7 Things We Wish To Have In College

Posted on March 24, 2014 by ljthom

1. Money. The stereotypical item most college students lack. We lack these because of trying to pay for necessities: school, apartment, food or car. Or we just spend our money on the wrong things: more food, concerts and stupid trinkets to show our friends.

2. A clue as to what we want to be. You come into college with a glimpse of what you might want your future to be. Then you finally switch majors for the third time, but is that really what you’re going to do everyday for the rest of your life?

3. More time. More time to study. More time to have fun. More time to develop into a mature person. These are the years that are catered to those things. Unfortunately they pass by so quickly.

4. Photographic memory. I envy those who attain this gift. How lovely would it be to have a photographic memory when studying for a cumulative exam consisting of 15 chapters and over 200 vocabulary terms?

5. Endless amount of battery life. Phone is dead by noon. Laptop shuts down and you’re praying that your 15-paged essay saved at some point. Especially since it’s due in three hours. Left your headlights on over night and you will be late to your final exam. Yes, we’ve all been in these situations, and… lets just not talk about it again.

6. The $1 billion idea. The idea that will have you financially stable after college, not to mention your great-great-great grandchildren.

7. A photographer. A person that follows us around, documenting every funny conversation or night out we have with our friends. This will also be helpful when losing personal items on those nights you can’t seem to remember.

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NCAA: March Madness Brackets Bust, Nobody Wins the Billion Dollar Challenge

Posted on March 23, 2014 by arlen spitalnik

The annual college basketball tournament, known as “March Madness”, is in full swing. Each year, people around the nation fill out tournament-brackets for who they think will advance through the madness, and who will go home.

This year, Warren Buffett, one of the richest people on the planet, offered $1 billion to whomever could fulfill the daunting challenge of completing the perfect March Madness bracket—the ‘Quicken Loans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge’.  Though 11 million people signed up to play, nobody will be taking home that money due to the crazy upsets of this tournament.

The majority of the population fell out of the race after the very first game, when the No. 11 seed Dayton Flyers took down the No. 6 seed Ohio State Buckeyes in a 60-59 contest. The day-one upsets continued with the No. 12 seed North Dakota State Bison defeating the No. 5 seed Oklahoma Sooners 80-75 in overtime, followed by a 61-57 contest from the No. 12 Harvard Crimson over the No. 5 Cincinnati Bearcats.  By the end of the day, 83.7% of entrees were eliminated from winning the money.

Day two did no justice to anyone, either; there was no stopping the underdogs from beating the favorites.  In the early afternoon, the No. 3 seed Duke Blue Devils were outplayed by the No. 14 seed Mercer Bears 78-71.  Later on, No. 7 New Mexico Lobos were defeated 58-53 by the No. 10 Stanford Cardinal.  At this point, not a single bracket was left in contention for the billion.

As shown by this round, alone, it is clear that no one is safe in the NCAA Tournament; hence, the name ‘March Madness’ is quite suitable for this event. Though one team will cut down the nets in Arlington Texas on Sunday, April 6, zero will walk home with Warren Buffett’s $1 billion for a perfect bracket.

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UCF Knight Can Go First Overall in NFL Draft?

Posted on March 23, 2014 by grichards

The 2013-2014-college football season was a magical one for the University of Central Florida. Hometown hero Blake Bortles led the Knights to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.  This bowl-game appearance was the first in UCF history.

Now that the season is over, the next big date in Bortles’ calendar has to be the NFL draft.  CBS Sports as well as many other primary sources for sports news have Bortles ranked as the second top quarterback(QB) coming into this year’s NFL draft and a projected 5th pick overall. Bortles has worked himself into a very flattering conversation. After Bortles showed NFL teams what he could do at the NFL combine and Pro Day there are talks of him possibly going 1st overall to the  Houston Texans.

