I'm a mega Dallas Mavericks fan and unfortunately, they haven't had the best season thus far but our leader Dirk Nowitzki is confident that the Mavs will get things turned around by the playoffs.
Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban is convinced that this team, though it is of a different composition, is not far off from the World Champion team of last year, mentally.
We'll see how it plays out.
Go Mavs!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
beachbody.
Interested in getting flat abs by this summer? Well it sure took you a while (its errr.. April, right?) to decide that you wanted to look fit, but here's an article talking about things you can do to get the six pack abs.
However, instead of LOOKING fit, maybe you should try to actually BE fit. Do some running or some cardio and start getting in better shape, then you won't have to worry specifically about things like abs---it'll happen naturally.
Good luck.
However, instead of LOOKING fit, maybe you should try to actually BE fit. Do some running or some cardio and start getting in better shape, then you won't have to worry specifically about things like abs---it'll happen naturally.
Good luck.
philadelphia hockey
The Philadelphia Flyers put a whooping on the Pittsburgh Penguins---figuratively and literally speaking.
The Flyguys are now in control of the series, with a commanding 3-0 lead in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
If you weren't a hockey fan before watching this game, you may have turned into one. A lot of scoring, a lot of strategy, a lot of big hits and checks, tons of fights, palpable tension and genuine dislike between teams on he ice, and a roaring crowd in the stands. Ahhhh playoff hockey.
go flyguys.
The Flyguys are now in control of the series, with a commanding 3-0 lead in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
If you weren't a hockey fan before watching this game, you may have turned into one. A lot of scoring, a lot of strategy, a lot of big hits and checks, tons of fights, palpable tension and genuine dislike between teams on he ice, and a roaring crowd in the stands. Ahhhh playoff hockey.
go flyguys.
Shockey Shocked by Sapp
Everyone that's following the NFL has heard about the Bounty Scandal and Sean Payton suspension (and denied appeal) but some of you may have missed that Warren Sapp, former NFL player and current analyst for NFL Network accussed Jeremy Shockey as being the whistleblower in the entire Bounty Scandal.
Well Shockey is fighting back. He wants the NFL to punish Sapp for his unwarranted (and still not proven) comments.
What do you think? Was Shockey the snitch? And even so, should the NFL look into Sapp's comments? Maybe they have and realized he was telling the truth. Hmmm.. the possibilities
Well Shockey is fighting back. He wants the NFL to punish Sapp for his unwarranted (and still not proven) comments.
What do you think? Was Shockey the snitch? And even so, should the NFL look into Sapp's comments? Maybe they have and realized he was telling the truth. Hmmm.. the possibilities
UCLA's Breslow passes
Dr. Lester Breslow was a pioneer in mathematically proving that making lifestyle changes would extend one's life expectancy. A public health leader, Dr. Breslow tried to provide people with proof that changing smoking, diet, and sleep habits would be medically beneficial.
Unfortunately, the good doctor passed away in his home last week at the age of 97. I guess he was doing something right.
To read more, go here.
Unfortunately, the good doctor passed away in his home last week at the age of 97. I guess he was doing something right.
To read more, go here.
consciousness
Where does consciousness stop and unconsciousness begin? This is a question that scientists are trying to answer. Apparently, its not as clear cut as one would imagine.
Patients who's brain activity had been declared "unconscious" were able to respond to commands to open their eyes.
interesting read. check it out here.
Patients who's brain activity had been declared "unconscious" were able to respond to commands to open their eyes.
interesting read. check it out here.
lefties left out?
"Lefties Aren't Special After All"
In this article, the author goes on a long tangent about the specialty of left-handedness being over-exaggerated and lefties being no more special than righties. It's an interesting backwards take on a topic I didn't think was even an issue anymore.
What do you think? Should lefties be celebrated?
In this article, the author goes on a long tangent about the specialty of left-handedness being over-exaggerated and lefties being no more special than righties. It's an interesting backwards take on a topic I didn't think was even an issue anymore.
What do you think? Should lefties be celebrated?
ice hockey thriving in chicago
I'm a basketball player by trade, through and through. But I started playing ice hockey for the first time in my entire life in late October of 2011. it was the first time I hit the ice, first time I smelled a rink up close. First time I dressed and first time I laced up. and it was the first time I fell in love with a sport.
Hockey is very difficult to learn. You may think its not because you see 6 year olds playing it but its very difficult to master. Not to mention the thought process behind the sport---the spacing of basketball, the objectives, placement, and setup of soccer, the intensity and violence of football all accelerated and intensified by the fact that they are on skates and can get up to incredible speeds that would be impossible on a field.
The whole sport is unnatural---skating, guiding a puck with a stick while elevated 6 inches off the ice, and using your hips to stop. But when you get it---you've got it. And that's why hockey is amazing.
These adult hockey camps are proof that the sport is attracting new fans everyday. If you've never given it a chance, why not do it today? Hockey Never Stops.
Hockey is very difficult to learn. You may think its not because you see 6 year olds playing it but its very difficult to master. Not to mention the thought process behind the sport---the spacing of basketball, the objectives, placement, and setup of soccer, the intensity and violence of football all accelerated and intensified by the fact that they are on skates and can get up to incredible speeds that would be impossible on a field.
