Gadget Trish does a Janet and Michael Jackson Update.

Blast from the Past: Gadget Trish shares her thoughts the BET awards featuring Chris Brown for the Michael Jackson Tribute.

I go hard for Chris Brown.  Check out my post from the BET award when he did a tribute to Michael Jackson.

When I did something wrong my mother would punish me, and I personally found it very effective. At times I disappointed her, but at the end of the day she would forgive me and a valuable lesson was learned.  I see the Media playing the role of my mother, but unlike her, they just wouldn’t forgive Chris Brown.  His fans formed support groups like “Team Breezy” a group of fans that would reach out to fellow fans to call radio stations to play his music, and write to networks requesting for Chris Brown to perform at various venues. Blogs, youTube Channels, and multi-social sites were expressing how they wanted to give Chris Brown a second chance to redeem himself.  It seemed like the efforts were going in vain, and then B.E.T finally allowed him to perform for the Michael Jackson tribute that we all were waiting for.  I tell you know lie when I say that I was screaming like a little girl, “Chris, Chris.”  Not to knock any of the previous people that did tributes for Michael in the pass year, with the exception of Janet Jackson on the MTV awards last September  and Beyonce singing “I Can’t Help It” at one of her concerts, I really didn’t feel like anyone has stepped to the plate to live up to the “Jackson” standards. Both Michael and Chris fans knew the only one that had the essence of Mr. Jackson was Chris Brown PERIOD!

The opening of the performance had Chris Brown with the signature “The Way You Make Me Feel” outfit with the corresponding song. It was followed with my personal favorite MJ song, “Remember The Time” with dancing steps from the music video with the Breezy touch.  One of my favorite parts was this neon light segment to Smooth Criminal, followed by Michael’s iconic “Billie Jean” with the signature outfit.  As I’m seeing Chris Brown perform this, I knew something was wrong because I’ve seen him do this before and you can tell he was nervous or something.  The screen starts to display social issues and you hear the melody of “Man in the Mirror.”  Chris barely gets a word out and his voice is deep like Johnny Gill.  The next thing you know, he is crying like he lost his best friend. His emotions overtake him, and you get this sense of an artist honored to perform for his lifetime idol, infused with the actions of everything that led him from being ban in the first place.  It was one for the history books for sure.  His emotions caused me to cry and I found myself rewinding the DVR in disbelief that this just happened on live TV.  You felt his remorse, you felt the lyrics, and feel Michael all in this one moment.  At the very end of the show, Chris Brown was given a BET award from the fans, and appears very humble.  He informed us that he wouldn’t let us down, and appeared sincere. I personally for one believes he deserve another opportunity to get his career in order.

I could talk about Chris Brown for a lifetime, but I just wanted to briefly talk about the overall B.E.T. award show.  In terms of production value, it was very professional.  It looked like people rehearsed and took pride into what was being asked of them.  However, the artist overall didn’t have enough “Wow” factor for me.  My favorite performances that deserve honorable mentions were Piddy and Dirty Money, Monica, and Kanye West. I was really feeling Janae Monae, and Patti Labelle for the Prince tribute.  My only awkward moment was seeing Prince wearing a shirt with his image on it, can we say “Vain.” I enjoy Queen Latifah’s as the host, and I appreciate Nicki Minaj indirectly addressing Lil Kim by saying that woman should keep things positive

“I think it’s so important right now for positive energy among women because I’m doing this, I’m fighting for women. This is not for me; this is for all of us. So thank you to all the female rappers that paved the way for me.”

Overall the B.E.T. award was well produced, but with the acceptation of the artist mentioned, there was nothing that inspired me.  One a personal note, “Chris as a fan, I got your back and everyone deserves a second chance.”

Austin Brown's Target Practice

This is my song of the week, and to Enjoy this FREE track, released on http://www.austinbrown.com/

MICHAEL JACKSON FANS MUST PAY!

Michael Jackson Dangerous Live 1995 720p HD

Michael Jackson The Experience - Official Trailer [North America]

Michael Jackson Dance animation - Jam

Gadget Trish Presents: Stevie Boi Shades "The Woods." for New York Fashi...

Pharrell and Chris Brown, Fashion's Night Out 2010

Gadget Trish Celebrity Sightings - Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony.

Gadget Trish Returns To Theatre For Chris Brown's Takers.

