Entertainment

Read blogs in our entertainment category for coverage of popular movies, TV series, music and celebrities college students are most likely interested in.

The Best Places to Travel On July 4th

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Lauren Shepard

The Fourth of July is not too far away from now and that means it’s time to start planning out your celebration for this special day. There are many ways in which people choose to spend this day including a family BBQ at home, parties, community events, etc. Each state celebrates the Fourth of July in different and unique ways. If you are looking to travel for this special occasion, grab your American flags and start packing because we put together a list of the best places to travel for the Fourth of July!

1.Traverse City, Michigan

Traverse City is known for having a more traditional celebration for July 4th. They not only throw a party for the holiday, but they also have a long festival to go with it! From June 30th-July 7th, the city hosts the National Cherry Festival. During the festival you can view the U.S. Navy Blue Angels air show over the West Grand Traverse Bay, enter a cherry pie eating contest and cherry pit spit contest, and many more traditional city events. On July 4th, they hold a large fireworks show hosted by the TC Boom Boom Club. If you are looking for a low key July 4th celebration, this is the place to go.

2. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is known to be called ‘Music City’. The city holds up its reputation on July 4th by throwing day long concerts. This year they have Lady Antebellum, Chris Janson, Lucie Silvas, and Shannon Sanders performing. As the grand finale, the Nashville Symphony will perform in synchronization with the fireworks show. If you’re a music lover, this is the place to celebrate July 4th.

3. New York City, New York

It’s no surprise that New York City makes the list of best places to visit on July 4th. After all, this is the city that never sleeps. During the day, people love to visit some of New York City’s Revolutionary War locations to get in the groove of this patriotic day. In the evening, people attend the water boat show, go to the Midsummer Night Swing dance party, and then finally Macy’s large fireworks show. You can view the show from many areas in the city including roof top bars, boats, hotels, and more. If you love large celebrations, New York City is known to hold one of the best in the United States.

4. Brooklyn, New York

Speaking of New York, another place that holds great July 4th celebrations is Coney Island in Brooklyn. Every year on July 4th, Coney Island hosts an annual Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Many gather around the famous boardwalk to view the event while sporting Nathan’s Famous hats. After that, you can visit the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. You’ll see Wendy Blades the blade swallower, Nola Star the fire dancer/fire eater, and a lot more. At night, Coney Island will have their fireworks show which can be viewed from the boardwalks.

5. Lake Tahoe, California

The fireworks display at South Lake Tahoe has been listed as one of the top five displays in the nation according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. If you are looking for a beautiful fireworks show, you can get the best vantage points from riding one of Lake Tahoe’s boats. The Safari Rose is an 80-foot long yacht known for their fireworks cruise. You’ll have access to unlimited beer, wine, champagne as well as a nice dinner. The M.S. Dixie is another excellent option for viewing the fireworks on the lake. If you are one for beautiful scenery, South Lake Tahoe is the place to go.

6. Keystone, South Dakota

The Mount Rushmore Fourth of July event takes two days to celebrate. On July 3rd, you’ll see performances from local musicians and dance troupes, the National Guard, local Navajo culture groups, and more. Mount Rushmore’s fireworks display takes place on the 3rd instead of the 4th. The fireworks are shot off right over the stone heads. On July 4th, you’ll have a full day of brass bands, military aircraft shows, presentations from American-Indian groups, and see performances from more local musicians and dancers.

7. Bristol, Rhode Island

The celebration of July 4th in Bristol is a great place for people who live in New England and others who want to visit Rhode Island. On July 3rd, you can view the local downtown concert series and watch the fireworks display over Bristol Harbor. On July 4th, the celebration includes a parade, Fourth of July ball, drum and bugle competition, a Miss and Little Miss pageant, and more.

8. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston has a plethora of Revolutionary War history, making it the ideal area for celebrating the Fourth of July. Every year the city holds a Boston Harborfest. This year it starts on June 28th and last until July 4th. During the festival you’ll witness Revolutionary War reenactments, go on boat tours/walking tours, and hear live entertainment. On July 4th, the Boston POP has a concert followed by a 23-minute fireworks show over Charles River.