The whole sport is unnatural---skating, guiding a puck with a stick while elevated 6 inches off the ice, and using your hips to stop. But when you get it---you've got it. And that's why hockey is amazing.
These adult hockey camps are proof that the sport is attracting new fans everyday. If you've never given it a chance, why not do it today? Hockey Never Stops.
anti- kirk cameron coalition
So, Kirk Cameron doesn't think homosexuals are very positive influences on children and their lifestyle is very unnatural. Kirk Cameron, former child TV star, also thinks his opinion on the topic is important.
Hilariously, a coalition of former famous children TV stars has formed (...was that an alliteration?) called CCOKC, Child Celebrities against Kirk Cameron (not sure where the "O" comes in) and decided to challenge Kirk Cameron's beliefs.
I support gay rights by all means, but please, don't these people have anything else to do? Oh wait. They don't.
Hilariously, a coalition of former famous children TV stars has formed (...was that an alliteration?) called CCOKC, Child Celebrities against Kirk Cameron (not sure where the "O" comes in) and decided to challenge Kirk Cameron's beliefs.
I support gay rights by all means, but please, don't these people have anything else to do? Oh wait. They don't.
Suing the NFL for Head Injuries
About 700 former NFL players are suing the National Football League over concussion-related injuries. I don't really understand the concept of suing the NFL for incurring repeated concussions but after reading the article I gained a little insight.
Apparently, the plaintiffs say the NFL was aware that players risked permanent brain damage if they played too soon after a concussion but did not inform the players or stop them from returning to play.
The plaintiffs want punitive damages, financial compensation, and payment for medical treatment but they would also like the league to take care of all former NFL players regardless of whether they were listed as plaintiffs on the lawsuit.
It's an interesting case---how can the players prove the NFL knew the risks?
Black on White Crime is NOT equal to White on Black (?)
Black people in America seem to get very angry and band together when we are victims of White perpetrated crimes. But where is the disgust and anger when we badger, torment and/or kill White people?
Where's the banding together to ensure that those who committed the crimes (regardless of race) are arrested and charged? Also, why don't we get even more outraged about black on black crime? We are tearing ourselves apart.
We as black people need to stop with this "us vs. them" attitude and start embracing that crimes perpetrated against any person are wrong. And yes, I understand that there are other people out there besides blacks that don't follow the law but, to quote Diddy, we can't change the world until we change ourselves.
CNN's LZ Granderson talkes more about his disappointment in Black culture here. It's a nice read.
What are your thoughts? Should black people care more about one crime than another?
"Secretary"
Does the word "secretary" mean anything to you? Does it make you cringe or does it leave you unaffected?
Well apparently, the word is somewhat demeaning, and unreflective of the professional duties required by the position. Enter the word: "administrative assistant".
Warren Buffet's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, doesn't seem to mind still being called a secretary. And most people would agree that its just a cultural gap---older people don't have a problem using words that used to be okay until we (the younger generation) deemed they were unfit for circulation. And who says older people should have to change what they've been doing?
Well apparently, the word is somewhat demeaning, and unreflective of the professional duties required by the position. Enter the word: "administrative assistant".
Warren Buffet's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, doesn't seem to mind still being called a secretary. And most people would agree that its just a cultural gap---older people don't have a problem using words that used to be okay until we (the younger generation) deemed they were unfit for circulation. And who says older people should have to change what they've been doing?
Stand Your Ground, says Grandmom
If you've been following the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman saga, you've heard the words "Stand Your Ground" used multiple times. But do you know where the law came from?
Meet her here: Marion Hammer.
She's a 70 year old woman with a chip on her shoulder and a gun drawn. She's been a great shot for years and was a leader in creating the 2005 controversial Stand Your Ground law. The law was cited as the reason that George Zimmerman was not immediately arrested and charged for the Martin shooting. Proponents of the law call it the "Make My Day" law and think it levels the playing field while opponents say it brings about vigilantism.
Marion flashed her weapon once when she was a younger woman and it stopped several men from attacking her. That is the reason she is so adamant about the Second Amendment.
Where do you think you would be without the right to bear arms?
Meet her here: Marion Hammer.
She's a 70 year old woman with a chip on her shoulder and a gun drawn. She's been a great shot for years and was a leader in creating the 2005 controversial Stand Your Ground law. The law was cited as the reason that George Zimmerman was not immediately arrested and charged for the Martin shooting. Proponents of the law call it the "Make My Day" law and think it levels the playing field while opponents say it brings about vigilantism.
Marion flashed her weapon once when she was a younger woman and it stopped several men from attacking her. That is the reason she is so adamant about the Second Amendment.
Where do you think you would be without the right to bear arms?
jewish without the judaism... can it work?
I'm a huge proponent of religious freedoms (and freedom from religion) so this article's headline attracted me:
"My Faith: Raising religious (but not too religious) children"
To the author, "Religion was an interesting idea more than a belief system." The author, a mother in this case, decided that living as a secular Jew was not in the best interest of her children and decided to pass along a little more of the religious aspect of her culture to them.