I got a unpleasant surprise at the Magic Johnson Theatre while attending Chris Brown's "Takers". See what happens when I returned.

Publish Post

Michael Jackson Tributes

I love this impersonator, and if you are looking for Tributes this week check out Santa Ana Star Casino in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM. On August 28, 2010 two shows will be there called "Moonwalker Show" starring Michael Firestone so check it out. 

Song of the Week: Break of Dawn by De La Soul

In 1993, De La Soul sampled Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It" from the "Off The Wall" album that was released in 1979.  It was an underground hit, but the sample was well used, making it a party classic today. 

Lyrics:

Ah one two, ah one two

Ah one two, ah one two

"Breakadawn.. breakadawn.."

Ah one two, ah one two (repeat 6X)

Verse One: Posdonus

I was born in the Boogie Down catscan

where my building fell down on the rats and

people sorta super wanna trip to the penile (penile)

While I settle off the shores of the Long Isle

My father's clean not mean my mind is clear when I transmit

I am the man-ner of the family cuz the pants fit

I want to let forensics prove, that I can mends 

Groove wit the thread from needle outta hay, wanna say

salutations to the nation of the Nubians

We bout to place you in that +3 Feet+ of stew again

I got the frequency to shatter Mrs. Jones' perm

I gotta +Hey Love+ all the honies cause they're short term

Tallyin the score I'm for the shottie in the jacket

For the brother he's a nigga when he packs it

So get your butt out the sling, I stung Muhammad float a note

that means I'm def, so like the autographs you sign until the

"Breakadawn.. breakadawn.."

Ah one two, ah one two (repeat 4X)

Verse Two: Dove, Posdonus

Aiyyo groove with the mayor, hazard on the sayer

Wave the eighteen mill', eat a still

sack or bag of troubles, make the single double

Loop the coin and join the minimum wage

I had a plan if I was the man, I'd throw the J

Lay it low and late night I get sessed

Uncondition my ways, of the everyday sunset

Wagin my days, to the one bet

Cause your breaks'll have the carrot of cakes, whether mine

Out of line, I breeze into the early mornin

Freak the WIC call and get a tap on my shoulder

cause the days of the breaks, be just about over

The arts of the six won't play my bag of tricks

I got the sevens in my pocket somewhere

Reasons for the Cheer All Temperature here

I keep it to the rear, and then I'm EXPLODING

I be the fab I be the fabulous but see unlike the Chi

I got the flea up in the name "ah one two, ah one two"

Can't no one bend my cousin from the Peter Piper like the others

latchin on to when I caught the fame "ah one two, ah one two"

Pass the task to ask me bout the Native Tongue again my friend

I tell you Jungle Brothers +On the Run+ "ah one two, ah one two"

I'm shakin hands with many devils in the industry

Believe the Genesis like Phil with stills mean that I'm def

so like the autographs you sign until the

"Breakadawn.. breakadawn.."

Ah one two, ah one two (repeat 4X)

Verse Three: Dove, Posdonus

We in the mornin at the end, but in the end I be the is

cause in the mix, man, it's alright

Momma got the rhythm to my daylife

My pops gots enough so best to leave or sail the waves

to the Long I laid the anchor in the 'Ville

And how I relate, the same side of my gates

Paper days, mess up my mind, ground zero degrees

and the weather feels fine

You opened my eyes man, thought I had a man

But how could I eyescan, I wasn't around

I seen the states and played the dates in the far-far

Gathered the new, from the zoas around

Grew up with Mikey Rodes and played the codes

Sometimes I don't budge, without my cous' Fuzz/fuzz

A simple, "How ya do?" Ah check it from my friends and my crew

makes it definitely special

Now there's no +Shiny Happy People+ in the crew we play the rough

I got the huff, and puff, to blow the house low

You know the neverending factor while I'm over, tell a squid

I know an Enterprising brother, so report to the bridge

I bounce a ball with my left, a squid with my right

(Cause a squid is just a punk) Yo he deserved to lose the fight

I might meander 'cross your dream, travellin up the stream

Plug Wonder Wonder Why you're lonely tonight

We see the girls scream as if we're shocked by the live shell

Let's round em up and get em back to the hotel

motel, holiday, inn-fact!

I'm gonna let you know, once again, that De La Soul

is sure to show you we will hit the charter harder

than the normal rappin fool "ah one two, ah one two"

Artist who sampled Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 music.

