve always loved boxing. Then I moved to Iowa and I started
wrestling and I still enjoyed boxing, still knew how to kick from my marital arts training. And, when I was a sophomore in high school I met Pat Miletich. He was bringing wrestlers to the high school. He was a UFC champion at the time. I started training with him and felt like this is boxing, wrestling, and kickboxing all rolled up into one. Then a year later I trained a little more and decided that this is what I what I was going to do after high school. I was going to go straight into fighting and the rest is history.” Regarding “history” Hendricks was asked what he learned from his last championship title fight and what he hopes to bring into his upcoming match against Lawler. “That you know that you can do it, that’s the most important thing,” he said. Secondly how to make our camp a little bit more focused. For example, we were sorta scrambling at times because we’ve never been in a five-round fight. Also, there’s this and that to get us there and there’s a couple of ways we could split it up, and after we did it we were like we can do this better. Now it’s about making everything lineup, and that’s what you have to do in a five-round fight.” And, after a bittersweet ruling by the judges in his fight against GSP, he had this to say about not letting the fight be decided by the judges. “I know Dana White always said don’t bring it in front of the judges, but there are also fights that you have to. I had a talk with Mike Tyson and he said you can hit them with everything you got, they can eat it. For some reason, they won’t go down. That’s where you have to hope that you did enough to win the fight. If it doesn’t go your way, then you pick yourself up, find out why it didn’t and what you got to do to make it go your way next?” Despite being crowned the winner by many UFC fans in the first round against GSP, it was GSP who still took home the title of welterweight champion. This would be a sore spot for many fighters, but Hendricks views things a bit differently. When asked directly if he feels that he’s still the winner, he humbly said, “No, not yet. Even if it (the belt) was around me, I feel that every fight is different. You have to earn it every time. I can’t go in there thinking that it’s mine and it’s not technically mine. I got to go in there and think I have to go earn this thing, if not what’s the point of fighting?” Having said that, Hendricks has his eyes on the future and his post-fighting days. He envisions a day when he can just buy a few hundred acres and raise some cattle, but for now the American Airlines Center and his bout with Robbie Lawler is all that is on his mind.
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Filiz
Model: Filiz Teymur Madjderey SMARTER, SHARPER MEN
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Craft Beers Aren’t Just For Hipsters Anymore BY HANNAH ALLEN WHITE – COMMENTS@BLITZWEEKLY.COM
F
or too long craft beer drinkers have held the title of pretentious, presumptuous douches. They’ve been lumped into the category of snobs like fine wine connoisseurs or coffee aficionados: those too good to buy the box of chardonnay or drink a cup o’ Joe from Mickey Ds.
looked like a dick if you ordered something more obscure than a Red Stripe. But with the beer community upping its game with good advertising and accessible, affordable brewery tours with generous samplings it’s been tough to contain the deliciousness as word spreads from bros to blue collar good ol’ boys and everyone in between.
We’ve classed these microbrew drinkers in with the likes of the $30,000 millionaire or (possibly worse) hipster assholes. Perhaps this stereotype has its roots in pretense or nonsense but craft beer is now a little more mainstream than the Bud Lights or Miller High Lifes of yesterday. And, thank God.
The very real truth is that microbrews are damn good. There is no shame in enjoying what is right in front of you. Maybe that’s what the game-changer has been is that people aren’t partaking in an effort to maintain some ridiculous self-serving image but because it’s widely available. In fact, it seems the snobbiest people (mostly youngsters) are choking down Pabst Blue Ribbon or Budweisers in an effort to get back to the brass tacks of American beer. I’m not sure who they’re fooling. Life is short, drink the good beer because you don’t need to feel weird about it.
With the rise of the microbrew in the United States and now here in North Texas, we’re seeing the principle of supply and demand at work in a very real way. Whereas once it was nigh impossible to walk into a dive bar in this town and find anything more exotic than Shiner Bock on tap you really
Adam Paige
RESTAURANT NEWS: BELLY AND TRUMPET BY HANNAH ALLEN WHITE – COMMENTS@BLITZWEEKLY.COM
N
ewcomer Brian Zenner opened the Belly and Trumpet in the Uptown neighborhood last year. Once the site of a gourmet hot dog eatery, Zenner offers affordable, globally-infused and tres chic small plates with a Mediterranean bent. An early darling of critics, Belly has weathered that treacherous first year to be named one of the top restaurants in Dallas. Peeky Toe Crab Beignes and Wagu Beef Tongue are a few appetizers that are both interesting and flavorful with Kimchi Omelet and Roasted Duck Breast heading up the main course offerings. The wine list is eclectic while remaining approachable. Definitely worth the trip Uptown to see if the critics are right!
