Sunday, November 30, 2008
X Factor Folly
Spanish singer Ruth Lorenzo was voted off the show that night.
I was just wondering how bad it really could feel to be booted from a show who thinks that Brittany Spears is worthy enough a performer to base an entire episode around. I've heard of shows like this surrounding a particular artist who has gained respectable praise from the industry and has become something of a legend. I am just a little beside myself to see that in other countries, the best they can come up with for a respectable singer in the United States is Brittany Spears. I guess it just goes to show that no matter what you think is noticeable and respectable in your own country, other places in the world will take what they want. Hopefully they can find a better angle for next week's episode so people in the UK don't believe that Brittany Spears is the best musical artist that the United States has to offer.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Santa Making His Rounds
It was recently reported on NYtimes.com that Santa Claus was seen making his rounds. Andy Arkell recently flew from London back to Baghdad and rather plump individual with a red suit, black boots but oddly enough without the beard. The writer tried to implor us that this is in no way a joke blog but you be the judge!
So once again for college students it is about that time to stop buying rediculous amounts of beer and save every so often in order to buy friends and family gifts. As a college student this can be hard to do, I mean not sacrificing your beer runs but more along the lines of saving money when you are already on a tight budget. It is never too early to start saving for this spending spree. What are some ideas you have towards cost saving Christmas presents? Get another job? Sell a kidney? Lets hear what you have to say...
10 Tips for Shopping on a Budget
Shopping Sales
Seven Ways to Prepare a Holiday Budget
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Don't Taser Me Bro
Too Competitive
I am currently in NYC visiting my brother. He is a die-hard Bills fan and apparently there are a few bars here that are dedicated to playing the games on Sundays. They are packed with insane sports junkies who get too emotional for their own good. Thinking about my past occurrences with crazy fans, I don't know how thrilled I am to hear about a sports fan assaulting and threatening to kill someone.
So wish me luck as I step into the chaos that is the "Bills Bar" today.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Australian Man Found with Penis in Pasta Jar
British accents foil iPhone voice app
Here's the catch: People with British accents are having trouble using this feature. Apparently, their accents are not registering correctly in the phone. One man apparently said "pizza" into his phone, only to receive search results for "volcanoes." Sounds pretty ridiculous, right?
Whats even more ridiculous is the solution to this problem - an iPhone that not only detects your voice, but distinguishes what kind of accent you may have. Stay tuned, because it sounds like this solution could become reality sooner than you think.
But for now, angry British iPhone owners will have to begin working on their American impressions. Either that, or slave through the absolutely grinding and unbearable task of typing out their Google searches (sarcasm noted).
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Winter Doesn't Mean Laziness
- Wear reflectors somewhere on your body whether you are running at night or during the day
- Wear many layers of light weight fleece so you can gradually take it off as you warm up while running
- Try to run with a friend, its the safest way
- Running up hills burns more calories than on a flat surface--but do not just run uphills always because it is hard on the joints--mix it up with hills and flat land
- STAY HYDRATED!
- Trying to run backwards--it helps your knees and burns more calories--it also helps with coordination and balance
If you want more detailed information and quotes from the experts, go to http://www.metro.co.uk/lifestyle/article.html?Running_tips_over_winter&in_article_id=388362&in_page_id=194
And remember...
WINTER DOESN'T MEAN LAZINESS!!!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Champions League brings world together
Each year, the UEFA Champions League brings 32 of the world's best club soccer teams together to compete against one another. With the title of "the world's best" on the line, drama and passion run high at each and every match.
To qualify for the league (which is actually set up more like a tournament) each team must win or place near the top of the standings in their own country (each country has its own club soccer league). The larger, more prominent countries (such as England, where the top 4 teams of the English Premier League earn spots in the Champions League) typically are allowed to send multiple teams into the tournament, whereas smaller countries usually only send their league victor.
The brunt of the Champions League schedule is made up of what is called the "Group Stage." In this stage, the 32-team field is broken down into eight groups of four. Each group is labeled with a letter - Group A, Group B, and so on. Each team then plays the other members of their group twice, resulting in a 6 game schedule. The games are spread out during a four month period, September to December.
Currently, each team in the Champions League has played four games. To see the standings as of November 6th, click here.
At the end of the group stage, the top two teams from each group move into the "Knockout Stage." This stage consists of head-to-head matchups, much similar to the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA basketball tournament. The matchups are spread out over the course of four months, from February to May with the championship match being played in late May.
What bothers me most about the Champions League is the lack of United States involvement. I'm not trying to blame UEFA officials for that, don't get me wrong - I'm saying the U.S. needs to step its game up. Maybe we could start calling it football
(which makes a helluva lot more sense than soccer). Or maybe we could just start playing better. I really think that if a club team from Major League Soccer (the U.S.'s crummy professional version of the sport) begins to win multiple league championships and dominates a few exhibition matches against European competition, the world will take notice.
My hope is that college soccer players (er...should I say "footballers") will take the necessary steps to increase the level of play in America. I mean, how cool would it be to see the New York Red Bulls or Chicago Fire (two MLS teams...yes, I realize you have probably never heard of them) competing in Europe 10-15 years from now against the best the world has to offer?
I think it'd be pretty cool. And I hope future generations of footballers in the U.S. think so too.
Friday, November 7, 2008
50 Dead in School Colapse
50 people are dead in Haiti while 100 are injured. The death toll is expected to rise. 700 people were in the school at the time. The ages of students ranged from 10-20 years old. The Haiti Red Cross is helping in the school collapse and can still hear children inside. Remembering the story I wrote last week about supporting the Red Cross still applies to this week. It's just a horrible reminder of how many bad things can happen anywhere in the world and that people always need someone to help them out, from wherever they can get it.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Word Up World: OBAMA IS PRESIDENT
To see what other countries think of Obama's win, click on any of the links below:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/the_real_american_idol/
http://www.nation.co.ke/
To watch Barack Obama's acceptance speech, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXkBuWNx88
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
In the spirit of Election Day...
Monday, November 3, 2008
Hunger and Poverty Still Ongoing Problem
The newly elected president of Zambia, Rupiah Banda, has pledged to end poverty in his country in order to help combat hunger. With his goal to end poverty in his country, more leaders should follow Badna's example.
Some may say what does this have to do with college students but this problem is ours to solve. We, the college students, are the future of the world and this problem will soon enough be inheritted. What do you think are some solutions for the problem?
Some sites on the same problem:
http://media.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child-with-mysponsorship/index.html?Open&campaign=105418161&cmp=KNC-105418161
http://www.actioncenter.org/take_action/1?gclid=CJWiwuWM2pYCFQkcHgodwh_j3A
http://www.friendsofwfp.org/site/pp.asp?c=7oIJLSOsGpF&b=245179
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Red Cross looking for $ for Quake Victims
The Red Cross is looking for $7.8 million from emergency funds to help aid the victims of an earth quake in Pakistan. 200 people were found dead and over 4,000 homes were destroyed leaving people homeless. With the colder months coming up, they are in a rush to get help to the country before people have to brave the weather homeless.
With the Red Cross and other such organizations so easily accessible to Americans, I think it is important to help out whenever you can. Even as college students, we can have a large impact on the world through the small things we do, like through donations and volunteering.