Larger Than Life

WASA elects new leaders

2009-04-12T00:14:00.001-04:00

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Don't forget!

2009-04-07T22:02:00.002-04:00

Please remember the information from the “Ask the President” chapel today. They are as follows:

Follett Sale in the Lee Bookstore in the PCSU
o 50% off Lee University insignia gifts and clothing
o Wed., April 8
o 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sodexo Meeting
o Mike Nagorka, Director of Sodexo Services, will meet with anyone who has a suggestion or question regarding the food services in the Dining Hall
o Thurs., April 16, 3:00 p.m.
o Deacon Jones Dining Hall

"Ode to the Beach"

2009-04-05T01:20:00.000-04:00

“Ode to the Beach”

Poem by Liz Hill

After enduring long hours of homework,

Countless laboratory accidents and toxic quantities of formaldehyde,

We say goodbye to our own private beach and (not-so) favorite vacation spot.

You have aided in the establishment of numerous medical careers

And witnessed scientific advancements.

You have stood beside creationism in its fight against Darwinian evolution.

You have embraced the complexities of genetics and quantum physics.

Even now, you welcome destruction in exchange for new life.

Your influence none can measure.

With your experience, none dare compete.

Your death brings new life to future doctors, scientists, and mathematicians

And though we are sad to see you go, we know death is the natural product of life.

Thank you for teaching discipline and hard work to those who begged your training.

Thank you for years of contemplation, growth, and intellectual development.

We raise our beakers to you, Old Friend,

May you rest in piece and never be forgotten!

Lee University Beach Building

1966-2009

April Fools made fools of many

2009-04-03T13:27:00.004-04:00

Conficker and "I Love You" are just a two names of the many over hyped computer viruses that were to spell doom for the civilian computer sector.

I am somewhat of a computer geek so when I hear from the news about the newest computer virus that they got wind of, I cringe.

I know shortly after, I will be receiving phone calls from all my relatives asking me, "Have you heard about that new virus?"

"What can I do to make sure I don't have that new virus I heard about on the news?"

"Is my computer going to explode?"

Conficker is a large botnet that has by some accounts infected around 1 to 2 million machines. Even though they are infected they still aren't at risk just yet. The virus still has to be activated by the person who created it.

If it gets activated then the infected computers could be used for anything from stealing data, sending spam or more likely proforming DDOS attacks.

Data stealing is the only real function that is harmful to you.

The other two (sending spam and DDOS attacks) use your machine to attack other larger targets, but with that being said the large portion of computers infected and targeted belong to companies and large corporations.

Every time I get that call I have to tell them there is nothing to worry about, nothing is going to happen. Because, just as I said, this April Fools nothing happened!

This is the kind of stuff that happens when the news channels don't have any real news so they take any other story and report just the same as if it were a big story.

So next time you hear about a huge virus sweeping the nation and taking over computers everywhere, don't panic. It's likely you won't get hit.

This blog post was contributed by Stephen Butler, staff writer.

Interesting Words: Gourmand

2009-04-02T14:14:00.001-04:00

Word for today: gourmand

Gourmand- (goor-MAHND) [French] n. a person who takes hearty, excessive pleasure in eating.

Enjoy this, kids! Use it at some point today!

It's all fun and games until somebody counts tiles.

2009-04-01T23:03:00.006-04:00

As many are now well aware, today was April Fools' Day. If you're one of the heartless tricksters out there, bragging to your friends about your successful endeavors, shame on you (and a simultaneous congratulations on your skill and cunning).

And if you are one of the many fools out there, licking your wounds and swearing you'll never fall for that one again, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone.

I was neither directly involved in a prank, nor was I the target of a prank. But I was able to stand aside and enjoy one.

Simply for reading pleasure, here's the rundown.

Otis works with me at the grocery store. Funny kid, apparently not the brightest.

The irony of April Fools' could not be better summed up in his experience. As he was secretly trying to scheme against our manager, he got himself into a little bit of trouble.

The tables turned on him, and without him knowing it, he had the entire store against him.

As the closing bagger, he has the duty of cleaning the store. This includes scrubbing the bathrooms. A perfect time for, oh, I don't know, a tile inventory?

Our manager told poor, gullible Otis that we were re-tiling the men's bathroom (only the men's bathroom), and that we needed all the tiles counted.

Perhaps it's not Otis' fault. After all, he trusts his managers. But then again, critical thinking calls us to question all things. This would have been an excellent time to put this into practice.

While the tile-counting part was funny, it didn't stop there. Otis was also instructed to measure the toilets, in order to accurately re-tile those floors (because apparently, tiling companies don't know how to measure).

Needless to say, prank-pulling victory was sweet when we all got to see the red embarrassment creeping up Otis' neck and around that goofy smile. He was a good sport about it.

While the experience could have been seen as kind of cruel, it wasn't a complete waste. In fact, it was very educational for Otis. If you ask him now, he can tell you with confidence that there are 548 tiles in the men's bathroom.

Thanks for the memories, Otis.

Communication lines blurring?

2009-03-30T15:40:00.006-04:00

I would love to see the results from this survey, because at first, under question 12, I laughed at the "Text Message" option.

I thought calling professors on the phone was kind of awkward, but now people are texting? I mean, honestly, who really texts their adviser?

But I guess this is the 21st century. Anything can happen, right?

Words. Words. Words.

2009-03-26T18:07:00.004-04:00

So I'm blog shopping.

Not for the Clarion, of course. I mean, what more could I want from my professional blog? Nothing.

But for my personal blog? I wanted something a little different. Therefore, I began shopping.

I wanted something a little different than the usual. Blogger is classic, but classic wasn't the goal.

Wordpress is too...oh, I don't know, boxy? I don't feel that I have the freedom to be creative.

Tumblr is just not geared towards writers.

So, with a little help from my friends (thanks, Shashank!), I discovered Word Count Journal.

It doesn't necessarily start out writer-friendly, but it certainly has a creative spin to it, and that, my friends, is what sold me.

The concept is that over a span of 365 days, you journal daily, beginning with one word and adding one word to each day. Therefore, a year from now, I'll have a final blog post of 365 words and an accumulated....well, a lot of accumulated words (math isn't my strong point).

I'm so excited to start my journal. I know what my first word will be! One of my faves...

Walmart gang scares thought to be rumors

2009-03-22T17:18:00.003-04:00

Rumors spread about certain “Gang Initiations” to take place at any Wal-Mart this week. Reports of these rumors originally surfaced in Arkansas, and since then, have moved across the states of New Mexico, Florida, Tennessee and so on.

The rumors were sent by e-mail and text-messaging, varying in content, but centered around one particular theme “Gang Initiation.”

Two messages were recently sent to me today. One message said, “Do not go to any Wal-Mart tonight. Gang initiation to shoot 3 women tonight. Not sure which Wal-Mart. And confirmed on T.V. Fwd to all girls in your phone.”

The other was similar in wording, but left out the forward part.

After getting word of the rumors, Wal-Mart gave the following statement: “The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority. We are aware of the message being circulated and are working with local authorities to enhance our security efforts at our stores in the area. While we take these types of situations seriously, we regard this as being only a rumor, much like similar rumors that have circulated via e-mail in previous years.”

According to Snopes.com, a similar incident occurred in 2005 about a recently developed Mexican gang that was targeting African American women at Wal-Mart and Target. The rumors started in north Texas and spread like wildfire throughout many states.

Since the rumors were spreading throughout Tennessee now, I spoke with Cleveland Police Department about the situation.

“We are aware of it,” said Jessica Boyd, records clerk at the Cleveland Police Department. “We are taking precautions for it.”

She also commented that they suspect this is only a rumor.

This blog post contributed by Jessica Eldridge, staff writer.

How to Get an Internship

2009-02-19T13:06:00.002-05:00

If you've taken your global perspectives trip, finished all your services hours, aced all your courses and think you're done -- you're not.

With the economy in a lull, jobs are hard to find, so you want to make yourself as appealing as possible. In short, you're going to need more than a new haircut.

An important item to check off your list of post-graduation preparedness is an internship.

Not all majors at Lee require students to do professional internships, but if you are looking to get a job after college, now is the time to take all the necessary steps.

Below is a list of tips that can aid you in your search for some early job experience and maybe even help you land that dream job after college.

1. Talk with teachers and bosses- organizations will talk with professors and people at your school about you.

2. Use your school- Talk with the Calling & and Career Center (they are here to help you).

3. Network with friends- you never know who their parents are, or who they know. They might be able to hook you up!

4. Go straight to the source- go to the company and ask, if they dont have an internship program maybe they could build one for you.

5. Update your resume- add an objective just for that organization! You want them to know you are interested and want the job!

6. Practice interviewing- make sure you are confident and comfortable. Know your skills and abilities.

7. Choose the right references- they will call the people you reference. They want to hire someone that are worth while.

8. Look beyond your comfort zone- try to find something outside of your area, move somewhere youve never been, expand your horizons.

9. Dont rely on just one source- apply to as many internships as possible! Even try the ones you dont think you will get! You may offer the ogranization something no else has!

10. Remeber, its never to late and shoot for the stars- You never know whats available until you ask, go for your dreams even if they seem big.

Andrea Matthews, Lee Clarion staff writer, contributed information to this blog post. The information contributed was gathered from http://www.thestreet.com/story/10411317/2/ten-ways-to-land-an-internship.html.

CVS: The New Best Buy

2009-02-09T00:50:00.003-05:00

First, we had Christina vs. Britney. Then it was Burger King vs. McDonald's. Recently, it was Best Buy vs. Circuit City.

It's always interesting for us to sit back and watch these feuds. Although it was a little bit sad to see Circuit City go, it came as no surprise. They had been sinking for a while.