I found the article interesting because in my opinion, children shouldn't be force fed religion and should choose what religion (if any) they will choose to follow. However, this article presented a different side of religion--the cultural issues. Jewish people actually have a distinct culture attached to their beliefs so it's hard to differentiate teaching your child who they are and what they believe. In Judaism, they are quite intertwined.
"My Faith: Raising religious (but not too religious) children"
To the author, "Religion was an interesting idea more than a belief system." The author, a mother in this case, decided that living as a secular Jew was not in the best interest of her children and decided to pass along a little more of the religious aspect of her culture to them.
I found the article interesting because in my opinion, children shouldn't be force fed religion and should choose what religion (if any) they will choose to follow. However, this article presented a different side of religion--the cultural issues. Jewish people actually have a distinct culture attached to their beliefs so it's hard to differentiate teaching your child who they are and what they believe. In Judaism, they are quite intertwined.
collegiate athletics --- a paradox?
There's a few things I really enjoy talking about. Sports, music, and accounting. (I know, pretty boring, right?)
Collegiate sports is such a great topic because the intensity with which the players compete, and the pride that they ooze out on the court, field, track, and ice is amazing. As with everything, there is good and bad and with collegiate sports comes the controversy of the "student-athlete".
The NCAA touts that its student-athletes are students first but schools constantly contradict that by allowing the athletes (which help contribute millions of dollars to their respective universities) to take (meaningless) majors with low eventual profitability and/or low difficulty. For example, this article I read today, claims that big-time schools' Athletic Departments ask teachers to basically 'take it easy' on the athletes in their class. By doing this, schools are telling their athletes: "We couldn't care less about your academic composition and development and after you graduate, we don't care what happens to you. But thanks for putting kids in the stands for us." NCAA, why say you hold them to the same standards as other students if you know that you really don't?
So here's the paradoxical issue: if the NCAA wants them to be students first---make them students. Put them in classrooms (and monitor their attendance) and challenge them! Help them succeed and hold them truly accountable. BUT! There's another obvious side to this. There are some collegiate athletes who don't really plan on using the college tools and really just want to use the college level as a springboard to the big league, which is perfectly fine. And if this is the case---the NCAA NEEDS TO ADMIT THEY ARE NOT FULL-TIME STUDENTS. Allow them to take "phony" classes, skip as many as they'd like, and treat their sport as their full time employment.
The NCAA cant have it both ways. You can't treat a student like a superstar athlete with little classroom obligation and then portend to say 'education comes first.' The only thing that matters to the NCAA are the dollar signs.
Collegiate sports is such a great topic because the intensity with which the players compete, and the pride that they ooze out on the court, field, track, and ice is amazing. As with everything, there is good and bad and with collegiate sports comes the controversy of the "student-athlete".
The NCAA touts that its student-athletes are students first but schools constantly contradict that by allowing the athletes (which help contribute millions of dollars to their respective universities) to take (meaningless) majors with low eventual profitability and/or low difficulty. For example, this article I read today, claims that big-time schools' Athletic Departments ask teachers to basically 'take it easy' on the athletes in their class. By doing this, schools are telling their athletes: "We couldn't care less about your academic composition and development and after you graduate, we don't care what happens to you. But thanks for putting kids in the stands for us." NCAA, why say you hold them to the same standards as other students if you know that you really don't?
So here's the paradoxical issue: if the NCAA wants them to be students first---make them students. Put them in classrooms (and monitor their attendance) and challenge them! Help them succeed and hold them truly accountable. BUT! There's another obvious side to this. There are some collegiate athletes who don't really plan on using the college tools and really just want to use the college level as a springboard to the big league, which is perfectly fine. And if this is the case---the NCAA NEEDS TO ADMIT THEY ARE NOT FULL-TIME STUDENTS. Allow them to take "phony" classes, skip as many as they'd like, and treat their sport as their full time employment.
The NCAA cant have it both ways. You can't treat a student like a superstar athlete with little classroom obligation and then portend to say 'education comes first.' The only thing that matters to the NCAA are the dollar signs.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Dear Catholic Church, Get Over Yourself. Signed, America
The Roman Catholic Church says they're getting picked on. What's new?
The American Bishops have decided to launch a new initiative to protect the rights of their religious freedoms. They claim that recent issues in American culture and government practices have encroached upon the precious rights that are granted to Roman Catholics throughout these United States. As we read in the news about which things are bothering the Church and disrespecting the Church's rights, I sit and wonder when the Church will stop disrespecting the rights of American Women by limiting control of our own reproductive organs, and when the Church will stop treating homosexuals as second class citizens. Where's their initiative for that?
What type of issues are bothering the Catholic Church? Well, of course the usual---rampant homosexuality, same-sex marriages--but lately its women's rights, availability of free contraception coverage that have been bothering them.
"Religious liberty is under attack, both home and abroad," American bishops said on Thursday in their document which is titled "Our first, most cherished freedom."
