BuzzSugar

A Movie Is the Muse for Jay-Z's Next Album

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:48:24 PDT

One of my problems with the last Jay-Z album, Kingdom Come, is that his favorite subject - himself - gets a bit tiresome. But I think Jay-Z has an incredible amount of talent, so I can't wait to hear how this turns out: According to an article in today's New York Times, the CEO of hip-hop plans to release another album in early November, inspired by the upcoming Ridley Scott/Denzel Washington movie American Gangster.

That's less than a year after Kingdom Come's release, but apparently Jay was so moved after viewing the film that he simply had to head into the studio. But Jay-Z, who says his drug-dealing past helped him identify with the '70s-set tale of a Harlem heroin kingpin, isn't writing the soundtrack. His album will merely be released around the same time. For more details,

CD Review: Jay Z, Kingdom Come

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 10:25:18 PST

I got Kingdom Come with the hopes of including it on my Top Albums of 2006 list, but Jay-Z's lackluster eighth album didn't quite make the cut. Yet, while the music isn't as revolutionary as earlier Jay-Z, the biographical bent forges new ground in terms of what a rap song can be about - namely, settling into and accepting adulthood.

Though some have criticized Kingdom Come for its narcissism - as if that's unique among hip-hop records - only occasionally does the self-focus get tiresome, as on the predictable momma homage, "I Made It." But in the spotty but thoughtful "30 Something," the Def Jam CEO justifies his veteran status, boasting "I'm young enough to know the right car to buy / yet grown enough to know not to put rims on it."

For more on the highs and lows,

The strongest tracks on Kingdom Come arrive early on as a staggering one-two punch. With its "Good Lord!" gospel refrain and getting-back-into-the ring vibe, "Oh My God" positions Jay-Z as a an aging champ poised for a spiritual comeback. And on "Kingdom Come," Jay-Z proves he just might be deserving of such a return, combining slightly cautious lyrics with an ingenious spin on Rick James' "Super Freak."

Admittedly, the album is marred by a few duds, like the watered-down Hurricane Katrina protest song, "Minority Report." But most of the weaker points are still enjoyable enough. "Show Me What You Got" may not be a masterpiece, but with the coaxing vocals and punchy brass, Jay-Z proves he can still fire up the ladies with the best of 'em. Rather than being a letdown, Kingdom Come is an early indicator of what happens when hip-hop grows up.

Buzz Blabber: Paranormal Activity 3 Disappoints Horror Fans

BuzzSugar — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:05:00 PDT

With Halloween around the corner, you guys got to talking about scary movies and Halloween-themed episodes this week. Many of you sounded off about Paranormal Activity 3 and how it failed to meet your expectations, while others weighed in on The Office's annual Halloween episode. See what readers had to say about the holiday appropriate entertainment options, plus this week's other buzzy topics.

Fans of the Paranormal Activity franchise blast the latest movie

"They jumped the shark on this one. They had enough background information from the previous two movies to come up with something scary and it seemed like that was what they were doing based on the trailer. Unfortunately, there were no scenes from the trailer included in the movie. . . a bit of false advertising!" - Mcw1173
"Just finished the movie and I hated it! The first two were not great either, but by the trailers I thought this one would be different. I guess I was wrong! The ending was horrible and it was an overall bad movie. If I could have a word with the writers I would. So disappointed." - iMm0rT4L 3y3z
"I think people seriously do not have a clue as to what scary is. Nothing real or the least bit frightening in any of these movies or TV shows like the ones where they are supposed to encounter unexplained happenings. It is all just plain boring. I'll save my money for an interesting movie." - Asfandancer

See what else got you talking when you keep reading.

Spirit Junkie: 4 Reasons to Rethink Fear From Gabrielle Bernstein

Lizzie Fuhr — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:50:57 PDT

Gabrielle Bernstein, also known as Spirit Junkie, is a best-selling author, life coach, and all-around inspirational chick. She shares her personal journey of self-discovery and, as she calls it, "the keys to the kingdom" in her newest book, a September must read, Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles, available now! Just two days after its release, it's already No. 1 on Amazon for Spirituality.

She's already shared her advice, giving us five romantic reminders for more fulfilling relationships. Here is part deux: four reasons to rethink fear from Gabrielle Bernstein, the Spirit Junkie:

