By Zachary Swickey

Celeb nudie pics hitting the Internet is nothing new with Blake Lively, Scarlett Johannsen and even Kanye himself having such incidents, and it appears Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker can now be added to that list.

It all started when website MediaTakeOut published some nude photos of an unnamed musician who had supposedly sent them to a female admirer. Unsurprisingly, readers were quickly able to discern the visible, distinctive tattoos as belonging to Barker and the pictures began circulating quickly.

While his ex-wife Shanna Moakler might be used to showing some skin (she was in Playboy), Barker isn’t thrilled with pics of his manhood spreading across the web. According to TMZ, the drummer’s lawyer, Evan Speigel, has shot off a cease and desist letter to MediaTakeOut and demanded they take the photos down for the “unauthorized use of private photos.”

Sources tell TMZ that the photographs were taken over five years ago and of course were “private and never intended for public viewing or to be seen by anyone else.” (I don’t think anyone was making the mistake of thinking Barker gifted his pics to the world.)

Rihanna
Back in 2009, some candid iPhone pics of the Barbadian singer in her birthday suit hit the web (including some rather risqué shots bent over in the mirror). The singer brushed it off and handled the incident in stride.

Kanye West
In 2010, a nude pic of Kanye hit the web – which he supposedly sent to a flurry of women through MySpace – and the singer could’ve cared less. Although, the fact that he is uh… packin’… just might have something to do with it.

Pete Wentz
Bassist and unappointed leader of rockers Fall Out Boy Wentz had an incident himself when a pic his southern region – taken by himself, facing a mirror – hit the internet in 2006. His future father-in-law, Joe Simpson, even joked about it with Wentz the first time they met.

Scarlett Johannson
When pics leaked last year of super eye-candy Scarlett Johansson, men everywhere rejoiced while the actress herself got right down to business – launching an FBI investigation over the incident. The culprit was apprehended, having managed to hack several accounts by answering simple “forgot my password” queries in order to gain access.

Blake Lively
"Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively had a nudie pic scandal last summer too when several candid pics leaked online. While Lively (and/or her publicist) denied the photos being of her – Internet sleuths pointed out that the iPhone case seen in the pics (from facing the mirror) match that of Lively’s as did the tattoos, which were temporary for a movie role.

Photo by David Harrison

By David Harrison

LOS ANGELES – Any music fan who has visited Los Angeles over the holidays must be familiar with the ambiguously-titled “Almost Acoustic Christmas,” the annual two-night concert hosted by alternative rock station KROQ. Now in its 22nd installment, Almost Acoustic Christmas has become synonymous with the biggest bands gathering at the Gibson Amphitheater to celebrate the holidays in a very un-acoustic manner. Night one’s lineup this year, however, was particularly special – it featured seven (out of eight) artists who have previously played the festival, namely headliners Blink 182, 311, Sublime with Rome, Social Distortion, Bush, New Found Glory and Chevelle.

Night one started off with a little bit of nostalgia, as New Found Glory took a moment to reminisce about the last time they performed with Blink on the 2001 "Take of Your Pants and Jacket Tour." By music industry standards, ten years is ancient history. In that time, CDs have gone the way of the dinosaurs, YouTube has launched careers and the traditional sense of radio has completely evolved (my parents have been teaching me how to use podcasts… no, I’m not embarrassed). But the cheers from the sold-out crowd at the Gibson Amphitheater on Saturday night proved that some things in rock music haven’t changed since the 1990s. Here is a (partial) list:

1. Blink-182 rocked Almost Acoustic Christmas
2. Sublime with Rome rocked Almost Acoustic Christmas
3. Social Distortion rocked Almost Acoustic Christmas

You get the idea. In fact, take Social Distortion, for example. They headlined the first Almost Acoustic Christmas ever in 1990. Saturday night, frontman Mike Ness announced, “We’re gonna play a song off the [1996] album White Light, White Heat, White Trash. A squeaky voice behind me shouted “I f**king love that album!” and I turned to see a kid in a Social D shirt who was definitely not even born when the album was released, let alone should be using that kind of potty language.

But, like I said before, a lot has changed in the music business and each of the bands performing on Saturday night proved exactly why their fans have stayed loyal over the course of decades. Mark, Tom and Travis stormed the stage to deafening cheers, made a few vulgar jokes (that part hasn’t changed) and then performed their newly released single, “Heart’s all Gone,” back-to-back with the 1997 hit “Dammit,” both of which are in consistent rotation at radio stations across the country. The security guard next to me sang along to every word. Among all the veteran acts of Almost Acoustic Christmas night number one, there are countless new songs and albums for your ears’ consumption, and if their enduring popularity has proven anything, we have a lot more to look forward to.

Almost Acoustic Christmas proceeds benefit the Para los Ninos charity, more info can be found at www.paralosninos.org

Nobody wants to be just a singer or actor anymore. You're nobody in this world until you have your own product line, whether it be swim suits, cologne, nightclubs, top-shelf liquor brands or energy drinks.