So let's talk about the backdrop story: After the United States attempted to amend a version of its Affordable Health Care Act requiring employers, not insurance companies, to pay for contraceptive coverage---hoping to appease the Catholic groups who objected to Catholic entities (colleges, hospitals, etc) having to fund contraception coverage, The Roman Catholic Church says: No Dice. It's not good enough. And honestly, I can see their displeasure. However, acting as if they are the little guy that's getting trampled on by legislation as they lead hundreds rallies and charges every year to make abortion illegal and limit women's rights is a bit sideways to me.
Another side to the story: The Catholic Church has had several Catholic foster care and adoption services put out of business because those entities REFUSED to place children with gay couples or unmarried straight couples. Because of this adamant discrimination, public/government funds cannot be given to the Catholic child services entities and thus, the services have failed. What happened to 'beggars can't be choosy?' I'm willing to bet the $23.75 in my checking account that every single one of those kids would have been better off in a home with a family rather than in an orphanage. Where are there priorities? Are they so caught up in believing the immorality of homosexuality and cohabitation that the children can't get a chance to get a family? (And anybody that comments that unmarried people shouldn't be able to adopt because they can break up at any time which will cause stress to the child, please see Divorce Rates and then get back to me.)
See here an article posted on the Right Wing News website that headlines: "Homosexual Agenda Used to Close Catholic Adoption Services" noting in the article that Catholicism is one of the last "roadblocks on the road to totalitarianism" and thus, liberals use the corroding "obscene travesty of homosexual marriage" to attack it. So, anyone defending their freedoms that are "under attack", has an ulterior motive to undermine the Catholic Church? Excuse me while I gag.
So, finally, this initiative is going to be "extensive and it's going to be occurring over a few years," and it will include urging priests to individually speak out in favor of religious freedoms and including inserts in church bulletins.
"The encroachment upon the rights of Catholic Americans is a plight that must be ended immediately, says American Bishops. "This is not a Catholic issue," the statement released by the Bishops said, "This is not a Jewish issue. This is not an Orthodox, Mormon or Muslim issue. It is an American issue."
Well, they seem to be the only ones crying about their rights as they step on others. So, yeah, I'd say its a Catholic issue.
What are your thoughts?
The American Bishops have decided to launch a new initiative to protect the rights of their religious freedoms. They claim that recent issues in American culture and government practices have encroached upon the precious rights that are granted to Roman Catholics throughout these United States. As we read in the news about which things are bothering the Church and disrespecting the Church's rights, I sit and wonder when the Church will stop disrespecting the rights of American Women by limiting control of our own reproductive organs, and when the Church will stop treating homosexuals as second class citizens. Where's their initiative for that?
What type of issues are bothering the Catholic Church? Well, of course the usual---rampant homosexuality, same-sex marriages--but lately its women's rights, availability of free contraception coverage that have been bothering them.
"Religious liberty is under attack, both home and abroad," American bishops said on Thursday in their document which is titled "Our first, most cherished freedom."
So let's talk about the backdrop story: After the United States attempted to amend a version of its Affordable Health Care Act requiring employers, not insurance companies, to pay for contraceptive coverage---hoping to appease the Catholic groups who objected to Catholic entities (colleges, hospitals, etc) having to fund contraception coverage, The Roman Catholic Church says: No Dice. It's not good enough. And honestly, I can see their displeasure. However, acting as if they are the little guy that's getting trampled on by legislation as they lead hundreds rallies and charges every year to make abortion illegal and limit women's rights is a bit sideways to me.
Another side to the story: The Catholic Church has had several Catholic foster care and adoption services put out of business because those entities REFUSED to place children with gay couples or unmarried straight couples. Because of this adamant discrimination, public/government funds cannot be given to the Catholic child services entities and thus, the services have failed. What happened to 'beggars can't be choosy?' I'm willing to bet the $23.75 in my checking account that every single one of those kids would have been better off in a home with a family rather than in an orphanage. Where are there priorities? Are they so caught up in believing the immorality of homosexuality and cohabitation that the children can't get a chance to get a family? (And anybody that comments that unmarried people shouldn't be able to adopt because they can break up at any time which will cause stress to the child, please see Divorce Rates and then get back to me.)
See here an article posted on the Right Wing News website that headlines: "Homosexual Agenda Used to Close Catholic Adoption Services" noting in the article that Catholicism is one of the last "roadblocks on the road to totalitarianism" and thus, liberals use the corroding "obscene travesty of homosexual marriage" to attack it. So, anyone defending their freedoms that are "under attack", has an ulterior motive to undermine the Catholic Church? Excuse me while I gag.
So, finally, this initiative is going to be "extensive and it's going to be occurring over a few years," and it will include urging priests to individually speak out in favor of religious freedoms and including inserts in church bulletins.
"The encroachment upon the rights of Catholic Americans is a plight that must be ended immediately, says American Bishops. "This is not a Catholic issue," the statement released by the Bishops said, "This is not a Jewish issue. This is not an Orthodox, Mormon or Muslim issue. It is an American issue."
Well, they seem to be the only ones crying about their rights as they step on others. So, yeah, I'd say its a Catholic issue.
