Breaking Bad Makes a Premature Departure From TV

My Breaking Bad addiction is stronger than Jesse Pinkman’s love for crystal meth. I began watching AMC’s hit show two weeks ago, and I just finished devouring season three. I’m not sure if I have a serious problem or if the show is just that damn good.

I’m sure I can speak for all of my BB fans when I say that Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul create a fascinating dynamic on-screen that is unlike any other duo I’ve seen on television. Walter White (Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Paul) play polar opposites on the show, but the sharp contrast in age and personality add to the humor, drama, and unpredictability of each episode.

With the success this Emmy-winning show has had in recent years, it’s hard to believe the fifth and final season airs on July 15th. Walt’s mid-life crisis has been a joy to watch, and I for one will miss the wild RV cook sessions, Tuco, Los Pollos Hermanos, Jesse’s drug-induced escapades and Mr. Heisenberg himself.

The show accurately depicts the dangerous and blood-soaked world of methamphetamine, and I like it because the meth cooking, abuse, violence, addiction, downfalls and triumphs mirror reality. The producers, actors, directors and everyone else involved did their homework, and it’s reflected in each and every scene.

To occupy my time until Season 4 of BB is released, I’ve turned to AMC’s other hit series, Mad Men. Don Draper is no Walter White, but both characters give a new meaning to the word power.

If I find myself in dire financial straights living a life I’ve grown bored of, it might be time for me to break bad.

College Graduation is Upon Us

I have high hopes for my future as a soon-to-be university graduate, but I’d be lying if I said I was utterly thrilled to start the next chapter of my life. I know it sounds cliche, but the four years I’ve spent at the University of South Florida were filled with great times and memories that will be hard to relive again.

I’ll be 22 years old when I graduate on May 4th, and I’m already starting to act and feel like a responsible adult. Little Bradley is growing up and yes it’s even hard for me to believe. I’m still in my prime obviously, but four years in a university setting allowed me to appreciate the smaller things that make my life worth living.

Instead of hitting the bar or going off on some random, drunken excursion on any given weekday, I’m fully content with staying at home and shoving my face into a good book or sitting through a horrible chick flick that my girlfriend insisted we watch.

The first few years of college gave me a chance to get all of the the bad decisions and regrettable mistakes out of my system. Over time I gradually matured and came to an important realization of why I chose to attend a four-year university.

I lacked a sense of direction early on, but with the help of my new found friends and a supportive family I fell into my comfort zone and had a new found sense of what got me to this point in my life. From that point on I knew the opportunities available to me were endless, and my potential became limitless.

The resources at my disposal reinforced my decision to attend a large, public university. This brings me to an important point. Kids, if you ever have the opportunity to attend a university but feel that financial or personal pressures are holding you back, don’t let it hinder you.

The educational advantages, not to mention the personal growth you’ll endure are well worth the hassle. And before you know it, you’ll be up on that stage with your family and friends watching as you end one exciting chapter of your life and embark on another.

The Little Things That Make Florida Home

I talk to a lot of my friends about their plans after graduation, and the one response I hear most often is an eagerness to leave the state of Florida. I’ve never quite understood it, but maybe that’s because this paradise is the only place I’ll ever know.

Growing up in the Florida Keys made a lasting impression on me, everything from exploring the coastal mud flats with friends to witnessing the pristine beauty of coral reefs, remote beaches and marine life. The fond memories of waking up at sunrise to spend a day with my family on our boat have been lost in waves of urban life.

I felt like my childhood had ended at 13 when my parents sold our boat, our house and possessions that were forever engraved in my mind. I can’t dwell on the past though. I consider myself lucky to have experienced such a unique childhood in a little place known as Cudjoe Key, FL.

Some live for snow and others need mountains, hills and forests to remain content, but my loyalty will always lie with the sea. It’s something about the sun, sand and saltwater; it’s gotten into my blood and has inspired me to live a purposeful life.