On paper, Blake Bortles looks like the ideal NFL quarterback. He stands at six feet-four inches tall, and weighs 232 pounds.  The perfect storm of Bortles’ size and performance this season made room for comparisons to Pittsburg Steelers’ Superbowl winning QB Ben Roethlisberger. Such comparisons have benefited Bortles’ enough to put him in conversations regarding whether or not Houston should pick him first overall in the upcoming draft. Ultimately, it depends on which way Texans’ general manager Rick Smith and his staff choose to go. Draft a defensive player like Jadeveon Clowney, who is the clear-cut superior physical specimen at the defensive end (DE) position; or take a chance at landing a franchise QB who can possibly bring the franchise back to serious contender status.

 

 

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About 18 People Missing in Washington Mudslide

Posted on March 23, 2014 by jessicafsmith1002

About 18 people are still unaccounted for after a massive mudslide in rural northwest Washington state killed at least three people and forced evacuations because of fears of flooding, authorities said Sunday. Snohomish County Fire District 21 Chief Travis Hots said at a news briefing that “we suspect that people are out there, but it’s far too dangerous to get responders out there on that mudflow.” Searchers in helicopters will be flying over the area of the square-mile mudslide Sunday to find people who may have been able to get out on their own, as well as look for other signs of life.

Authorities are also trying to determine how to get responders on the ground safely, Hots said, calling it as “like quicksand.” Officials described the deadly slide as “a big wall of mud and debris” that blocked about one mile of State Route 530 near the town of Oso, about 55 miles north of Seattle. It was reported about 60 feet deep in some areas. Several people, including an infant, were critically injured and as many as 30 houses were destroyed. The slide wiped out one neighborhood, where there were about 28 to 30 homes, authorities said. Hots said the number of missing is fluid and could change because some people may have been in cars and on roads when the slide hit just before 11 a.m. Saturday.

The mud was so thick and deep that searchers turned back late Saturday after attempting to reach an area where voices were heard crying for help. Rescuers couldn’t hear any signs of life once they got closer, and the decision was made to back out due to safety reasons, Hots said. The slide blocked the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, which prompted an evacuation notice because water was rising rapidly behind the debris. Authorities worried about severe downstream flooding if water suddenly broke through the debris. Rescue organizations are continuing to search for the missing residents, and the Red Cross is helping house those who are homeless due to the mudslide.

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Are You Still Going Through With All Your New Years Resolutions Or Have You Given Up?

Posted on March 23, 2014 by bosimpson

Every last week of December people all over the world start thinking about what it is that they want to do to better themselves. We all know the very popular resolutions, “Go to the gym and get in shape”, “Do better in school”, “Not waste so much money”, “Find someone I really love”, “Be a better person and give more”, the list goes on and on. That is one of the reasons why I love New Years so much like I have said in another one of my blogs before, we all have so much motivation to do better and be better. The gyms are packed, the classroom is full of people eager to learn the material, you’re using your mobile phone to manage all your finances. Man, if we had a world filled with people like this all the time it would be a better world wouldn’t it?

The sad part is that it never actually stays like that. There is a small percentage of people who follow at least a couple of the things they set their minds to and even a smaller percentage of people who follow every resolution that they made for New years. The gyms aren’t as packed now, Linda got herself three pairs of new shoes when she knows very well that her rent is due next week, Bob isn’t motivated to do well in school anymore, there’s too many tests and he just wants the semester to be over with already. Now the question is, are you one of those people who stopped trying mid March? Don’t be!

Everyone has those moments when life seems to get the best of them and they feel like they don’t have the time to do the things they set their mind to but don’t fool yourself, you have all the power in the world to keep on going! Just imagine that finish line. Imagine how good you’re going to feel if you accomplished everything that you said you wanted to accomplish throughout the year. You are going to feel like a brand new person. Just imagine that flat belly and those abs coming in, imagine the feeling of freedom and accomplishment Summer will bring if you earned straight A’s and had a 4.0 semester, imagine smiling to yourself every time you think back to all those people in need that you helped. You can do it, no one is going to stop you, but you! You are your best cheerleader and the destiny of your life is in your hands. Go out and be the person that you want to be. Life is too short to think back on the life you had and regret that it wasn’t the life you could have made it. Be the best version of yourself and your dreams will follow.