What are your thoughts?
north korea stirring up trouble
Yesterday, North Korea made headlines by launching (albeit, botched) long-range missile. The United Nations will meet today and discuss what actually occurred. Also, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned North Korea not to do anything to further provoke the world community and or heighten an already increased tension. While the United States (along with South Korea and Japan) sees this missile launch as a long-range ballistic missile test, North Korea says the missile was designed to carry an observation satellite into orbit. Only time will tell how this will play out. Hopefully, North Korea doesn't plan a huge aggressive move to save face.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
gas prices not looking up. or are they?
With gas topping off at $3.90 a gallon, I thank God for the existence of the Saint Joseph's University shuttle because I haven't driven my car in days.
Speaking of days, the average price of a gallon gas has steadily risen for the 19 (NINETEEN!!) days. What's the cause for these apocalyptic rising gas prices? Soaring oil prices.... This occurred when fears that tensions with Iran could lead to an all out war. Advocates of using the Keystone XL pipeline that runs from Canadian oil fields to the Midwest say that the pipeline will bring more oil into the United States and lower prices. However, many experts say the pipeline won't give much impact at the pump and may even raise prices.
It's getting to the point where I have to decide whether I'm going to put gas in my tank or eat for the rest of the week. Something's gotta give.
Speaking of days, the average price of a gallon gas has steadily risen for the 19 (NINETEEN!!) days. What's the cause for these apocalyptic rising gas prices? Soaring oil prices.... This occurred when fears that tensions with Iran could lead to an all out war. Advocates of using the Keystone XL pipeline that runs from Canadian oil fields to the Midwest say that the pipeline will bring more oil into the United States and lower prices. However, many experts say the pipeline won't give much impact at the pump and may even raise prices.
It's getting to the point where I have to decide whether I'm going to put gas in my tank or eat for the rest of the week. Something's gotta give.
Codename VJJ: The Right to Control Your Private Parts
Realizing that I do indeed (voluntarily) attend a Catholic Jesuit University, this may be a polarizing topic but it happens to be one that I support fanatically---women's rights.
As with the progression of society, as new incidents arise, a novelty vocabulary is introduced. "A new term has emerged for the leaders of states where abortion laws have tightened: 'gyno-governors'".
Pro-Choice advocates are calling for Pro-Life advocates to 1) stop calling themselves Pro-Life and instead say "Anti-choice" because that is essentially their standpoint, 2) stop trying to control women's (blutnly) vaginas--be it, the use of birth control (preemptive measures) or abortion (last-resort).
Of course, there's always two sides to a story. While Pro-Choicers want women to be able to control what they do with their reproductive organs, Pro-Lifers say that proponents of women's are basically pushing an agenda that influences, and makes acceptable, thousands of women having loads and loads of sex, taking (or not taking) birth control and then, in drones, piling into abortion clinics going wild over their freedom to terminate pregnancies...
While I find it hard to believe that upholding women's rights to contraception and abortion will cause people to disregard safe sex principles any more than they do already, I understand the sentiment that Pro-Lifer's fear. I'll just say that it costs A LOT less for society (in terms of health care, government benefits/funds) to prescribe birth control to a woman (and if we want to take it there, provide abortions) than take care of a (unwanted?) baby (pre-natal care, delivery fees, hospitalization, day care, elementary school, high school, college.....it goes on).
Instead of forcing your views on others about their bodies, how bout we try and make our country better?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Melo Gone, Orange Gone
So Syracuse is out of the big dance. (Cue the lame "dance references" that ESPN loves to throw in our face during the first few weeks of March.....) Syracuse is taking off its tuxedo and putting it the closet for next year. They are shining their shoes before they put them back under their bed. They call the limo driver and tell him he has to pick them up early. (Okay, let's stop that now.)
Anyway, unfortuately Fab Melo, Syracuse Orange's leading rebounder was declared ineligible to play in the tournament a few days ago for 'academic reasons'. I know the NCAA is very big on maintaining the legitimacy of the 'student-athlete' title--- school comes before sports, as evidenced in the placement of the words around the hyphen---but please, can we punish players for school stuff at ANOTHER TIME ???? Not during March???? Its the BIGGEST college sports activity, March Madness, and you choose to punish a player for an academic offense now? Why didn't you do it during Winter Break or something? This leads to the question of "What was his offense, exactly?" and until I get a good answer on it, I really can't be too harsh on the Syracuse brass about this.
Anyway, unfortuately Fab Melo, Syracuse Orange's leading rebounder was declared ineligible to play in the tournament a few days ago for 'academic reasons'. I know the NCAA is very big on maintaining the legitimacy of the 'student-athlete' title--- school comes before sports, as evidenced in the placement of the words around the hyphen---but please, can we punish players for school stuff at ANOTHER TIME ???? Not during March???? Its the BIGGEST college sports activity, March Madness, and you choose to punish a player for an academic offense now? Why didn't you do it during Winter Break or something? This leads to the question of "What was his offense, exactly?" and until I get a good answer on it, I really can't be too harsh on the Syracuse brass about this.
A little less blogging, a little more bio
Hey, so I just realized that I never really introduced myself and what this blog is (supposed to be).
here are some fun facts
*I am a 19 year old Accounting Major (Criminal Justice Minor) at Saint Joseph's University.