9. Key West, Florida

Key West’s Fourth of July celebration always lands on the week of their annual Key Lime Festival, making it the best of both worlds for a party. Even though Key West is a small island, there’s still a lot to do on this day. You can enter a key lime pie eating contest, go snorkeling, go on bike rides, and hop on board the Fury for a fireworks cruise. It’s said that if you want the best view of the fireworks show, then the Fury boat is the way to go.

10. Boulder, Colorado

For those who enjoy the great outdoors, fresh air, beer trails, and celebrations, Boulder is the place for you. For the past two years, Travel + Leisure has named Boulder, Colorado one of the five best towns in America for July 4th, and it’s easy to see why. There’s a wide array of events to attend during the Fourth of July including a fireworks show at the University of Colorado’s football stadium, Folsom Field. Over at the Boulder Reservoir, they hold a 5/10K Craig Towler Freedom Run at 8am, have their beer garden open, invite families to picnic at their location, and more.

Top 3 Global Universities For Each Continent

Posted on June 18, 2018June 18, 2018 by Lauren Shepard

There are many amazing colleges all around the world, but have you ever wondered which colleges are the best of the best? Look no further! We put together a list of the top 3 ranking global colleges in 2018 for each continent using data from U.S. News. They evaluated 1,250 universities across 74 countries and were able to come up with a rating system to rank each university in order. If you want more details about the methodology used to calculate the rankings, you can scroll to the bottom of this blog and read about it.

Africa:

1.University of Cape Town (South Africa)

With an overall global score of 64.4, the University of Cape Town is the number one global university in Africa in 2018 and ranked #113 in the world.

This school is known for being the second oldest university in Africa along with being a representative of forward thinking and modern African optimism.

2. University of Witwatersrand (South Africa)
With an overall score of 57.1, the University of Witwatersrand is the second best global university in Africa in 2018 and ranked #216 in the world.

This school is known for being one of the best medical schools in the continent and being home to one of the largest fossil collections in the southern hemisphere.

3. University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa)

With an overall global score of 50.4, the University of KwaZulu Natal is the third best global university in Africa in 2018 and ranked #336 in the world.

This school is known for it’s merging of two historical universities; Durban-Westville and the University of Natal back in January 2004.

Asia:

1. National University of Singapore (Singapore)

With an overall global score of 73.2, the National University of Singapore is the number one global university in Asia in 2018 and ranked #43 in the world.

This school is known for not only being the first Yale titled Ivy League school in Asia, but for also being the first liberal arts college in Singapore.

2. Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

With an overall global score of 71.4, Nanyang Technological University is the second best global university in Asia in 2018 and ranked #55 in the world.

This school is known for holding on-campus weddings, being eco-friendly, having cat cafes and cat management networks, etc.

3. University of Tokyo (Japan)

With an overall global score of 71.3, the University of Tokyo is the third best global university in Asia in 2018 and ranked #57 in the world.

This school is known for being the birthplace of Japanese baseball. The first international baseball game was held with the University of Tokyo’s participation.

Australia

1. University of Melbourne

With an overall global score of 75.8, the University of Melbourne is the number one global university in Australia in 2018 and ranked #26 in the world.

The city of Melbourne is known for regularly topping the list for the world’s most livable cities, making the University of Melbourne a desirable location to study.

2. University of Sydney

With an overall global score of 74.5, the University of Sydney is the second best overall global university in Australia in 2018 and ranked #34 in the world.

This school is recognized worldwide for their excellent research and teaching along with being the oldest university in Australia.

3. University of Queensland Australia

With an overall global score of 72.9, the University of Queensland Australia is the third best overall global university in Australia in 2018 and #45 in the world.

This school is known for having one of the largest PhD enrollments in Australia.

Europe

1. University of Oxford (United Kingdom)

With an overall global score of 87.3, the University of Oxford is the number one global university in Europe in 2018 and ranked #5 in the world.

This school is known for influencing the English language. In 1857, existing English language dictionaries were considered incomplete and deficient. It called for a complete re-examination. By 1879, the Oxford University Press worked on a New English dictionary (now known as the Oxford English Dictionary).

2. University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)

With an overall global score of 85.3, the University of Cambridge is the second best global university in Europe in 2018 and ranked #7 in the world.