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Not Angela
Also Not Angela
Model: Larry g(EE) Jarrod Fresquez Shoes: the Liam Bronze $515 SMARTER, SHARPER MEN
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WILL SAVE Angela Scott Is a Designer Who Knows Men’s Footwear
a deep admiration for the authenticity and quality of traditional craftsmanship and the second, an appreciation of the punk mentality and aesthetic; not in the typical sense, but rather a do-it-yourself ethic. We value independence, cultivate old-world attention to detail, and never take ourselves too seriously. In a word – or two – we are HERITAGE PUNK.
In case you didn’t already know, women always (and I mean ALWAYS) check out a man’s shoes. A pair of cross-trainers on a date can be a deal-breaker, but a nice pair of wingtips or bold dress shoes can be a deal-maker.
5. What would you say are the shoes every man should have in his closet?
Every man needs a great pair of shoes. We’ve been admiring luxury footwear designer and Dallas transplant Angela Scott’s traditionally handcrafted shoes for quite some time. The attention to detail is unreal. Her men’s line in particular boasts bold patterns and colors, but the traditional cut and craftsmanship of the line is very old school itself. Scott is taking over the men’s footwear market one pair at a time. Between fleeting off to New York City to meet with potential designers and traveling to California to source customdyed hemp from a friend, she’s been one busy girl. The coveted shoe designs are even on display at Dallas Contemporary in a very cool Lavish exhibit until March 9 featuring her work alongside a diverse selection of clothing, jewelry, textiles and sculptural installations by six local artists and designers. We had the pleasure of talking with the quirky and brilliant Scott this month in her Victory Park studio space to ask a few questions about her line for gentlemen: The Office of Mister Scott. 1. Tell us what initially inspired you to design shoes for men? I have always been inspired from the onset by menswear style and tradition, so the men’s collection seemed like a natural compliment to the line. There is something so sophisticated about the lines, leathers and simplicity but also the strength in menswear.
US ALL
A wingtip brogue is a must. 6. How would you encourage men to step up their shoe game? Get creative, stop buying black and brown… go for a cobalt blue or an ox blood red!
The Real Angela Scott
2. Describe the ideal style of your target male customer. Confident. 3. What are some of your favorite trends right now in menswear? I love that men are getting more adventurous with fashion in general especially with bold colors and prints, but I also love the infusion of sportswear and luxury, like leather baseball jackets with suit pants. 4. How do you feel your designs are contributing to/changing menswear? I hope to add a little fun in menswear fashion. The Office of Mister Scott is inspired by the union of two enduring perspectives. The first,
7. As a shoe designer, you are very dedicated to the traditions and process. Do you think this resonates with your male customers? Men appreciate quality. They don’t purchase shoes like women do, so quality, craftsmanship and integrity weigh heavily on their decisions when purchasing a new pair of luxury shoes. The level of detail and craftsmanship that goes into each pair of The Office of Mister Scott shoes is a testament to my love of quality and traditional artisan shoe-making and I hope that resonates with them as much as it does with me. 8. What currently is inspiring you in your designs that will come out next? I’m obsessed with woven leathers. 9. When we first started chatting with you, you were back and forth between New York City and Dallas for buying season. What have you been up to in NYC?
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BY AMBER LAFRANCE ALAFRANCE@BLITZWEEKLY.COM like anything is possible. And with possibility comes growth and maybe a little bit of trouble! In the best way possible. 10. We’ve heard that someone in particular inspired your love for menswear, even bowties in particular. Tell us a little about who that might be. Well let’s just say that when my grandfather passed away he was reincarnated in his granddaughter. My poor mother wanted a little girl (after three boys) and what she got in return was a little girl who dressed up like a little old man!! My grandfather and I must have met in a former life because the few years he was alive we bonded pretty strongly. I consider this company an ode to him. I still have a box of his bowties (that yes I wore to school when I was 10-12) that are a symbol of strength and love, fashion and character the four corners of where my style and drive originated. What’s next for the designer? Scott is about to stock her Victory Park boutique shelves with new spring 2014 looks, which feature the handdyed hemp and carefully tooled leather looks for which she’s famous. A true creative, she tells us she “will continue to search for all that makes (her) a better designer, thinker and do-er.” The images from this particular shoot were taken at The Office of Angela Scott, the designer’s Victory Park boutique. Local soul-man and musician, Larry g(EE), is shown modeling four Winter 2013 looks by Scott’s The Office of Mister Scott collection, along with looks by H&M, Eddie Borgo and The Scala Collection. You can catch Larry g(EE) this month at showcases across Austin during SXSW and May 3-4 in Plano at Suburbia, LiveNation’s newest music festival.