*Northeast Philadelphia born and raised.... attended West Philadelphia Catholic high school...
*Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Dallas Mavericks i root for the Sixers but they are not my favorite team.... . It's a Dirk World, we're just living in it.
*This blog is an assigned activity by my Marketing professor, Stephen Gallagher (who does blog, so check him out)
*I played basketball for four years in high school, play ice hockey for Saint Joseph's, and am the epitome of the phrase "gym rat"
*I enjoy writing, and my style is very satirical (as you may have guessed). I enjoy using words to make people think. Also, wrote for my high school newspaper for four years
*When my high school was supposed to close down, I wrote a farewell and it got printed in the Philadelphia Daily News and put on philly.com, you can read it here: http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-12/news/30620191_1_football-team-west-catholic-boys-alma-mater
*I enjoy making friends but have a hard time remembering people's names (ironic).
*I am applying to enter into a Officer Program with the United States Marine Corps
*After my years of service, I plan on working with a government agency (FBI hopefully, but IRS/DEA would be cool) in an effort to investigate and aid in the investigation of white collar crime as a forensic accountant
*HARD.CORE. FALL OUT BOY FAN.
*last two albums i bought: "Soul Punk" by Patrick Stump and "Take Care" by Drizzy Drake
*habitual insomniac
* i don't say bye when hanging up the telephone....
here are some fun facts
*I am a 19 year old Accounting Major (Criminal Justice Minor) at Saint Joseph's University.
*Northeast Philadelphia born and raised.... attended West Philadelphia Catholic high school...
*Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Dallas Mavericks i root for the Sixers but they are not my favorite team.... . It's a Dirk World, we're just living in it.
*This blog is an assigned activity by my Marketing professor, Stephen Gallagher (who does blog, so check him out)
*I played basketball for four years in high school, play ice hockey for Saint Joseph's, and am the epitome of the phrase "gym rat"
*I enjoy writing, and my style is very satirical (as you may have guessed). I enjoy using words to make people think. Also, wrote for my high school newspaper for four years
*When my high school was supposed to close down, I wrote a farewell and it got printed in the Philadelphia Daily News and put on philly.com, you can read it here: http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-12/news/30620191_1_football-team-west-catholic-boys-alma-mater
*I enjoy making friends but have a hard time remembering people's names (ironic).
*I am applying to enter into a Officer Program with the United States Marine Corps
*After my years of service, I plan on working with a government agency (FBI hopefully, but IRS/DEA would be cool) in an effort to investigate and aid in the investigation of white collar crime as a forensic accountant
*HARD.CORE. FALL OUT BOY FAN.
*last two albums i bought: "Soul Punk" by Patrick Stump and "Take Care" by Drizzy Drake
*habitual insomniac
* i don't say bye when hanging up the telephone....
Madson's Tear = Phillies Catch a Break
http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7731716/cincinnati-reds-closer-ryan-madson-miss-season-elbow
Things have been a little testy at Citizens Bank Park as of late. Chase Utley is ailing and Phillies' General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. admits that he's worried about it. Ryan "The Big Piece" Howard is still hobbling around with a busted Achilles.Roy Halladay hasn't been as lights out as his regular self. But there's a bright side to this: the former Phillies closer Ryan Madson, who Philadelphia let walk in the offseason, has a torn ligament in his throwing elbow and will miss the entire 2012 season..
Now, you may be wondering--Liana, how is this good news for the Phillies? Well, I guess it's really not, but we ended up getting lucky. If Madson was still a Phillie, we'd have to add him to the injury list. But since he's not, we don't.
Misery loves company?
Things have been a little testy at Citizens Bank Park as of late. Chase Utley is ailing and Phillies' General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. admits that he's worried about it. Ryan "The Big Piece" Howard is still hobbling around with a busted Achilles.Roy Halladay hasn't been as lights out as his regular self. But there's a bright side to this: the former Phillies closer Ryan Madson, who Philadelphia let walk in the offseason, has a torn ligament in his throwing elbow and will miss the entire 2012 season..
Now, you may be wondering--Liana, how is this good news for the Phillies? Well, I guess it's really not, but we ended up getting lucky. If Madson was still a Phillie, we'd have to add him to the injury list. But since he's not, we don't.
Misery loves company?
Monday, March 19, 2012
NCAA Touts Being a Giver, but won't let Athletes Receive
As March Madness invades college campuses all over these United States, a topic is continuously brought up: the plight of the student-athlete. The student-athlete is held to the same standards as other students in the classroom but has incredibly more strenuous out-of-classroom obligations.
Former Duke grad, ESPN Senior NCAA Men's Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas is a critical proponent of student-athletes being able to make money from their talents when they are in school. He does not propose that the colleges pay student-athletes but that the athletes not be punished for receiving compensation for whatever endeavors they choose to partake in. Read his article here
I fully agree with this. College athletes admittedly get some leeway when it comes to classroom regulations but they are a huge money maker for their respective colleges and because of the time commitment cannot make their own money in a work-study job as their non-athletic counterparts can.