 


This upcoming Sunday August 29, 2010, will be Michael Jackson 52nd Birthday.  For the month I decided to focus my iTunes playlist on his music.  In the first week it was the Jackson 5, second The Jacksons, third Michael Jackson himself, and for this week I am focusing on artist that sampled his music. Some people are against sampling tracks, but I think it helps keep older music alive.  For example, I only had the Jackson 5 greatest hits, and The Jacksons music before Mr. Jackson's death. However, artist such as Mos Def, "U R the One", and Jadakiss, "Put Ya Hands Up" sampled music from the early 70's, so when I heard the original versions, it sounded very familiar to me and current. I set up a Jackson Family Music Store with Amazon if you want to see what CD's or downloads you are missing.  In addition, I have a sample of tracks of some of my favorite artist that sampled or redid his music. Finally, I attached a picture of what tracks I personally own for this weeks playlist.  There are hundreds of songs that sampled the Jacksons and Michael's music, so happy hunting. For the die hard fans, without using a search engine, try to figure out what is the original song that is being sampled from the widget below.

Only Michael Jackson Action figures can make be feel like a kid again.

Michael Jackson Solo Music

I'm in my third week of celebrating Michael's 52nd Birthday and focused each week on a different aspect of his career starting with the Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and now his solo career. Before Michael's death, I thought his first solo album was "Off The Wall" (1979), but did some research just to discover that Michael had four more solos prior! "Got To Be There" (1972), "Ben" (1972) "Music and Me" (1973), and "Forever Michael" (1975). Each and every album had many elements of genius and you hear Michael grow as an musician, artist, and a man. The transformation vocally and lyrically made the discovery simply put ~ magical. In the 80's, Michael and Quincy Jones created the Greatest album of all time "Thriller" (1982), and followed by the second greatest selling album, "Bad" (1987). In the 90's Mr. Jackson gave us more classic hits from, "Dangerous" (1991), "History" (1995), and "Blood On The Dance Floor" (1997). In the decade of 2000, MJ last release alive would be "Invincible" 2001.  It's the most under appreciated body of work, but it's a must have. Michael had some great compilation releases in this decade such as "The Ultimate Collection" (2004), "Visionary" (2006), and the 25 year anniversary of "Thriller" with new remixes from iconic tracks from the original 1981 release. If you don't have the entire Michael Jackson collection, I would recommend it.  Each decade has a different sound and element of wonder.  Check out my Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and Michael Jackson music store to see what releases you are missing. Below is my review of the "Hello World - The Motown Solo Collection", it's a great investment as a collector's item, rare singles, and mixes.

Song of the Week: You Can't Win by Michael Jackson

Song of the Week: In 1978, Universal Pictures released "The Wiz" an African-American version of "The Wizard Of Oz."  It starred Diana Ross, Nippy Russell, Ted Ross, and Michael Jackson. It was considered a box office flop, but for me it was the first memory of me seeing Michael Jackson in a different light.  I loved the scene where MJ is interacting with the crows and they are discouraging him from getting down.  The song, "You Can't Win" started playing, and that's when I started falling in love with MJ's music and voice.

Song Lyrics: You Can't Win

You can't win
You can't break even
And you can't get out of the game
People keep sayin'
Things are gonna change
But they look just like
You're stayin' the same

You get in
way over your head
And you only got yourself to blame
You can't win Child
(You can't win Child)
You can't break even
And you can't get out of the game

You can't win
The world keeps movin'
And you're standin' far behind
People keep sayin'
Things'll get better
(Just to ease your state of mind)
(So you lean back, and you smoke that smoke)
(And you drink your glass of wine)
Say you can't win, Child
You can't break even
And you can't get out of the game

You can't win, you can't win no way
If your story stays the same
(You ain't winnin'),
No, no,
(But it's nice to see you)
(I'm awfully glad you came)
(Better cool it 'cause
It ain't about losin')
And the world has got no shame
You can't win, Child
You can't break even
You can't get out of the game

You can't win
You can't break even
Ain't the way it's supposed to be
(You'll be spendin'),
No, no
(Your little bit of money)
While someone else rides for free
(Learn your lesson), ooh,
(Refuel your mind)
(Before some turkey blows out your flame)

You can't win, Child. No!
You can't win
You can't win, Child. No!
You can't win
You can't win, Child. No!
You can't win
You can't win, Child. No!
You can't win

You can't win, Child
You can't break even
And you can't get out of the game
You can't get out of the game
You can't get out (wooh!) of the game
No, no... 