This school is known for its many libraries. There are over 100 libraries on campus. The central library alone has about 8 million volumes available. Other on-campus libraries hold books from Sir Isaac Newton’s personal library, early Shakespeare editions, etc.

3. Imperial College London (United Kingdom)

With an overall global score of 81.3, Imperial College London is the third best global university in Europe in 2018 and ranked #17 in the world.

This school is known for housing the largest brain bank in the United Kingdom. It holds a collection of central nervous system tissue donated by individuals who had multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other related conditions. There are around 1,650 specimen stored in this brain bank at -80°C.

Latin America

1.University of São Paulo (Brazil)

With an overall global score of 61.4, the University of Sāo Paulo is the number one global university in Latin America in 2018 and ranked #153 in the world.

This school is known for its museums and art galleries which are mostly located on central campus. There’s the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Paulista Museum (Historical Museum of São Paulo), the Museum of Zoology, and the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology USP.

2. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (Chile)

With an overall global score of 61.4, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is the second best global university in Latin America in 2018 and ranked #315 in the world.

This school is known for its historical religious background. It was founded by the Santiago Archbishop in 1888, declared a pontifical university by Pope Pius XI in 1930, and still holds a close relationship with the Vatican to this day.

3. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

With an overall global score of 50.3, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is the third best school in Latin America in 2018 and ranked #338 in the world.

This school is known for its famous infrastructure. The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro’s main infrastructure is located on an artificial island called Ilha Do Fundão Island. It was created by the union of various existing islands by using embankment dams (artificial dams) in 1950.

North America

1.Harvard University (United States)

With an overall global score of 100, Harvard University i the best global university in North America in 2018 and ranked #1 in the world.

As one of the most prestigious schools in the United States, this school is known for it’s alumni who went on to become United States Presidents. Rutherford Hayes, George W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, John Quincy Adams, John Adams, and Barack Obama all attended Harvard University.

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States)

With an overall global score of 97.3, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the second best global University in North America in 2018 and ranked #2 in the world.

This school is known for its many world changing innovations. In 1940, MIT perfected radar technology which saved lives during WWII. In 2000, MIT was able to use radar technology to save the lives of cancer patients.

3. Stanford University (United States)

With an overall global score of 92.3, Stanford University is the third best global university in North America in 2018 and ranked #3 in the world.

This school is known for their rich sports heritage. Since 1908, students from Stanford University have won in every Olympic game. They have a total of 270 medals, 139 which are gold.

If you are wondering about the methodology behind the calculations made to rank the global universities, all ranking data comes from the U.S. News. They evaluated a pool of 1,295 universities using Clarivate Analytics InCites and then broke it down into 1,250 universities across 74 countries. The ranks were then calculated by 13 indicators and weights that the U.S. News used to measure global research performances:

Global research reputation (12.5%), regional research reputation (12.5%), publications (10%), books (2.5%), conferences (2.5%), normalized citation impact (10%), total citations (7.5%), number of publications that are among the top 10 percent most cited (12.5%), percentage of total publications that are among the top 10 percent most cited (10%), international collaboration (5%), percentage of total publications with international collaboration (5%), number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited in their respective field (5%), and the percentage of total publications that are among the top 1 percent most highly cited papers (5%).

If you want to see each individual university’s 13 indicators, you can click on the school above each picture. For a more detailed description of the methodology used, click here.

12 Memes We All Relate To During Finals Week

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Lauren Shepard

It’s time to prepare for mental breakdowns and all-nighters. Why? Because it’s finals week! On every college student’s least favorite week of the semester, you’ll find yourself pouring Red Bull into your coffee, calculating the lowest score you can get to pass your classes, and just plain wondering why you chose the major you chose. During this stressful time, it’s good to at least get in a laugh or two, so here’s a list of 12 memes we can all relate to during finals!