Northerners dislike Florida for the lack of distinguishable seasons. I’ve only seen snow twice and I’ve really never seen the leaves turn when Fall come around, but I can’t complain when I can wear shorts all year and get a tan in January.  The unpredictability of it all is simply magical, and if you’re thinking of coming down to Florida and you don’t want to go to Disneyland, take a trip further south and soak it all in.

 

Joining Pinterest: The Day I Lose All Male Dignity

Pinterest seems to be the new craze in social media these days, and although I don’t know anything about the new social platform it doesn’t take an expert to figure out that it just isn’t a site geared toward men. As much as I adore arts and crafts, baked goods, fashion accessories, home decor and nail designs, as a male I just don’t understand the interest behind Pinterest.

I’ve admittedly checked out the website, and I became discouraged when I found out that I’d need an invitation to join the ranks of pinners on the web. Exclusiveness is something that doesn’t sit well with me, that and bad Chinese food. If you want me to join your social network then make it public, or redesign your homepage so it doesn’t look like the contents of a female preteen’s scrapbook.

Maybe I’m being too critical. Hell there’s surely some masculine stuff that I could share with the 10 other bros on Pinterest. I could pin virtual pictures of steaks, football, weightlifting, beer and other manly interests that other men could relate to! What a special time that would be.

I might be getting ahead of myself here. In all seriousness, the platform might be useful as far as improving my organizational skills. Women are generally a very organized bunch, but the thought is if I use Pinterest’s organized, efficient platform enough, it will result in better organizational skills in my own life.

Obviously that’s not guaranteed, but I can use it as an excuse to join Pinterest! I likely won’t though. I will consider joining when I have a wife that nags me to join, a house that I actually care to decorate and children who will enjoy my pinterest-inspired caramel brownie bites.

The Underlying Benefits of Attending College

With a little over two weeks left until graduation, I look back at the last four years of my college career and can’t grasp how fast time has passed me by. I feel like just yesterday I was 18 years old and fresh out of high school, eager to move out of the house yet overwhelmed at the thought of another four years of school.

In hindsight there are things I could have done differently as a university student, but the choices I’ve made, both smart and not so smart,  have prepared me to face the realities of life as a working professional. I feel like college graduation universally is a very bittersweet time for any college graduate. On one end I’m anxious to start my career and branch out of my comfort zone, but another part of me is a bit frightened to leave everything I’ve come to know so well over the last four years.

The value I’ve placed on my college education is indescribable. I try to frequently remind myself that I’m here to receive an education and get my degree, but there are benefits that transcend the obvious advantages of attending a four-year university. Living on campus and meeting new and unfamiliar students that are driven, intelligent and hungry to learn and grow was important to me since day one.

Being surrounded by these type of individuals pushed me to work hard, stay on track and develop social skills that I would’ve never gained if I lived at home with my parents.

Just the fact of holding myself accountable and handling responsibilities on my own gave me the satisfaction of knowing that I could succeed on my own, no matter how much doubt my parents had. Nobody was there to tell me to go to class or do my laundry, but it became the little things that shaped my work ethic both in and out of the classroom.

Another beneficial aspect was the exposure and interaction with people from all walks of life. I meet students everyday that come from all sorts of backgrounds, and each has a unique story  that’s different from my own. With this in mind, I believe it has helped me grow into a well-rounded, accepting  individual.

For me attending a university allowed me to think differently. I approach life’s hurdles and triumphs with an open mind, and I have a better understanding of who I am as a person.

Focusing on the self and finding my purpose in life is one of the main takeaways for me. I’m at a very crucial stage in my personal development, and these past four years gave me insight into so many aspects of my life that were previously unanswered.

 

 

 

Cut the Crap. I’m Talking to You, Advertisers.

I don’t know if I’m just a critical consumer or conservative spender, but the other day I questioned whether I had ever bought a product just from seeing an advertisement. I tried my best to think of a time when this sort of thing occurred, but I had no such luck. My relationship with the ad industry is flighty; 5 percent of ads I see I really enjoy, while the other 95 percent just get lost in this media fragmented world I’m immersed in.