Michael Jackson inducted into Dance Museum

"Aug 15, 2010 — The late "King of Pop," Michael Jackson, was inducted into the National Museum of Dance's hall of fame. His older brother Marlon Jackson received the award on his behalf. Local dancers Ricardo Sopin and Iraida Volodina and the Lombard Twins performed tribute routines for the crowd, which included Spa City socialites and some local politicians."

Gadget Trish Fashion Disaster: Crocs

Okay this is not a fashion disaster, but to my family it is because they hate my crocs. I personally don't care; these are the most comfortable shoes in the world. I wear my crocs with dresses, fishnets, sweats, whatever! I did have a pet peeve with the classic croc style because of the toe malfunction. My second toe is very long and would always hang out, so I was super excited when the Crocband style came out and eliminated the problem. So far I own four different styles of crocs and don't plan to stop wearing them anytime soon. I personalized my favorite pair with Michael Jackson pins. If you are proud of wearing Crocs, or have a cute way of wearing them, please leave a comment. Check out my post to see how the Fashion Police did to me for wearing these shoes. As a bonus, for my Michael Jackson fans, look at the post and tell me how many M.J references can you find, happy hunting!

Barbie to the next level!

I have been playing with Barbie my entire life and I was just amazed on what Mattel did for the year 2010. They infused a video camera to a barbie body and the result is a very cool toy.  You get real time playback, 25 minutes of recording time, and the back of the doll has a full color LCD screen. Barbie includes a pink USB cord, works with PC and Mac, and the editing software only works with Windows/PC.  This is available on Amazon.com for around $50.00 or you can click on the picture below to get to the site. Please check out iJustine's video about the product and her tour at Mattel. 

Song of the Week: "Blues Away" by The Jacksons

Song of the day "Blues Away": This song came from The Jacksons in 1976 from their self-title album.  "Blues Away" was the first published song written by lead singer Michael Jackson.
Blues Away Lyrics
I'd like to be yours
Tomorrow
So I'm giving you some time
To think it over today
But you can't take my blues away
No matter what you say, hey
You can't take my blues away
No matter what you say
What you say, hey, babe
Hey, babe
What's your thinking
No darlin'
It won't, won't change my mind
But you can't take my blues away
Now tell me what you say, babe
You can't take my blues away
No matter what you say
What you say, hey, babe
This way I feel
I know that's it's true
Because it's for you
You know that it's true
But you try to be
Hard to resist
I ask what it's for
You know you close the door
(No no, no no)
Yeah
(No no, no no)
Tell me what you say, babe
Say, yeah, babe
You can't take my blues away
Tell me what you say
What you say, yeah, babe
I've got the power
Doin' it out
Say anything
'Cause I've got this feeling
Say I
I've got the power
Come on
Yeah
Come on

The Jacksons Music

For the month of August, I am celebrating Michael Jackson birthday by playing his music everyday for the entire month.  This week my main focus will be "The Jacksons." The Jacksons came out in 1976 after leaving Motown, and as part of the condition of leaving the Motown label, they lost the Jackson 5 name. The group also lost Jermaine Jackson who didn't make the move with his brothers, and Randy Jackson took his place.  In 1984, Jermaine returned and "Victory" was the only album released with all six brothers.  The Jacksons produced iconic hits like "Can You Feel It," "Blame It On The Boogie", "Shake Your Body Down (To The Ground)", and " This Place Hotel (Heartbreak Hotel)" just to name a few.  My personal favorite album from The Jacksons is "Triumph", but I would suggest purchasing the entire Jacksons music collection.  Check out my "Jacksons" music store.  

Chris Brown Shows Off His Dance Moves

Chris Brown's Red Carpet Interview with Terrence J at the Takers Premiere in Los Angeles

Gadget Trish Attends: G-Shock Shock The World 2010

In 2007, Kanye West wore a  pink DW6900 style watch on the cover of a Complex Magazine and like the going says, "The rest is history." G-Shock was transformed  from a functional strong watch, to a must have fashion item. Don't get me wrong, G-Shock is over 25 years old and always had a very strong and loyal underground market, but Kanye West wearing the product made it a lifestyle staple.