1. The week before finals

2. When you start studying the night before the exam

3. What personal hygiene looks like during finals week

4. When you’re asked how you slept the night before your final

5. Every time…

6. How your professor arrives to the final exam

7. During the final exam

8. After that first exam

9. When your finals aren’t going so well

10. Trying to reason with your professor after the exam

11. How walking out of your last final feels

12. What you retain after finals are over

Learning an Instrument in College

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Paul Bass

I think at some point in their lives, most people hear a piece of music and think “wow… I wish I could play that.” For most of us, that idea remains an unfulfilled wish. It’s often hard to find the time or energy to learn, especially as an adult. But fear not, because I’m here with some tips on how to learn a new instrument in college! I’ve been playing the guitar for a while, but now I’m also learning to play piano. These tips proved useful to me, and hopefully they will be for you too!

Budget Your Time- And be Realistic

Let’s be real; you might not have much time as a young adult to learn an instrument. The question is can you find just 15 minutes a day to practice? If so, then you can learn an instrument. The real difficulty is developing the habit of practicing. An old music teacher once told me practicing isn’t about having the willpower to practice – it’s about having discipline. Willpower is fickle, and relying on feelings to practice every day simply won’t work. Instead, find a consistent time to practice every day. Convince yourself there is no better use for that time other than practicing. Turn it into an ultimatum – It’s either practice, or stare at the wall. Then follow through and practice when the time comes. If you can only do 15 minutes a day, that’s fine. It’s enough to progress!

Make Sure Practice Time isn’t Wasted

Further pushing the idea of efficient time usage, make sure when you do practice, you aren’t spinning your wheels by dwelling on your past success. Ok, you finally learned that one piece you struggled with. Instead of playing it over and over, why not move on to the next piece? It’s imperative you keep learning every single day when you only have a limited amount of time to practice. I have made the mistake of dwelling on past success too long by “practicing” nothing at all for hours at a time.

Have Fun With Your Instrument

The point of playing an instrument as an adult is to have fun, plain and simple. I probably don’t have to say it’s not likely to become your career. Also, your parents aren’t forcing you to play in a boring orchestra anymore. Have fun with your instrument! Learn some bluegrass fiddle parts for your violin. Learn to play your favorite TV theme song on your instrument and play along when it comes on. Practice music theory by writing a cover of Seinfeld two octaves higher than the original. If you’re not having fun playing music, why are you doing it at all? So go wild!

A Day in the Life of a Journalism Major

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Olivia Meier

As I sit back and write this, I realize how busy my life actually is. I am constantly thinking and I am constantly writing. Whether it’s on the back of a placemat at the diner or in my bed at three in the morning; my brain is always working on my next piece. And you know what? I love it! Here’s what my typical day is like…

Reviewing My Planner

As I said before, my days are full of writing. They’re full of writing stories, articles, and random ideas… everywhere. I usually begin by looking over my day planner, which is supposed to help organize my life. As a journalism major, that’s not quite true. My day planner is full of little blurbs and keywords from thoughts I had throughout the year. I’m already running out of room and it’s only June. The ideas are constantly flowing, like a stream after a huge rain storm. Reviewing my planner keeps me on top of my writing assignments and functions as a refresher for my ideas.

Becoming Inspired

When I’m ready to leave the house, I walk out into a world full of possibilities. To me, everyone’s a story. No matter who it is, people I encounter at the local supermarket or the drive-thru girl at Dunkin Donuts, I wonder where they’ve been and what they’ve seen. I am constantly thinking, “I wonder what their story is?” I imagine who they met and how it affected them. I strongly believe there’s a story within everyone – you simply need to find it.

Exercising My Mind

Aside from wondering how the elderly cashier at the food store got to where she is, I also frequently practice writing exercises. Whether they’re from a workbook about sentence structure or some online courses, writing exercises are valuable for personal growth. If you’ve never tried one, check out Writer’s Digest for an example. I do at least one exercise every day to help me master my craft. As one of my favorite professors said on our very first day of class, “Becoming a great writer is no secret – write, edit, repeat.” There’s no need to write a complete story every time. Throughout the day, I simply write a few sentences and see how I can improve them. It’s that simple!

Journalism isn’t only about writing. It may sound cliché, but I read the newspaper every day. Some days it’s my local online news paper and other days I use the New York Times app. Occasionally, I’ll even go retro and read a physical paper. Whatever the platform, I keep up with the news constantly. Not only is it entertaining, but reading helps develop your writing skillet. It’s good to compare how different newspapers report on the same issues or events, helping young writers create their own style.

Long story short, my entire life revolves around journalism and writing. Some people might think that sounds boring, but I’m perfectly okay with that. There’s nothing more satisfying than thinking of a great story, writing it down, then doing a self edit to create a perfect product.

Getting Into Bluegrass

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Paul Bass

Can you remember the last time you heard a great Bluegrass song? Bluegrass music is one of the least understood genres of music in my opinion. From its roots in African traditions to its codification by Bill Monroe, the history of bluegrass is fascinating. Most people don’t realize how much some bluegrass resembles music they already like. However, telling people about bluegrass tends to result in them nodding off. So instead of writing about all that boring stuff, I’ve decided to recommend some songs! I’ve based my recommendations on genres you might already be into, starting with…

Classic Rock

Connoisseurs of this genre will accuse me of generalization when I lump all classic rock together, and truly they’re right. But this is a bluegrass list, not a classic rock list. Therefore, I think it’s appropriate to group it into one category.

Me and my Guitar by Tony Rice

Besides the album art, this record is nearly perfect. Me and my Guitar really steals the show! Tony Rice, widely considered the father of modern bluegrass guitar, opens with a gorgeous guitar solo. The song format is instantly familiar to any rock fan. Rice’s voice resembles rock legends like Elvis more than I’d like to admit. Lyrically, this song isn’t about the country, economic woes, or a woman. Instead, also like many rock legends, Tony spends a full three minutes singing about his love for his guitar.

Melodic Pop

Are you a Katy Perry or Taylor Swift fan? Well, according to the internet you can’t like both of them. But if you at least like one of the two, then I have the song for you.

Rye Whiskey by The Punch Brothers

Rye Whiskey is an old bluegrass standard drinking song. For me, it hits all the notes of a Black Eyed Peas song. If that comparison seems dated, you can tell how long it’s been since I’ve had an interest in pop. This song is instantly familiar to anyone who’s recently listened to the billboard top 40. Rye Whiskey follows the traditional 4 chords of pop, but it also has a gorgeous 3 part harmony vaguely reminiscent of the chorus for Twenty Two by Taylor Swift.

R&B

If you love R&B, you probably love it for the gorgeous singing and that funky, rhythmic beat. This song might not be Beyonce, but it’ll probably scratch that same musical itch

Nashville Highrollers by Owen Campbell

Owen Campbell had his 15 minutes of fame after a video of him taunting the judges on Australia’s got Talent went viral. Since then, he’s fallen back into relative obscurity but his music career is still thriving. An incredible slide guitarist, Campbell creates a cacophony of rhythm akin to R&B’s funk and blues roots. Campbell’s mastered voice and instrument create a wall of sound much in the same way R&B artists do with their voices. With only 25,000 monthly listeners on spotify, does Campbell deserves many more? I think so. Give this song a listen and decide for yourself.

After checking these out, are you interested in bluegrass? Do you disagree with my assessment of any of these songs? Feel free to let me know in the comments below!

Celebrate Warmer Weather With A Spring Playlist

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

Winter is finally over! That means warmer weather, more daylight, and finally retiring your parka. As spring begins to make a stronger appearance, you’ll need to update your music playlists to match the mood. It’s time for a spring playlist. Luckily, super talented artists like Lorde, Sampha, and Calvin Harris have you covered. For those who are looking for freshly picked tunes to bump during the rest of the spring semester, look no further. Here’s a specially curated playlist that’s perfect for any student trying to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Knetbooks Spring Student Playlist

Nightcrawler- ZHU
Green Light- Lorde
- For those who think of Lorde and envison darkness and saddness, you might be surprised with this pop-esque hit. It’s almost impossible not to dance along with the music. Even the New Zealand singer herself can’t stop in the music video.
Slide- Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Migos
- Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, and Migos walk into a bar… and create an uber catchy song that cleverly combines Harris’s production with rap verses that are intrinsically Migos. Even more, the melodies can clearly be attributed to Frank Ocean. The song was already rated by Pitchfork as a best new track. You have to listen to believe it.
Too Late to Fixate- Conor Oberst
Third Day of May- Odaigahara- Fleet Foxes
Sweet- Little Dragon
Surreal- Louis Futon, RKCB
Total Entertainment Forever- Father John Misty
Darling- Real Estate
Blossom- Milky Chance
American Teen- Khalid
Die Young- Sylvan Esso
Chanel- Frank Ocean
Nothing, Not Nearly- Laura Marling
Selfish- Future, Rhianna
Show You the Way- Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins
Chasing Colors- Marshmello, Ookay, Noah Cyrus
- Say hello to Noah, Miley Cyrus’s younger, but nonetheless super talented sister. Noah is stacking her resume up with hits, recently collaborating with Labrinth on the song Make Me (Cry).
Big Picture (THRDL!FE Remix)- London Grammar, THRDL!FE
My Emotions are Blinding- Tennis
It Ain’t Me- Kygo, Selena Gomez
- The hype leading up to this song was incredibly worth it. Kygo’s tropical beats supporting Gomez’s melodic voice produced an enchanting and heartbreaking song about loss and moving on. Listen, cry, dance.
Love Incredible- Cashmere Cat, Camila Cabello
Kinda Bonkers- Animal Collective
Basically- STRFKR
My Old Man- Mac Demarco
Falling- Alesso
When I Get There- Big Wild
Blood on Me- Sampha

Spring is here! Celebrate the end of the semester with this fun, energetic spring playlist that is sure to have you stepping to the beat. If you want to listen to these songs in order, click the link at the top of this list to hear it on Spotify. Not a fan of this genre of music? Let us know what you prefer to hear in the comments below!

Five Ways to Make this Valentine’s Day “Memorable”

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Julia Aldrich

If you’re a young college student in a relationship, you’re probably feeling quite anxious about the impending doom or success of the upcoming day of love. Valentine’s day is a day dedicated to you and your lover. It’s also a day that if messed up, can take a toll on your relationship. Since everyone knows that college is basically a matchmaking service for us to find our future wives and husbands, Valentine’s day should not be taken lightly. Unfortunately, many of us are plain broke. As a senior, I’ve witnessed all the tricks to a successful February 14th at a reduced cost. Here are some light-hearted ideas!

1) Go on a riveting adventure!

Does dinner and a movie seem cliche? That’s because it is! This Valentine’s Day, opt for something more adventurous! An inexpensive idea might be to go hiking in areas that are notorious for bears and mountain lions. This ideas might seem dangerous and impractical, but that’s because it is! The plus side to the danger is the fear and anxiety. Studies show these emotions are thought to increase levels of attraction! Therefore, it’s only logical that the more scary the activity, the closer you two will feel.

2) Make them a DIY gift

Nothing is more romantic than a gift made by the hands of your true love! Of course, anyone could make a boring card or a scrapbook. My suggestion: because you love them, dig a little deeper this Valentine’s Day! Try making a photo-book of the two of you! However, to make it special find photos of your significant other and their family. Then cut out and paste your face into them! It’s a perfect subtle way to tell them that you want to be a part of their family. It works every time, trust me!

3) Let them know that you take this relationship seriously

Valentine’s Day is a day for romance. Also, it’s the perfect day to let your s/o know that you take your relationship seriously. Perhaps even to serious. The best way to portray this is to let them know that you want them forever. My suggestion is to get a gigantic tattoo of their name right above your heart. They’ll be speechless, I promise! Because like tattoos, young love lasts forever.

4) Buy your S/O a cute pet!

Anybody and everybody loves cute pets! Unfortunately, most college apartments and dorms don’t allow dogs and cats. Luckily, they do allow even cuter animals. This Valentine’s day, buy your boo a worm or a cricket! These creatures are not only small and easy to maintain, but they’re also inexpensive. Most pet stores sell them near the snakes section at an alarmingly cheap price. This plan is nearly foolproof for winning over the heart of your Valentine!

5) Make your love a special dinner

Who doesn’t love food? Food made by your true love is high ranking in terms of special. Unfortunately, either many of us don’t have a stove or have no clue how to cook. Luckily enough, regardless of your situation there is one recipe that we can all master: hard boiled eggs! If you have skills in the kitchen, great! You’re very special! If not, go to the nearest gas station as many sell hard boiled eggs at a low price. If you’re lucky, they’ll provide you with free delicacies such a ketchup, mustard, and salt! Your bae is going to #swoon.

Hopefully your Valentine’s day will be a smashing success! At the very least, I hope you’ve enjoyed a good laugh and feel less stressed as you think about ways to impress your young love.

After the Election Ideas

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Julia Aldrich

This year is likely to go down in history as one of the most memorable year in politics. It was memorable to many due to the two main party candidates and their antics but also memorable due to how annoying everything became. The Facebook rants came often, the debates were hard to watch, and it was impossible to have a conversation with someone without them mentioning (or forcing upon you) their political views. I can only be thankful this Thanksgiving for the gift of voting day coming before the holiday. I’m sure many of us can agree that houses would fall apart over who was fit for president. But now that election season is coming to a close, we can start opening up space in our lives for something other than Clinton or Trump centered. Here are my suggestions.

Train for a Marathon

Were you constantly feeling fired up? Did some of Trump’s comments make you want to flip a table? Did Lester Holt start a flame deep within you? Just because the ballots are closing doesn’t mean you need to calm down. Start training for a marathon! Manifest that deep anger and use it to up your mileage. If your candidate didn’t win, then avenge them in the ultimate feat of strength by shouting their name as you cross the finish line. Nobody will judge you, trust me.

Start a Punk Band

Nothing is as great for channeling angst like a garage punk band. Having to endure months of bickering about email scandals can lead anyone to feel like they want to dye their hair black and jam out on an electric guitar. Also, this gives you an opportunity to write some emotionally charged songs about how the election affected you. Keep angry and jam on! Aleppo Moment? Dibs on the band name.

Throw a Political Party

Invite all of the republicans and democrats you know for America’s next best political party! Stage fake debates, make musical parodies of such debates and share them on your timeline! Go down in history with your candidates and dance the night away in the name of America. Make sure everyone dresses in red, white and blue!

Meditate

Meditate for both the wellbeing of yourself as well as your country. American is exhausted. Take the time you’d normally spend protesting at Trump rallies to unwind and reflect. Understand that everything happens for a reason. The world could always use more zen. Light some candles and set and intention for our next president’s wellbeing, as well as your own. Everything is going to be just fine…I hope.

Make Some Change!

If your party lost the presidency, then you might be feeling like your vote didn’t count. However, my best option is to get motivated, take some political science courses, attend law school, and become president! Actually, you don’t have to have much of a political background at all to be the most powerful person in the United States. In that case, I recommend majoring in some sort of music. Therefore, if you lose in the election, you can always start an angst-y punk band!

How are you dealing with the election being over? Drop us some comments below!

Pokemon Go Controversy

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Julia Rivera

Attention all 20-30 year olds: the card game you grew up loving is now available on your smartphone. Pokemon has gotten a make-over and people are going crazy over it.

Released on July 6 Pokemon Go has adults reliving their childhood, but at what cost. Since the games’ release, there have been a number of attacks and peculiar incidents. On July 14, two North San Diego County men fell off a bluff while playing the game. One of the men fell nearly 50 feet and was knocked unconscious while the other fell 75-100 feet, said Battalion Chief Robbie Ford of the Encinitas Fire Department. Both men suffered moderate injuries and were taken to area trauma centers.

Further north, in Anaheim, a player was stabbed by a group of men in a park. The victim who is in his 20s, was playing the game around 12:30 am when he encountered a group of men. Anaheim police sergeant Luis Correa said five to six men, ranging in age from teens to 20s, attacked the man and stabbed him several times. The motive for the attack is still unclear, however the group did not lure the victim into the park. The man had non-life threatening injuries.

The bizarre incidences don’t stop there. Pokemon Go users have also been robbed and carjacked while out playing the game.

People need to realize their lives are not worth catching a fictional character. To those who wish to relive a game that they once held dear to their heart I say catch em’ all, but please be careful! The game leaves people unknowingly vulnerable and in harms way. Just today I was driving through my town and saw a man barely miss being hit by a car all because he was trying to catch a Pokemon. I understand it’s an exciting blast from the past, but be sure to always be aware of your surroundings when playing.

The app has taken a couple of steps to help prevent the above scenarios with their latest updates, which include safety warnings.

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