And while it makes perfect sense for a wildman rocker like Sammy Hagar to launch a line of high-end tequila, or for beatmeister Dr. Dre to launch a line of booming headphones and laptops, sometimes those celebrity/brand marriages are a bit murkier.

Case in point: the announcement this week that Justin Timberlake has bought a minority stake in once-hot social networking site Myspace and that he'll be taking on the role of creative visionary at the relaunched company, which was bought at a fire sale by a West Coast tech firm. Yes, Timberlake has proven to be a triple threat as actor, singer and label boss, not to mention a fashion maven with his William Rast clothing line.

That got us thinking about other male music stars who've made bold deals with companies that might have seemed bizarre at first, but turned out to be among the best moves they've ever made.

50 Cent and Vitaminwater: Laugh all you want, but 50 has been savvy all along about his non-music ventures. From his G-Unit sneakers and clothing line to various PlayStation games, book imprints and RGX Body Spray, 50 has always looked for new opportunities. None has paid off like his deal with Glaceau, which hooked up with the rapper for the Formula 50 supplement drink. When Coca-Cola purchased Glaceau for more than $4 billion in 2007, 50 was estimated to have earned more than $100 million on the deal.

Will.i.am and Intel: Like 50, the Black Eyed Peas front man has been savvy about merchandising himself and his brand, but even he raised eyebrows earlier this year when it was announced that he'd be the "director of creative innovation" for the computer chip maker.

According to a press release, "As an extension of his insatiable fascination with technology, which plays a significant role in his professional and personal lives, will.i.am will engage in a multi-year, hands-on creative and technology collaboration with Intel Corporation." Apparently, that means the BEP will collaborate with Intel on everything from laptops to smart phones and tablet computers, in addition to making music "expressly for Intel." If you say so.

Travis Barker and Wahoo's Fish Tacos: The Blink-182 drummer has his hands in many pies, from his LaSalle Records label to the accessory/apparel brand Famous Stars and Straps and the clothing labels Rogue Status and DTA. But when you find a fish taco you love, you just have to sign on the dotted line, so in 2004, Barker opened a franchise of the West Coast eatery Wahoo's Fish Taco in Norco, California.

Justin Bieber and Someday: Ask most tween girls and they'll probably tell you that in their dreams Biebs smells like heaven. But in reality his recently launched fragrance, "Someday," which goes for $55 at Macy's, smells a bit more like a bowl of fruity potpourri. Well, it can't really be any stranger than his successful line of nail polish, right?

It wasn't easy picking that winner. We got entries from all across the U.S., not to mention Australia, Spain, Italy and the UK. Entries from kids in school, the military and wheelchairs. We got entries from babies and dancing octopus puppets. There were kids who ate dog food, made cookies, threatened us with dog attacks, and had their children beg for the drive. There were rap songs and (many) acoustic numbers and even a marriage proposal or two. Seriously, you guys outdid yourselves and amazed us with your creativity and your passion to win this thing.

That said ... someone had to win this thing. So, after watching every single one of your entries -- and going back and forth about a bazillion times -- I've decided on the winning clip. For a while, it was gonna be the naked dude playing guitar. Then, Kaleigh, the singing baby surged into the lead. And for a minute, I was gonna give it to Chris B based on creativity alone.

But, at the end of the day, I picked something else entirely. So, who submitted the winning video? Find out after the jump.

It was these dudes, who went door-to-door in their hometown of Harrow, Ontario collecting signatures on a "Give Us The 'Octo Drive' Petition:

It might not have been the greatest "essay" in the purest sense of the word ... but it was a damn fine example of grass-roots democracy (and I think that kind of thing is illegal in Canada). So, congrats you guys, you broke the law and showcased the power of the petition ... enjoy the Octo Drive. And always remember, "Power to the people."

And to the rest of you: Thanks again for the submissions. They blew me away. Seriously. And just because you didn't win my Octo Drive doesn't mean you can't still win one of the other 76 (or so) that are still out there ... you can find information on them over at Friends Or Enemies' Octopus Drive blog.

Thanks again to Mark and Pete for letting me play along, and to all of you for submitting.

On Monday, I wrote a blog post announcing that Mark Hoppus and Pete Wentz had sent me one of the 100 'Octopus' flash drives they had made, and that I intended to give that drive away to one lucky fan -- with a good old-fashioned video essay contest.

I expected to get a bunch of responses, but ... man, you guys really went above and beyond. And by "above and beyond," I mean "you're really starting to scare me."

I was bombarded with hundreds of video essays from Blink/FOB fans (you can view some of 'em here), each explaining why they should get the Octo Drive. Some of them were naked. Some were dressed as pirates. Other just shouted a lot.

All were impressive. And while the essay contest isn't over just yet (entries can be submitted via our You R Here blog until midnight EST Wednesday), I feel like it would be a shame if I didn't share some of my favorites with you right now.

So, after the jump, check out a few of the best/scariest Octo Drive video essays I've received so far ... watch 'em and weep.

Justin Smith. This guy can play Fall Out Boy songs on his Mark Hoppus bass. Plus he yells a lot and kind of reminds me of my old weed-dealing roommate. I miss you, Scott!