For Casio's 3rd annual "Shock The World" event held at the Manhattan Center, the company showcased  both classic and new models. Look out for new mirror DW6900 models for the fall season, in yellow, gray, dark blue, and wine. The hottest models this summer are the new GA-100 and GA-110 series. This is an oversized ani-digi style with such flare. Dee and Ricky, young twin designers known for their Lego Heart Shape Pins, designed a limited edition GA-100 watch in a matte black with a Lego like multi-color face. Another oversized G-Shock that received a lot of focus was the new GX-56 series. It's the largest case for G-Shock thus yet, and is the most shock resistant.  It is encased with a material called agel, for added protection.  DGK designed a limited edition with this new style in a black and purple.  Lamar Odom from the  L.A. Laker is a G-Shock ambassador for this design and is sure to be a huge hit. 

BG-1006SA

Looking for a powerful watch, but at a smaller size?  If so, then the Baby-G watch is the way to go. This line from Casio was introduced in 1994, and is just as powerful as its counterpart. This season bolder colors and new designs are on the must have fashion list. BG-1006SA
 is the new kid on the block and it 200 meter water resistant for diving. Other features in this model is 5 alarms, world time, stopwatch, countdown timer, and backlight.  If you are looking of limited edition models, watch out for colorations with in4mation, and Hellz Bellz release  BG5600HZ-7 and BG5600HZ-9.

Last but not least, Casio introduces a new line of watches to the U.S. called  EDIFICE Black Label. This watch line embodies luxury and  sophistication. Some of the main functions is solar power, water resistant up to 100 meters, auto light, stopwatch, calendar, alarm, mineral crystal, and world time. Depending on the model you purchase, there are additional features, and the price range for this brand start at $150-$500.  This will be available in the fall of 2010 at selected retailers and www.casio.com. 

If you are interested to purchase a G-Shock or Baby-G, check out my Amazon stores.
Gadget Trish G-Shock Store & Gadget Trish Baby G Store.
Posted below is my youTube on my favorite products from the event, and a youtube from Karmaloop with highlights from that night. Enjoy

I really love the Jackson family and in honor of Michael Jackson's birthday month, I will be playing Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and Michael Jackson music EVERYDAY OF AUGUST. My music pick this Monday comes from the Jackson 5, where MJ got his start from. If you have only the greatest hits, you are really doing yourself an injustice.  To really appreciate what makes them so great is to hear every song. Check out my "Jackson 5 Music Store" to see what music I own.
Below are samples of my favorites

Austin Brown in the Studio

Look out for Austin Brown's CD "85", which recently wrapped up with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and LaShawn Daniel. Just to give you a little background on Rodney, he produced Michael Jackson's last LP when MJ was alive, "Invincible." He also produced Michael Jackson's last number one hit, "You Rock My World." As for Austin Brown, he is the son of Rebbie Jackson (oldest sister of Michael Jackson.) Rebbie's most recognizable hit is, "Centipede", but I own her entire music collection and she has so many golden singles. Mrs. Jackson has four LP's in total and three are available on Amazon's website, "Yours Faithfully" is only available for download, "Centipede and Reaction" are sold as a combo CD, and "R U Tuff Enuff" is a little harder to find, but I think it's worth owning. I didn't really know about Austin until I started seeing him on TV with his mother and Aunt Janet in recent events. However, from the song samples I heard of his music, I am really excited for this upcoming release. The released date has not been given yet, but I will post an update as soon as I know.  For now, please check out this youtube from Austin Brown about working with Rodney, and LaShawn.

Gadget Trish: Survival Tips for College

This past May, I became the class of 2010, and I am taking a little downtime before taking the next step – career. College was one of the best experiences I ever had in my life, but there are a few things I wish I knew before attending.  Here are some tips on getting through college.

Building Your Network

In my freshman year, I made the mistake of connecting with the “popular” kids.  Little did I know, they were not focused, cut classes, and in most cases ended up dropping out.  I was placed on academic probation, and left school for a few years before returning back. College is an investment and should not be taken lightly.

It’s okay to interact with everyone, but watch the company that you keep.  Get close to people especially in your major.  Create or join study groups. Get a few numbers with people in your courses just in the event that you have to miss a class and need the notes.  Join clubs, causes, sororities or fraternities to connect with people with common interest and passions.  Avoid lazy people, and surround yourself with students that take their studies serious.  Your GPA is important; it helps with scholarships, good internships, and sometimes jobs. It’s okay to party, but keep your priorities straight – your studies! The workload is heavy and will pile on quickly, so keep your eye on the prize – your degree!

