Mark Hoppus, bass guitar player of Blink 182, is not a vegan. He has also not been involved in any animal rights activism. Despite that, the musician was able to get a nod from PETA after posting a tweet about how he tried practicing his respect for animals and the environment while doing a photoshoot. On his Twitter account, he said:

Mark Hoppus: I’m doing a photo shoot this week & paying nearly $1000 for a movie prop octopus do a real one doesn’t have to die. do I get an award?
 
PETA posted this on their site to salute the musician’s act of respect for their advocacy. This has got so many vegans talking because they know that Hoppus is still a meat-eating person. On the other hand, PETA still considers the act noble for while not vegan, this Blink 182 fender-toting artist illustrated a good example to the meat-eating world that even though you may not agree with the vegan way of life, at least have respect for animals.

Even though it is not really an award, Mark Hoppus still got the respect and confidence of PETA and other animal rights group for what he did not to mention good publicity for his band’s comeback album and tour. 

As a volunteer of the outreach ministry of The Rock Church in San Diego, California, Carrie Prejean indeed met her own waterloo not as an evangelical worker, but as a lady clad in long gown competing for the tiara of the Miss USA 2009 pageant. Prejean, raised in a family that upholds Christian values, may remember for the rest of her life the day she was asked a “persecuting” question that cost the crown.

Before she competes for the Miss USA 2009 pageant, where the winner will represent USA in the upcoming Miss Universe 2009, she first won the title as Miss California 2009. Prejean has joined several beauty competitions including Miss California Teen USA but only her latest beauty pageant gave her the reality check – and perhaps the most memorable question she had been asked about. During the competition, American model Prejean made into the cut of top five, where she was vying for the crown with Kristen Dalton of North Carolina, Alicia-Monique Blanco of Arizona, Laura Chukanov of Utah, and Maria Montgomery of Kentucky. As part of the final cut, all five ladies were asked a single question from one of the panel of judges. Prejean was asked by Perez Hilton that eventually became the hot topic of the after-pageant.

Perez Hilton, a known same-sex marriage supporter, asked Prejean if she believes that every US state should legalize same-sex marriage. Miss California Carrie Prejean stood up for beliefs and responded that a marriage should only between a man and a woman. Though in Christianity terminology, the question Hilton gave Prejean is “persecuting” for it tested Prejean’s faith as a Christian, Miss California proved that she has the right foundations on her religion and upholds the values her family had vested upon her.  Though Prejean cleared that she did not intend to offense anybody, her answer gave the Miss USA 2009 pageant a newshole in the American news programs. Prejean’s mother, Francine Coppola, defended that her daughter gave the best answer and she was proud of her. Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe organization, also defended that Prejean is only stating her own beliefs.

The aftermath of a single question that spurred a single answer has indeed generated thousands and thousands of comments entailed with gossips and humors. In the end, one’s opinion states only a man’s belief and should not be generalized. Prejean knew that her answer tested her faith being a Christian for more than a decade, but she indeed proved it in just a few seconds.

Tom DeLonge Angels and Airwaves frontman and Blink 182 vocalist and guitarist has helped define the punk pop musical movement in the early 90s. Growing up in Poway California, DeLonge had mix of all the influences he needed to someday create a distinct sound and style of punk music. His Christian upbringing, life in California as a teen, and peer pressure in high school often resulted in a stark contradiction, which then fueled much of his writing in his early years.

Although he has always been interested in music, being influenced by great artists like U2, Dag Nasty, The Cure, and  Screaching Weasels, Tom did not initially dreamed of being in a band, much less making a living as a musician. According to a Tom DeLonge interview, his first calling was to become a firefighter in his local town. "I was originally going to be a firefighter. I was in the San Diego Cadet Program,” he said.

The beginnings of Tom DeLonges’ success with Blink 182 was first molded when he transferred to Rancho Bernardo High School after being infamously kicked out from Poway High School for being caught drinking during one of the school’s basketball games. There, he met Mark Hoppus and Scott Raynor, the would-be building blocks of his future band. They decided to form a band with the name Blink with Mark on bass, Scott on drums and Tom on guitars and vocals. On the other hand, the band was faced with plagiarism charges as a British techno act of the same name filed a case against them. In the end, the band settled for the name Blink 182.

1998 marked a spike in Tom DeLonge’s life and his stint with Blink 182. That year, Travis Barker replaced Scott Raynor on drums, leading to the band’s official release of their first album, Enema of the State. Since their debut, Blink 182 had been an important part of shaping popular music and culture of the late 90s with their hit songs and music videos. In 2004, however, the band, announced an indefinite hiatus due to communication problems between Tom and Mark. Artistic differences among band members also triggered the surprising halt of Blink 182’s rising career.

While the band was on hiatus, Tom did not stop pursuing his artistic and musical endeavors. He formed a band called Angels and Airwaves, which he once dubbed as the most creative project he has ever done. As some fans and critics would comment, Tom’s gig with Angels and Airwaves sounds was like Tom’s effort to veer away from his image as Tom DeLonge, guitar player and vocalist of Blink 182. The music he created with his new band was indeed a breath of fresh air from the typical punk pop sound we have been accustomed to with Blink 182.

The band’s hiatus ended when Tom, Mark, Travis appeared together at the backstage of the 2009 Grammy Awards. During the event, they hinted plans for a comeback tour, which stirred excitement among fans. Mark Hoppus also officially announced in his blog that they are ready to go back to the studio to start some work for their new album and upcoming tour.