Seriously, this is what she looks like 6 weeks after giving birth?!

Is Ashlee Simpson Fall Out Boy’s Yoko Ono?

Welcome to the fad diets of 2010.

Taylor Swift is too busy for her fans.

11-year-old gives birth…on her wedding day.

Uh. That’s Lady Gaga? Holy crap.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.

Meet my childhood friend, Alex! He’s one of the best dancers I know, and represents the new era of fashion that incorporates a street style mixed with urban chic. Every time I see him he’s always dancing; whether it be popping and locking while talking, or doing the finger tut. And all the while in Nike Dunks and a sick graphic tee.

He may be a dude, but his fashion inspires me. If only I could look that cool in a pair of shiny gold kicks.

Name: Alex
Year: 2011
Major: Business and Economics
Alex in 3 words: Loud. Passionate. Dance(r).

1) Describe your personal style.
My personal style is a mixture of different influences. I really love the colorful shirts and sneakers of the west coast but I also love graphic tees and crazy fitted hats. Essentially, I try to ensure that whenever I go out, no one else looks like me.

2) You can’t leave your house without your ________.
59fifty hat.

3) What is your favorite store to shop at?
DLTR, or any specialty shoe store. I don’t do much shopping at malls, I actually prefer to buy most of my stuff online.

4) What/who is the biggest influence on your style?
It would have to be hip-hop dance in general. Not rap; I’m not a baggy jeans and Tims kinda guy. I wear clothes that I can dance in. West coast style!

5) What’s your favorite trend, past or present?
I’ve recently become a fan of skinny jeans. Not Fall-Out skinny, but enough so that you can tuck your jeans into your kicks.

Dear (See Below) Bands,

I love your music. Love, love, love. But can you maybe try to be a little less annoying? It makes it so hard to defend you when I tell my friends about my favorite artists. Actually, it makes it hard to admit to anyone that you happen to be one of them.  And I want to make them like you, really, I do. But like that friend who has a minor character flaw that now pisses you off enough that you really can’t see the good in her anymore,  I’m finding it difficult to enjoy your music knowing how annoying you are.

Here are some heart-to-heart tips from your loving (secret) admirer to be a little less annoying and a little more rock and roll.

Fall Out Boy

You always have a spot in my 6-CD player in my car. Sugar, you’ll never go down on the playlist for me if you continue to make some of the sweetest pop punk music out there. But please, Pete Wentz, I’m begging you – cut your hair, lay off the eyeliner and put on a damn shirt when you are on a magazine cover. You need to settle down – you play bass. And, um, you have a kid?

Also, Patrick, can you please enunciate your song lyrics so I can actually sing along and not just randomly open my mouth while humming the tune to look like I know what I’m singing? And what’s up with the weird syntax and bizzare punctuation in the song titles? Thnks Fr Th Confusn. I mean, e.e. Cummings was a legit poet, while you’re just… an antithesis of all semblance of reason. And grammar. My English teacher highly disapproves.

Avril Lavigne

“I’m with you” on how most of your songs are about girl problems to which every teenager can relate. And I love how you have other gigs too, like co-writing “Breakaway” for Kelly Clarkson and even recording The Spongebob Squarepants Movie theme song (my little bro totally agrees).  But I’m pretty sure that hot pink hair, combat boots, and thick-enough eyeliner to paint a mural were out of fashion like 10 years ago. You remind me of the wanna-be punk-rocker chicks at my old high school who stood in their corner by the snack machine and talked about how “complicated” their life was and how their parents didn’t understand them. You’re married now, for goodness sakes, so do your husband a favor and stop wearing pink angel wings and acting like a “sk8er boi.” Oh, and learn how to play the guitar for real. You’re kinda getting “under my skin.”

Coldplay

The first time I heard “Clocks,” it changed my life. And continued to do so for the 100 times I listened to it on repeat afterward. You should even see my wall – there’s a giant banner that shouts, “viva la vida,” my adopted mantra para mi vida. But enough with the same gloomy, sad looks while you play haunting, heart-wrenching melodies on the piano, Chris Martin. I’m wondering if you’re able to play some different chord progressions as well, since you only seem to stick to one particular one on every. single. bloody. song. Can we maybe change it up a bit, with chords and tempos and basically not have the same harmonic patterns last throughout the whole album? Or four? Keep the accent though, please. Oh, and tell Gwyneth to lose the GOOP.