Don’t worry about the Jones

You always come across students that have more money then most and have the ability to spend it effortlessly.  For those fortunate few, God bless, but don’t focus your energy keeping up with them.  College is so different from High School.  It’s not a popularity contest, or a fashion show. Live within your means!  On most campuses, people wear t-shirts, sweats, khakis, and jeans. Save your nice clothes for events, dates, parties, and interviews.

The one thing I wish I didn’t take out was student loans.  If you have to take out a loans, don’t borrow more then you need. You don’t know what the job market will be when you graduate and you are responsible to pay it back. Look for grants, scholarships, and contest in your major. Consider a Junior College for the first few years, and transfer to a Senior College to cut cost.  If you are not a business major, you should consider taking a business, marketing, and an entrepreneur courses as electives.  If you can’t find a job when you graduate, create it.

Freshman Fifteen

Have you ever heard of the “Freshman Fifteen?” If you haven’t it is typical the amount of weight gained within the first year of college.  For me personally I gained 30 pounds in the first year, and additional 20 by the time I graduated.  Then means I gained 50 pounds!!!! On most campuses, fast food restaurants surround you. The prices are alluring especially when you are on a budget, but consider smarter options.  For example, Subway sandwiches have $5.00 footlongs and you can eat one half for lunch and the other half for dinner.  That averages out to $2.50 a meal. 

Consider investing in a stainless steel water bottle to reduce your carbon footprint. Calorie intake from juice and sodas, and overall cost of buying beverages throughout the course of the day add up both around your waist and wallet.  The campus is usually flooded with water fountains, so fill it up! My personal favorite bottle is from Klean Kanteen and it could be purchased from Amazon.com. Buy healthy snacks like nuts, yogurt, and fruits.  These will keep you satisfied longer, and if you have a Target, Walmart, BJ’s, or Costco in your area, buy it in bulk.

Design on a Dime

Shopping for a small room, dorm, or apartment?  If so, it’s wise to be frugal because college is expensive and cutting corners will keep you one step ahead.  My favorite places to shop for cute furniture and knickknacks are Target, IKEA, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, The Container Store, eBay, Thrift Stores, & Urban Outfitters. For my personal space, I centered my design on music.  First off, ask friends and family to see what they are willing to part with; you can save hundreds by doing this. For example, my brother gave me vinyl records, my mother’s old AOL CD disc, my Aunt gave me a TV and my High School BFF gave me VIBE magazines with some of my favorite artist.

On my main wall, my BFF found oversized frames from IKEA and had the idea that of taking the CD’s from AOL to create a record studio look. I used my old Aaliyah calendars and records to fill the space up.  The frames and shelves also came from IKEA for less then $5.00.  The NYTTJA frames are about $1.99 each and come in a few colors, and the shelves were about $3.00 each where I placed my favorite wigs. 

On the second wall, at first I placed posters and records on the wall.  The following year I purchased a frame from Target for about $7.00 each for promotional free posters, and on that same wall designed floating shelves from 45 records for more wigs. In my final year of school I upgraded the space with album frames from Urban Outfitters.  My window treatment was simple blinds from Target with an orange plastic curtain from IKEA, with vinyl records that I cut in half.

The wall with the closet was originally decorated with random pictures on the door and sides, and I placed the records in a square formation on the same wall.  In my final year of college, I upgraded the space by again placing the album frames on the sides of the closet from Urban Outfitters.

When you are decorating your room, get the essentials first like a bed, desk, and storage.  Compare pricing is key to save on these items because they will cost the most, and use coupons and coupon codes to get extra savings. Build your space slowly to avoid going over your budget.  Each semester I focused on a different part of the room until it was complete. Other fundamental items like my desk came from a closeout section from Bed Bath and Beyond for under $50.00, the TV stand came from Kmart for $20.00. My office accessories came from the Container Store from a sale event, and the storage ottoman came from Target.

