*NSYNC....not just another BoY bAnD!!!

To most critics, when *Nsync came out, the seemed to be just another boy band trying to make it..since the 90's were definitely the decade for boy bands. People would look at them and claim "ahh...they are just trying to be like the Backstreet Boys, they are not going to make it..." Well....were they ever WRONG!!!

The group was formed in 1995 in Orlando, Florida, and it consisted of five members; Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, and the very well known Justin Timberlake. This dynamic quintuplet had a hard time getting started in the U.S. because of the assumptions that everyone had about them. So they left to Europe, were they started touring and released their first cd entitled NSYNC in May 1997. Their first single "I Want You Back" reached the top ten in Europe.



Back in the states, the group released their self-title album in January 1998, and although it didn't have much success at first, eventually it reached number two in album sales. However, this could not ever prepare them for what was to come.


After releasing a Christmas album entitle "Home For Christmas" in November of 1998 and leaving record label RCA to sign with Jive, the group went on to achieve massive success with their third album "No Strings Attached" released in March 2000. The first single from this album, "Bye, Bye, Bye" immediately became number 5 on the "Hot 100" and is considered to be their signature song. The album sold 1.1 million in one day and 2.4 million in a week, breaking the record and making it the "highest first week album sales in one week!" (Wikipedia)






After this *Nsync completely blew up, selling millions in concert tickets and merchandise. They were nominated for a Grammy and were named the worlds biggest band by Rolling Stone magazine.

Their second album, "Celebrity" still holds a record for the second best selling album in a week. In 2002, *Nsync announced a hiatus, leaving many fans (including myself) very disappointed.

I was lucky enough to attend two of their concerts, and I have to say both concerts were an unbelievable experience. *Nsync, in my opinion, was definitely a part of history, the best boy band ever. They were great performers as well as inspiring artists. One of the members, Justin Timberlake, is still in the music business and is considered one of the top R&B artist of his time.

"Do Girlz Really Like Jerkz?"

"Do girls really like jerks?" That was one of Yahoo!'s headline today, and of course I had to go read that!

The article was opinion based written today, February 24th by a male and female with opposing views, Jason Ryan Dorsey and Christine Hassler.

On the one hand, Hassler says that women do not like jerks, we just think we do. She argues that we are seduced by his "confidence, charm, and passion" and that we disregard our inner voice, which is correctly telling us to stay away. According to her, the "jerk" drags us in with his compliments that eventually turn in to the criticism that he will us against us.

On the other hand, Dorsey says that women do in fact like the so called "jerks". He explains that he doesn't really understand why, but suggests that maybe its trying to beat him in his own game or "hoping that deep down inside he is a nice guy".

I can not agree more with Hassler. Being in the situation myself only a few years back, I think it's more the thrill of chasing the image of a so called "bad boy", that blinds us in a way that we find unbelievably rewarding. It must be that we are enthused at receiving attention or a simple call from that person, feeling that we are getting ahead in the chase, when in the end, the reality is that the chase is nothing but a big fat circle. When you think you are reaching the end of the race, you only start over right back were you were before...but hopefully a little more knowledgeable, maybe enough to get out of the unfortunate rut that was once thrilling, but now is only painfully never ending, seeing as how his call and apology comes right when you've decided you cant take it anymore...and so he drags you back in.

Its unfortunate that you have to go through all of that to realize who really matters in life and what kind of guy you are really looking for. However, I see it as the necessary experience that every women must go through, if not for the important life lesson, then maybe just for the thrill that we want to get before we commit :P At the end of the day though, its important because when the right guy does come along... the one that is far from a jerk, but still gives you a rush and a thrill, but this time for the right reasons, you learn to appreciate him that much more!~

~Critics, cRiTiCz, Critics.....~

Critics are always arguing in favor or against something, but regardless of the topic, they always make sure their voice is heard loud and clear, no matter who or what gets thrown into oblivion. Well, as with many movie critics, I also chose to disagree with the critics that argue that "newspapers should abandon the inverted pyramid news story structure" (Stovall 144).

After recently learning about this "inverted pyramid", it makes so much sense to me. I remember that most articles I've read over the years in most newspapers have in fact began with the most important facts....who, what, where, and when, followed by the not top priority, yet still important facts (why), and then the details. It seems to me that this is obviously the best way to go about writing any editorial paper, because most people want to "get to the point" as soon as possible, no one likes to beat around the bush! If a person is interested in a topic, they will read the first paragraph, get the most important facts, and then go on to read the rest of the details. If the reader is not so interested in the topic, why should he be placed in the predicament of reading an entire article to get to the facts? He will probably just skim through the whole article until he gets to the "point", and eventually just find a new source were he can get what he wants right away.

The television and the radio do in fact deliver news faster, because you dont have to sit there and read. But in reality, if someone is buying the newspaper, it is obvious that they want to read about current events while they are one their way to work in the train or they have some spare time. Reading can lead to more details and you generating your own perspective. You should be able to read the first paragraph, get the important facts first, and then go on to read about the details if you chose to. Furthermore, there is no really saying how "fast" the t.v and radio are in comparison to a newspaper, since if you are able to read an article in the inverted pyramid form, you will be able to quickly read the first couple of lines and know exactly what is going on in no time, as oppose to sitting and listening to a reporter on television. This way you can do it on your time, at your pace, and re-read what you did not understand.