Why is this relevant to marketing? The NCAA is making it a point to run its commercials telling its March Madness viewers that they use the money made by Collegiate Athletics to continually fund scholarships for athletes and contribute the excess money to its member schools. Having a scholarship to a school is nice but doesn't mean much when you don't have pocket money to buy yourself a few slices of pizza when you've just won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball National Championship.
Let the athletes make money.
Mets Making Amends
As a Phillies fan, I consider Mets (and their fans too?) to be the scum of the earth. (Yankees are really no better). But today, its not really about baseball at Citi Field. The owners of the Mets has agreed to pay $162 million to try and rectify the record-breaking Ponzi scheme conducted by Bernard L. Madoff. The victims of the scheme were represented by Irving H. Picard and he brought the lawsuit against the owners of the Mets, Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, and it was to be tried in Manhattan federal court this Monday after a year of delays. Picard accused the owners of ignoring warnings that Madoff was running a fraud and they had ignored the warning signs. The $162 million will make Wilpon and Katz the "net losers" of the Madoff scheme.
Marketing wise---this stinks for the Mets, they aren't really known as the most profitable team and now their owners must shell out nearly 200 million dollars. Also, I can't see how aligning your team in such a polarizing topic as Madoff could be good press.
This interests me a lot because I"m actually minoring in Criminal Justice to build up a foundation in Forensic Accounting--where I can investigate and aid in the prosecution of white-collar criminals.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/sports/baseball/mets-owners-pay-162-million-to-settle-madoff-suit.html?_r=1&hp
Marketing wise---this stinks for the Mets, they aren't really known as the most profitable team and now their owners must shell out nearly 200 million dollars. Also, I can't see how aligning your team in such a polarizing topic as Madoff could be good press.
This interests me a lot because I"m actually minoring in Criminal Justice to build up a foundation in Forensic Accounting--where I can investigate and aid in the prosecution of white-collar criminals.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/sports/baseball/mets-owners-pay-162-million-to-settle-madoff-suit.html?_r=1&hp
Mixed Martial Arts Injuries causes Stir in Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is looking to reduce injuries inflicted upon by leisure participation in mixed martial arts. The Military Medicine journal, knee injuries are the most common ailment among service-members partaking in MMA, with the second common being shoulder injuries. The USMC reported 159 injuries in 2009 which was a whopping 62% increase from the previous year. As a result, the Marines have begun to "provide a framework and minimum standard for commanders and service members wishing to participate in MMA competition".
Mixed martial arts has blown up in the last decade--exponentially gaining a very strong fanbase with loyal fans. MMA has grown with the rise of the sect: Ultimate Fighting Championship (and other organizations) and has challenged boxing in popularity. Clearly the marketing of the UFC has helped make MMA a house-hold name and an activity that many love to partake in.
Why is this article important? Well, I aim to join the Marine Corps as an officer upon graduation and I find it interesting that the popularity of a sport is making the Marine brass make new rules/standards for the entire Corps. That's a hats off to the marketing of mixed martial arts.
http://www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps/marines-aim-to-reduce-mixed-martial-arts-injuries-1.171990
Why is this article important? Well, I aim to join the Marine Corps as an officer upon graduation and I find it interesting that the popularity of a sport is making the Marine brass make new rules/standards for the entire Corps. That's a hats off to the marketing of mixed martial arts.
http://www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps/marines-aim-to-reduce-mixed-martial-arts-injuries-1.171990
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Chris Breezy---Was the Decision Easy?
So a British girl tweeted that she would let Chris Brown beat her up anytime and the United States Twittersphere blew up with tweets of rage headed in her direction..(read the story and analysis here)But what's the real issue at hand? How long should Chris Brown be outcast for what happened between Rihanna and he? It appears as if she forgave him, why shouldn't we? And if not "forgive" him, how long will it take for us to get over it?
Furthermore, how did the marketing team at the Grammys decide about whether to let him back on the show? Did they say "two years is enough?", "young women (18-25) will watch the show if he performs but older women may not watch his performance", "it'll bring us some publicity", "music is music--he deserves to be here, and what he did two years ago doesn't matter" ? Perhaps we'll never know.
I'll tell you--I have enough on my plate that I didn't flip out about seeing Chris Brown perform twice at the Grammys. Nor did I put a vile insult directed to a British tweeter in 140 characters or less.
CEO = M.E.E.T.I.N.G.S.
Just finished going over an interesting read that showed a study on the workweek of the average corporate CEO. The study found that CEOs for the most part spend 18 hours of a 55-hour work week in meetings and about 4 hours taking phone and conference calls---just when you thought being a CEO was tough work....The report also infers that having a CFO or COO makes it a bit easier on the CEO--he/she can afford to miss a few hours of meetings because they will fill him/her in.
Business school researchers say the amount of meeting time isn't surprising because the main function of a CEO is to "manage employees and meet with customers and consultants."
Well, maybe I should rethink my career future.... 18 hours of sitting in meetings is quite daunting. I get bored to death after 5 minutes of watching a group presentation.