After having so many great examples of pop culture feuds growing up, I'd like to go ahead and prophecy the next one: CVS vs. Walgreens. I'm in favor of CVS.

It's not that I have anything against Walgreens, really. It's simply that there is a job to be done, and CVS is doing it better. Don't believe me? Let's discuss.

1. Color Scheme: While some would argue that, in the case of Best Buy and Circuit City, blue is a much more aesthetically pleasing color, and red is abrasive, I find that the opposite is true for the CVS vs. Walgreens bout.

Here's the thing: CVS uses space as an element in their design scheme, whereas Walgreens emphasizes more of a lack of space. So when you walk into Walgreens, even though they highlight the much more soothing blue, you can't see it for the ten-foot shelves drowned in clutter.

At CVS, you walk in and feel like you can breathe. Which brings us to our next point.

2. Spacial Design: When you walk into Walgreens, you can hardly see past the front door. You have no idea what could be on the other side of that store. Much less, if you're looking for anything, it's a lost cause.

But in CVS, not only are the aisles kept short (barely over 5 feet, which I love, being abnormally small), but there are also signs hanging over the aisles, clearly defining what you can expect to find on those shelves. And unlike Walgreens, the signs are true to their word.

Though some would argue that Walgreens could potentially make more of a profit by stocking more product on the shelf, let's be honest: who is going to look, much less reach, that high anyway? Exactly.

To top it all off, CVS has the cute little winding path that curves throughout the store.

I mean, what's more appealing than a casual meander? At Walgreens, there are a million ways to one destination, and after a long day of work and classes, the last thing I want is a maze.

3. Coupon Craze: Ok, I'm not one to clip coupons, but at CVS you get coupons that are just better.

They cater to your shopping needs, and while they aren't always useful, they are a step ahead of Walgreens. Since they print off of your old receipt, you have it with you attached and don't have to keep up with extra flyaway papers.

Now, the battle is keeping up with that receipt...

So I realize that this rant may be slightly subjective (understatement), but it's nothing more than a prediction, and as a constituent of the population, I would simply like to venture forth with my own economical prophecy.

Mark my words, folks. If Walgreens doesn't get their act together, the corner feuds that are plaguing American suburbs today will be little more than a memory tomorrow.

Do you hear what I hear? It's the sound...of silence.

2009-02-08T23:08:00.004-05:00

So the 2009 Grammys are drawing to a close, and they have been interesting.

Hey, did you hear Coldplay's really awesome version of "Lost" at the Grammys tonight? No? Me either.

You know why? Because the audio was awful.

I wonder how many people got fired tonight, because they couldn't get the sound right. The audio problems ranged from "sound turbulence" as I like to call it, to all-out breaks in the sound, and occasionally even complete blackouts.

I mean, hey, I'm not opposed to silence, but breaks in the middle of performances by world-famous artists could not better epitomize the term "inconvenient."

The amazing thing wasn't that these small hiccups occurred once or twice at the onset, but that they continued throughout the night.

Refresh my memory, isn't this the biggest music event of the year? Music being that aural thing we like. Yeah.

In reality, the Grammy budget was probably so depleted after getting all those big names in, that they had to pull random people off the street to man the sound boards.

Nonetheless, interesting night. I think my favorite part was the vocal juxtaposition of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift. That was a mistake that never should have happened.

But apparently being the same age makes you "best friends" and a good Grammys match-up. If nothing else, Cyrus' performance reignites my own hope of someday performing at the Grammys.

However, as far as fashion goes, M.I.A.'s ensembles reassured me that umbrella dresses and awkwardly revealing, unclassifiable garments are acceptable. Just in case I ever have a wild hair in the future.

Overall, the evening was full of surprises, pleasant and otherwise. For a rundown of the predictions met with the award winners, read on:

- Album of the year: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: "Raising Sand."
- Rap album of the year: Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III."
- Best male pop vocal performance: John Mayer's "Say."
- Best new artist: Adele
- Best rock album: Coldplay
- Song of the year: "Chasing Pavements"
- Best country performance by a duo or group: Sugarland's "Stay."

And lots more. To see a liveblog of the event, click away!

Bible in a Minute

2009-02-07T16:33:00.002-05:00

Having trouble studying for that Bible exam? Listen to this informational video a few times.

You'll ace it in minutes.

Lee Clarion Geographic

2009-02-04T11:27:00.003-05:00

Thanks to brilliant minds and brilliant models, timeless art can be recreated.

This portrait now on sale for the bargain price of $2,000,000.99. Hurry and order yours today!

Photo illustration by Janchai Montrelerdrasme.

25 Reasons Not to Do the "25 Random Things" Survey

2009-01-29T01:06:00.005-05:00

To be honest, I can't think of 25 reasons not to fill out that survey. In fact, the only valid reason I haven't filled it out yet is because I've been too busy.

Oh, and bandwagon events tend to turn me off to something.

But I can't help but notice it when I sign on to Facebook, and my newsfeed is dominated by these strange notifications. I mean, look at these:

And that's just one page's worth from today, not to mention yesterday's and the day before. It makes me wonder...

What's the catch? Why is everyone so quick to fill this thing out?

I've come up with two explanations:

1. Someone somewhere is paying people off to fill this thing out in hopes of hacking into millions of Facebook accounts globally and take over the world.

OR...

2. People just like to talk about themselves.

I'm leaning towards number 1. However, just for good measure, I filled one out. And just to "one up" everyone else on Facebook, I'm posting it here too!

Enjoi!

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. One of my legs is shorter than the other one. (As if my legs weren't short enough already)

2. I play piano but I can't really sight read.

3. Late night snacking is my weakness.

4. I don't know how to cook. I've messed up Mac N Cheese before.

5. I hope to one day visit the Aurora Borealis.

6. I hate performing by myself but love performing with one or more people.

7. Misspelling of the word "definitely" annoys me. Severely.

8. I struggle to go to bed before 11:30 p.m.

9. I love the taste of hazelnut coffee but hate the smell of it.

10. The texture of food is the deciding factor for me - I can eat yogurt but not pudding. (I don't care what you say, they're different!)

11. I'm shy around new people and crazy around old friends.

12. I'm still friends with my best friends from junior high.

13. My initials spell JAW.

14. I used to hate the color yellow. I'm still not quite friends with it.

15. I have no accent. I'm accentless.

16. I hate-nay, loathe conversations on the phone and am known for missing calls.

17. I have the terrible habit of laying something down somewhere and two minutes later, I can't find it.

18. I didn't get my driver's license til I was a senior in highschool.

19. If good music is on, I will dance.

20. I love Nintendo.

21. It'd be cool, I think, to work on the movie production team of Disney.

22. I can't keep up with consistent things consistently: tv shows, medicine, journaling, etc.

23. I love school.

24. I think I still like the old Facebook better. I don't know.

25. I do not like chocolate by itself; I also do not like a large amount of it all at once.

For more fun with the "25 Things" mania, check out the Times.

Not to toot my own horn or anything but...toot, toot!

2009-01-28T01:06:00.006-05:00

Look what I discovered!

Ok, so I didn't discover it, actually. Harrison did.

However, my picture--I mean, my art--was better than Harrison's, and Michelle's for that matter.

A little narcissistic, you say? Let me explain.

It's expressionist. Therefore, I may express my opinion about my expressionist masterpiece and dub it superior to all other attempts at art.

Or at least that's my interpretation of the term.

Don't bother arguing. I know the truth is often difficult to accept, but you have to face it.

The good news? You yourself can go to jacksonpollock.org and work on your craft.

Jackson Pollock (January 28, 1912 – August 11, 1956) was a talented painter who experimented with expressionist paintings among other things, and is remembered for working with his paintings either tacked to a wall or the floor.

He said it made him feel more one with the work. I can see that.

Although my work wasn't tacked to a wall and I wasn't slinging paint, there is still a deep connection with my art. I mean, just look at it.

Doesn't it just provoke so much in you? I think Pollock would have been impressed with me.

I guess I'll let you see Harrison and Michelle's too. They're a little rough around the edges, but with a little of my expert coaching, I think they've got potential.

Harrison:

Michelle:

All egocentric, self-absorbed, arrogant, narcissistic comments made in this blog post are completely fictitious and any resemblance to the author's real character is a coincidence.

Cold winter blues getting you down?

2009-01-25T15:32:00.002-05:00

This winter try a new approach to the cold weather by using this simple guide of the surrounding areas to keep you going through these chilly months.

If studying in the dorm just won't do, try going to Panera here in Cleveland. For a change in scenery one can also enjoy the Chattanooga location. The Internet is free, and the bagels and coffee are a simple solution to the munchies that develop while writing those early semester papers.

Another coffee gem is Rembrandt's Coffee House in downtown Chattanooga. They provide an inviting environment, with sandwich, soup and even a chance for a free cup of joe with the answer to the daily question. And we all know that free tastes better.

If Cleveland just won't feed the need for excitement, try a new location. According to junior Allie Ward, "The best way to escape the cold is to go to new places. Short road trips to Nashville or Atlanta will keep the adventures of summer in colder weather times."

If traveling is not an option for you, there is always a good book waiting at the library with a cup of hot chocolate or the Red Box located outside of Walgreen's off of Ocoee Street, where movies are only one dollar.

Senior Elle Greely said, "The best way to escape cold weather is to simply embrace this seasonal change. This weather forces people to stay inside opening more opportunities to interact with friends and enhance your relationships with them."

Enjoy the cold weather now because the hot sticky summer is just around the corner. Bring out the sweaters, gloves and hats, but don't forget to still have a good time in spite of the winter weather.

Blog post submitted by Lauren Miller, Lee Clarion Staff Writer.

Delicious decor you've been dreaming of

2009-01-18T15:42:00.006-05:00

As the new semester begins and students nestle back into their homey dorm rooms, snug apartments and cozy houses, many strive to achieve fashion on a tight budget with budgeted space.