New York always breathes life back into me. Every time I land at JFK I feel invigorated, WWW.BLITZWEEKLY.COM
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CLEAR HISTORY WHY DO PORN SITES
KNOW YOU BETTER
THAN SHE DOES? BY KARINA MANLOVE COMMENTS@BLITZWEEKLY.COM
A
ccording to PornHub.com’s traffic meters, when the Denver Broncos lost the Super Bowl last month, the site had a surge of activity from that area. Traffic to the site from Seattle was markedly less, probably because everyone was partying due to the Seahawks winning. This is hilarious, yet sad to me. The fact that people were so angered or upset by the game that they logged onto PornHub after the halftime show is really silly. That many people had to go rub one out after watching the disaster unfold is indicative of a few things: one, they were so depressed or upset about the game that they needed to relieve some stress; two, they were bored, and with the Super Bowl still on TV they turned to another medium; and three, lack of a
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partner. Maybe their partner was busy. Maybe she was still watching the game. Perhaps they don’t have partner, or desire one.
on DVD and now you’re lying to me because I found it. Why do you need to buy it when you can get it online for free?
That said, one question comes to mind: why turn to porn instead of a woman?
Some women who take issue with their men watching porn are upset because they’re wondering “What about me?” My ex-boyfriend a few years ago went to a porn site and started doing his thing when I was in the room. I asked him why he didn’t want to have sex with me, and he responded that he just needed some time with himself. I was hurt and thought he didn’t want to have sex with me at all. I was flabbergasted and thought it was something I did, but it wasn’t. After a few days of reflection, I realized he was escaping into a fantasy land by watching porn. He wanted the fantasy that I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) provide. That’s what disappointed Super Bowl viewers did, too.
You know, I get that y’all have needs. Those urges that need to be quelled with some visual and physical stimulation. But I have problems understanding why looking at porn is satisfying, and sometimes more so than...the real thing. Yeah, remember that? Let me be clear. I’m not anti-porn. I think masturbation is a healthy practice. But, like anything else, when it’s done excessively it can be damaging. Every guy I’ve talked to or been with has admitted to me that he’s watched porn. Some had a porn collection. I have found two guys’ collections accidentally. It was awkward: “I didn’t know you were into cheerleaders,” I told one guy after finding a porn DVD under his bed. I was trying to tuck the sheets under his mattress, because I’m a nice person and I was making his bed for him. “Umm...yeah...my friend gave me that...” His face turned red. All I could think was, no, he didn’t. You bought it. Come on, own up to it. You bought that crap
It would be interesting if PornHub had the statistics on the gender of those viewing their site before, during, and after the Super Bowl. I’m sure we’d be surprised that a chunk of the visitors were women. Not many women will admit it, but they watch it too. They may not own videos and have magazines, but they’ll go online and watch porn. But we’re sneaky about it. We delete the browsing history and then act surprised or upset when we catch men watching porn online. Why, you ask?
Because there’s different types of porn. There’s the slow, erotic, and sexy kind and then there’s “Oh my God, how is that even possible?” There’s the really nasty and there’s the super boring, and there’s videos out there to delight viewers of every persuasion. Public sex, three way, BBW, whatever your fancy—there’s a porn video for that. Also, women watch porn videos that are different from the ones men view. We like the ones where the man shows care and attention instead of just going in for the kill. They’re called “female friendly.” These videos focus on getting the woman off, not jack-hammering away without a care. I’m sure there’s plenty of ladies out there who like that sort of intimacy, but I’m willing to bet that most of us aren’t too pleased if that’s the entire sexual episode. The reason porn sites are successful is that they market fantasies that people are afraid to discuss and enact. It’s time to open up the dialogue and be honest about your fantasies. If you’re retreating to the internet to get off instead of confiding in your partner what kind of stuff gets you hot and randy, then that’s an issue that will affect your relationship, if it’s not doing so already. I’m sure she’ll share some of her fantasies with you, and who knows, you might have a common fantasy. And I’m sure acting on it will only add to your relationship, not detract from it.