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On To The Next One!!! Lionsgate Moves Ahead With Sequel To “Divergent”

Posted on March 23, 2014 by jmandel

With expectations high as well as drought, Lionsgate Studios clearly has made an effort to make Divergent the next big YA franchise. The way it is showing that is by boldly moving ahead with the production of the second film based on the sophomore novel in Veronica Roth’s trilogy. The bizzare part of all of this is the fact that they announced plans to shoot the second film during the summer of 2014 just 2 and a half weeks before the release of the first film. Lots of people were very skeptical about this move because in addition to the movie not being released yet, the reviews from critics were less than satisfactory. Critics sited their displeasure with the film calling it a rip-off of other young adult adaptions and criticized it’s pacing and lengths. However, reviews and comments from fans and people who have read the book have expressed their happiness of the finished product saying the film stayed true to the source material and that the actors portrayed their characters well.

But good news has occurred recently, Divergent had a very strong showing at the box office grabbing the #1 spot with an estimated gross of $56 million dollars. With this performance at the box office despite the mixed critical reception, this justifies and supports Lionsgate’s accelerated push of the franchise. The second film “Insurgent” is scheduled to go into production in May 2014 with a slated release date of March 20th, 2015. As “Divergent” looks to continue a solid run at the box office, fans wait eagerly to board the train for the next installment of the dubbed “Next Hunger Games”.

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Do dogs understand emotions? And how well?

Posted on March 23, 2014 by scsmith

My dog Max. He is smart, witty, sneaky, playful, a bad boy, a good boy, a stinky boy, and a sleepy boy. All in all he is the greatest dog ever, but that’s without saying. But sometimes he can be a very bad boy, and usually with the bad boy part comes the sneaky part. Every time I come home and see something torn up all over the floor, I take one look at Max and he lowers his head, ears, and slowly walks away as if he knew he had done something very bad. I get upset, and he knows it, but then again sometimes I just think he is cute and he totally gets away with it. Lucky dog.

I always thought that my Max, and animals in general, understood emotionally when they are being bad and when they are being good. The reaction they give off when I say “bad boy” or “good boy” tells me they understand. But I started thinking about this more after I watched a segment on a news show explaining a study that found that animals in general don’t feel emotions like guilt or joy or even know the difference between your tone of voice as their owner. I honestly didn’t believe it to be true, it’s just too much of a coincidence for that study to be true. So I did a study of my own.

One night as I walked in the door I saw the torn up paper towel on the floor and I decided that I would not say anything or make any noise. All I did was look at Max. Then I looked at the paper towel. Then back to Max again. He got the gist of what I was saying without me even making a peep. He began to lower his head and lower his ears and slowly walk away. He knew what he had done wrong.

I think dogs know exactly what they are doing when they are bad, and I think dogs know exactly how to gain praise. My Max knows exactly how to be cute, a little too much. Dogs know how to ask you to play. Why? Because playing brings them joy, and joy is an emotion. My dogs Max and Pumpkin play with each other all the time, and they even act like complete jerks to each other with their treats. They like to tease each other by leaving the treat and then when the other goes after it they fight. It’s all one big game, just like humans. We tease each other everyday.

On thing that is different about dogs, or animals in general, from humans… they will never turn their back on you. They are always there even after you yell at them. They love to show affection. and they truly are a man’s best friend. I was never a dog person until I found Pumpkin in the street just wandering around and I brought her home. Then my dad brought Max home from a coworker who could not keep him. Two of the best things to ever happen to me and my dad. I love my dogs, and one thing I know for sure, they love me back.

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A Woman Dies After Vaseline Injection for Breast Augmentation.

Posted on March 23, 2014 by amanda decarlo

A woman from Argentina, Sonia Perez Llanzon, died from Injecting Vaseline into her breasts. The Vaseline injection was an attempt to augment her breasts. However, the effects of such chemicals ultimately lead to a pulmonary embolism.

