Good music often provides the perfect background songs for our ordinary daily activities. Music also allows us to relive a story narrated by lyrics in our imagination or allows us to escape to the beats and sounds of different instruments. By making some songs very personal to us, we often forget to acknowledge the inspiration that made it possible for these songs to exist. Here at the Clog, we’re taking the time to acknowledge the meaning and inspiration that went behind some of today’s popular songs:

John Mayer’s “Gravity:” Mayer’s “Come Back to Bed” was actually an early attempt at creating “Gravity.” It took some time for him to actually put the words and instrumentals into a cohesive and powerful song. In a concert in December 2005, Mayer explained that “Gravity” is a song so important to him that he could listen to it for the rest of his life. When addressing where the song came from, he stated, “I was in LA, and I was there for the summer, just writing tunes, and I was in the shower. And I don’t know where it came from, but it’s the damn truth you know, and I just sang, ‘gravity…is working against me.’” He also expressed that “Gravity” took on a more significant meaning; this was a song about “making sure you still love yourself … making sure you still have your head on”.

Jason Mraz’s “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry):” Mraz’s musical remedy would not have been created if it wasn’t for his friend Charlie Mingroni. Mingroni was a close friend of Mraz’s who had cancer. This significantly impacted Mraz. When facing your own personal battles, Mraz sings that “the tragedy is how you’re gonna spend the rest of your nights with the light on.” This song was made to relax the mind and soul even through one’s hardest times.

Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team:” This song was inspired by a gig Sheeran did at a homeless shelter at the age of 18. When listening to people’s stories, Sheeran was fascinated by the extreme struggles that many faced. This was especially the case when discussing substance abuse. Drugs like cocaine, a “Class A drug,” had been discussed and served as the direct inspiration for the song’s title. In an effort to mask addressing the serious issue of substance abuse, Sheeran successfully attempted to make the song upbeat.

These artists show us that by taking inspiration as it comes and transforming it into art is something very powerful. By sharing something you personally created, you can offer someone else an interesting set of lens to look through.

What inspired a work of art that you’re proud of? Share with us in the comments!

Image source: Kia Clay under Creative Commons 

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post Hidden inspiration behind songs appeared first on The Daily Californian.

As the days grow closer to a final summer sunset, maybe you’ve spent this vacation exploring, dating someone new or maybe just staying friends. But can a guy and a girl really just be friends and nothing more? It’s a timeless and popular question that Timothy Goodman and Jessica Walsh have set out to answer.

Jessica, a hopeless romantic, and Timothy, scared shitless of commitment, claimed to be amused by each other’s not-so-successful love lives. In an attempt to answer why relationships can suck so much, 40 Days of Dating was born.  In order to get the most out of their project, Goodman and Walsh set up rules for themselves. They were to:

1. See each other every day for 40 days.

2. Go on at least three dates a week.

3. See a couples’ therapist once a week.

4. Go on one weekend trip together.

5. Fill out their daily questionnaire and document, well, everything.

6. Not see, date, hook up or have sex with anyone else.

Okay, so we’ll leave it to you guys to judge whether this could be considered a legitimate experiment, but maybe this didn’t have to be so complicated. It’s a fun project to take on if you have nothing else better to do, but guys and girls can totally be friends! Now of course, this would be a little difficult if you think your friend is hot, is cute or just has the greatest personality. But if you don’t feel attracted to your friend, then there. Friends! However, when asked in a CNN interview whether Goodman thought whether men and women could be friends, he answered, “If you asked me a couple of months ago, I would’ve said yes. In one of his stand-ups, Chris Rock said every platonic friend that he had was someone he was trying to sleep with, but he made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in the ‘friend zone.’ I think there’s truth in that. A man always has a motive.”

What do you think? Do men always have their motives, or is it totally possible for all of us to be, quite simply, friends (especially in college)? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: randomix under Creative Commons 

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

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Just when we thought that it couldn’t get worse, it did. Actually, that’s not true; we think we all could see this coming. With a record-breaking number of incoming freshmen, it’s been reported that some student floor lounges may be turned into bedrooms. Also, remember how big your double was? Imagine one more person squeezed into the mess you and your roommate would create.

So screw wanting some damn space to breathe! In light of this insanity, we highlighted some things you might forget after learning how to live under packed living conditions:

1. Getting rid of your bodily waste in private. Who knew how sweet the days were when you could just poop and pee without worrying what people thought. Seriously, who knew! Who knew that POOPING and PEEING could be such a social problem. But screw it.  Soon, the memories of you and your home toilet will fade away. Although it takes some time to adjust, you’re eventually going to have to not worry about what people are thinking when you gotta do what you have to do.