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BY PETER GERSTENZANG – PZANG7@OPTONLINE.NET
I
f you listen to the radio these days, you’re bound to experience some terrible feelings of guilt. But no worse than if you, say, burned down an orphanage. I think it’s because all they play are happy songs now. New ones by Taylor Swift, old ones by Boston. If you’re an upbeat sort, it’s fine. But if you’re a depressive, you hope the Evangelicals are right. Because the only thing that can stop this cheery crap is The Apocalypse. In the meantime, here are some hymns for those of us who know what it’s like to feel truly hopeless. “Things Done Changed”: Notorious B.I.G – This cinematic story about life in the ‘hood, sports so many guns and F-bombs, it makes Scarface seem like March Of The Penguins. Still, if you’re looking for the truth about Inner City life, it’s all here. Set to a sinuous beat, Biggie raps. “It make me wanna grab the nine and the shottie/But I gotta go identify the body.” One problem. You have to play this loud enough for your neighbors to hear. Which will result in a big tradeoff. You’ll feel better. But those dinner invitations will trail off dramatically. “He Stopped Loving Her Today”: George Jones – Country was once the music of hard times, bad lives and guys coping with it by drinking themselves into medically-induced comas. Now (helped, I think, by an Act of Congress), they’ve changed positions. And Country says life is great and drinking isn’t necessary. George Jones knew better. In this
song, a man can only get over the gal who broke up with him by dying. Totally true. Unless the girl who just broke up with you is Miley Cyrus. In which case, you will want to drink. But in celebration. “Who By Fire”: Leonard Cohen – Cohen’s songs are usually so bleak, he can make George Jones look like Curly Howard. This song, a litany of how people die, is a great one to listen to, alone in your room. Please just listen, though. I’m not recommending this tune as an instructional manual. At least until I settle the lawsuit from my last piece. “Everyday Is Like Sunday”: Morrissey – All depressives know that Sunday is the worst day of a bad week. In TV terms, it’s like a marathon of Will and Grace followed by an episode of Friends. Morrissey understands. And uncorks this ballad about the Hell that is Sunday. And living in a town that could only be improved by a nuclear attack. Morrissey is talking about Manchester. But the sentiment can also be applied to Trenton. In fact, when you’re really down, on Sunday, every town looks like Trenton. “Tonight’s The Night”: Neil Young – This song details the drug overdose of Neil’s roadie. The song starts slowly. But soon rocks so hard, it makes death sound positively cool. Which means Neil is brilliant. And also, why he’s never been offered a job at a suicide hotline. WWW.BLITZWEEKLY.COM
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Hilarious Advice From This Guy There’s no problem that a little bit of Duct tape and a deep enough hole won’t fix. Everybody who ever told you that money was the root of evil was broke. Don’t sneak up on a sleeping possum. Better to be drunk than bored. Stay away from women that have a thing for stainless steel poles…unless you’ve got some, then stick around awhile. Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Pisces: February 19 - March 20 You feel like shit, can’t remember anything and your ass feels like it took a pounding after that double date with Darren Sharper. Aries: March 21 - April 19 You should really listen to your body. It has some great tales about hanging out with Keith Richards. Taurus: April 20 - May 20 Have the courage to be persistent. Fight through the personal secretary and two security guards and demand that raise that you really don’t deserve.
HOLD THE ONIONS – ADD A GUN After Dallas police stopped Craig Wilburn, 24, for an illegal lane change, he rolled down his window, letting marijuana smoke fill the air. Next, getting out from his car, holding a fast food sack, officers looked inside it to find not only a hamburger and two bags of pot, between the burger’s buns was a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun mingling with the tomatoes, lettuce and beef. His underwear also hid a large bag of pot.
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HER SINGING STINKS Nashville Opera Company singer Amy Herbst and her husband, former Army Staff Sgt. James Herbst, are suing for $2.5 million after she gave birth at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Fort Campbell, Ky. According to the lawsuit, a nurse performing an episiotomy to enlarge the birth opening had left her unable to control flatulence, saying these frequent farts, made worse when singing, was ruining her career. OOH, YUMMY! While hiring 2.2 million employees for their 11,000 WalMart stores, under 69 different banners, merchandise must cater to shoppers in 27 different countries. This explains why a Wal-Mart in China recalled its ”Five Spice” donkey meat sold in some locations because the popular snack was found to be tainted with fox meat.
Gemini: May 21 - June 21 You’ve always thought that you’d make a great father but judging from all of the restraining orders you’re beginning to doubt yourself.
Virgo: August 23 - September 22 A tragic fire at your house will claim the lives of the lead singer, guitarist, harmonica player and drummer in your one-man band.
Cancer: June 22 - July 22 Things will go awry when you head over to the Sam Pack Ford dealership and ask for a pussy magnet…
Libra: September 23 - October 22 You believe that your peers have lost all respect for you, but truth be told, you never had it to begin with.
Leo: July 23 - August 22 After taking three ambiens you’ll have a great meeting with the woman of your dreams and some messy sheets.
Scorpio: October 23 - November 21 Your feeling of loneliness will not last forever. The stars foresee a fiery car crash in your near future.
Sagittarius: November 22 December 21 After politely waiting on hold for four hours you are beginning to think that your call isn’t really that important to them. Capricorn: December 22 - January 19 Take note: Several of your closest friends and family will bring up your personal flaws at your funeral making others feel slightly uncomfortable. Aquarius: January 20 - February 18 Hey shitcock! Remember that single-ply toilet paper just ain’t right.
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Model: Brittany Lanae www.instagram.com/Britt_b_fit
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