For those who are seeking to break trends and wow their friends, try this tantalizing design deviation.

Looks like hamburgers are refreshments in more ways than one.

So get yourself a stunning new hamburger bed and dive right in to the sandwich of your dreams.

For more interesting products, go to LikeCool.com.

RIAA ends war against file-sharers

2009-01-17T18:57:00.003-05:00

Five years and nearly 35,000 lawsuits later, the Recording Industry Association of America is stopping its legal war against individuals for file-sharing activities.

The announcement comes as a relief for many students who worried about facing fines; however, the University of Pennsylvania has not yet determined how it will affect its policies, if at all.

Instead of filing lawsuits, the RIAA has signed "graduated response" agreements with several major Internet service providers to combat illegal file-sharing.

Individuals who are found to be in violation of piracy law will receive three warnings before their Internet service is suspended or cut off completely.

The organization plans to send an e-mail to the violator's ISP, reporting the file-sharing taking place. Depending on the specific agreement signed with the ISP, the e-mail will be forwarded to the customer or the ISP will simply ask the user to stop sharing files.

Previously, some of the loudest criticism against the RIAA stemmed from its subpoenas for ISPs to disclose customers' names. The organization hopes that the new policy will allay these privacy concerns.

RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol said in a statement, "A graduated response program is far less blunt, far more efficient and, we believe, ultimately far more effective to protect the property rights of the music community."

Details about which service providers have signed agreements have not been released. However, Verizon has said it will not participate.

The RIAA plans to continue with its ongoing legal proceedings.

Penn's policy in the past has been to forward violation letters to students, who could then pay a $3,000 fine or risk further legal action.

This fall, the university rolled out a "Know the Facts" campaign with posters around campus to discourage file-sharing and warn of the monetary consequences violators could face.

There are no current plans to change the university's policy because they are waiting for further details from the RIAA, according to Leo Charney from the Provost's Office.

In total, the RIAA has sent 114 pre-litigation letters to Penn students since February 2007.

Many argued that the lawsuits did little to curb music piracy and instead portrayed the industry and the RIAA in a very negative light.

One such critic, Wharton and College sophomore Aneesh Jain, said he thought the policies were ineffective.

"Mass quantities of music have been pirated," he said. "All it created for them was a PR headache and finally they've gotten some sense knocked into them."

However, Wharton junior Sagar Shah believes the RIAA was justified in its original actions.

"Musicians are losing money they deserve and it is unfair for them to receive no compensation for their hard work and product," he said.

This new approach will be closely watched by other industries, like film and television, who may follow suit if it is successful. Piracy of movies and television shows has increased in recent years due to faster downloading technology.

This article was written by Travis Winkler, reporter for the Daily Pennsylvanian, on Jan. 14, 2009.

"Cry Out: The Language Barrier"

2009-01-14T18:14:00.004-05:00

Cry Out: The Language Barrier
by Tommy Acuff

I try not to talk too much about the work here...but today, at the job, I found myself educated in the vernacular.

I recently hired a gentleman who hailed originally from Albany, New York. Nice enough fellow...moved down here due to a family circumstance, and he found employment with yours, truly.

I'm a fan of accents. I don't know why...I just like the idea that one word will sound differently coming from one person's mouth or another's. Moreover, I am a fan of my friend's New York accent. He came in afraid that he'd get made fun of, but being a college town, we've got kids from Maine, Ohio and New York wearing their accents like badges. More than that, two of our department managers are from Michigan and Maryland....the last one with mid-atlantic accent so prominent it sounds like its embedded itself in his chest....

Well, my new friend is not a fan of accents, and after today's lesson, I can see where he's coming from.

I'm doing my job, which today consisted mainly of fighting with the world, and letting everything I touch turn to crap. In the midst of doing so, he comes to me. I see him coming to me, a look of frustration practically buzzing off his face.

"Where is the Cry Out?"

"Where is the what?"

Occasionally, his accent will create a barrier. It is generally quickly overcome.

"The Cry Out."

After a second's thought which first yields a brand of paint, I admit: "I don't know what that is, brother...."

He asks me to come with him, and he takes me to the customer.

And sure enough, she asks for "Cry Out."

"Cry Out?" I ask...not getting it at first. After a second it kicks in.

"Let's go over here and see if this is what you're looking for.

And I take her to the Sour Cry Out.

Or, as I've always pronounced it, despite being born and raised in Appalachia...

Sauerkraut.

"That's It!" she says, somehow managing to wedge extra syllables into those words, too...

I went back to my New York friend, and told him not to worry. I've been here all my life, and that one threw me for a friggin' loop.

To which he replies..."Woi you peepul kint just tawk nommil, I'll nevah know...."

This blog post was submitted by Tommy Acuff, Food Lion Assistant Store Manager, of Athens, Tenn.

It's time for change, and I don't mean the Obama kind.

2009-01-14T13:06:00.004-05:00

I'm a fan of Old Navy, relatively. So you can imagine my concern when I read the headline pictured above.

"What?!" I cried. "Surely Old Navy isn't closing??"

While Old Navy may not be closing for good, the threat of shutting locations down is looming.

It's a sad day, indeed. Old Navy has been there through it all. Remember the classic gray t-shirts that everyone had in junior high? What about the Fourth of July apparel? You could always count on it to be there.

And all those comfy pajama options! Yes, this morning, I felt as though I was losing a friend.

However, it seems that Old Navy's not the only shop steeped in stress.

Big names like Best Buy, Macy's, Tiffany's and more may not be as untouchable as they seem.

With the struggling economy, more and more people are inclined to save their money -- just what these stores are afraid of.

What will the solution be? Who knows.

Apparently, Obama's call for change is looking more and more attractive. Monetary change, that is.

The irony of all this can be summed up in Verizon's AOL headline.

Did you laugh as hard as I did?

While the fate of retail companies hangs in the country's cloudy economic balance, it is important to count our blessings.

At least Cleveland finally got a Target.

To read the full article from AOL, click here.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

2009-01-04T13:47:00.003-05:00

It's January 4th, 2009. I've barely scratched the surface of what the year holds and yet, I'm thoroughly depressed.

Why, you ask? I'll tell you why.

I can't decide on whether or not to play Christmas music.

Department stores can't decide on whether or not to keep the Christmas decor up or not.

The holidays are over, but people are still wishing me a "Happy New Year."

I'm left in the wake of Christmas a whole three pounds heavier.

And worst of all, I've only got a week and a half of break left.

See what I mean? Things are great! It's 2009! A fresh start! New beginnings!

And yet, I'm sad. A paradox.

I think that allowing Christmas decor to linger after the holidays is a cruel thing to do, because you know all the fun and festivities are over. Now, it's back to business.

My difficult decisions used to be whether to eat the tantalizing turkey or the honey baked ham. Now I have to decide between Amazon.com or or the Lee bookstore.

I'm a big girl. I can handle these changes and I can put my nose back to the grind without complaining.

But for pete's sake, people, can we make a decision about when Christmas is over?

Creatures of a Day

2008-12-18T03:24:00.003-05:00

Fact: Pauses, punctuation and breaks are important in poetry, among other things. So go check out the link to see what this poem should really look like.

Enjoy the language. It's lovely.

Sleepless in the Cold Dark

- Reginald Gibbons

From the collection of poems "Creatures of a Day"

Sleepless
in the cold dark,
I look
through the closed dim
door be-
fore me, which be-
comes an
abyss into
which my
memories have
fallen
past laughter or
horror,
passion or hard
work—my
memories of
our past
laughter, horror,
passion,
hard work. An ache
of be-
ing. An ache of
being,
over love. An
ache of
being over
love. Like
projections on
the screen
of the heavy
window
curtains, flashing
lights of
a slow-scraping
after-
midnight snowplow
for a
moment pulse in
this room.

Lee professor hand-selected by Obama for housing secretary

2008-12-13T10:10:00.004-05:00

I'm excited to be the first source of Lee University news to congratulate Dr. Jerome Hammond on the honor of being hand-selected by President-Elect Barack Obama to serve his country in a new way.

Lee has been privileged to have him as a professor and is ecstatic to see him off on this new adventure in life.

Wait, what? That's not Jerome Hammond? Are you sure?!

Imposter!

Nearly half of employers see this on resumes

2008-12-12T05:47:00.003-05:00

1. Candidate claimed to be a member of the Kennedy family

2. Applicant invented a school that did not exist

3. Job seeker submitted a resume with someone else's photo inserted into the document

4. Candidate claimed to be a member of Mensa

5. Applicant claimed to have worked for the hiring manager before, but never had

6. Job seeker claimed to be the CEO of a company when he was an hourly employee

7. Candidate listed military experience dating back to before he was born

8. Job seeker included samples of work, which were actually those of the interviewer

9. Candidate claimed to have been a professional baseball player

List gathered from an article written by Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at careerbuilder.com. To read the full article, check it out here.

Name that building!

2008-12-07T08:00:00.003-05:00

So most of us have noticed the large building that is taking shape on the north side of campus and some of us have even checked out the building blueprints.

But my question is, when will we know what the new science and math building will be named?

As part of the "Press Toward the Mark" campaign, I'm sure that there is a pretty large group of donors who contributed to the funds that made the new building a reality.

But perhaps the name will have nothing to do with financial donors, but with pioneers who helped bring the math and science departments where they are today.

Will there be more than one name, like Obannon/Bowdle and Sharp/Davis, where each wing gets its own name?

And who gets to make the decision anyway?

In the meantime, I want to know what names you can come up with.

Be imaginative and don't worry about using someone's name for now.

Think of something great enough and it just might catch on...

Post contributed by Jessica Ray, staff writer.

Lonely little lost and found

2008-12-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Twas the week of final exams, and all over campus, students were abuzz.