Simple Plan

My friend saw you in concert in Japan, and just like her, I must say: I’m “addicted” to your music. In a “perfect world,” I would hang out with you guys all day and do crazy stuff like dye the neighbor’s pool yellow or something, because, let’s face it, “I’m just a kid.” You seem like a bunch of cool, fun kids just making music because you can, and I love that about you. But unfortunately, you kinda remind me of blink182. But not in a middle-school-memories, emo-phase, dress-like-a-punk, nostalgic sort of way. More like a trying-a-little-too-hard, bad-album-titles, life-is-so-unfair-let’s-cry-about-it sort of way. Skateboarding is a sport, not a prop, and yelling at your parents on a rooftop in the pouring rain? Effective, but kinda cheesy I must say. Maybe there’s a reason you’re “still not getting any”…

Miley Cyrus

My guilty pleasure of all things guilt-full and pleasurable is “See You Again.” It’s on my workout playlist, my clubbing/dance-party playlist, and my blasting-in-the-car playlist. To the point where I’m headbanging and screaming out the lyrics with my girlfriends, and looking like a mad woman to the car next to us. But oh mah gah. There is so much advice and wisdom I wish to impart upon you that’s long enough to last a whole Oprah episode. You’re obviously not as big as a band, but your ego is big enough compete with one. Can you please act your age and stop dating older men that are probably not into you and more into your…assets? And stop taking those trashy MySpace pictures that even my 12 year old cousin knows not to take? You’re probably one of the reasons sexting is such a problem these days among teens. Or maybe just why television shows are going down the drain. Whatever happened to old Disney classics like Even Stevens and Sister, Sister? Dump the TV show and the drama queen act and just behave more like the role model you’re supposed to be for young girls. Then I won’t be so embarrassed when someone sees you on (every single one of) my iPod playlists.

Love,

Your (Not-So-Secret-Anymore) Admirer

Well, lucky for you, we have concocted a list of things to do as you assimilate yourself back into society over winter break:

1) ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas: Who doesn’t love holiday movies?! This is a great way to spend a lazy day – curled up by the fire, sipping hot cocoa, and watching “The Polar Express.”

2) Sporcle.com: So you’re bored at home with nothing to do because you did NOT want to go Christmas shopping with your mom…again. Sporcle.com is a website that tests your knowledge on all sorts of trivia. It’s the perfect way to exercise that brain of yours and pass the time at home with the parentals. Warning: super addictive.

3) Fashionunder100.com: With all the loot you’ll be getting from returning those gifts from family members who didn’t know what to get you, go out and buy yourself that super hot outfit you really wanted. But don’t go buying overpriced goodies at the mall; this site has the hottest looks at the cheapest prices. More bang for your buck. Heaven.

4) “7 Pounds”: Will Smith’s new movie is looking mighty fine. It’s out on Friday and would be a fun date for you and your special someone.

5) “The Tale of Despereaux”: Ok, so, I know it’s a total kid movie, but that mouse is so cute I have to go watch! Family Movie Day! Yay! (Tip : If you see a movie with the parents, they usually pay for it!)

6) Album Watch: This winter break, you need to catch up on your music scene. A bunch of great albums will be dropping from hot artists like The Dream, Fall Out Boy, Dave Matthews Band, and Keyshia Cole. So get those suckers on your iPod so you have something to listen to at the gym as you work off those delish holiday meals.

7) It’s Cookie Time: Why not make a contribution to this year’s holiday dinner? Check out some recipes and have a bake-fest with your girls. The end result is a lot more fun than a day spent doin’ #1.

8 ) Hot guys are always good: I don’t know about you, but I always love me some hot man candy. And from time to time (read: when I am at my parents’ house and there are no real hot men around), I enjoy browsing pics of my favorite male celebs and making awesome collages for my comp’s wallpaper. Is that weird? Well, whatever; here’s a site so you can check out your fav sexy celebs.

