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30 Days Without: Social NetworkingLetter From the Editor

ATS Mag Gets Pitch Perfect

What’s In Store This Month:

Cracking Up with Greg Offutt From The G.O. Show

pg. 7

pg. 5pg. 6

pg. 3

In this preview issue...

ATS Mag Gets Pitch Perfect

Cracking Up with Greg Offutt From The G.O. Show

Letter From the Editor

30 Days Without: Social Networking

In the Sheets with ATS

With the wealth of the World Wide Web, new publications and web sites bombard people every day.

Against the Stream Magazine has joined innovators who present a fresh product to consumers and readers. Though it feels good to finally open the pages of the magazine, duplicating what already exist is not on the agenda for The Staff. There is no need for redundant explorations of artist and business already filling other forms of media. This publication and web site are dedicated to the fresh talent in the community, that both deserve and need support. Offering new talent is not all we’re up to. The Mag will also offer you ways to be an active part of the community. To us being, an urban magazine means we better and uphold the communities we represent. Every month we will show you ways that we have done our part to make our home, DC, a little cozier for us all. New and positive charities, music artist, writers, and all-around movers and shakers will comprise every issue. Against the Stream Magazine has made it our mission to search and find arenas for our readers to explore. We are your one stop shop for talent on the rise. So every month, on the 15th, get in the sheets with ATS Magazine for your dose of innovative music, cool events, and great businesses.

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2012 ATS Magazine About Preview Issue

In every ATS Mag issue one lucky hopeful has to endure a month going without something. I, who was the first to suffer, decided to go the extra mile and partake in Lent. 40 days without social media.

It was not surprising when I received multiple “side eyes” after I declaring my withdrawal from Face-book and Twitter. Majority of people in society can’t go without posting about their trips to the bathroom, or twitpic one of their many drinks. This wasn’t my first time leaving the cloud. Last year, I decided to give it a try as well. It was hard giving up BBM. And although it may seem minute, for me, baby steps are everything. I had my reasons to give up social media this year. First, it’s the devil when it comes to doing homework. You would be amped up at 3pm to bust out some homework, next thing you know, you’re tweeting your life away, its 11:30 and you have yet to complete anything. Another reason I took a social break was because I felt as though people were twatching me. I used so-cial media as a way of putting my issues out there. I know, not okay. We’ve all secretly kept our eyes peeled on that one person, who was venting on their timeline. Then while reading, we’ve all sat there and said to ourselves “damn…you got issues.” Over time, I started feeling like I was being watched and judged. And I had no one to blame but myself. I was slowly becoming an abuser of subtweeting. So, I decided, the best way to feed the nosy people was with nothing at all. My journey was turbulent at first, but by the time the 40 days were up, I didn’t want to return. There is something about being unreachable that is liberating. Over the days, I started to feel past stresses dissipate. Would I do it again? Of course, I would. With peace in my heart and not a trouble in my mind, I realized that I was doing just fine without social sites. I could honestly feel myself becoming more focused on my life. At the end of the day, we all need a vacation from society.

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Dyandra Morris

While waiting for food, this lady ordered two strong margaritas and she was pregnant. My mind went “oh crap!” This trick is bugging, let me tweet about her.

I have come to the realization that ever since technology has enabled us the ability to “keep in touch” with loved ones, acquaintances and friends, “keeping in touch” has become less personal. With that said, today I was to have a full-fledged conversation with an actual human, not an electronic device. It feels good to see a smile. Toodles!

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”Not being so reachable has been the greatest feeling on earth.

Here are few journal entries from this month's 30 Days Without.

Have you ever have those people in your life that you ignore when your phone rings? Then, you get caught ignoring them because you recently posted a status or tweeted something? Indeed, we all have fallen victim, or should I say blame. Not being able to have contact with the social world enabled me to go MIA on the regular.

At the end of the day, my business is my business and I shouldn't give others the leisure of signing on to see me.”

Lord knows I was contemplating on venting to the blue bird. But no. This is about me bettering myself. I had myself a nice hot shower and went to bed. Day three?!....HA! good try!“

facebook.com/atsmag

twitter.com/atsmag

youtube.com/atsmag

atsmag.weebly.com

atsmag.tumblr.com

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ATS Mag gets

This month, The Mag got to attend a prescreening of Universal Studio’s Pitch Perfect. The film, starring Anna Kendrick, packed humor and satire into a amiable story about Beca; a freshman at Barden Uni-versity. As the audience watches Beca try to immerse herself into college life, they get a plate full of

surprises with a side of laughs. Rebel Wilson shines as Fat Amy alongside Kendrick. The other stars including Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, and Kelley Jackie add a wide range of comedy for the audience to enjoy. The film is based on the legacy of the a cappella groups on campus at Barden University. As the singers crooned, the writers satirical exploration of sororities and fraternities unfolds. Crass humor and the comedic relationships between The Barden Bella's and The Treble Makers underline the film to highlight the way college students interact. I was initially worried that the film would fall into the category of being yet another college movie that fails to please. But, laughter replaced the worries and by the time the movie reached its last notes, I was sold. Pitch Perfect differed from other college story lines because the writers used clever witty language and the directors used comical situations to place the actors in. From the writing to the acting, Pitch Perfect gets 5 stars and a hand clap for keeping me laughing throughout its entirety. Make sure you go get your laughs when the film releases on October 5th.