Abuzz with the excitement of quickly approaching the end of the semester, abuzz with the stress of finishing all those projects and papers and exams, abuzz with the rush of caffeine.

In the midst of this buzziness, there was one who sat quiet, waiting.

The little blue bike.

The first day that students noticed the bike waiting patiently for its master outside the cheerful Jazzman's door, many thought surely, the owner must be nearby. For after all, no one leaves their bike unwatched and unattached to something harnessed firmly to the ground.

However, the little blue bike remained faithful by the door, watching countless students hurry by. Yet not a one came to claim the forlorn, two-wheeled friend.

By the second day, students laughed, incredulous over the vigil the little blue bike kept by the coffee shop door. Where could the owner be?

By day three, it was just weird.

"Is this some kind of new social experiment?" many wondered.

Regardless of whether it was or was not, students refrained from taking the little blue bike home with them, despite its lonely look.

We now have a record of four days standing. What's more, the owner has received an interesting offer.

If nothing else, this is an interesting new frontier for classified ads.

Please, Owner, wherever you are, respond. Bikes are one of man's best friends (coming in close second after dogs) and it wants to be wanted, needs to be needed.

And plus, it's getting cold outside.

Please Owner,

don't almost give your bike away. Do it.

Your little blue bike faithfully awaits you.

NY Times 10 Best Books of the Year

2008-12-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

FICTION

DANGEROUS LAUGHTER
Thirteen Stories
By Steven Millhauser.
Alfred A. Knopf, $24.

In his first collection in five years, a master fabulist in the tradition of Poe and Nabokov invents spookily plausible parallel universes in which the deepest human emotions and yearnings are transformed into their monstrous opposites. Millhauser is especially attuned to the purgatory of adolescence. In the title story, teenagers attend sinister “laugh parties”; in another, a mysteriously afflicted girl hides in the darkness of her attic bedroom. Time and again these parables revive the possibility that “under this world there is another, waiting to be born.” (Excerpt)

A MERCY
By Toni Morrison.
Alfred A. Knopf, $23.95.

The fate of a slave child abandoned by her mother animates this allusive novel — part Faulknerian puzzle, part dream-song — about orphaned women who form an eccentric household in late-17th-century America. Morrison’s farmers and rum traders, masters and slaves, indentured whites and captive Native Americans live side by side, often in violent conflict, in a lawless, ripe American Eden that is both a haven and a prison — an emerging nation whose identity is rooted equally in Old World superstitions and New World appetites and fears. (First Chapter)

NETHERLAND
By Joseph O’Neill.
Pantheon Books, $23.95.

O’Neill’s seductive ode to New York — a city that even in bad times stubbornly clings to its belief “in its salvific worth” — is narrated by a Dutch financier whose privileged Manhattan existence is upended by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. When his wife departs for London with their small son, he stays behind, finding camaraderie in the unexpectedly buoyant world of immigrant cricket players, most of them West Indians and South Asians, including an entrepreneur with Gatsby-size aspirations. (First Chapter)

2666
By Roberto Bolaño. Translated by Natasha Wimmer.
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, cloth and paper, $30.

Bolaño, the prodigious Chilean writer who died at age 50 in 2003, has posthumously risen, like a figure in one of his own splendid creations, to the summit of modern fiction. This latest work, first published in Spanish in 2004, is a mega- and meta-detective novel with strong hints of apocalyptic foreboding. It contains five separate narratives, each pursuing a different story with a cast of beguiling characters — European literary scholars, an African-American journalist and more — whose lives converge in a Mexican border town where hundreds of young women have been brutally murdered. (Excerpt)

UNACCUSTOMED EARTH
By Jhumpa Lahiri.
Alfred A. Knopf, $25.

There is much cultural news in these precisely observed studies of modern-day Bengali-Americans — many of them Ivy-league strivers ensconced in prosperous suburbs who can’t quite overcome the tug of traditions nurtured in Calcutta..With quiet artistry and tender sympathy, Lahiri creates an impressive range of vivid characters — young and old, male and female, self-knowing and self-deluding — in engrossing stories that replenish the classic themes of domestic realism: loneliness, estrangement and family discord. (Excerpt)

NONFICTION

THE DARK SIDE
The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals
By Jane Mayer.
Doubleday, $27.50.

Mayer’s meticulously reported descent into the depths of President Bush’s antiterrorist policies peels away the layers of legal and bureaucratic maneuvering that gave us Guantánamo Bay, “extraordinary rendition,” “enhanced” interrogation methods, “black sites,” warrantless domestic surveillance and all the rest. But Mayer also describes the efforts ofunsung heroes, tucked deep inside the administration, who risked their careers in the struggle to balance the rule of law against the need to meet a threat unlike any other in the nation’s history.

THE FOREVER WAR
By Dexter Filkins.
Alfred A. Knopf, $25.

The New York Times correspondent, whose tours of duty have taken him from Afghanistan in 1998 to Iraq during the American intervention, captures a decade of armed struggle in harrowingly detailed vignettes. Whether interviewing jihadists in Kabul, accompanying marines on risky patrols in Falluja or visiting grieving families in Baghdad, Filkins makes us see, with almost hallucinogenic immediacy, the true human meaning and consequences of the “war on terror.” (First Chapter)

NOTHING TO BE FRIGHTENED OF
By Julian Barnes.
Alfred A. Knopf, $24.95.

This absorbing memoir traces Barnes’s progress from atheism (at age 20) to agnosticism (at 60) and examines the problem of religion not by rehashing the familiar quarrel between science and mystery, but rather by weighing the timeless questions of mortality and aging. Barnes distills his own experiences — and those of his parents and brother — in polished and wise sentences that recall the writing of Montaigne, Flaubert and the other French masters he includes in his discussion. (First Chapter)

THIS REPUBLIC OF SUFFERING
Death and the American Civil War
By Drew Gilpin Faust.
Alfred A. Knopf, $27.95.

In this powerful book, Faust, the president of Harvard, explores the legacy, or legacies, of the “harvest of death” sown and reaped by the Civil War. In the space of four years, 620,000 Americans died in uniform, roughly the same number as those lost in all the nation’s combined wars from the Revolution through Korea. This doesn’t include the thousands of civilians killed in epidemics, guerrilla raids and draft riots. The collective trauma created “a newly centralized nation-state,” Faust writes, but it also established “sacrifice and its memorialization as the ground on which North and South would ultimately reunite.” (First Chapter)

THE WORLD IS WHAT IT IS
The Authorized Biography of V. S. Naipaul
By Patrick French.
Alfred A. Knopf, $30.

The most surprising word in this biography is “authorized.” Naipaul, the greatest of all postcolonial authors, cooperated fully with French, opening up a huge cache of private letters and diaries and supplementing the revelations they disclosed with remarkably candid interviews. It was a brave, and wise, decision. French, a first-rate biographer, has a novelist’s command of story and character, and he patiently connects his subject’s brilliant oeuvre with the disturbing facts of an unruly life. (First Chapter)

Time for a break, twinkle toes!

2008-12-04T13:03:00.004-05:00

Tchaikovsky, ballet, charity and a break from studying = The Nutcracker!

Mountain Laurel Studios, a local dance studio, is giving its fourth annual performance of The Nutcracker ballet this Saturday, Dec. 6.

To top it off, the performances are right here on our own territory at the Dixon Center.

The show features many talented young dancers and adult actors from the Cleveland community.

Madyson Foster, a Cleveland High School student, will play the role of Clara.

Mountain Laurel's rendition follows the classic tradition of The Nutcracker, taking the audience through the party scene, fight scene, land of sweets and pas de deux of the Sugar Plum fairy and Cavalier.

Mountain Laurel also invites the audience to participate in their winter charity project, "Coats for the Cold."

If you decide to go, bring a coat to donate and place it into one of the collection baskets at the theatre. The project is sponsored by Tennessee State Representative, Eric Watson and will distribute collected coats to needy individuals in the region.

Shows are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets can be bought at the door or at Mountain Laurel Studios on Keith Street. Just call (423) 479-4633 for more information.

Post contributed by Jessica Ray, staff writer.
Photo courtesy of Gary Ray.

Oh, 1GB Wonder, what art thou?

2008-12-01T15:04:00.004-05:00

It holds our memories, our music, our work, and so much more. It houses things precious to us and carries this irreplaceable cargo across barren country tundras and through vicious urban jungles, all the while bravely defending the things that we hold dear.

Oh, 1GB Wonder, where would I be without you?

To you, I raise a toast:

To the wonderful, faithful, carrier of our precious files, the pinnacle of man's technological genius, the glory of the 21st century, the one, the only...

...uhm...the...err...the...

Well, what exactly are you?

I hear so many different names, I'm not sure what to call you.

Jump drive?

Memory stick?

Thumb drive?

USB stick?

Little file transfer thingy?

You mysterious, thing, you. Trying to remain vague and ambiguous. You have many aliases, keeping your true identity a secret.

How very clever.

You truly are pure genius.

Whatever you are, to you I raise my glass!

Cheers, little pluggy-into-the-computer thingy.

It's the most wonderful time of year, huh? Speak for yourself.

2008-11-29T12:00:00.003-05:00

I have spent three of my four-day-Thanksgiving holiday working on final projects that teachers have made due the week after Thanksgiving.

It's so wrong. I have never felt so violated in my life.

They have taken the core of the idea "holiday" and robbed me of rest and relaxation.

Not only am I missing out on awesome couch potato time, I'm also missing out on family time. On top of that, I'm stressing out about getting everything done on time, therefore I'm eating even more than I already would be thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday!

*huff* Sorry, I got a little carried away.

Nonetheless, I would like to point out the silver lining on my holiday rainclouds: I have already begun mapping out my Christmas break.