I was reading The Idea Writers by Teressa Iezzi, and I came across a powerful quote from Paul Bennett, chief creative officer of design powerhouse Ideo. He asks readers of Ad Age, “Are you in the business of seeking truth and telling it, or of creating a myth and selling it?

I’ve been trying to put my thoughts on advertising into a single, cohesive sentence, and I finally found what I’ve been looking for.

Not enough advertisers can handle their brand’s truth. They make something out to be extravagant, grandiose or ground-breaking, but in reality it’s just a car. It gets you from A to B, and that’s all that matters.

BBH NEW York CEO Kevin Roddy makes a good point when  he states that consumers are no longer growing complacent with accepting ads at face value. The consumer holds the power in this highly developed internet age, and it will force advertisers to become more authentic with their ad creations.

When I see an ad, I don’t want to have the slightest idea that I’m being sold. Hell I want to be so impressed that for those 30 seconds I don’t even want to think it’s an ad. Tell me a brand story, solve a problem in my life and have something relevant and interesting to say.

Respect my position as a thoughtful and conscious consumer, and maybe I’ll start paying attention to your crap that always seems to disrupt my favorite show, or song, article, blog and site for that matter.

Droga5 and the After Hours Athlete

I am an aspiring public relations professional, but what I saw in Deb Smith’s advertising course this afternoon really showed me how creative some of these ad agencies have gotten over the years. David Droga is the creative chairman at Droga5, an independent ad agency based out of Manhattan.

I was familiar with the agency from reading some advertising books over the years, but I never really took the time to witness the incredible work Droga and his team have done for brands like Microsoft, Kraft, UNICEF, PUMA and many others.

The one campaign I’d like to focus on is the Puma Social campaign that was launched back in 2010 to promote Puma’s clothing line. Additional components of the campaign have been launched in 2011 and 2012, but it’s amazing how one single idea can transform a brand overnight.

To appeal to a younger audience and take a different path from competitors like Adidas and Nike, Droga5 came up with a campaign theme that revolved around the after hours athlete.

This was targeted toward people that see a game in everything in life. The pool players, bowlers, darts players, and ping pong players that take life seriously, but not too seriously.The campaign included a revamped digital presence, outdoor ads, retail and an entirely new line of products that revolved around this new brand identity.

If you have some time check out the Puma Social video on Droga5.com.

Madonna is Over the Hill

I’ve never listened to her music, don’t know anything about her and for some reason I despise her with a passion. She’s attempting to make a resurgence back into the realm of modern day pop culture, but I can see right through her artificial attempt to become relevant again.

I’m not familiar with her accomplishments earlier in her career, and while I do respect them, I think she is using it to her advantage to appeal to a generation that just doesn’t have the time or energy to pay her the least bit of attention.

When we have amazing artists like the Black Keys, Mumford and Sons, Skrillex, Bon Iver, Adele, and Drake that flood our airwaves each day, what makes you think I want to spend 3 minutes out of the 1,440 I have each day to listen to a born again virgin that was touched for the very first time over 40 years ago.

If you’re sitting there thinking, “Well she really nailed her Super Bowl halftime performance!”,  can you please Youtube one of these artists I mentioned above and see how they rock a crowd. I’m just glad that she escaped that mess without a broken hip.

And I’m sure all of the Ultra Music Festival attendees were thrilled to see her pop out of nowhere at a festival that she has no business being at. Great idea Madonna’s agent. Way to think that one through.

“How many people in this crowd have seen Molly?” said Madonna when she attempted to use a drug reference to “connect” with the young festival goers. That certainly rubbed a few well-known electronic music producers the wrong way, including Deadmou5. ( A snippet of his response can be found here).

My main point is that the music industry today is so fragmented that people don’t have time to pay any attention to Madonna’s nonsense that could arguably be called music.

You’ve had your glory days, now step aside and continue your long descent down the rough path that is now known as your career.

