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College Food
2007-03-15 02:52:00
Okay. This is going to be a little personal tangent about the food served at my college's cafeteria. First off can you even consider this stuff food? It is so loaded with grease and other undesirable junk that it is probably closer to a petroleum product than something one would consider eating. Immediately upon enter your body this stuff starts ripping you apart. There is a vicious war going on in every students intestinal tract each and every day. I'm sorry, but if these schools want us to start eating healthy, maybe the should offer healthy/edible food. Just my thoughts.
More About: Food , College , Coll

Career Choice: Dentistry
2007-03-14 00:02:00
Hello again. As my bio says I am currently working towards a biology major and chemistry minor. Until fairly recently I have been somewhat undecided on what I want to do after I receive my undergrad degree. Now, I have come to the decision that I would like to attend dental school and eventually practice dentistry. The fact that I could maximize my academic potential while getting a job that I think I would thoroughly enjoy is part of why I am leaning towards dentistry. I also like the idea that my job would be to help people in a major way. If there are any people out there with experience in the field of dentistry, I would really appreciate any tips or comments you may have. [Dentist]
More About: Care , Career , Choice , Choi , Dentistry

Stephen Colbert
2007-03-13 15:53:00
I don't know if you have watched Comedy Central lately, but Step hen Colbert 's "The Colbert Report" is a great program. You can get all of the latest news from the world and more often the political scene with a witty delivery. Stephen Colbert plays a far right talk show host who has an overpowering love for his country. This show is very entertaining and is also very capable of bringing up important issues. I highly recommend the Colbert Report because one, it brings up important issues and two, you will laugh your head off. Colbert is an excellent satirist who will be around for a long time to come. [Colbert]

Media Coverage is Dissapointing.
2007-03-13 03:37:00
So...Britney Spears shaved her own head after the salon owner refused to and I heard that she also was checked into therapy. Spears has also been flashing the paparazzi and getting numerous tattoos. Is it just me or is it completely ridiculous that one, the press covers this story so much and two, the fact that people still buy her merchandise. I find it very sad that when I turn on the t.v. that there is more coverage on the death of Anna Nicole Smith than there was on 9/11. I also find it hard to believe that Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie could ever get a television show. Seriously, who watches these programs? People need to get there priorities straight and stop fueling these ridiculous lifestyles and the media's coverage of them. [Britney Spears][Anna Nicole Smith][Paris Hilton][Nicole Richie]
More About: Media , Rage , Cover , Over , Vera

Gas Prices Jump to $2.55
2007-03-12 16:07:00
According to CNN the average price of gasoline is now $2.55, a jump of 20 cents in no time at all. CNN also said that we can expect the prices to go higher now that daylight savings has just kicked in again. Unfortunately, I get the feeling that gas prices can go nowhere but up in the coming months and years. With increasing demand from all around the world, including the most populous nation of China, and turmoil in the major oil-producing countries we are in for some trouble. If anything serious happens in the middle-east, especially in Iraq, Iran, or Saudi-Arabia, gas prices could easily shoot over $4 a gallon this summer. I personally would like to encourage people to support the development of creating cellulosic ethanol. Producing ethanol from corn is just too inefficient and expensive to maintain long term, but if we could produce this cleaner burning ethanol from some sort of grass we may be able to secure are energy needs at least to some extent. I for one am interes...
More About: Rice , Gas Prices , Price , Jump , Prices

Movie Review: Ghostrider
2007-03-11 22:57:00
I remember reading some of the Ghost rider comics when I was younger, so I decided that I had to go see this film. In general I was a little let down by the film. It was hyped up so much, and it just didn't reach my expectations. There was some decent acting by Nicholas Cage and others, but the movie really lacked substance. It just didn't quite do it for me. I would rate this film a 2/5, but I am glad I saw it just because of the fact that I used to read the comics.[Ghostrider]
More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review , Ride

Movie Review: 300
2007-03-11 18:13:00
Yesterday I headed out to the theatre to catch the new movie "300". I headed in with very high expectations and was fairly pleased upon leaving. This film is about the battle of Thermopylae were a greatly out numbered Greek force held the entire Persian Army at bay. The Greeks inflicted great casualties against the Persians, but finally the Greeks were overrun. When the Greeks find out that they are all about to die, all of the forces except the Spartans retreat. The fight scenes are pretty good and you really get a feel for how fanatical the Spartans really were. However there are some historical inaccuracies, such as monsters, but overall it was a decent film. I give this movie a 3/5 because it was fairly entertaining, but didn't quite do it for me.[300]
More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review , View

Gopher Broke
2007-02-04 17:38:00
Check out this hilarious cartoon with great graphics!
More About: Gopher

The Origin of El Niño
2007-02-04 02:09:00
We all know that El Niño is an unique weather phenomenon that occurs when abnormally warm water in the Pacific moves into the Pacific coastline of South America, but where did the name El Niño come from? I always that it was kind of a strange name for a meteorological happening. So I was interested, and felt compelled to post this, when I read about the meaning behind the name. The name El Niño is Spanish for "The Child", and the reasoning behind calling this weather phenom "The Child" is because of its tendency to show up around Christmas. Just a little fun fact for you all.
More About: The O , Origin

Blogvertise
2007-02-04 00:52:00
I recently registered to begin working with the Blog vertise company. This means that from time to time I will review products and/or services for them. Any posts that I write for Blogvertise will be clearly marked, and I will post only about products/companies that I have personal knowledge of and that I believe you will find helpful.
More About: Vert

Sudoku...In the Classroom?
2007-02-03 18:06:00
Yes indeed, the puzzle craze that has been sweeping the nation is now infiltrating the classroom. Sudoku has started showing up in mathematics classes even though it doesn't actually involve any arithmetic. Sudoku puzzles are excellent for not only burning a little free time, but also stimulating your mind with a great logic exercise. If you have not tried sudoku before, I would highly recommend it and have left a link to an internet sudoku site under "links". You can also find sudoku puzzles in newspapers, other websites, and books. Have fun and give your brain a workout.[Sudoku]
More About: Class , Room

The Inner Life of the Cell
2007-02-03 16:39:00
A friend of mine referred me to this video yesterday, and I felt obligated to let all of you see it too. I will only post a link to the video, and be patient, it takes a while for the video to load. It is a really cool interpretation of what exactly goes on in a cell with neat graphics. It is definitely worth checking out.http://aimediaserver.com/studiodaily/ harvard/harvard.swf[Cell ]
More About: Life

Trombone Guy
2007-02-02 18:36:00
Get your daily dose of comedy right here!
More About: Ombo , Bone , Tromb

Harry Potter 7
2007-02-02 18:25:00
It's official, the last book in the Harry Potter series will be released to the public on July 21st at midnight. Much of the fantasy reading world has been waiting for this final installment for what seems to be far too long. I anticipate that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be yet another home run for J.K. Rowling and personally will pick it up as soon as it is released. It will be very exciting for those of us who have followed the series since the beginning to have closure brought to this now epic story. Though now that Rowling is done with the Harry Potter campaign one must speculate as to what her next move will be. Whatever she ends up doing, I would like to thank her for writing some spectacular books that helped make my teens a little more exciting.[Harry Potter]
More About: Otter , Harry Potter 7

At Least 73 Died in Bombings in Iraq
2007-02-02 14:32:00
I was reading the news this morning when I came across an article saying that in Hilla, Iraq two suicide bombers detonated their bombs in busy marketplaces yesterday. At least 73 people died and more than 163 people were injured in the bombings. I am sure that virtually all of those people were just innocent civilians out doing a little shopping at the market. It is the same as in all wars past...the real victims are the civilians. For some reason when I was reading this article a song popped in my head, so I posted a few lines from it below.[Iraq]There's somethin' happening here, What it is ain't exactly clear. There's a man with a gun over there, Tellin' me I gotta beware. I think it's time we stop, Hey, what's that sound, Everybody look what's going down.- For What It's Worth, Stephen Stills, 1966
More About: East , Died , Bomb , Bombings

Free-Diving
2007-02-02 02:57:00
Once again I will be summarizing an article from Popular Science. I have to admit that I really miss my subscription to this magazine. Anyway, I read the article “One Dive, One Breath” which is about free diving. There real interesting part of this article has to do with the body’s reaction to water. Once we hit the water, nerve receptors in our face tell our body to slow our heart rate. According to the article, when world-class free divers enter the water their heart rates can drop to eight beats per minute. In addition to the drop in heart rate, blood vessels in extremities constrict while the vessels in the brain, heart, and lungs dilate. The spleen also releases additional red blood cells. All of this explains how a free diver’s air supply is sufficient, but something that I have always wondered about is the effect of water pressure on the body. Well, the article stated that the water pressure actually forces blood vessels to swell in the chest cavity, filling ...
More About: Free , Diving , Ving

Canon In D
2007-02-01 20:41:00
Watch as this kid plays a crazy rendition of Canon in D.
More About: Anon

Exxon Mobil Breaks Profit Record
2007-02-01 16:57:00
Exxon Mobil recently announced a annual profit of $39.5 Billion in 2006, breaking the record they set in 2005 for the largest profit by a U.S. company. All of this even though their 4th quarter earnings dropped 4%. With data like this one can't help but wonder why petroleum prices are so high. Not only at gasoline pumps, but also all of the other petrol products. I have no problem with a company turning a profit, however, in the case of Exxon Mobil and the other oil companies I have to say that they appear to be some seriously greedy bastards. I could be wrong, and if I am I sincerely apologize, but things simply appear to be a little sketchy according to what I know now.Revision:I just realized that the profit margin was only about 10.5%, which is really not that out of line at all. The reason they break these profit records is due to the fact that their revenue is simply enormous.[Oil]
More About: Break , Profit , Exxon

Funny Fitness bear
2007-02-01 04:46:00
Watch this to brighten your day.
More About: Funny , Fitness , Bear

The Spotless Mind
2007-02-01 03:35:00
A brief article in Popular Science caught my eye because of its almost science fiction type appeal. In the article “The Spot less Mind ”, Alain Brunet, a clinical psychologist at McGill University, is making an attempt to erase old memories. Basically he has been doing research on patients with PTSD by inducing them to recall painful memories, and then giving them the drug propranolol. Propranolol is a 25 year old hypertension drug that blocks stress hormones. It has been proven that if propranolol is administered after a traumatic event the memories themselves can be less emotional and less vivid. Brunet is trying to take this to the next level by trying to lessen old memories. I found this interesting because one, the amazing way our brains work, and two, the fact that one day we may be able to take a pill and erase our memories. As with anything this research could eventually lead to great things, but with some possible negative implications. Obviously usage would have ...
More About: Less

Castro. The end of an era?
2007-01-31 17:03:00
With Fidel Cast ro in failing health one cannot help but wonder what exactly will happen after his inevitable death. Castro has been in power since Kennedy was elected and has had a firm grip on Cuba the whole time. What will happen to the balance of power in Cuba after Castro? Will the reigns be passed without even to his brother? Will Cuba continue to be a communist outpost in the western hemisphere? Or will there be a change in the political scene, will it be an opportunity for the people of Cuba to decide what type of government they desire? I don't know about most people, but personally I am very curious as to what will happen to Cuba in the not so distant future.[Castro]
More About: Astro

Evolution of Dance
2007-01-31 04:21:00
This comedian, Judson Laipply, came to my college this last fall. Not only was he hilarious, he was also almost a motivational speaker.
More About: Evolution , Dance

Tapping Genius
2007-01-31 00:15:00
Check out this amazing guitarist.
More About: Genius , Ping , Tapping

Growing a Heart
2007-01-31 00:10:00
I wrote another summary of a article I read in Popular Science.Glenn Larsen a researcher at Hydra Biosciences has been working in conjunction with a group of researchers from Harvard to develop “protein-based drugs that encourage the regrowth of muscle tissue that has died after a heart attack”. Larsen’s goal is to enhance the chemical factors that the heart secretes normally. Using an inhaler or a “super-sonic drug gun” patients would be able to administer the drug themselves. Upon entering the bloodstream, these protein molecules would bind to damaged heart cells. Then a chemical reaction would occur “muting” the genes that inhibit cell division. Ideally the organ, the heart in this case, would be completely restored with new cells in a few weeks. Tests in rats have been promising; with a 20% restoration from treatment after a heart attack, but trials in humans are still a few years down the road. This looks like a development that has a lot of potential… sorry PRA...
More About: Hear , Heart , Wing , Growing , Rowing

First Exam of Spring Semester
2007-01-30 19:15:00
Whew! I just finished up on my first biology exam of the spring semester. I prepared fairly well and think that I will end up with a decent grade. Now that I have that test out of the way I need to begin preparing for my three other exams this week. Wish me luck!
More About: Biology , Spring , Semester , Exam , Este

What Effect Do Telomeres Have on the Aging Process?
2007-01-30 05:37:00
In browsing old issues of popular science I found an intriguing article about aging. The article states that researchers may have discovered a possible way to halt physical decline as we age. This lofty claim is all based on telomeres, something I had never heard of before reading this article. Telomeres are “bits of buffer DNA that don’t contain genes.” They are placed on the ends of chromosomes and protect them from damage. During cell division the telomere is not replicated along with the rest of the chromosome. This results in the telomere becoming shorter after every cell division. Eventually the telomeres become so short that it becomes a real problem, “the telomeres become so short that the cell can no longer divide—a phenomenon scientists call senescence—that is, the state of being old.” Some evidence that supports this is that people with progeria have been found to have very short telomeres. The article goes on to say that the enzyme...
More About: What , Hat , Effect , Have , Aging

2008 Presidential Candidates
2007-01-29 17:49:00
Something that I have been personally hoping for since the last election is that Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic endorsed candidate, and that Colin Powell would be the Republican endorsed candidate. This would be a very interesting match up. Either way we would have a new "first" in the White House. Americans would be forced to stray away from their typical white-male politicians and try something new. I am personally very curious as to how the nation would react. I do have great faith in our country, however, some people can be remarkably stupid sometimes.
More About: Residential , President , Presidential , Dates , Candidates

Movie Review: The Illusionist
2007-01-28 17:36:00
I watched this film last night and was pleasantly surprised. The movie includes a forbidden romance of sorts, and a simply fantastic solution to their problem. The film is full of mysterious magic which is apparently just highly complex illusions. I found the music in the film accented the happenings very well and added a little extra touch that made the movie much better. There is a mystery running through the entire film that one tries to wrap their mind around. In hindsight I should have figured it all out earlier, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Some solid acting on the part of Paul Giamatti and Edward Norton. I would definitely recommend this film to all. Overall I would give The Illusion ist a 4/5 rating.[Illusionist]
More About: Movie , Movie Review , Review , View

Robert Jordan
2007-01-27 23:48:00
I recently discovered that Robe rt Jordan has been diagnosed with amyloidosis. This rare blood disease means that Mr. Jordan years with us are probably limited although he did say that intends to live considerably longer. What would happen if he was unable to finish the Wheel of Time series? Countless people everywhere have been following this amazing series for years. If Mr. Jordan died before he could finish, would someone else finish for him? In any case I hope Mr. Jordan can finish his life in relatively good health and if all goes well, finish the Wot series. I know that myself allow with thousands of others would be left hanging if the series never comes to a close. I cannot bear the thought of never truly knowing who killed Asmodean or what will exactly become of Rand during and after the last battle.Wheel of Time Books
More About: Robert Jordan

Amazing Sunset
2007-01-27 23:27:00
My brother has really gotten into taking photos these last few years, and I thought this picture of a sunset on a lake in Minnesota was just amazing. This picture was taken using a Canon Powershot Camera, my own camera doesn't take nearly as good of pictures as my brothers, so I already know what I am asking for on my next birthday.
More About: Sunset , Amazing