I'm going to celebrate by sleeping for three days straight, working out whenever I want to (or don't want to), meeting up with old highschool friends and watching gobs of classic movies!

So...next week? Not so prepared.

Next month? Bring it on.

What about you? How are YOU going to celebrate the end of finals?

What's wrong with a little red on Black Friday?

2008-11-28T18:42:00.006-05:00

It's 6:45 p.m. on Black Friday, and I would like to take this moment to mark a historic event.

A historic event that I would like to share with all of you fine people.

Today was my first time venturing out into the thick of what is known as the biggest shopping day of the year.

As an introverted homebody, I have always been terrified of this day. Not to mention, I hate spending money (unless it's someone else's money).

However, I was in desperate need of some stuff, so I found myself forced to put on my armor and venture out into the "Blackness."

Luckily, I had some moral support (aka my mother).

While I did not spend much or uncover any life changing steals, I certainly found some stuff that made my adventure worthwhile.

I recently (as in this summer) began wanting a red winter coat.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you said coat.

So at the end of the day, I'm happy. I unexpectedly got my dream coat--did I mention it was half-price? Cha-ching!

Oh, and I discovered a little Black Friday trivia: although many probably already know this (all you brave people who actually go out on this crazy day), I found out today that Black Friday is called this because it's usually the only day out of the year that businesses find themselves completely in the black.

And I thought it was because of all the crazy soccer moms that burst through the doors at 4 a.m. and trample the poor sales associates.

Interesting thing about Black Friday 2008: Rumors have been flying in the media and from retailers that projected sales for Black Friday may not be as in the black and out of the red as retailers would hope.

Darn economy.

Well, I have had a change of heart, anyway. It's been a historic day for me. I ventured out into the thick of battle.

Turns out Black Friday ain't so bad. Not bad at all.

Facebook is sick.

2008-11-27T23:54:00.004-05:00

Over the past two months, I have noticed a rising epidemic of Facebook logging-out spreading.

Not the volitional logging out, either.

Thousands of Facebook users want to know: "Why is my Facebook logging me out?"

After all, we users have lots to get accomplished. The last thing we need is a Facebook malfunction that keeps us from constantly checking our mini-feeds.

I searched the internet far and wide for a solution and found nothing, really (I would have searched on Facebook but I couldn't stay logged in long enough).

However, there was a small suggestion on Yahoo!Answers that said to change your password.

Who knows? Give it a try.

In the meantime, if anyone is on Facebook long enough to get a hold of Mark Zuckerburg, let me know!

I miss my Facebook.

History is beautiful, brilliant

2008-11-25T15:24:00.006-05:00

As the end of college terms draw nigh, Lee alumni are often concerned about what legacy they will leave.

Students who worked on the 1980 Vindagua certainly took creative steps to ensure that their legacy would be a memorable one that many students could relate to.

I'd say they pretty well captured the essence of the common weight students bear.

Certainly makes for an entertaining read!

I learned a new word: malapropism!

2008-11-23T02:40:00.003-05:00

I love new words. In fact, language in general really interests me.

So I will have to admit to having been caught up reading the dictionary a time or two. Hey, who hasn't?

I am subscribed to dictionary.com Word of the Day (or at least I used to be).

So I figured, hey, why not share the wealth? Every now and then, if a cool word with a cool history pops up, I'll be happy to share.

Here's one I found today, browsing other sites; don't worry, it's a big word with an easy meaning (meaning it makes you sound super smart when you use it):

malapropism: the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, as in, for example, "dance a flamingo" (instead of a flamenco).

I love it.

While this often has a comical and sometimes embarrassing affect, look at Sally Brown (from the Peanuts comic strip). It works for her.

For more fun words, go to dictionary.com.

The perks of working as the Lee Clarion Copy Editor

2008-11-21T11:00:00.002-05:00

As copy editor I spend many a late night in the student media lab working or being moral support for those who are working. At first, I was slightly annoyed at being out so late. Then I had a change of heart.

Why the sudden change, you ask? I missed a fire drill.

A piercing alarm sounds and residents rush to the parking lot to stand in the sometimes frigid night air while the names of every girl in the dorm is called. Oh joy.

As a proud resident of Atkins-Ellis Hall, I have the priviledge of participating in these glorious events three times a semester.

I understand the importance of these drills; I pass a monument every time I enter and exit the front doors of my residence hall that reminds me that fires do happen, even here at Lee. But I do admit that they are annoying.

That said, you can imagine my elation at having missed not one, not two, but three fire drills. Yes, that's right, all three.

So, here's to late nights of working and missing fire drills.

This post contributed by Sara Dawson, copy editor.

It's the little things that mean so much.

2008-11-17T19:15:00.001-05:00

As I was browsing through the pages of some other notable college papers online, I was impressed to see many of them covering interesting campus issues like the ethics of what some professors were teaching and how student legislative groups were involved in the community, etc.

I was also impressed to see coverage of national issues like dogfighting, economical issues and the possibilities for the future under the leadership of Obama.

Not bad, Daily Texan. Not bad at all.

However, I was reminded once more of how far just a little bit goes.

At first, I felt stupid. How could I have lived these 21 years not hearing or knowing of the word "resignition"?

"If I want any shot whatsoever of being considered well-read and well-spoken, I've got some serious dictionary work to do," I thought to myself.

"Resignition" must be immediately researched and added to my growing list of vocab words. However something didn't seem quite right about that word.

"But surely, it's right. It is, after all, in a headline (the most prominent part of the story)."

Further reading confirmed my deeper premonitions.

I guess we're all prone to occasional misspellings. Or the Daily Texan is prone to creative license.

Either way, it is comforting to know that I am not alone in my strivings for perfection.

Journeys and destinations

2008-11-16T17:19:00.001-05:00

People have different ways of setting goals for themselves, from personal daily planners to post it notes, ensuring that they get everything done within the course of the day that they need to.

But what do all those days add up to?

Welsh poet Thomas Dylan was met with great success, having published countless stories and poems, working on the stage as well as taking some of his literary works to radio. While many would look at his accomplishments and say that he achieved much in life, it is said that his last words were, "After 40 years, this is all I've done."

While it might sound cheesy, don't let life slip by unnoticed. Set your daily goals and achieve them, but think forwardly. What are some things you want to accomplish in your life? They can be serious or just fun.

Here are a couple of mine:

1. To see the Northern Lights.
2. To write a book and get it published.
3. To set foot on all seven continents.
4. To attend the Christmas tree lighting in Rockafeller Center.

Ok, ok, so maybe they aren't the most profound aspirations, but it's a start.

Jesus doesn't vote...he commands.

2008-11-15T11:00:00.003-05:00

I somehow got on this crazy e-mailing list, as I assume many did.

While at first, I found it annoying, it proved worth my time as more people began to voice their opinions.

If you have time to read an interesting political/ethical message thread, check it out.

---
10.11.08 - 10:20 a.m.
Random e-mail received,
1 reason I am not voting Barack Obama Come Election Time - Watch and decide for yourself...

http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=VIdbYjmbFzo&rel=1&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//i3.ytimg.com/vi/VIdbYjmbFzo/default.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskK8YN1RCJgPIUDlQv_2I_ul&use_get_video_info=1&load_modules=1&color1=306%3D83806745653&color2=336941849530629%20&fs=1&hl=en

10.11.08
Nicole Grace replies,
Hard to decide...Who will kill more? It's hard to justify killing children in Iraq too. I know. I know. Lot’s of rationalizations. We are doing it because we are afraid. But maybe we should trust in God to take care of us and do what Jesus would do and stop killing innocent people period. By voting to continue the war with McCain, we are voting to continue to kill people. The blood is on our collective hands.

10.17.08 - 8:23 a.m.
Pastor Gilbert Kelly replies,
OK,
I will make a comment. First I am not fond of , nor am I endorsing either McCain, nor Obama.
However, if I only focus on the subject of shedding of innocent blood and which is worse, the Iraq war or the abortion industry, that is an easy one. The conflict in Iraq is winding down regardless of who wins. Both candidates are proposing escalating the war in Afganistan and even Pakistan. By even the most liberal anti-war publication estimates there have been approx. 4900 American military and civilian casualties and 1,200,000 (un-verifiable estimate). Minor children were a very small percentage. Also the rate of casualties have fallen over the last year to a very small percentage, again indicatine the likely end of the major conflict there. Justified or not, these are the numbers. Since Roe vs. Wade by general estimates there have been 48 million innocent babies killed in this nation. They were not fighting for any cause, right or wrong. The only news they knew is they were safe and warm inside their mothers womb (they thought). So if this is the only issue in focus in the context of this discussion, based on my personal beliefs about my God (the One of Abraham, Isacc and Jacob), and His truths concerning the origins of life and the value of each life. And also his views on wars, some initiated / allowed by Him if you take time to study the history of Israel, Moses, Joshua, David, and the last big one that Revelation says will occur in the same region as the current conflicts, 48,000,000 all totally innocent,
1,500,000 tragic, but not all innocent,..... just sayin...... And again, I am not endorsing either major party candidate.

Pastor Gilbert Kelly (Black, for the record; Born Again by the Blood of Jesus, for the most important record)

10.17.08 - 4:05 p.m.
Nicole Grace replies,
I am glad you are not endorsing McCain. I don’t think it is of value to compare what is worse 1.2m or 48m innocent lives. All are precious and it is not for us to decide who should die. I’d say both are unacceptable.

10.18.08 - 9:06 p.m.
Dr. Skip Jenkins replies,

I don't know how I got on this email cycle, but as long as people like Nicole continue the promotion of their pious propoganda, based on an unrecognizable caricature of Jesus in her/their own image (ironically, an image more like Ghandi than the Nazarene who was mistaken for a Zealot 2000 years ago), any progress toward overcoming the state-sponsored holocaust of womb-dwellers will constantly be thwarted.