Josh Something from Oklahoma. This dude kind of sounds like my old weed-dealing roommate. I miss you (again), Scott!

This girl dresses like a pirate and talks in an Australian accent and kind of scares me.

Justin from California. Because he worked a dancing Michael Meyers into the clip.

A baby dressed as Batman begs for the Octo Drive. 'Nuff said.

And finally ... Kyle. Wow.

Just a quick note -- none of these are the finalists, these are just some faves I skimmed off the top of the essay pile -- which means that if you think you can do better than that, there's still time.

Upload your video essay to You R Here. You've got until midnight tonight ... I'll announce the winner tomorrow right here on the Newsroom blog. Good luck, and happy essaying.

It all started last month, when Wentz revealed to us that he and Hoppus were collaborating on a ultra-limited flash-drive that would contain remixes and other cool stuff. He said the drives would be distributed one at a time, in mysterious and creative ways. And, then on Friday, that flash drive arrived in my mailbox.

There are only 100 of these things made -- Hoppus and Wentz have distributed them to their favorite people across the world, with the instructions that they must be given away -- and so far, they've been handed out via Twitter scavenger hunts, won in raffles and, um, dug up from beneath lifeguard stands in Santa Monica.

(You can follow all the action over on the Friends Or Enemies "Octo-Drive" blog.)

And now, it's our turn to give one away. And while we're not going to make you follow a bunch of 140-character clues or break out the sand shovel, we are gonna do something that requires both smarts and strength (though no actual digging): We're having a video essay contest!

Here, watch me explain the details in this video:

Okay, so if you couldn't watch the video (or you don't like looking at my goofy face), let me spell out the details for you: We're looking for video essays explaining WHY you should get the Octopus Drive -- the reason could really be anything, we're not that picky -- shoot 'em on your phone or web cam or whatever, and submit them to our You R Here site.

Let's keep them to 30 seconds or less -- I'm busy! -- and get them in by Wednesday at midnight EST. Oh, and make sure to include some way for me to get in contact with you, too. I'll go through the submissions and pick one lucky winner on Thursday.

With a little bit of persuasion -- and some creativity -- the Octopus Drive could be yours. Good luck and happy essaying!

(Oh, and thanks to the good folks at Mojo Labs for making all this flash-drive magic happen in the first place.)

I'm not trying to say that Mark Hoppus is addicted to Twittering. But, man, Mark Hoppus is totally Tweet tweaked, and we love it.

Not only did Hoppus, the bass player for reunited pop-punk monsters of rock Blink-182, notice our story about how much he Twitters, he then Twittered about it.

If you recall, on Wednesday, we published a story about Hoppus' obsessive Twittering about the hugely anticipated Blink reunion tour this summer. Then, just a few hours later, he wrote, "MTV News just wrote an article about how much I Twitter." Ha! Score!

Of course, Hoppus had plenty more to share in the interim, such as a cool snapshot of the Blink-embossed notebook he's using to write down lyric ideas for new songs while on tour — we'll totally take one of those if you have any extras, Mark — as well as what he said was not a setlist but the songs the band is rehearsing this week.

He also wrote that during Wednesday's rehearsal, "I realized how excited I am to take the stage, walk up to the microphone, and say, 'Hi. We're Blink-182.' "

This week marks the four-year anniversary of the day Blink-182 announced they were going on "indefinite hiatus." Needless to say, it's been a pretty eventful break for Blink's members. In fact, Travis Barker, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus seem to have made just as many headlines while they were apart as they did were when they were together — something we discovered while compiling our Blink-182 hiatus timeline yesterday.

Of course, we all know how the story ends: with a triumphant reunion at the Grammys and a brand-new album in the works for the summer. That means that we can look back on the past four years fondly. After all, it's rare when a story of this magnitude gets wrapped up with such a neat little bow.

We've been digging through our archives for some key Blink material, and as luck would have it, we came across this gem from February 22, 2005, the day the Blink hiatus was announced live on "TRL."

It's a pretty amazing moment, and not just because of the audience's reaction (shrieks of horror!). At the time, things seemed pretty hopeless, but as we all know now, there's a happy ending. So, take a gander at the clip, and marvel at the sheer SuChin-ity of it all. It was an amazing time, indeed.

Don't miss our exclusive interview with former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day, who talked about her "elegant" and "iconic" Playboy spread with famed photographer Markus Klinko.

As part of our Valentine's Day gift to you (minus the dinner-and-a-movie part): MTV's Top 10 Breakup Songs. Not quite what you had in mind? Serenade your sweetie with our Top 10 Love Songs. Check back later this week for our Best Makeout and Worst Love Songs lists.

Our rock critic embraces his Blink-182 fandom and attempts to explain why their reunion means so much to him. Might it even change the world?

Jennifer Connelly, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Connolly and others sound off on MTV's Greatest Movies Badass of All Time, Dirty Harry.

Are you the die-hardest of die-hard "Watchman" fans? The MTV Movies blog has your chance to meet the cast and see the film weeks before your friends do!