2. Having secrets. Think you know some things that other people don’t? Think again. Living around so many people, you can almost be sure that when you think there’s no one listening, THERE IS.

3. Silence. Enjoy the last moments of sitting by yourself in an empty room. Sometimes, not even our libraries are that silent. The sound of no sound is something you probably won’t run into until after you graduate.

4. How to study. Living with so many fun people definitely has its consequences. Although your study strategies are bound to change when in a different type of school setting, changes will also have to accommodate those inevitable social distractions.

Although this is a bit depressing, there is always a happy side. Dorm life is a unique situation that very few people find themselves in. It’s a short kind of life that will only last for so long. But for now, it seems like apartment owners are the true winners.

What are you not looking forward to due to the extreme scarcity in campus housing? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: CanAssist African Relief Trust under Creative Commons 

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post 4 things you’ll forget after living in this year’s crowded student housing appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Just like you and your sibling, UC Berkeley and UCLA have an interesting relationship. This particular UC campus definitely took after its big-sister school. But what can be more awkward than this relationship between sibling schools? Conversations with a sibling who attends the sibling school. Here at the Clog, we highlighted some awkward similarities you may discover when talking about college life with a sibling who is a UCLA Bruin:

That awkward moment when…

1. You talk about how much you love reading The Daily Californian. Then your Bruin sibling admits that he or she loves reading —you’ve guessed it! — The Daily Bruin.

2. You love blue and gold. Then you discover your Bruin sibling also loves blue and gold — baby blue, that is.

3. You’re singing “Sons of California.” Then from a distance, you hear your Bruin sibling sing “Sons of Westwood.”

4. You talk about CREAM. Then discover that Diddy Riese is the exact same thing.

5. Someone yells “Go Bruins!” Then you discover that this explicitly excludes you, unlike when someone yells “Go Bears!”

6. Your sibling gets mad when you say that UC Berkeley has more Nobel laureates. Even though you’ve never met one.

7. You get mad at your sibling because UCLA has more TV commercials. But hey, it was just Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dribbling a basketball with people chasing him.

8. You accidentally say that UC Berkeley is the No. 1 public university. And your Bruin sibling says nothing.

9. You hate red. Then you find out that your Bruin sibling also hates red.

Regardless of rankings, we are all part of one united UC system and, for some, part of one big family. Though now all Cal vs. UCLA sporting events will be a tad awkward, ice cream cookie sandwiches or nearly identical mascots shouldn’t get between family.

What are some awkward college conversations you’ve had with a sibling that attends a different UC school? Share with us in the comments!

Image Source: hans s under Creative Commons 

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post That awkward moment when your sibling is a Bruin appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Brooklyn native Anthony Weiner has been making some scandalous headlines. The rather frisky politician can’t seem to hold back his enthusiasm for possibly becoming New York City’s next mayor and also can’t seem to keep it in his pants. Depending on whether his sexual activities would affect your vote if you were a New York resident, we would just like to thank Mr. Weiner for taking one for the team. So listen up, boys. Here are a few lessons you should learn from Weiner’s mistakes:

1. If your last name is “Weiner,” you’re pretty much already screwed. Sad and slightly true. Even if it’s not actually pronounced like what you’re all thinking of.

2. If you’re trying to come up with a cool screen name, “Carlos Danger” is NOT the answer. With an incredible lack of creativity, this name has a very creepy ring to it. Adding “Danger” to any part of your name quite simply makes you sound like a loser. (But on an aside, many hilarious things have come from this.)

3. If your honey forgave you the first time, expect her to forgive you the next time. And then slap yourself and realize that very few significant others would allow you to do that shit again. Once you’ve crossed into Weiner frontier, believe that he or she could very well be keeping you around for some sort of career or academic benefit at that point.

4. Do you have skeletons in the closet? If you’re choosing to pursue a political career, realize that your opponents can bring back anything from the dead.

5. Would you like to be a leader of a majority of people who do not like you? Trust us when we say that is going to be very tough.

6. Can’t respect women? You’re better off just masturbating.

Career ambition is awesome — nothing less is expected from a Berkeley student — but having respect for women and their own careers and academic goals is also important. You can only go so far if you’re a disrespectful jerk. Remember that whoever told you to think with your penis and not with your mind will probably always be a lonely douchebag.

What annoyed you the most about the Anthony Weiner scandal? Share with us in the comments!

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons, under the public domain

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post Lesson of the day: don’t be a Weiner appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Chances are, you’re nervous, stressed or just simply unhappy. But of course we know why: It’s Phase II. Now that you’ve heard all the tricks and tips, heard from the oracles, had your CCNs ready since April and have three backup plans, you’re probably more than well aware that you might not get the schedule you want. And you know what? It’s OK! Remember that here at the Clog, we’re students too. Here are some coping mechanisms that can help you get through accepting your Phase II fate:

1. Accept the inevitable. Something unfavorable is bound to happen. That’s just the way it is. We have a crapload of students, and we’re sure that there’s some statistic out there that explains why it’s so difficult to get into a class you want. You’re attending the No. 1 PUBLIC university. That means a university with A LOT of people. Cut Tele-BEARS some slack. It tries its best.

2. Don’t blame yourself. Your phase dates are out of your control. The number of people who will enroll into a class is out of your control. All you can control is your preparation. If you’re trying your best to be prepared and concerned, why feel like shit when you’re using a system that’s mostly based on luck?

3. Be positive. Think of it as life training. You can be as prepared as the next insanely prepared student, but some things that you don’t want to happen can happen. Learn to be flexible with your semester plans. Tele-BEARS is constantly changing; you’re just never going to know what’s going to be openly available on an online schedule of classes — or what number on the waiting list you’re going to be.

Oh, the joys of attending a public university! Although not very many of us look forward to our phase dates, make the best of it and don’t feel too bad. You’ll only be dealing with Tele-BEARS for so long. There may actually come a day where you’ll miss the anxiety of not knowing what class to add.

On a positive note, what do you LOVE about Tele-BEARS? Share with us in the comments!

Image Source: umjanedoan under Creative Commons 

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post 3 tips to get over a horrible schedule appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Avid readers are surprised to discover just how wonderful Robert Galbraith’s breakout novel, “The Cuckoo’s Calling,” turned out to be. In fact, Galbraith’s storytelling was so incredible for a first novel that it was hard to believe that this was a first book of a fledgling author. Before you ask who the hell Robert Galbraith is, we would just like to acknowledge that you are more than familiar with this author than you think. It is the one and only master of wonderful and unexpected surprises: J.K. Rowling.

As soon as Harry Potter fans and bookworms discovered that “Robert Galbraith” served as J. K. Rowling’s pseudonym, book sales for “The Cuckoo’s Calling” skyrocketed. But among the talk and sales of her latest book, we can’t help but remember the adventures of our beloved hero, Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling’s (almost) well-kept secret reminds us at The Daily Clog, and Harry Potter fans, just how much we love her writing (especially in the Harry Potter novels):

We’ll always believe in magic. If you grew up with the Harry Potter novels, then you shared in the nationwide heartbreak when you didn’t receive a letter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But this didn’t stop us from believing in Rowling’s magical world. Now that the Harry Potter book and movie series have concluded,  J.K. Rowling gave the now grown-up Harry Potter fans a sweet reminder that no matter how familiar you may feel with your world, some things aren’t quite what meets the eye.

Harry’s humility. Everyone in the wizarding world knew Harry’s name, yet Harry was just Harry. Although he couldn’t avoid fighting against Voldemort, he never took a significant amount of time basking in his fame. In Harry’s character, we can clearly see the heart of J.K. Rowling. Rowling chose to use the pseudonym in order to strip away the value of her name and her world-famous book series. She wanted to put another story out there into the world and receive genuine feedback. Although her God-given talent could not be hidden for long, we commend Rowling’s act in still having the simple pleasure of having a story speak for itself, completely untainted by fame and fortune.

It’s absolutely amazing. The great Rowling does it again, and when we discovered exactly who Robert Galbraith was, our smiles were almost as big as yours.

What are your thoughts on J.K. Rowling writing under a pseudonym? Share with us in the comments!

Image source: (nz)dave under Creative Commons 

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post Unmasking Robert Galbraith will surprise you appeared first on The Daily Californian.

When it comes to great ice cream destinations like Ici and CREAM, Fentons Creamery is definitely a treasured Bay Area ice cream parlor. Fentons Creamery is the perfect place for gatherings, dates, kids and especially those who are kids at heart. And Pixar also agrees! Fentons was featured in Pixar’s animated film “Up.” How can we forget when we were left with those fuzzy feelings in our stomachs when the movie ended with Russell, Mr. Fredricksen and Dug enjoying some ice cream cones on a curb in front of this adorable creamery? How lucky are we that this animated place exists in real life and that it’s practically an AC Transit ride away! And let’s face it: Most everyone loves ice cream, especially us at the Daily Clog. Here are some reasons why Fentons Creamery is one of our all-time favorite ice cream places:

1. Original creators of Rocky Road ice cream. Yes! Fentons is believed to be the place where Rocky Road ice cream was invented. However, some believe that those who worked for Dreyer’s ice cream were the original creators. The story is actually pretty cool. It’s believed that Fentons’ candy maker George Farren made a rocky road candy bar and blended it into ice cream. Some of Farren’s friends, William Dreyer and Joseph Edy, thought the idea was genius and decided to make their own version of Rocky Road ice cream. Their version, however, substituted almonds for walnuts. Who knew?

2. Even Pixar producers can’t get enough of Fentons. Fentons Creamery didn’t just randomly pop up in “Up.” It so happens that director Pete Docter, producer Jonas Rivera and other Pixar employees get their regular ice cream fix at Fentons. You never know — maybe one day you’ll be enjoying an ice cream with the makers of one of the best feel-good movies of our generation.

3. Spot memorabilia from the much-loved Pixar film “Up.” Like Pixar’s hidden easter eggs, there are some “Up” items placed around the creamery. If you haven’t watched the film right before your ice cream trip, a movie still of Mr. Fredricksen, Russell and Dug will bring back that happy feeling of wanting to enjoy a simple cone of ice cream. Also, don’t miss Dug chilling in the parlor. Can you find the picture and Dug? (Can you also tell we really love “Up”?)

4. Get ready for the cow bell. If you’re thinking of spending your birthday in Fentons, you definitely won’t be disappointed. With such a friendly staff — almost as animated as the Pixar film — good food and amazing ice cream, you’ll be surrounded by good vibes. However, if you’re kind of an introvert, you probably don’t want these happy people knowing it’s your birthday. If it is, you’ll be called out! Soon, you’ll have the whole Fentons crew and everyone in the parlor singing “Happy Birthday to You.”

What do you love about Fentons Creamery? Share with us in the comments!

Image Source: andrew.kwaning under Creative Commons 

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post Why we love Fentons Creamery appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the music scene has been taking some desperate measures. With a generation ready to embrace whatever trending thing that comes up on their social media news feed, there are hundreds of thousands of artists out in the world trying to make the next best universal hit. With so many musicians coming out with so many songs, it becomes more difficult to come up with something that’s truly creative and original. Some artists will sing about anything. After taking a moment to look back on some random song titles with us at the Daily Clog, you may never look at an inanimate object in an unsexualized way ever again.

1. “Slip N Slide” by Jonn Hart featuring Kid Ink. You were definitely the cool kid on the block if you owned a Slip ‘n Slide. If your parents just had a thing against inflatable water slides, at least you enjoyed the TV commercials. But if there were ever two people in the world that could create an analogy between a Toys “R” Us product and sex, it’s Jonn Hart (that’s right, with two N’s) and Kid Ink. The painfully catchy tune has now made innocent slipping and sliding something of a forgotten past. And Hart’s serious, mentioning in his rap, “I ain’t gon’ play no games.” But why, Mr. Hart? Summer games are chock full of innocent and good fun! What’s probably the weirdest thing about this song is how the heck Hart or Ink found the inspiration. That must have been one hell of a Wal-Mart trip.

2. “Whistle” by Flo Rida. What. The. Hell. If someone told us that we were allowed to make a song about a stupid whistle, we would be making bank! Uncalled for, Flo. But of course the guy who unnecessarily splits a state’s name in half has dibs on creating a song about a small wind instrument. We would also like to mention that if it took you a while to catch on the song’s sexualized themes, we don’t blame you. He is literally singing about how to use a whistle. It really is so damn literal. But really, Flo Rida must have seen a random whistle on the ground and decided to make a song about it. We can only imagine his disparity in needing to pay his utilities bill. And just for the record, if you happen to meet a girl who doesn’t know how to use a whistle, she has a breathing problem.

3. “Crickets” by Drop City Yacht Club featuring Jeremih. It’s very unsurprising to realize that this song has nothing to do with crickets. Sorry, cricket lovers … whoever you may be. The word “crickets” only comes up like four times in the song. As A-Wolf and Kristo rap quite distastefully about a girl, Jeremih’s soulful voice sings about trying to get a girl to hang out with him but hears crickets instead of a “Yes.”  But you can’t fool us here at Berkeley. We know that crickets prevalently come out at night, so look Jeremih. It’s not that you’re ugly or you don’t have a great voice or whatever. Maybe she doesn’t want a stranger following her and singing to her in the middle of the night.

4. “Birthday Cake” by Rihanna. We can say one thing about this song: It makes a great drinking game! But if you’re ever curious — or bored — enough to look up how many times Rihanna mentions the word “cake” in this song, it’s probably more than you’ve mentioned the word in your last eight birthdays. This song is so repetitive and simplistic that it’s almost … genius. Think about it. As Rihanna sings about making someone her bitch and not having the decency to put your name on your very own birthday cake, we can’t help but dance the night away to this on replay. You wouldn’t even know this song was about a pastry unless you did a really random Google search.

The only lesson we can learn from this? The next inanimate object you see, make a song about it. By what we’ve seen here, you can make millions.

Know of any songs or song titles you just have troubling getting? Share with us in the comments!

Image Source: Focka under Creative Commons 

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

The post 4 painfully literal song titles appeared first on The Daily Californian.

If you haven’t been affected by the BART strike, you obviously don’t live in the Bay Area. From all the politics behind the BART system — and even our AC Transit system — the whole East Bay and San Francisco are basically reeling. It’s absolute chaos. While the BART employees have a valid argument, what about the needs of UC Berkeley students who made important summer commitments so that this world doesn’t have to be a screwed-up place? Or what about the necessary commuting needs of Bay Area citizens who have lower incomes than our BART drivers, you may wonder? Good questions. Here at the Daily Clog, we’re asking ourselves the same thing. We wonder if they’ve considered the serious impact that unsettled pay-raise decisions would have on our disabled community members, professionals and the rest of the general population. Undoubtedly, it’s gotten incredibly dangerous. Until things become a little more orderly, here are some tips to help you survive the BART apocalypse:

Give yourself more time. Sadly, there’s pretty much no way around it. The buses are packed, a boat would probably take just as long — or longer — and good luck waiting in a car for a few good moments just to pay the toll. If you’ve made important summer commitments, save yourself the stress and take responsibility. Maybe consider waking up an hour or two earlier than you usually do. After experimenting for one day, you should get a feel for when is an appropriate time to leave for work. Depending on how considerate your boss is, consider this an opportunity that shows him or her that you are a committed and hardworking employee or volunteer.

Make sure your phone is charged. This is an appropriate time to do all that Facebook scrolling and gaming. You could potentially be waiting half an hour or more than an hour. Don’t make it torture. Entertain yourself instead! Maybe even get in that luxury reading you’ve been wanting to do during the regular school year. However, making sure that your phone is charged always ensures your safety. It’s seriously crazier on the streets. Your cellphone is an important tool just in case something unfavorable happens.

Keep your wallet in your front pocket. We’re broke enough as it is, y’all. With being forced to be squished next to someone that you don’t know, make sure you know where all the belongings that you care about are. There are so many distractions on our buses, and there are thieves who know this. Be your own responsible best friend, and protect your belongings. Let’s just say that once it’s gone, you’ll probably never see that item again.

Ditch the heels. We all know this: Everyone wants a seat. And we mean everyone. Chances are that you’re going to be doing some serious standing and some serious walking. By the end of this strike, you’re going to know a whole bunch of street names and bus lines that you never knew about before. But don’t ruin your feet in the process! We’re for the pumps as much as the next guy, but consider comfort and practicality. Snug sneakers can make your bus commute so much easier.

Vent. Yes. We’re all stressed: BART drivers, AC Transit drivers, MUNI drivers and then the rest of us. If you have any friends or family members who also may be having a hard time getting around the Bay Area, or if you have friends or family members who are concerned about what’s happening to our public transportation, don’t be afraid to let it out! Don’t keep your emotions bottled up — you never know when you’re going to explode on an innocent person. Letting your feelings out can be therapeutic and can relieve serious stress. Venting is a good way to connect with others and maybe even get more tips on how to avoid skin-to-skin contact with strangers and traffic.

Consider that this is also an opportunity for us to cooperate as an entire Bay Area community. Times are tough, and everyone is having a hard time, so don’t feel like someone up there targeted you to make your life worse. Plan accordingly, and consider that having a positive attitude and outlook on this current situation can make your commute easier and more comfortable. It’ll just be another part of your day.

Any tips on how to avoid the chaos from the shut-down BART system? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: aaron_anderer under Creative Commons

Contact Karen Kwaning at kkwaning@dailycal.org.

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