While I would neither endorse McCain nor Obama in this forum, I am certainly bemused by the insipid inaction that has begun to plague Western Christianity, one that Nicole propounds with what seems like little depth of reflection. We seem happier when we can feed the poor on our own terms and protest anything that seems to smack against a general humanitarianism. But, put guns and mines and a military between "us" and the "poor," and then we want to "trust God" and sit back and see what happens. We don't say to the poor around us to "trust God" -- we actually feed them. Yet, the minute that our advocacy entails measures beyond the mere passing out bread and water, when there are men and women with weapons and torture and intimidation hindering such benevolence, we hide behind a picture of Jesus that allows us to sit back in our comfortable designer "whatevers" and toss inane religiousities around.

For Nicole to suppose that there is no difference between abortion and Iraq demonstrates a person who has indeed failed to differentiate between state sponsored murder and killing that occurs as a result of an attempted alleviation of tyranny. Stop listening to the media, Nicole, and talk to someone who has actually walked the streets of Iraq in uniform. What has happened in that country would never have been dreamt ten years ago, namely, a hope and light for freedom and justice. Think about this one, too: do Christians not also have a responsiblity to strive for and enact justice for all? While we can't bring the ultimate justice of God's kingdom to this world, we can bring a display of what that justice will be.

It seems that Jesus is as much concerned about radical love as universal justice; and through him, God has given us the courage to act. Most times that action will entail dangerous expressions of mercy, love and reconciliation, but sometimes that action will require violent resistance where justice for the oppressed is in danger. Perhaps James Cone is correct, a pacifistic Jesus is the Jesus of those comfortable with the status quo: comfortable with Iraq as it was before the war, and with the U.S. and its abortion industry as it is now.

Countdown to Chattanooga's Christmas Tradition

2008-11-14T11:00:00.001-05:00

Yeah, it's another Christmas blog post. Get used to it; 'tis the season.

Well, here's the point of this post. To let you beautiful holiday lovers know about an exciting place for Lee students to go to celebrate the season.

Every year, Rock City, located on top Lookout Mountain, dresses up for Christmas and shows off for all those who like to walk through a winter wonderland of lights.

Something you enjoy? Go check it out.

Press release submitted by Meagan Jolley, Marketing Coordinator

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, GA. - Rock City’s 14^th annual Enchanted Garden of Lights is now less than three weeks away from opening night! Beginning November 21, 2008 through January 3, 2009, a million lights will brighten the mountain with more than 25 holiday scenes along the Enchanted Trail. This award-winning light extravaganza has become a family tradition for tens of thousands of visitors every Christmas season.

“Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights continues as the premier Greater Chattanooga Area holiday event,” said Andrew Kean, general manager and vice president of Rock City. “Come out and spend time making holiday memories with your family and friends at this outdoor holiday spectacular.”

Enjoy traditional gingerbread cookie decorating and nightly entertainment in the pavilion – next to a warm fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa. A new offer this year is Sugar Plum Fairy Makeovers - available for children to enjoy face painting or dress up in costume and be magical fairies for a night (for an additional charge). And don’t leave without a picture with Old St. Nick!

Some of the featured entertainment is back, including a signing choir called “Vision to Hear,” as well as one of Chattanooga’s favorite bands, “Sweet Georgia Sound.” Go to www.seerockcity.com/lights for the complete schedule of nightly entertainment, tickets, discounts for select colleges and other promotional offers.

The Enchanted Garden of Lights is open from 6 pm to 9 pm nightly.

Visit Rock City during the day and get an upgraded ticket to the Enchanted Garden of Lights for only $5. Tickets can be purchased at seerockcity.com or upon arrival and includes free parking. A portion of ticket proceeds for the Enchanted Garden of Lights goes to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Starbucks is also onsite in the former Cornerstone Station. Just six miles from downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., Rock City is an enchanted, 4,100-foot walking trail showcasing lush gardens and soaring rock formations. Call 1-800-854-0675 for group rates and holiday event information.

Lee would be so proud of my fine-tuned critical thinking skills.

2008-11-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

I just had a moment of brilliance.

Have you ever found yourself in the situation where you send someone, perhaps a teacher or colleague, an e-mail as early as possible in hopes of getting a quick response and it takes them FOREVER to get back to you?

Well, I have a solution. Well, I MIGHT have a solution.

If you think about it logically, teachers/advisors/employers/etc check their mail in the morning when they first arrive. So naturally the last e-mail that was sent will be checked first.

SO...if you are trying to get hold of someone and it's after business hours, wait as long as possible! You will end up either on or close to the top of the list of e-mails, therefore automatically making you a priority!

I guess this means that 2 a.m. is prime time for e-mailing.

Yeah, I know. I'm brilliant.

Where are you, Christmas? Oh, wait. You're everywhere.

2008-11-12T22:59:00.000-05:00

Has anyone else noticed a change in the area?

No, no, I'm not talking about the sudden drop in the temperature. I'm talking about the sudden and unannounced generation of Christmas decor. EVERYWHERE.

Hey, I'm not complaining. I love Christmas. However debate has been raging about whether or not the day after Halloween is too soon to throw up the Christmas tree and set out Santa's cookies.

Some theorize that companies are simply trying to crank out more sales, which would be logical. I mean, after all, 25+ days of holiday shopping pleasure would surely result in increased sales, right?

Wrong.

A counter theory to this is that while perhaps those extra three weeks boost sales, it is possible that the Christmas overkill simply makes people avoid Christmas shopping even more.

Hey, retailers: that's called "a backfire."

Some people complain that we go straight from Halloween to Christmas, and that Thanksgiving gets skipped over altogether.

But let's be honest, people, how much celebrating is there to do with Thanksgiving?

Unless you take the month of November to hang various pictures of turkeys everywhere and gorge yourself daily, you'll find that November doesn't merit much decor.

Even retailers agree on this point.

In an interview with ABC's Ana Jasen, managers at holiday shop The Christmas Tree said that "autumn flags and fluffy turkey toys are out and santas and snowmen are in."

With all this in mind, I feel I must voice my opinion: Christmas should be a year round celebration. Yes, a year round celebration.

Why? Because I like Christmas.

Not a good enough because?

Ok, ok, because it makes everyone happy. Love, peace and joy are bestowed unto all men (and women) and the birds and squirrels and other various winter wonderland creatures are singing and playing and a clay-mation version of Fred Astaire smiles and reminisces while navigating powdery hills.

In theory anyway. Perhaps the same theory that retailers used to calculate chart-tipping holiday sales via three extra weeks of sales.

Ah, well. Let's look on the bright side. There will be plenty of tinsel and wrapping paper for next year.

Lee University: The bold and the beautiful

2008-11-10T09:00:00.002-05:00

Lee University always aims to impress.

On Lee's Frontline days for prospective students and during Homecoming, that is especially evident.

Some students say they like the food served in the Deacon Jones Dining Hall better during those times.

Campus landscaping gets a fresh look for visitors.

Groups and organizations across campus put on their most welcome, smiling faces.

However, it's not just the food and flower beds that get dressed up.

Lee tries to make even the restrooms more comfortable.

In the dining hall during the last Frontline day held in October, new items graced the counters of the women's restroom to make it nicer for visitors.

A pot of fresh flowers, a can of air freshener and a basket of toiletries containing things like hairspray, lotion, and nail files found a home next to the sinks.

It seems that those in charge thought that having a nice restroom would make Lee a more inviting place for prospective students.

The only sad part is that the flowers are now wilting, and many of the items are now gone.

If only these amenities could be a regular part of life at Lee.

A chance to give!

2008-11-09T16:06:00.001-05:00

Since I have been at Lee I have heard a lot about helping those who are less fortunate, as have all Lee students.

We are given the option of donating half of our key deposit to missions. We donate shoes. We make Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child. We are required to serve.

Each of these things helps create an awareness of what a college student (with little cash) can do to make a difference.

The Student Leadership Council (SLC) has developed another way that Lee students can help those less fortunate in Cleveland.

SLC’s clothing drive takes advantage of what we already have to give- clothes that we no longer use that are just hanging in our closets taking up space.

With all the fundraisers going on, it seems a little overwhelming. However, even those of us who are low on cash can participate in this event.

The clothing drive ends Friday, Nov. 14. Donation boxes are located in the lobbies of dorm halls and in the PCSU.

Billie Letts' "Shooting the Moon" works for me

2008-11-07T00:06:00.001-05:00

Well, I just started reading "Shooting the Moon" by Billie Letts, and I have to say that I am already impressed by the character descriptions.

The only other work that I have read by Billie Letts is "Where the Heart Is," which was made into a movie.

It has been several years since I read that novel, and I should probably read it again.

However, the first page didn't really hold my interest the first time I started to read "Shoot the Moon," but the second time I started the novel, it didn't take long to be sucked in.

So far it is about a murder that took place in 1972 where a young mother was killed and her 10-month-old son goes missing.

Now the son has come back to the small town over a quarter of a century later. He just found
out that he was adopted and has returned to the town to find out who killed his biological mother and who his father is.

I am interested in the answers to these questions and interested in seeing how this novel will pan out.

So far I like the brutal honesty in the dialogue combined with powerful character descriptions. It definitely makes me want to keep reading.

This blog entry was written by Promise Mikle.

All gussied up

2008-11-04T03:39:00.000-05:00

To all the girls and guys out there who really take the time each day to put every hair in place, get every blemish covered (ladies only, i hope but don't fully expect), and make sure every part of your clothing ensemble is fine-tuned to perfection, i have two questions:

HOW?

and more importantly,

WHY?

that is all.

Don't forget!

2008-11-01T15:37:00.000-04:00

Don't forget to set your clocks for Daylight Savings Time (DST)!

Did you know that starting in 2007, DST was determined to change on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November?