Essentially, a pulmonary embolism is a clot in her lungs. When the jelly was inserted into her body, the chemicals found their way into her blood stream. An Argentinian newspaper states that Sonia Perez Llanzon was immediately rushed to the hospital when she discovered that she was having severe difficulty breathing. According to Julio Pla Cardenas, “The human body has antibodies to remove bacteria and viruses, but it hasn’t got any mechanisms against this type of product.” Cardenas serves as the chief surgeon for Lucio Molas Hospital. She was being treated for a month before she eventually passed.

Llanzon’s son. Kevin Berazategui, took to social media to lament the loss of his mother. He is quoted saying (according to the Huffingtonpost.com), “It has been two days since you haven’t been here in this world… I will love you forever.” According to her son, the date of death was March 6 of 2014.

It is quite unfortunate that Llanzon had to succumb to death in an effort to change her physical appearance. She was an athlete , and obviously took exercising and her appearance very seriously.  It is extremely unfortunate that she is now gone. Hopefully, there is a silver lining, and maybe many other individuals can learn from this and realize that they do not have to go to extraordinary lengths for the sake of vanity and social conformity.

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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Bring Their Child To a Vogue Photoshoot

Posted on March 22, 2014 by joecool12

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were scheduled for a Vogue April edition cover shoot. Even though the couple released a video that shows a behind the scenes look of the two during their photo shoot, their baby girl Northwest is stealing the attention of audience members.

Northwest was brought to the photo shoot, where she participated in the video, where people are not just saying that these cover photos are not just sultry between Kim and Kanye, but the presence of their child is creating this image of a happy family.

It is great that Kim and Kanye are supposedly having a good time along with their newborn child. With the divorce between her sister Chloe and Lamar Odom, which cause a scene in the celebrity world, at least there is no ruckus between Kim and Kanye.

I believe that Kim ios happy with the presence of her child. Afterall, it has been stated that for years Kim was waiting to have a child. She did indeed get her wish.

Amongst other things in her life, she seems happy to be in a relationship with her man. The couple stated that a wedding is being planned, but they want a small wedding event.

Some photos of the couple with Northwest have been released for viewing. I have to say that these photos of Northwest are precious  and adorable. One could look at this scenario as Northwest is following in the footsteps of her parents. She is gaining publicity from the paparazzi. There is only more to be seen from the Kardashians.

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Durant drops 51 points as the Thunder beat the Toronto Raptors in double overtime

Posted on March 22, 2014 by christie jauch

Kevin Durant had another historic night scoring 51 points and leading his team to victory in a 119-118 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. The Thunder (51-18) are “12-2 on the road against Eastern conference opponents” according to yahoosports.com, and it looks like they’ll be the team to not overlook. The Oklahoma City Thunder have received some bad news again as All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook sprained his knee after running into point guard Kyle Lowry who plays for the Toronto Raptors. Westbrook has been having knee problems since 2013, and was averaging over 21 points a game since returning on February 20th 2014. I’m guessing Oklahoma City Thunder guard Reggie Jackson will take Westbrook’s role once again.

The Thunder have won their fourth straight game and are looking to continue finishing the season off on a strong note. Kevin Durant was 7 of 12 from three-point land and made 15 shots of his 32 attempts. Oklahoma City is on a roll right now in the Northwest Division sitting at first place in the Western Conference. I’m positive Reggie Jackson can perform well on the basketball court while Russell Westbrook is out with a knee injury. Jackson played well last night in the win his team pulled off. Reggie Jackson scored 25 points.

With Russell Westbrook being out, I know Kevin Durant may feel he has to carry the team on his shoulder again, but he doesn’t have too. Durant has plenty of talent around him. Reggie Jackson has proved himself that he’s a threat with the ball in his hands. Oklahoma City Power Forward Serge Ibaka can put points up as well. Ibaka is averaging over 15 points a game along with 9 rebounds.

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