If you are in a dorm, see what furniture comes in the room already, many dorms come partially furnished. If you are a sharing room with someone, don’t bring things that cannot be replaced. For example, a friend of mine brought her High School yearbook with her with all her friends’ signatures and greetings in it.  Someone borrowed it and she never got it back. Another thing to keep in mind with both dorms and rooms, know the rules.  In some places you can’t paint or put nails in the wall, so get the guidelines before planning your space.  Most websites from the stores mentioned above have Dorm tips my favorites are Target.com, The Container Store, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Tech talk

A computer is an essential tool for completing college. It will be used for research, presentations, and writing papers.  If purchasing a computer is not in your financial reach, don't panic. Most campuses have computer labs with printers you can utilize for free or a very low fee. Research your campus to see about access. I personally had to use the campus computer lab for my first year; my only advice is to not do anything at the last minute.  Sometimes the labs are full and it takes hours to get one. 

Understand what tasks need to be done with your computer. For example, of you are a video or graphic major, it's more then likely you will need to purchase a Mac or a PC with a very strong graphic card. The PC I owned when I attended Junior college was a Dell and I was very pleased with it. I used Roxio and Adobe to edit my videos, and used external hard drives for storage.

In my senior college, I purchased a Mac.  Mac computers are a little bit more money, but they are great investments. First, out the box you get iLife, which allows you to edit movies, manage your photos, create music, and burn DVD. They also have cameras in their laptop and iMacs, so you can iChat and video chat. That is a lot of power in a computer. Second, they have student discounts; just make sure your college qualifies. If you purchase your computer before September 7, 2010, you meet the requirements for get a free iPod touch 8Gb or use the value towards a larger capacity iPod for the value of that iPod. For example, is you want an iPod 64 GB for $400, then the final cost will be $200. There is also an option to get a free printer after rebate, so if you have the means to get a Mac, do so.

My favorite gadget to use a study tool is an iPod (iPhone or iPad.) They have great study applications that will make getting through college easier. My top applications for school is Cram, My Homework, and Flashcards. I have a terrible memory and it takes longer to retain information. Flashcards were an essential tool through successfully completing college.  I used paper index cards for the majority of my college experience, but the downside is that you have to carry huge stacks around.  The iPod touch had all my information compacted in a small device. I also used Cram to do quizzes throughout the year to test myself so that when midterms and final came, I was well prepared. Professors usually have papers, projects, and major test in the same timeframe.  Don’t make the mistake of trying to balance 4-5 classes by doing everything at the last minute. Take a few hours a day to concentrate on your schoolwork, and you will find that slow and steady wins the race. 

Below is my video post on this topic:

Michael Jackson's 52nd Birthday Celebration.

There is no party like a Spike Lee's party!  Come out to Prospect Park to celebrate Michael Jackson's 52nd Birthday.
The 2nd Annual Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson Birthday Celebration from 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks on Vimeo.

Michael Jackson 1 Year Anniversary Celebration in Harlem June 25, 2010

If you are a fan of Michael Jackson, then you have to come to Harlem in New York. You will connect with other fans from all around the world sharing stories, singing songs, and displaying memorabilia. I personally went to Harlem for a second year to capture some magical moments, so feel free to check out the posts below.

R.I.P Michael Jackson, you are gone, but not forgotten

When your life is like the "Truman Show", it's only natural that you feel like that person is part of yours. Michael's music, life, and drama has been part of my life from the day I was born.  I think it's hard for many fans to imagine their life without him, because for many his music was there.  I knew where I was when I first heard "Thriller", and why I love the song "Remember The Time" so much.  He was always the soundtrack of so many personal events for me, and it's so surreal that he's no longer physically on earth.  He will live on through his music, and sincerely missed by me.  I did a video post on June 24, 2010 asking people to post their "connection" to MJ.  If you would like to share your thoughts, here is that post: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HUcnOaaqYo

Gadget Trish knows it's ok to be different inspired by Michael Jackson (...

Gadget Trish takes things to the next level with a Kodak Zi8 Rig (Part 2).

Nintendo 3DS review

Trashed iPhone and iPad!

When you buy an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you have an option to active "Mobile Me."  If you want to see if this feature is worth it, check this post out.

Gadget Trish shares her thought on the iPhone 4 from the WWDC 2010 Keynote.

Apple does it again, and they truly are "A-maz-ing!"  Please check out this post to hear my thoughts on the new iphone 4, and feel free to post comments.

The T-Shirt: "Michael Jackson 'Beat It' 80s Style White T-Shirt" from the Michael Jackson website:

http://michaeljackson.shop.bravadousa.com/Product.aspx?cp=21637_34257&pc=BGCTMJ36