9) A little reading by the fire: Curling up with a good book is a cozy holiday favorite. Michael Phelps’ memoir “No Limits” will be coming out this month and let’s face it, we can’t get enough of Mr. Phelps.

10) Football! It’s bowl game season, which means more football than you can handle. It also means a perfect excuse to eat chips and dip, wings and wash it all down with lots and lots of beer.

Got any other ideas?

Pete Wentz’s band, Fall Out Boy, for which he is the principal lyricist and bass player, has sold upwards of 5 million albums worldwide. Decadence Records, Wentz’s label, has signed bands like Gym Class Heroes, Panic at the Disco and The Academy Is…, who’ve all turned into massive successes. Clandestine Industries, Wentz’s clothing line and book publishing company, recently opened the flagship location in Wentz’s hometown of Chicago. He’s been busy in his personal life too, marrying his muse, Ashlee Simpson last month. And the two are expecting their first child later this year.

You’d think as a successful musician, entrepreneur and family man, Wentz would want to settle down a little, and soak it all in. Wrong! He’s just gearing-up for his biggest project yet: redefining the way we experience music videos on TV and the Web, as host of MTV’s new show, “FN MTV.”

So we got Wentz on the phone to talk to him about life, music and the next big thing in music video history!

Check out Pete Wentz’s full interview after the jump!

CC Tell me a little about FN MTV, and what it’s all about.

Pete Wentz: Well, in my mind it’s a show that will bring the music video back–to make the music video an event again. I remember watching “Thriller,” “November Rain,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” They were all events; they were all moments that I remember what I was doing and what I felt like at the time. I don’t think that’s so much the case in the last couple years, as reality TV has kind of taken over everything. And I think ["FN MTV"] is good because the network can now say, “We’re about the videos and making the music videos a moment for you where it is apart of our collective memory,” where we all have The Cure “Pictures of You” the song.

CC: So you’d like to romanticize the music video again, and the whole experience that goes along with it.

PW: Yeah, I think it will be interesting for people to actually see that [again]. We’re going to go stage-dark before all the premieres, and we’re going to have a big premiere music video, and were going to turn all the attention and all the lights on the video. We’re going to world premiere all these videos, not the way they’ve been premiered in the last couple years where its like “Ehh, here’s a clip of the video” or whatever. We’re going to make them big events. People say they are sick of reality TV, and they want to see videos on MTV more, so… hopefully that’s actually true! [laughs]

CC: You’re kind of a renaissance man of pop culture, and culture in general. How do you feel about adding “TV show host” to your resume, along with everything else that you’ve done?

PW: [laughing] Well, I know it can’t get worse than “International Douchebag.” It’s interesting; it’s weird. Yesterday I was shooting a skit with Snoop Dogg, because he’s world-premiering his video, and Snoop showed up, like, three hours late–which I think might kinda be on-time in his world. And he was absolutely awesome to work with. But in general, I was like “Wow this gives me a new insight into the other side”–actually asking the questions and being on the other side of the interview. It was a little bit tougher, but I’m not looking to host Wheel of Fortune or anything like that.

CC: We’ve gotten a glimpse of the projected lineup for your show. Guests range from The Ting Tings to Snoop Dogg to Panic and an array of other bands. Will there be a specific type of music featured?

PW: I think it will be everything. I’m going to sneak in little things, here and there. I’ve got the access to the MTV video vault–and that includes footage from The Who and The Beatles, you know. They are giving me access all the way back to that. So we’re going to try to sneak in ya know little stuff here and there and also smaller bands that you normally wouldn’t get to see on MTV.

I mean, at the same time, for the four videos and interviews we do, they all need to be world premieres. So if the video has been on before, it’s not going to make the cut. But I’ve been pretty open to people’s suggestions; I put a poll out because I wanted to play a video that features some kind of ironic mustache humor, and people seem to really lean towards Blink 182’s “First Date” so I was like ‘Yeah, maybe I’ll play that.”

CC: You bring up The Beatles and The Who. If you could have a guest wish list from the past 50 years of music, what are five bands you would have on to premiere their videos?

PW: To premiere their videos? Hmm, well I don’t know if some of them would have videos. But if they did, I would definitely do The Beatles, I’d do Guns and Roses, I would do Michael Jackson. Um, who else would I do? Who would I honestly do? I’d probably bring Nirvana on with “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” for sure. Part of me wants to say Elvis–but the truth would be Green Day.