I'm almost always confused over what time it actually changes. I used to think it was at 12 a.m. however the last two years, my cell phone doesn't change. And then I go to bed and wake up in the morning and it's set at the right time.

Is there a DST Fairy or something?

If you've asked this question before, too, I can now come to you with answers. Even though it seems logical for the time to change at 12 a.m., it actually rolls over at 2 a.m. on the new day.

All this is great information to know, because it will keep you from showing up late to church in March or showing up early to church in November.

All this cool stuff was established by Congress through the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. no. 109-58, 119 Stat 594 (2005).

Pretty cool stuff. Enjoy that extra hour and use it wisely!

Yearbook yourself!

2008-10-28T09:28:00.001-04:00

This post was co-written by Christy Armstrong, staff writer, and Jessica Ray, staff writer.

Even though each college has a different way of putting yearbooks together, the finished products all have these things in common: photos and the names of people in them.

I don't know about you, but I've always been curious about how my life would be had I been born in a different historical era.

Thanks to YearbookYourself.com, I don't have to wonder anymore (and neither do you)!

YearbookYourself.com is a Web site that allows you to make your own yearbook-style photos to help you remember these lovely college years.

When you visit the site, a retro-looking yearbook opens up on your computer screen and asks, "Ever wonder what you'd look like in the past? Upload your photo and see yourself with classic hairdos and outfits through the decades."

Of course, these are not photos like the ones in the past that you may have gotten ready for, sat still for and groaned about after seeing the result.

You can go to the site to upload a photo and see hair and clothing styles from the 1950’s up to 2000. Choose your favorite year, make some adjustments and you’re finished.

The result is that you now have a photo of yourself looking like you just stepped out of the pages of your parents’ college yearbook.

As scary as that may be, it can be amusing to see yourself or your friends in those styles.

This is also a chance to consider how well a certain look would work for you.

After all, even with all the hairspray in the can collecting dust under my bathroom sink, I can't make my hair look so perfectly coiffed!

Make sure you have plenty of time to play around when visiting the site. It's slightly addicting!

"This is Why I'm Conn"

2008-10-27T11:49:00.000-04:00

Dr. Conn has dedicated much of his time, energy, finances and more to the betterment of Lee and to the betterment of students attending.

In honor of all the years of relentless dedication, Lee students are speaking out.

Word.

(Pardon the performance slip up. Nobody's perfect. And it's still a sensitive topic for Daniel Diffenderfer.)
--

Lyrics by Calah J. Frazier

Yo hold up, who's that guy?
You can tell who he is by the way he wears his tie.
Paul Conn's that dude
who represents Lee
The guy who give out bobbleheads for free.

Hay Flames give it up! Ya'll know the deal
That mustache is rockin' and yeah you know it's real
If you wanna ask the president
Go right ahead
He'll stand up in chapel and get your question read.
You could get some tickets or some foamy soap,
Conn will tell you straight, "No rockin' roll or dope!"

So here's to our president
Paul Conn is his name.
You know you really like him
so don't be ashamed
You're jealous but it's cool
cause he's down with Christ.
And you should be too
Because you know that's right

Word!

Medlin Underground speaks-err, raps out.

2008-10-25T15:41:00.000-04:00

Oh, college life.

It's the time to find yourself, to explore ideas, to stay up late, to consume way too much coffee.

Students across campus have found creative outlets for their beliefs and ideals, outlets that continue to astound, amaze and persuade us.

Recently, a campus organization convened to put together a presentation, making a charged statement on what they believe.

Go ahead, take a look. While you may or may not agree with the statements being made, there is plenty of art to be appreciated.

Medlin Underground has taken their stance. What's your's?

Look what I did!!

2008-10-14T11:19:00.001-04:00

I know what you're thinking: "How cute does she look in that amazing Lee sweatshirt?!"

That's so weird because I was just thinking the same, exact thing!

Ok, ok, so maybe it's just the Lee sweatshirt that is so amazing. Either way, you too can look this amazing.

Today from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., the Lee Bookstore will be selling these cool crewneck sweaters for the competitive price of 2 for $25. They are available in Lee's signature maroon and another in charcoal grey, with the university's name printed in white.

So far, I am very pleased. So far equaling ten minutes, that is. They offer the snuggly warmth every sweater should and the affordable price that makes college students say, "Ahhhh."

Overall, I give these sweaters five stars out of five.

Four of those stars for comfort and affordability and one star for making me look awesome.

Oh, yeah.

Coffee, to you I raise my mug.

2008-09-27T12:56:00.001-04:00

Before all of you anxious readers out there delve too deep into this oh-so-intriguing blog (don't worry, I'm kidding...sort of) I want to warn you that the content herein is openly and unabashedly subjective, but only so with the intentions of helping you enjoy a higher quality of life.

There, now that that's out of the way...let's talk about one of my favorite things: coffee.

This will not be a rant about the pros and cons of the beverage (although you can probably guess which side I would be on). I have nothing bad to say about coffee. It has helped me through the darkest hours of my life (literally) and inspired me to keep going when I thought I didn't have the strength left.

Ok, ok, so I'm being a little bit melodramatic. And I'm somehow managing to simultaneously digress from my original topic. Therefore, I am refocusing. Where were we?

Oh, yes. Coffee.

Instead of taking you into the murky battle of "For vs. Against," I would rather point your attention to some great places in town that serve fine coffee. You can get coffee just about anywhere, but only a few places are really worth mentioning.

So, let's call this...Cleveland's Top Five Java Stops.

5. Jazzman's: The main reason Jazzman's is being added on here (again, this is completely my opinion) is simply because it's convenient. I gotta be honest, while their coffee isn't poison, I sometimes can't justify paying $1.50 for it. However, with a dab of milk and a dash (or two or three) of Sweet & Low, it's not too bad. It just goes to show that nothing tastes better than convenience.

4. Ihop: It's the International House of Pancakes. I mean, c'mon, what goes better with pancakes than coffee? Ok, you're right, syrup, but AFTER syrup? That's right, that wonderful caffeinated concoction. While their coffee isn't necessarily gourmet, it does a good job of being delicious and subtle, fulfilling yet not distracting from the main course.

3. McDonald's: Sad, but true, McDonalds (the Wal-mart of the fast food industry) has triumped again not only in making (supposedly) the best French fries in America, but now also the best iced coffees in America, too. Well, as far as fast food goes. If you're a hard core coffee fanatic, you might think these drinks are for sissies, but you gotta admit: they're pretty darn tasty.

2. Starbucks: You know a piece of writing about coffee would not be complete without 'Bucks on the list. While I'm against most monopolies that rob people of their precious money...I gotta admit, I am on the Starbucks bandwagon. I got off for a while then decided that the money I'm paying for Starbucks coffee comes back around full circle after that first sip. I mean, seriously...drinking Starbucks is almost other-wordly. In my humble opinion, of course. Plus, I love the little green straw.

1. Donut Connection: While this shop comes up as last in the blog, it is certainly first on my list. Located less than a mile from Starbucks on Keith Street, this little shop manages to stay out of the way and remain Cleveland's best kept coffee secret. For around a dollar, you can get the best cup of coffee you'll ever drink in your entire life. Ok, that is blatant opinion right there, but in all seriousness, it's affordable and has a nice blend. The service is good and the wait in line is, well, non-existent. If you're looking for something different, and I mean the good "different," check out Donut Connection. It might surprise you.

That's all for now. Happy caffeining.

I'm telling you for the last time!

2008-09-24T13:44:00.000-04:00

I would like to begin the blog by vowing that this will be the last blog I post about Facebook.

Ok, well the last insignificant blog I post about Facebook.

Well, the last insignificant blog I post about Facebook...for a little while.

Ahem, I would now like to move to the point of this blog.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!

What do you mean, my account is "temporarily unavailable"?! Define "temporarily"...and "unavailable" for that matter!

I mean, I've gotten calls at work before and had people say that I'm "unavailable."

And besides that, I thought Facebook was blazing the warpath to become the single-most used social networking site in the universe?

Pardon my frankness, Mr. Zuckerburg, but this simply will not fly.

I mean...a few hours???? HOURS??? What could you possibly be doing that would take hours??

This better be important. Like a Facebook redesign.

I've got things to do! People to contact! Transactions to be made!

I mean, a lot can happen within a few hours.

I need to know if that girl I haven't seen since jr. high posts new pictures of all her different emo looks.

The bottom line? I have a message for Facebook:

This is the last straw! One more strike and you're out! I've had enough of your foolishness and mayhem and if you don't get your act together, I'm boycotting!

Facebook, I'm telling you for the last time!

I have something to confess...

2008-09-23T15:49:00.000-04:00

There is a strange phenomenon coming over me.

I'm generally a pretty hard-working individual (in my humble opinion). I keep track of what I need to do and I get it done (or at least most of it).

However, once in a while, I go through a weird season...one in which my only desire is to do nothing. Absolutely NOTHING.

Well, nothing productive, anyway.

As you may guess and can probably relate to, this wreaks havoc on a college student's academic life.

So, in an effort to combat this disease of the will, I set up for myself a very rigid schedule of productivity from which I do not diverge.

It is comprised of 10 minute hard core work sessions, followed by 30 minute breaks that may be extended based on the severity of my Facebook withdrawals.

I know, I know, I expect too much of myself. But like I said, I'm a hard worker.

Well, lately, I've found a new outlet for my break-time bursts.

It's a little game called Lines.

Ya, it's simple. Ya, it's mindless. And that's exactly why I like it.

This game allows me to escape from the stress of my work pile and fall into a world of colors and clicks.

And...the more and more I play it, the harder I find it to pull myself away.

Kind of creepy.

What's even creepier is the reality of video gaming addictions. They're becoming a bigger and bigger problem.