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Markeyla Henton: What made you want to pursue comedy? Greg Offutt: It all came down to when I was a kid, it was either I was going be a basketball player a football player or in comedy. It came down to me always joking around when I was a kid and everybody thought I was funny. But I didn’t really take it seriously until I got older. People were like “Oh, you should do comedy.” “You’re really funny; everybody’s always laughing at your jokes.” So, I said you know what I’m going to try it.

M: What are some of the things that influenced you to be Greg G.O. Offutt? G: To be honest with you I wanted to do stand up comedy when I was 18 or 19 years old. [After trying,] I was like this doesn’t really fit me. I was watching skits and I was like this might be me. The Curb Your Enthusiasm show, Larry Davis’ show, was focused on him. I felt that I could do something like that. I was writing my own stuff and my real life situations and that’s how The G.O. Show was born. Now I am writing more sketch comedy. I don’t consider myself a stand up comedian. I’m more of a writer. My favorite writer is Larry David. My favorite comics, there’s a lot: Bernie Mac, Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Richard Prior. The most influential would be Paul Mooney. One of my favorite writers though, I know he doesn’t do comedy, is R. Kelly. R. Kelly is one of the best writers.

M: Of course, because he’s from the best city. How did The G.O. Show get started? G: It all started this year. I just put my show out [on YouTube] in late January. I think a month later somebody was saying, “Hey, we see your show online. We like it,” from WLVS Listen Vision Radio. I’m thinking, “Boy, this is a prank, I’m not answering to that one. Then they did it again. So that’s how that all started. The first show was nerve-wracking, but as time went on I got used to it. The radio show has been a good success so far.

M: Where do you plan to take The G.O. Show in the future?G: Hopefully, I can land [the sketch comedy shows] on a network, like Comedy Central. People submit stuff for fun and put it out online, but I’m not doing it for the hell of it. Its fun, but I want to actually make this into a career.

M: Who or what is the most influential aspect to your career? G: Definitely my mother because she a hilarious woman herself. She’s outspoken, outgoing, and she’s always trying to give me advice.

M: How did you find support outside of your friends and family?G: You know, I don’t try to be funny. When people try to be funny all the time, its putting up a front. Me, I’m just being myself. People who don’t know me think I’m funny, but that is not an act. Knowing people say that [I’m funny,] its like maybe its just not friends and my family who are putting good [feedback] in my head.

M: How can people access you? G: You can get some good laughs on my Twitter @GregGOOffutt and on my web site: www.greggooffutt.com

M: What is something that you want readers to know about you? G: Most importantly, I am a jokester. I’m really passionate. I work hard to get my skits to where they are. And from here on out, I’m just going to keep improving.

Cracking Up with Greg Offutt One of DC’s rising comedians, Greg Offutt, makes listeners laugh each and every Saturday from 6-7. Right in the heart of the city on Georgia Avenue, this jokester makes him home. The Silver Spring, Maryland native has turned his jovial personality into a radio personality at Listen Vision Studios. Even more, Offutt has honed in his writing skills and made his sketch comedies a hit on YouTube. His hour-long segment at WLVS is entitled The G.O. Show. In the 60 minutes Offut is on air, he interviews artist and business people from the area and keeps the laughs coming with his prank calls and witty humor. The Mag stopped in the studio to get to know more about the man behind The G.O. Show. The savvy comedian began the interview telling The Mag how he got started and ended our conversation by reassuring that he wouldn’t let the city down. For ways to access Greg Offutt and for his latest releases visit www.greggooffutt.com

By: Markeyla Henton

Shit Black Batman Would Say: One of Offutt’s latest videos reveals how Batman would be if he were black.

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From the Editor’s Desk

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Everyissue,Iwilltakethisspacetosaythethingsdeepestinmyhearttothosewhoaremostimportanttome:thereaders.AsIpraise,criticize,andevaluatethethingsrelevanttoeachandeveryindividualwhotakestimetoreadthispublication,Ihopeyouwillconsidernewthings.Nevertheless,Icannotstartthatjourneywithoutfirstshowingmygratitude. Yousupportingtheefforts,endeavors,andgoalsofAgainsttheStreamMagazinemeanssoverymuchtome.Foreverymomentyouspendinvestinginthiscollaborativeundertaking,Ivowthatyouwillgetareturnthatisuplifting,entertaining,andenriching. Startingthisjourneyhasbeenthemostexcitingandfrighteningexperienceofmylife.ItisexcitingbecauseTheStaffhasembarkeduponajourneyoftakingonoursocialresponsibilitywhilehavingagreattime.ATSMagazinehasgiveneveryoneinvolvedreasonstotrulyconnectwithothersinanewandpositivefashion. Thefrighteningpartcomesonceourresponsibilitiesareregarded.Lettingdowntheaudiencethatsupportsthismagazineisnotanoption.Fearsandexcitementsaside,Iamconfidentthatwewillmakeyou,thereadersandfollowers,proud.Ihopethatyouallenjoythisproduct;wesurehaveenjoyedmakingitforyou.

Withgratitude,

Markeyla HentonEditor-in-Chief