CC: I don’t know about that, I think Elvis would be pretty cool.

PW: I mean, knowing who Elvis is now, I would definitely say Elvis. But it’s hard to be in the time, in the moment and know. Who knew that when you were standing next to him, he was legendary?

CC: Do you think the democratic format of “FN MTV” will transform the way TV competes against the Internet?

PW: I think it’s going to be interesting. The only real experience I have with live blogging and live feedback where I’ve really watched–besides your American Idol and network TV series, which I don’t count because they are so giant–was CNN. And I think that’s closer to the format that we’re doing. Like kind of how Anderson Cooper does it.

We’re going to have a panel doing commentary on videos, receiving feedback on the videos. Basically, the choices people will have are, “are you liking it,” “are you loving it,” “are you not feeling it at all” or “is it an instant classic.” Those are the four choices you have, and it will be real interesting to see what real reactions from people are.

CC: So when the video comes up, fans will have the ability to see instant feedback on the TV?

PW: Yeah. What we’re going to do, actually, is as the video premieres, James Montgomery who is a blogger from MTV.com will be on the panel. And I’ll turn to James, asking him if the fans are liking it, loving it, are they not feeling it or is it an instant classic. And he’s going to say, “this is what the people had to say about Flo Rider, they loved the video and think it’s a party classic.”

And all week everyone will be able to respond at FNMTV.com and we’ll be able to come back and say, “Well you know what? You put your new video out there, but people say it doesn’t live up to the last one.”

CC: I know you were a student at DePaul University, close to graduating when life happened. What were you studying, and would you ever consider going back to finish your degree?

PW: I was a political science major. And I’m not sure how many credits away I am, but I always tell my mom I’m going to go back. I think she would like to see me have that, but I also think she realizes that life has sent me in another direction. But I was like, “Mom, maybe I can get like Bill Cosby-famous, and some community college will have me come speak at it and give me an honorary degree.”

CC: Do you keep in touch with any professors or friends from school?

PW: I keep in touch with one high school teacher, Mr. Randolph. I had a great professor at DePaul who I don’t keep in touch with, Dr. Brown, but he was one of those guys who changed how I saw the world a little bit. Yeah so I wish I could get in touch with him.

CC: We’ve gone through your resume: Successful musician, businessmen, new husband, father-to-be and now TV host. How do you find time in the day to manage all that?

PW: I’ll be honest, I really only sleep like four hours a day. And that’s just the truth. My mind is constantly racing. It drives the wife [Ashley Simpson-Wentz] crazy; it drives the people that work with me crazy because I’ll call you at 1-2AM, then I’ll start calling you again at 7Am. It pretty much makes people totally crazy. But it’s kinda just how my mind works. It’s just always going, “What about this thing? And what about this?” Like, “How the hell did this FN MTV even happen? It was a weird late night idea. Some of them pan out like that, and some of them don’t work out.

I think that is the important thing: seeing your ideas out. It’s one of the most genuinely amazing experiences you can have. Seeing one of your ideas come to life. It’s like, “Man, I thought of that idea in my bed a year ago, and there it is.” Anyone who has the chance to do that, do it. Even if people are telling you no, or it’s stupid or stick with what you’re good at. It’s like, No, you’re alive only once. It doesn’t matter what people say about you, if you want to do it, and you think it’s cool, then do it.

CC: How did “FN MTV” start?

PW: I had an idea to do a video show and it went through many different formats and many different versions. Then you bring that idea back and figure out what to do with it. Can we do it at MTV? Then this guy Jesse had this idea to put it on Friday nights on MTV, and from there it was like, “We’re going,” and everything sped up. And all of the sudden, I’ve got the first episode coming up really soon.

CC: I saw the Spencer “reality” promo spot. I almost died Did you come up with that?

PW:Oh man, yeah I came up with that. The other ones coming out are crazier; you’ll have to scope them out.

PW: What I look for in someone is: someone who is genuinely dedicated and interested and in love with the things we do. That means, one day you’re running and getting coffee and the next day you could be designing a graphic; one day you’re picking someone up from the airport and the next day you’re telling me which song is a single and which song is not a single. I am most interested in passionate people. I don’t need someone around me who is going to “Sir, yes, Mr. Wentz, yes Mr. Wentz.” I need someone who is going to be like, “No that is stupid” or whatever. I’m interested in that. I want you to be passionate and believe in what you do and love what you do.

CC: You were a high school soccer star. What teams do you support?

PW: I’m still a Chicago Fire fan even though I’m in Galaxy territory. They we’re having open tryouts for the Galaxy and I almost went out, but my ankle was still broken so I couldn’t do it. They said of the 800 people that came out only two were of “MLS ability.” I don’t think I’m of MLS ability, but it would have been fun to get out there and run around.

Check out “FN MTV” this Friday, June 13 (yes, it’s Friday the 13th!) at 8pm EST on MTV.

This organization has set out to bring peace in Northern Uganda, quite an ambitious endeavor. Initially, Invisible Children was just a documentary. Three filmmakers from Southern California filmed this in 2-3 days. They were ages 24, 21, and 20 at the time. They traveled to Sudan to ‘find a story’.

Instead, they ended up deep in Northern Uganda, witnessing thousands of people suffering from brutal attacks from a rebel group called LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY. After finishing the film, the three filmmakers knew that they had to do more. They turned Invisible Children into a full fledged nonprofit organization.

Their mission is simple:

To improve the quality of life for war-affected children by providing access to quality education, enhanced learning environments, and innovative economic opportunities for the community.

Simple and yet simultaneously complicated.

Luckily, they have thought of an array of ways in which you can help. They’ve got t-shirts, videos, bracelets, etc. for sale and the profit goes straight toward the cause. Read more about Invisible Children here.

5. Daniel Radcliffe. You may be questioning if Mr. Potter himself could really be considered a heartthrob and I’m inclined to agree with you. After all, that is sort of what this post is all about. But apparently he is, he even has his own section on the Tiger Beat Website. I can admit that he’s cute in a pesky little brother sort of way, I’ll even admit that he was hilarious in his cameo on HBO’s Extras (“I’ve done it with a girl, intercourse wise”). But sexy? Absolutely not. And if that picture makes your girl parts tingly, well, maybe you should get that checked out.

4. Hayden Christensen. He’s one of the blandest, most white-bread boring guys I’ve ever looked at, and his complete dullness is compounded by the fact that he is an absolutely abysmal actor. I defy you to watch Jumper and say with a straight face, “What a great performance. Hayden Christensen is one of the brightest up and comers in my generation.” You can’t do it!

3. Orlando Bloom. I realize that I will probably be roasted on a spit for this choice, and I would be willing to chock it up to taste if he had any talent, but he’s a horrible actor. He reminds me of a limp noodle. He was funny on Extras, though (I’m sensing a pattern here).

2.Pete Wentz. What is the first word you think about when you hear Pete Wentz’s name? Talented? Nope. Handsome? I don’t think so. Jackass? Maybe. No, you probably think of the word “Eyeliner” because that’s really all he’s got going for him. I can’t really speak to his skills as a bass player because I try to stay as far away from Fall Out Boy songs as I can, but his musicianship isn’t a part of the equation for Wentz — it never really was. He’s known for wearing eyeliner. And for sort of being a douchebag.

1. Zac Efron You knew it was coming, didn’t you? Because Zac Efron’s name has become synonymous with the term “heartthrob” in this generation and for the life of me, I can’t understand why. He looks like a wax sculpture come to life, like if he was melted, I could use him to make my hands softer. His smile is so wide and his teeth are so big and his wax outer coating is so shiny and smooth that I’m half convinced that he was engineered by Disney (you know they have the technology!) to take over the world, one overly staged musical number at a time.

[Any other heartthrob you can't understand?? SPILL it!]

Pete Wentz uses way more eyeliner than I do. And I’m okay with that. Because he’s sexy. Really sexy. And I don’t find his eyeliner sexy just because I like girls. I’m just okay with Pete Wentz wearing eyeliner.

But does he have to make it too? Apparently so, since he’s just started his own make-up line, WentzPentz.

Just as catchy as a Fall Out Boy song.

The band’s fashionistador lyricist and bassist will very soon be selling his own brand of vegan eyeliner pencils. All five of them are Chicago-themed, in honor of his hometown.

19-year-old boys in 15-year-old girls’ pants can choose from: Green-Eyed Sidekick, Fireside Bowl, By the Power of Grayskull, Let’s Take the Brown Line to Wellington, and Blue Line, Next Stop: Damen.

It’s also been noted that Wentz is interested in starting a hair product line entitled Hair Dude, which will specialize in clip-on hair extensions for men.

Pete, the joke’s on you….you sold out. Don’t get me wrong bro, I love you and your band and your ridiculously catchy lyrics. But you’re a businessman enough already. Just…go back to taking naked pictures of yourself. Thanks.

Now a days, it seems like if you don’t have an iPod and an iPod speaker system, or a very large collection of CDs either in disc form or hanging around on your computer, there isn’t a whole lot you can do for music variety. The radio stations play the same song every ten minutes or so, and unless you have a laptop, even iTunes’ handy Party Shuffle option can leave you in the musical dust. So what do you do?

What if I told you that there was a service online where you could enter a song or artist of your choosing, then get an indefinitely long playlist with songs that have similar sound? Not just any songs, mind you; these are songs like you’ll like, songs that you’ve never heard of before and songs that you adore. Above all, what if I told you it was absolutely positively free?

No, it’s not an e-mail scam that’s going to give you free software as long as you sign up for about fifty different sponsors. It’s Pandora, and she wants to be your friend.

Say I really want to find some bands like My Chemical Romance. I head to Pandora first, of course. You’ll want to sign up, because after a few tracks, they interrupt your groove and pretty much make you. Pandora asks me for an artist or song I happen to like, and I plug in MCR. Immediately, she plays “Vampires Will Never Hurt Me”. I’m pretty happy because it’s just the kind of song I was looking for, and I give it a thumbs up. Based on my gleaming feedback, Pandora plays “Over My Head”, by Sum 41. I’m not crazy about it, but I don’t hate it, so I don’t give any feedback at all. Next comes “Calm Before The Storm”, by Fall Out Boy. Normally I adore the Boys, but I’m not so crazy about this song, so I give it a thumbs down. Pandora totally sympathizes and skips the song entirely, going on to “You Won’t Hear This”, by Envy On The Coast. I’m diggin’ the song, so much so that not only do I give it a thumbs up, I click the up arrow between thumbs up and thumbs down, click the iTunes link, and buy the track. In about ten minutes, I’ve discovered a new band and heard some awesome songs – and it’s all totally legit.

Your Pandora stations are totally customizable, based on the thumbs ups and thumbs downs you give. You can make stations based on either a song you dig or an artist you dig. The best part about Pandora, though, is that it never ends. Ever! You might get a repeated song ever two or three hours, sure, but it’s perfect for background music or party music. I like to bring it up on the computers in the campus library and jam along while doing research (quietly, of course). You can pay for your membership if the ads annoy you. If you feel like getting especially fancy, you can even get Pandora in your living room with snazzy radio systems or on your phone for easy transport, but our focus is on the slightly less expensive – and by less expensive, I mean free – entertainment.

Being a music fan is all about branching out, and Pandora does that better than any internet radio I’ve ever used. I’ve open Pandora’s box, and I like what came out.

PerezHilton has just put up some pretty interesting photos of the Fall Out Boy rocker, a guy who’s gone from a proudly self-described “outcast” to a completely mainstream model who dates Ashlee Simpson.

Which is fine, I guess. If you like big paychecks and corporate sponsors.

Wentz, who’s certainly skinny enough to fit his entire body inside one leghole of my jeans, doesn’t exactly have what I’d call “a model face”.

He’s not fugly, but his Emo/Hipster vibe is so overpowering, it’s hard to look at him for long (unless, of course, you’re a blond girl who, once upon a time, lip synced on national television).

But then again, I could be wrong.

Maybe Wentz really will make a career out of flouncing his tattoos and bee-stung lips. He certainly has a lot of little fans—and everyone knows how persuasive those kids can be.

Pete Wentz: Hot or Not?