My Sundays Just Got a Little Better

I haven’t been this excited for a Sunday to come around since Super Bowl Sunday. The Game of Thrones Season Two premiere is at 9:00 p.m. tonight on HBO, and it’s clearly the most anticipated season premiere of the year. For the die hard Game of Thrones fans like myself, this day couldn’t come soon enough. We’ve been wanting another taste since season one’s departure back in June of last year, and now it’s time to be immersed in the characters, plot lines, mystical lands, blood, betrayal, power, glory and DRAGONS which make this series so special.

Disclaimer: If you haven’t read or seen Game of Thrones, sadly you won’t know what the hell I’m talking about. Direwolves? Dothraki? The Dragon Queen? See I just blew your mind.

What’s so great about Season Two is the fact that the stage is set for more action, conflict and gore. Season one introduced us to the characters that we grew close to over the course of last season, and now it’s time for the conflict to unravel. Many fakes, fools and power hungry back stabbers are vying for a spot on the Iron Throne, but there can only be one to sit atop the very uncomfortable-looking throne.

And as the saying goes, “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” And who do I hope dies first you ask? Well King Joffrey of course. He’s a little shit with more bark than bite, and I really hope he dies off early on in the season. Oh, and if Joffrey’s incest-ridden mother Cersei could die a slow, painful death too that would be alright by me.

I don’t know if it’s the incredible acting or flawless prose from George R.R Martin, but it’s either I really like or really hate these characters with a passion. It’s hard not to feel sorry for the Starks of Winterfell, especially after the loss of Ned Stark, Winterfell’s rock.

On the other end of the spectrum, I loathe the Lannisters and everything they stand for. Whether it’s Rob Stark, Renly or Stannis Baratheon or just some sellsword or savage, somebody will hopefully end the Lannister’s corrupt regime.

Peter Baelish, Varys and Grander Maester Pycelle won’t escape justice for long, and Cersei will likely meet her grim fate.

What I’m looking forward to most this season is the story of Daenerys Targaryen and her new found dragon friends. All of these fools in Westeros have swords and the power to conquer, but honestly what does anyone have on dragons?

It’s time for her to emerge out of Khal Drogo’s shadow and show these clashing kings a thing or two.

Fontainebleau: A City Of Its Own

It was my first visit to Miami Beach, and let’s just say it won’t be my last. My girlfriend and I made the executive decision to spend a few days with her parents at the Fontainbleau, which was the easiest decision of our young lives. We couldn’t afford the $900 a night accommodations at the fancy resort, so we opted to stay at the Holiday Inn within walking distance of the Fontainebleau. Nonetheless, my girlfriend’s parents were kind enough to let us join them at the pool, bar, restaurants, clubs and many other fantastic attractions located within the grounds of the prestigious Miami Beach hotel.

I felt out of place from the very beginning, starting when we met her parents for a pleasant lunch at an outdoor bar and grille called La Cote. They had reserved a cabana for the afternoon, and while I was enjoying my Mahi sandwhich and gazing out into the Atlantic I knew I was living such a painstakingly hard life. I got over it though, and before I knew it I was by the pool sipping Pina Coladas and hating my life even more (but on the contrary).

The service, food, people, architecture and just the overall atmosphere of the Fontainebleau made the experience that much more memorable. For those two days, we had experienced life at its finest. I will likely never be able to afford a room at this hotel during the rest of my existence, which was more the reason to soak it all in during our short stay.

One aspect of this wonderland that grew harder to ignore were the world-class restaurants. On the first night, we dined at Scarpetta, a quaint Italian restaurant with small servings that packed a big punch. I was impressed, up until the rents took us to Hakkasan the second night for dinner. I’m not usually a conscious eater, which means I typically eat meals without acknowledging how my food tastes or how much of it I’m consuming. But not at Hakkasan. I appreciated every morsel, and the rest was history.

This amazing experience would have never been possible without the kindness and generosity of my girlfriend’s parents. They took us under their wings and opened their doors to us for two days of endless opportunities and excitement. We made memories that will never be forgotten, and I can honestly say that my last spring break as a college undergrad was by far my best.

Money won’t buy me happiness, but it will sure as hell get me back to my paradise I like to call Fontainebleau Miami Beach.