Fear has been a misused tool. "We have been taught everywhere, through the news, our experiences on the streets, in the office places, and in our education system; there are plenty of places for fear to be on the rise. Fear has been used as a vehicle to push people harder and try to help them achieve more. But instead of trying to use fear as a catalyst for change, there's another way to experience it."
Fear is different for everyone. "Fear comes to each person in individual forms depending on their life experiences. So it may be because you're carrying resentment from the past and you're replaying that fear in the present. Maybe you're projecting your fears onto other people. Maybe it's that they've been brought up to believe in fear. Or maybe it's because of the way they perceive their parents or their environment."
Be conscious of the decisions you make in fear and get ready to recondition.
"When we start to become conscious of fear, that's when we want to make change. But it proves to be very hard because our fear-based system resists it. So although there is that strong presence and desire for happiness within each of us, that presence for fear is much more alive, vibrant, and present. As it says in A Course in Miracles (the text that is a lot of the inspiration for Gabrielle's work), 'fear speaks first and loudest.' So we will experience that fear as the first thought in most situations, until we undergo the necessary reconditioning of our minds."
Fear isn't the only way.
"At some point in time, this fear has become an experience that becomes a thought. A thought becomes something we replay and repurpose in many different situations. All of my work is about helping the reader combat that fear and bulldoze that fear so they can create real positive change."

For more information on Gabrielle and her work, visit Gabbyb.tv.

3 Reasons I Was Pleasantly Surprised by Game of Thrones

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:34:08 PDT

Did you tune in for the premiere of HBO's Game of Thrones last night? I was admittedly on the fence about the show, but I couldn't ignore the hype and decided to give it a try - and I'm glad I did. Since the show is based on a series of fantasy novels, I was expecting the first episodes to be bogged down in setting up the premise and introducing the different kingdoms without very much action. As it turns out, the opposite proved to be true, and I have a feeling that after a few more episodes I just might be hooked. Here's why you should give it a chance:

The pilot moves quickly. The first episode of a series is rarely its strongest, but Game of Thrones offers just the right amount of character introduction and plot development. It kicks off with a creepy mystery (plus a beheading), and eventually includes a wedding, multiple deaths, and the discovery of a scandalous relationship - plus the potential loss of an important character. Though I had to double check a few facts to make sure I didn't miss anything, the episode sets up plenty of storylines for the rest of the season while keeping the audience engaged.
There's no shortage of characters. The episode focuses on three major families: the Starks headed by Lord Eddard (Ned), King Robert Baratheon's wife and kin, and the brother sister duo, the Targaryens. For the most part, the Targaryens are a separate entity in the first episode, but their story has as much intrigue as the bond between the King's family and the Starks does. The pilot slowly unfolds each family tree, which runs the gamut from children learning to be warriors to young women who are forced to be married off for social status to adults who are still behaving like teenagers.
It ends on a major cliffhanger. Even if you're not instantly hooked on Game of Thrones, it ends with a jaw-dropping note that will not only set the course for the rest of the show, but will definitely have me tuning in next week to find out the aftermath.

So what's your reaction? I'm especially interested in hearing how fans of the book series feel about seeing the novels come to the screen. Did you love it? Hate it? Weigh in!

Photo courtesy of HBO

Your Top Favorite Video Game Characters of All Time

Geek Community — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:30:57 PST

Last week, the Guinness Book of World Records released a list of the top 50 video games characters of all time. While I agree with some of the placements (Mario is number one in my heart as well), I disagree with others. Yoshi at number 21? Come on.

So I tossed the ball to you on Facebook, and asked you to tell me who your favorite video game characters are.

Find out who makes your list after the break.

Sex and Science: What Human and Animal Sex Lives Have in Common

Annie Scudder — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:15:29 PST

To help curious lovers celebrate Valentine's Day, the California Academy of Sciences museum in San Francisco turned its weekly Wine and Dine event into an evening about sex and science this past Sunday. The night included an hour-long tour about the sex lives of the Academy's most amorous animals, followed by a delicious three-course dinner at the museum's restaurant The Moss Room. I was invited to attend and found it to be a wonderfully nerdy and romantic date! Below, find five things I learned about sex in the animal kingdom, and how it compares to our own mating practices.

Some animals:
Can last longer. Thanks to a penis bone, seen above, certain animals can have sex practically nonstop for days. For example, male lions can mate every 20 minutes with a female in heat. Such frequency raises the chances of pregnancy, and guarantees that the male lion knows the offspring is his. Animals with a penis bone never soften or shrink - so you know humans do not have such bone. But how come? Scientist suspect that a lack of penis bone helps female humans select healthy males, since it takes a level of health to get an erection. Viagra is throwing a wrench in evolution.

Mate for life. Just like us, some animals, like penguins, find a mate for life. When penguins are young, they test out different partners, but once they find the one, they perform a series of rituals to cement the bond (like a wedding, but free). When a mate dies, they will attempt to find another.

Are less picky. Jellyfish, for example, practice "broadcast spawning." The male shoots sperm out into the water, and the female gathers it up not knowing whose it is. The animal version of a sperm bank!

Can change sex. Many creatures under the sea can change sex in order to keep a balance of males to females. So for these hermaphrodite species, there really are always more fish in the sea - because if you can't find any decent males out there, the females will just become male themselves!

Have flings. Creatures like the leafy seahorse mate with an exclusive partner for a breeding season. Just like human Summer lovin'.