Friday, January 27, 2012
I'm (Not) Into Nuggets Ya'll
So as much as I hate to say it: IM DONE WITH McNUGGETS! A story hit the national presses yesterday about a teenaged girl who had eaten a diet of mostly McDonalds' (R) Chicken McNuggets since she was 2 years old and got sick (finally). This article brings about negative publicity to McDonalds (as if they needed anymore of that after Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me) and McDonald's can react by saying "We don't intend any of our menu items to be designated as an everyday meal", "How people choose to utilize/enjoy our products is their choice", or "While the medical crisis was tragic, we cannot blame it on our food products" or some hybrid of all three. But I'm mainly more concerned with how McDonald's will defend (if at all) their McNugget recipe--because it's quite repulsive.
There are a few questions that I would love to raise about this news story---
1) At age 2, she could not introduce herself to chicken nuggets, her parents went out and purchased them--WHY?
2) After about the second week of her demanding nuggets as a 2 year old, why didn't the parents put their foot down---for the simple fact of financial sanity (nuggets aren't exactly cheap) or the health concerns of their young daughter???
3) Why didn't nuggets lose their novelty and taste to this child after, let's say, a YEAR of a Nugget diet?
4) How bad can McNuggets/fried foods be if it takes 15 years of daily doses to have an adverse effect? (kind of a weird question, I know)
5) How does McDonald's sell nuggets with all that stuff in it (read the story for the genetic makeup of the beloved Chicken McNugget) and 50% of it being actual chicken.......... They should probably be forced to style it as "Chik'n" to avoid a false advertising charge.
If anyone has any legitimate answers to these questions, please comment. Until then, I'll just drive by the Golden Arches from now on when I crave a crispy coated nugget. (**Looks up the ingredients to Wendy's nuggets**)
There are a few questions that I would love to raise about this news story---
1) At age 2, she could not introduce herself to chicken nuggets, her parents went out and purchased them--WHY?
2) After about the second week of her demanding nuggets as a 2 year old, why didn't the parents put their foot down---for the simple fact of financial sanity (nuggets aren't exactly cheap) or the health concerns of their young daughter???
3) Why didn't nuggets lose their novelty and taste to this child after, let's say, a YEAR of a Nugget diet?
4) How bad can McNuggets/fried foods be if it takes 15 years of daily doses to have an adverse effect? (kind of a weird question, I know)
5) How does McDonald's sell nuggets with all that stuff in it (read the story for the genetic makeup of the beloved Chicken McNugget) and 50% of it being actual chicken.......... They should probably be forced to style it as "Chik'n" to avoid a false advertising charge.
If anyone has any legitimate answers to these questions, please comment. Until then, I'll just drive by the Golden Arches from now on when I crave a crispy coated nugget. (**Looks up the ingredients to Wendy's nuggets**)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Crossing streets with music blasting is dangerous--but what's up with those Beats anyway?
Okay, we get it. You LOVE music. That's the only reasonable explanation for buying noise-canceling, over-the-ear headphones (Beats by Dre, for example) that broke the bank with a price of upwards of $200. And at a point, we all need to ask ourselves (well, whoever BOUGHT them need to ask themselves, because I surely do not own a pair)-- "why did I buy these?" Was it because you truly wanted to hear the crisp sound of every instrument on the MP4? Do you just like how they look? Do you just not get along with inner-ear earphones? These are all legitimate questions. But I think the main reason you bought them is the marketing strategy by the people at Beats. They sold you the thoughts that 'you cant listen to music without these', 'you're not a real audiophile without these', and 'walking around with these makes you cooler than anyone else'. Now, am I being rude in my analysis? -- Maybe, but I don't intend to be, I'm just trying to get to the root of the issue. Besides wondering how broke college students can afford such an expensive, luxury item, I came across an article that expressed the danger of walking around as a pedestrian with such a distracting item. (And in ALL FAIRNESS, the article legitimately blames all earphone/headphone devices, so us iPhone users with our little earbuds are in danger too!) You can read the article here. But, don't mind me---keep wearing you're painfully white headphones that cost you a month's worth of meals! I just hope you hear me when I honk you down from behind the wheel of my Toyota.
Romney Reveals Tax Returns - marketing at its finest
Mitt Romney (finally) decided to make his earnings public on Tuesday morning in an effort to curb the attacks on his wealth. In disclosing his personal income information, he is utilizing a marketing strategy to make himself both more appealing to the 99%ers (I'm not sure how many of them would be voting Republican anyway, but that's a question for another time) and show that he would be susceptible to the tax policies he plans to implement contingent on his election. (Weird, seeing as his personal federal income tax would be slashed by 40% under his plan.) Mitt Romney has earned (adjusted gross income) almost 22 million dollars in 2010, and paid a 13.9 income tax rate. Alas, the Romney family's income puts them in the top 1/10th of 1% of all 2010 taxpayers but due to different rules in the tax code, the Romney family has a lower tax rate than many fairly well-to-do (rich) families. Why is this important? It's a marketing ploy (albeit, pretty much mandatory) to show Romney's dedication to charity (the article lists his contributions to the Church of Latter-Day Saints and other organizations) and his willingness to subject himself to his own presidential policies. To read the actual story, compliments of The New York Times, click here.
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