In June 2007, MSNBC posted an article about the rising issue. According to doctor's reports, gaming addictions have the same power and effects of alcohol and drug addictions.

Young men and boys are the main demographic affected by the spread of gaming addictions and show signs of aggression, depression and even suicidal tendencies.

There are online support groups available for those seeking help as well as therapists who deal with this kind of issue, and can help those who are addicted.

Well, that's ironic.

2008-09-11T08:09:00.000-04:00

Remember this?

This is an excellent example of a very American ideal. Go to any place of business today in the States, and you'll find this in staggering amounts. So much so that Americans are rethinking its value in our society.

It's called an option.

Well, apparently Facebook has gone Communist, because less than 48 hours after I make an observation (see previous blogs) about the seeming foolishness of new Facebook protesters (based on the presence of an option), I see this message:

Excuse me?? The only Facebook???

This is a joke, right? No! Please, no!

You can bombard us with endless amounts of useless applications! You can take away our rights to mini-feed privacy! But please, don't make us use the new Facebook! Anything but that!

This is just plain un-American. My mini-feed said nothing about the U.S. no longer being a democracy. I was still under the impression that it was the people's choice!

What's so great about the new Facebook anyway?

On the upside, it has a cooler look. The new look is supposed to make it more user friendly by placing things in organized tabs. Now, Facebook users are able to quickly navigate tabs to find photos, information, comments and more. No more scrolling up and down to find that one application box nestled somewhere among the mass of others.

But many speculate that Facebook is trying to "Myspace" itself. Unfortunately, the beauty of Facebook was in how different it was from Myspace. While the old Facebook was pretty well organized before, now the interface is simply busy and confusing for those used to the old look and feel.

The most difficult struggle for users may simply be readjusting to something so different. Facebook introduced the new look months in advance to this change, giving users time to try it out. But time may not have been enough.

Humans aren't fond of change, especially when it comes to their social networking sites. Realistically, the number of Facebook users will probably still increase, but in the meantime, Facebook developers have got some 'splaining to do. They dropped the ball on this one. Big time.

To all you protesters out there, be brave and stay strong.

And please excuse me while I go find a Facebook protesters group to join.

Google and Wikipedia: Where would I be without you?

2008-09-10T11:43:00.000-04:00

If you've clicked onto Google today and noticed, as I did, the cute little image they've worked into their masthead, you might have been like me and asked, "What is that about?"

I usually do. However, you may not have clicked further to read up.

I'm easily distracted, so I did.

While I'm not a huge advocate of Wikipedia, I am not innocent of going to it for information. So here's what I read on the Large Hadron Collider (don't worry, I had no idea what that was, either).

Thanks, Wikipedia.

I have to admit, I'm still a little unsure about what this is...but at least now I can pretend like I know if someone asks.

The new iPods are just... new iPods.

2008-09-09T23:59:00.000-04:00

So new iPods are out.

What? You didn't hear it in the news? It's usually a slow news day for some outlets until Apple releases their big new product and that's when front pages and magazine covers and TV talk shows finally have a new topic to exhaust for a few days.

But this time? Eh... Not really. So what went wrong? Apple put pressure on the media to cover a "big" event September 9. The hype was perfect. Blogs and rumor sites were trying to tie together the puzzle pieces... Excitement built to its traditional crescendo.

And then Steve Jobs came out.

New iTunes. Boom. New iPod nanos. Thinnest ever! New iPod classic. Yawn. New iPod touch. Okay...

And as much as every single person in the audience wanted to hear Jobs say "One more thing...", it never came.

Essentially everyone in the world who cares about Apple got all riled up about minor product enhancements. These are the kind of revisions you'd expect from a cereal maker.

New colors! Now with more marshmallows! Healthier and lighter!

Sounds good. But do we really care?

True, true... Apple can't go around releasing new wonder-splashing iPhones at every event, but that's the dilemma companies like Apple run into when they set the bar so high.

It eventually has to come down again... So it can be set again.

So here's the rundown:

The new iPod nanos look like they were designed by Roy G. Biv himself. And if you shake them or turn them they'll pull iPhone-esque tricks. Plus it comes in 16 Gigabytes now. Wow. Seven years later and it's only three times the storage space of the original iPod.

The iPod touch became the product it should have been when it was released. The addition of a speaker and external volume controls pumped up the volume for users. Apple also addressed the biggest issue that didn't need to be addressed. Battery life jumped from 22 hours to 36 hours. When was the last time we listened to our iPod for more than two hours?

So what didn't we get on the new iPod touch?

A microphone. While the speaker compliments the touch perfectly, adding a microphone would give it VOIP ability, eating into sales of iPhones.

A camera. Adding a camera to the iPod touch might help some application sales, but could take away from the feature-rich iPhone.

Copy and paste. Apple needs to meet the basics before it ventures beyond.

So what was the point of Apple calling everyone together for a bunch of upgrade announcements that would otherwise receive no attention from similar companies?

Games.

Apple's chomped the music market and consumed the portable video market. What else is there to bite?

Oh yeah, those pesky PS3 and Nintendo DS units.

In all actuality, the iPod touch and iPhone hardware is superior to many of the portable gaming platforms available today, despite the lack of physical buttons on board.

Apple used a sizable amount of time in its annual iPod carnival show to boast how capable the iPod touch was for gameplay. Even the new ads for the device highlight the prospect of gaming on the units. Apple is chasing after gamers for Christmas this year and the company won't be happy until they've reached the next level.

iTunes 8 was also released. The best reason to download it: It's free. And then there's the whole Genius Playlist thing. And that "trippy" new visualizer.

So, while Apple continues to churn away on a touch-screen nano, may the rumors begin again. Hopefully the next updates will leave a better taste.

Stand up for what you believe...oh, and do your research, too.

2008-09-09T15:53:00.000-04:00

I would simply like to take a moment and salute those who are taking a stand against the cultural wrongs of our day.

They are the pillars on which we all stand and without them, I have no doubt that society and civilization as we know it would crumble.

Thank you, most of all, to those of you who are petitioning against the new Facebook. Because after all, it is something worth saying no to. We must put our foot down somewhere. We must draw the line.

We have to stop and say, "No, we will not allow our beliefs to be compromised any longer! We want our old Facebook!"

Oh, wait. I forgot.

You don't have to petition. Because Mark Zuckerberg is a step ahead of you and gave you the option to reject his brilliant idea.

So much for that.

Decoding party colors

2008-09-08T23:16:00.000-04:00

I'll be honest, I'm not a political person.

I'll go even farther in saying that I frequently have to remind myself what the colors of the two main parties are, because as embarrassing as it is, I get them confused.

I like to console myself by telling myself that I'm like the ancient philosophers, the great thinkers of long ago. I am so busy sifting through the deep questions of humanity and "why?" that I hardly have time to concern myself with petty things like red or blue.

Nonetheless, I think I have time to know the difference between red and blue. And now that I'm eligible--ahem, excuse me, responsible for voting, I feel obligated to know at least that much.

So I took it upon myself to become more politically aware. Unfortunately, I did not get far on my journey out of the cave and into the light. I stumbled upon what is, in my opinion, illogical thinking and I never really recovered.

I personally have always attributed blue to republicans and red to democrats. After all, it's the republicans who are supposed to be the stuffy, old-fashioned conservatives and democrats who are the crazies who want to turn the system upside down, right?

With this logic (fed by years of Christian school and other religious influences) in mind, I applied my own critical thinking and decided that since blue was a serene and often serious color, it fit what I knew of the ideals and persona of the Republican Party perfectly. And the Democratic Party, often referred to as "liberal," could not have chosen a more telling color than red.

Needless to say, I was shattered when I found out the parties' true colors (pun very much intended). I think this traumatic experience might have contributed to my reluctance to really educate myself on what's what in the political world.

Since I am now a part of those voting statistics we all read about, I'm trying to remedy this somewhat irresponsible situation I'm in. But, I will say that while the majority of those around me are arguing over Obama vs. McCain and navigating the maze of ethical and political questions, I'm still stuck at the ticket booth trying to pick a color.

Don't rush me. I just found out parties come with animals, too. What's next, a theme song?

Sheesh.

Take the time to find your spot

2008-09-08T16:42:00.000-04:00

Whoever said that "half the fun is in the scheming" has clearly experienced the painful road we students travel, beginning in the month of August. The end of summer vacation cues the beginning of textbooks, deadlines and responsibility all over again, and for some, the fight to stay sane is an uphill battle. The long stretch of the fall semester can leave students feeling that a break, the kind that involves relaxing in the smile of the sun on a beach somewhere far away, is a thing of the past.

But a break, one fitted for your own personal relaxation needs and desires, is a possibility and I know just the place for you to go. More and more people are logging on to findyourspot.com to discover exactly where they want to be for their vacations.

This site, designed to help you choose the best vacation spots for you, requires that you answer a detailed questionnaire asking you questions about what kinds of recreational and lifestyle things you require to have around you.

Like the beach, but can't live without the powdery slopes? Want to live in a big town but need the suburban feel? Tell findyourspot.com and let this site do the work for you. After you answer the questionnaire from start to finish and enter some basic information, the site will generate a list of the top ten cities that are best for you, taking into consideration both the fun recreational activities you enjoy as well as the living standards you need.

This site may help you find good vacation spots, and with fall break coming up in a couple months, it's never too soon to start planning. But even more, if you are preparing to graduate in the next year and don't have a place in mind to go from here, it might also inspire you to look for a living situation in a place you wouldn't have considered before.

Much to my surprise, my top city is Tampa, Fla. What's yours?

Freshman Journal: First Days at Lee

2008-09-06T00:07:00.000-04:00

Lee University freshman MaryBeth Gray came to the Lee Clarion to record a video diary of her first experiences at Lee. Without any further ado, here it is: