Meet Justin Trawick.

He is living the dream as a full-time musician. He was raised -- and is based -- in Northern Virginia. He can usually be seen playing at Iota in Clarendon, Madam’s Organ in Adam’s Morgan or at famous summer festivals, like this year’s HFstival.

This week, he shares with Glittarazzi what its like to actually pursue your dream as a musician.
 

“I had always dreamed of being a full time musician, but like many musicians, I was too afraid of quitting my job and losing my steady paycheck. The decision was actually made for me in 2008 when I got laid off from my day job. For anyone including me, the feeling of being laid off is downright horrible, but a few days later that horrible feeling subsided and was in turn exchanged for a feeling of excitement in finally being able to pursue music fulltime. I haven't had a real "day job" since.”

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

“When you eventually start getting contacted to do things without asking for it, the feeling is amazing. My band got asked by CBS this year to play the famous HFStival. For being one of the most famous festivals in DC as well as to be asked by CBS to play really made me feel like I was finally doing something right.”

Justin continues, “And of course, finding out that I was on the same bill as the Avett Brothers, Flogging Molly, Dr. Dogg, and the Gin Blossoms made me run around the house in celebration like a ADD kid who ate too many Sour Patch Kids.”

What big things are on the horizon for you?

“I'm about to release my fifth record, which is a live, in-studio, acoustic album featuring my mandolin player Josh Himmelsbach and my friend Flex Mathews who freestyle raps on two songs.”

Justin reveals, “These songs were recorded the old fashioned way, standing around a few mics completely unplugged just like old Johnny Cash and Elvis recordings. Many of the songs on this record have never been previously recorded and the others are favorites from past records arranged differently for this acoustic album. The addition of a rapper on a primarily roots oriented album is something that I think will make this record stand out.”

Justin continues, “Aside from my own music, I also run a traveling series called "The 9". I started "The 9" back in 2008 which features 9 songwriters on one evening doing two short sets each...a concert for the ADD crowd. I run this series in DC, Arlington, Richmond, Charlottesville, Rockville, Baltimore, Philly, and NYC.”

What music has influenced your style?

“I learned guitar by trying to play along with the radio (DC101) back when I was 13. In high school I actually joined the "Loudoun Bluegrass Association" which was a bluegrass jam session meet-up held at a retirement home near my house. I was the youngest guy there by at least 20 years and it's a big reason why I have a lot of Americana in my music.”

How do you write your music?

“I usually come up with chords and a melody first and put lyrics to it. Often the chorus part of the lyrics gets written first. My ideas often come to me at odd or inopportune times...3am in the morning or when I'm supposed to be getting ready for dinner with my parents, something like that. When I was in high school and college I would write when I was in class or when I was supposed to be studying. When I had a day job I often kept a Word document open on my computer that I would flip to every once in a while to type an idea down.”

What musical venues do you recommend Washingtonians check out and why?

“I owe a lot to IOTA in Arlington and its owners Stephen and Jane. It's where I got my start and where I headline with my band. It's a family run venue and they treat musician that play there the same, like family. Besides IOTA, I'm a fan of the 9:30 Club, Birchmere, State Theatre, Blues Alley, and Jammin’ Java. The Clydes Restaurant Group is opening "The Hamilton LIVE" in January and will be a beautiful seven day a week music venue. It's going to be really awesome.”
 

• Justin Trawick’s website: justintrawick.com
• Follow him on Twitter: @justintrawick
• Check out the "Rockin' Beats Project" (and get free MP3)
• Learn more about Iota: iotaclubandcafe.com

Things aren't looking good for NBA players this year.

The lockout still hasn't been resolved and, everyone -- basketball players included -- is starting to wonder if basketball will ever come back.

Mavericks Star Dirk Nowitzki seems to have accepted his fate, as he tweeted (jokingly, we hope!) that he might take up tennis.

Uh, Dirk? We're not so sure you're suited for tennis.

Hang in there, buddy. The NBA will be back soon! 

Maybe.

Yes, we all know that Paris Hilton is a spoiled rich girl.

But, she definitely has a soft spot in her heart -- for dogs.

Paris tweeted that she found a starving stray, which made her so sad that she ended up buying him a filet mignon! We may love our pets but, filet is for humans only. Sorry, pups. 

That was pretty sweet of Paris, though, don't you think?

... Oh, wait. Isn't she on vacation at a spa in Bali? Still spoiled.

Admittedly, it is a little exciting to finally be 100% sure of what day it is today instead of constantly having to check our phones to make sure we're using the correct date.

But, we're having a hard time understanding what all the excitement is about. It seems that everyone and their mother is going wild about 11/11/11.

People are giving money away, getting married, having babies, talking about fried chicken and just generally acting weird.

What the hell is going on, people?

Maybe, just maybe, we're not cool enough to get it.

... Nah.

We know you love McDonald's, don't even try to deny it.

We see all the clubgoing girls hitting up the late-night lines at Mickey D's all the time.

And, Saturday, you can eat all the Big Macs you want -- guilt-free! That's right: it's trendy to be a little bit fat, because McDonald's is donating $2 from every Big Mac sold to Ronald McDonald House Charities.

So, definitely hop on the charity train. ... And then, maybe hit the gym.

Kirk Morrison, meet Kirk Morrison.

If that makes zero sense to you, that's because there's no reason you should know Kirk Morrison No. 2.

He's the college student that got free tickets to see the Buffalo Bills play, just for letting Kirk Morrison No. 1 -- linebacker for the Bills -- have his Twitter handle.

Seriously? We're thinking this might be a great way to win some free stuff. It's time to start claiming all of the unused Twitter handles. ...

Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih hit up the District this week to be honored by the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Rima has done a lot to advocate against discrimination -- I mean, have you looked at her bikini pictures? How could you possibly discriminate against a body like that?

But, in all seriousness, we love you, Rima! 

The woman is not only smart ... she is training to be a professional wrestler.

What's not to love?

Dear Ashton,

We know you're busy, but, uh, from one nerd to another: research before you tweet anything.

Otherwise, you'll have a situation on your hands -- like when one of our writers called Pagans devil worshipers. (Long story.)

We still love you, tho'. Twit happens.

Cheers,
Team Glittarazzi

P.S. We are all about your Cuffs of Love -- yours match ours! 

Background: "Joe Paterno, the beloved, long-running and winningest coach in major college football history, was fired from Penn State Wednesday night. But clearly unbeknownst to Kutcher, it was not over "a football thing," but rather over concerns that Paterno did not do everything in his power to stop alleged serial pedophile and former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, who was arrested over the weekend and accused of sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year span." Source: E!

 Note from Ashton to his tweeps (and the WWW):

Twitter Management

Up until today I have posted virtually everyone of my tweets on my own, but clearly the platform has become to big to be managed by a single individual. When I started using twitter it was a communication platform that people could say what they are thinking in real time and and if their facts where wrong the community would quickly and helpfully reframe an opinion. It was a conversation, a community driven education tool, and opionion center that encouraged healthy debate. It seems that today that twitter has grown into a mass publishing platform, where ones tweets quickly become news that is broadcated around the world and misinformation becomes volitile fotter for critics.

Last night after returning home from work I walked by the television and simply saw a headline that Joe Paterno had been fired. Having no more information than that, I assumed that he had been fired due to poor performance as an aging coach. As a football fan and someone who had watched Joe's career move from that of legend/innovator to a head coach that fullfilled his duty in the booth, I assumed that the university had let him go due to football related issues. With that assumption (how dare I assume) I posted a tweet defending his career. I then when about my evening, had some dinner, did a little work, and about an hour later turned on ESPN where I got the full story. I quickly when back on my twitter account and found a hailstorm of responses calling me an "idiot" and several other explitives that I've become accustom to hearing for almost anything I post. I quickly retracted and deleted my previous post, however that didn't seem enough to satisfy peoples outrage at my misinformed post. I truely am sorry if I offended anyone and more over am going to take action to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

A collection of over 8 million followers is not to be taken for granted. I feel responsible for delivering an informed opinion and not spreading gossip or rumors through my twitter feed. While I feel that running this feed myself gives me a closer relationship to my friends and fans I've come to realize that it has grown into more that a fun tool to communicate with people. While I will continue to express myself through @Aplusk I'm going to turn the management of the feed over to my team at Katalyst Media to ensure the quality of it's content. My sincere apologies to anyone who I offended. It was a mistake that I don't think will not happen again.

Meet Chris Malagisi.

He is the director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and president and founder of the Young Conservatives Coalition. He is also an adjunct professor at American University. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, and CSPAN as a political analyst. Previously, he worked on three US presidential campaigns, a high-profile US Senate campaign, the International Republican Institute (travelling to Afghanistan), Capitol Hill, and the College Republican National Committee.

Recently, he took some time to chat with Glittarazzi.

Explain to readers what CPAC is and what your role as the director.

“The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is the largest gathering of conservatives held in Washington, D.C., each year (next one is Feb 9 - 11, 2012, at Marriot Wardman Park Hotel). Conservative leaders, media, elected officials, and grassroots activists come from around the country to network, debate, and set the agenda each year. Or as I like to say, we organize the “vast right-wing conspiracy.”

How did you become so involved in politics?

“Both sets of my grandparents left Communist Greece to come and live the American Dream. They came here wanting a better life for their families and politics was always something that was actually discussed at the dinner table!”

Malagisi shares, “My first foray in national politics was an internship with my then-congressman Rep. Bill Paxon (R-NY) and I was a U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Page the summer of 1997 – an experience that forever changed my outlook on life in wanting to dedicate it to public service.”

What do you attribute to your success? What is your modus operandi?

“Two things, the strong work-ethic and upbringing my parents instilled in me and taking a line from the movie 'Batman Begins': “if you commit yourself to an ideal you become something much more.”

Malagisi reveals, “I’ve spent my entire adult life working in conservative and Republican politics and have constantly continued to educate myself in understanding the philosophic foundations of my beliefs. It has only emboldened me to fight harder for the faith and freedoms we cherish in this country. When it comes to American Exceptionalism, I guess you can say that I’ve definitely drank the Kool-Aid.”

How do you explain to people why you are a conservative?

“I teach a course at American University called "History of the Conservative Movement: 1945-Present" and the first question on the first day of class I always ask my students is "what is conservatism inherently trying to conserve?" The answer is "the ideas of American Exceptionalism – an understanding of our “First Principles” – a constitutionally limited government, individual liberty, a free market economy, a strong national defense and preserving our traditional values.”'

Malagisi shares, “Conservatism itself is actually a coalition of three groups – fiscal, social, and defense conservatives. While different people might emphasize one issue area over another it’s important to remember that historically conservatism was meant to be a fusion of these three groups working together to be a movement of ideas in action with political consequences. The early conservatives felt this fusion was the best remedy to best preserve the American tradition and was the last best hope in saving Western Civilization itself.”

What books do you recommend everyone read conservative or not?

"I believe the “bible” for conservatives is George H. Nash’s "The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945;" the book discusses the intellectual foundations of conservative thought.” Malagisi reveals, “A wonderful complement to this book is Lee Edwards’ "The Conservative Revolution: The Movement that Remade America." Oh yeah, and the Constitution is a good read."

How can people get involved in politics?

“The easiest thing people can do, at a bare minimum, is register to vote then actually vote!”
 

Learn more:

• CPAC: cpac2012.conservative.org
• Young Conservatives Coalition: theycc.org
• Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisMalagisi

We wondered ... what's the moral to Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe" song?

So, we trolled online forums, stalked the teen sensation on Twitter [@JustinBieber] and lurked the Facebook walls of local high schoolers to find out.

Then, it hit us. There are a few lessons we can all learn from this new hit song: 

• The Biebs kissed a girl (and he liked it).
• In Hollywood, you really can drive convertibles in the snow.
• Yes, buying a blue-purplish dress will get you laid. 

And, last, but not least ...

We believe the main moral to the story in this fab song is a warning for moms nationwide: "mistletoe" is teen boy slang for "getting it on in the girls' bathroom during Christmas parties."

#neversaynever

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No need to fear, Internet-dwellers!

Academy Award-nominated actress Ruby Dee is not dead, as Twitter seemed to think. It was simply a case of mistaken identity.

Ruby is alive and well.

We are sad to say that rapper Heavy D -- whom Ruby was mistaken for -- has passed away, from what appears to be medical complications. Apparently, he thought he had pneumonia after arriving from a trip to England, and had visited the doctor to get himself checked out the day before he died.

We honestly are having a little trouble understanding how you confuse a 344-pound rapper for a petite female actress but, hey! It's the Internet! Miracles happen here.
 

Eddie Murphy announced today that he will not be hosting the Oscars, leaving the committee a mere three months to decide who will take his spot.

As much as we love James Franco, last year's Oscars event (which he hosted alongside Anne Hathaway) was a disaster. Um, can someone say: ">new movie trailers? Hilarious! But, really, Jason Biggs, Silvio Berlusconi? OK. We suppose the press surrounding his recent sex scandal has been highly entertaining. 

Who do you think should replace Eddie?
 

[Update: Billy Crystal will replace Eddie Murphy.]