Breakfast of Champions

So if you can't tell, I'm just looking to reach my word count this week. I have completely run out of things to talk about, but judging by how many comments I've gotten lately not many people read my blog anyway, so I guess it doesn't really matter.  In this blog, I have decided to talk about cereal.  Yeah, like breakfast cereal.  Earlier today I had a serious hankerin' for some cinnamon toast crunch.  I went to my kitchen, but much to my dismay it was locked!  So seriously I have been thinking about it since about 2p.m. today.   It's not like I couldn't have had some other kind, after all we have about 10 cereals ranging from Cheerios to Special K (with strawberries of course).  Now cinnamon toast crunch isn't my favorite cereal (fruity pebbles has it hands down), but for some reason today I just reeeeaaallly wanted it.  Although I'm pretty sure no one will respond, I'm curious about what your favorite cereal is.  There are all kinds out there people, so don't tell me you don't have one!  There are fruity ones, chocolately ones, and your basic grain.  Some have marshmallows and are too sugary for the average human, but if you are a health nut there is always something for you too.  There are so many options that when you go to Walmart there is an entire isle dedicated to the simplistic food.  

What I want to know is why they don't sell milk and cereal in same isle?  You can't fully enjoy cereal without milk, and honestly, can't really enjoy milk with out the cereal.  It would be all around more practical because you wouldn't have to take the time to make the trip to the milk AND take the time to choose a cereal out of the 100's of options.  

So to recap: I am out of things to write about.  I really want some cinnamon toast crunch.  What is your favorite cereal? And there are lots of different options.  

Now that this has been the worst blog of my life, I will let you get back to your oh-so-exciting lives. 

Product (Red)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! One of my favorite things about this pre holiday time are the red cups at Starbucks. This means my favorite seasonal drinks such as peppermint mochas or gingerbread lattes. But now the red cups at Starbucks mean a little something different.
Starbucks has become the most recent retail company to hop on the Product (Red) campaign. If you don’t know what Product (Red) is let me give you a little background. Product (Red) was started by the Global Fund. They have teamed up with many different retailers such as, The Gap, Dell, Apple just to name a few, and now Starbucks. These retailers designate part of there sales on their “Red” items to the Global Fund an organization helping fight the AIDS epidemic in Africa.
I became really interested in this campaign after I had the opportunity to spend part of my summer in Nairobi, Kenya a few years ago. The whole experience was very humbling and eye opening. I was just a young adult living in a pretty sheltered world. I went to a great school, drove a nice car, had a great job, and had food on the table for me at every meal. Living among the Kenyans that summer really changed my life. I learned that I have been blessed for more than just my materials things but the fact that I had shelter over my head every night., or the fact that I had access to a doctor whenever I needed them.
That was one thing that really bothered me while I was over there. There were so many sick people! We have all heard about how devastating the AIDS epidemic is over there, but it was not till I saw the sickness even in the poor peoples eyes that I was really effected. The hardest part for me to grasp, is they fact that they can’t get medical attention.
This is why I think the Global Fund and Product (Red) is doing a great thing. I think that Starbucks will be an amazing addition to the team. 5 cents of every cup will be donated to the organization. Think of how many people go to Starbucks on a regular basis. Every 5 cents will add up. Think about the difference you are making in someone’s life across the world in Africa.

http://www.joinred.com/Home.aspx

Ye Olde Facebook

I have discovered something this week that has made my online world a much better place. I have discovered that you can change the language on your facebook account to PIRATE!  Yes, pirate. For those of you who have a facebook account (I'm assuming most of you), I highly highly suggest that you do this.  All you have to do is go to your account settings, click on the language tab, and look for where it says English(pirate).  When you save your language and go back to the news feed, you will notice a few slight changes on your screen.  For example, photos are now portraits, the wall becomes the plank, and applications becomes arrplications.

When I discovered this function on facebook I think I seriously laughed for about a half an hour.  It was around 1a.m., and I must have started to sound delirious because my roommate asked me what I was laughing so hard for.  I told her of the pirate language, and within 5 minutes she was laughing just as hard as I was, if not harder.  After about 10 minutes of hysterics erupting from my room, some of my sisters decided to investigate.  As soon as anyone would peek their head in my room, me and my roommate would yell "AArrgg!" and scare them away (ok, so maybe we were a little delirious, but whatev).  

If you have ever gotten a kick out of talking like a pirate, then you MUST do this.  Finals are coming up... need a study distraction? What better than the facebook pirate language? I promise you won't regret it.

Nothing but black and gold

http://www.indystar.com/article/20081202/SPORTS0602/81202062


So despite the disapointment of the big Purdue Duke game, it is safe to say that boilermaker fans had a great turnout and really showed their spirit all day long. I was so impressed with all the black and gold on campus all day long. Not to mention the crazy campers who sat outside Mackey the night before to get good seats. They even braced the snowy and freezing weather! Now that is dedication. Girls in my house were sending out emails all day searching to see if anyone had extra tickets. I for one am not a ticket holder for this years basketball game, but after all this hype I may be regreting my decision. It was so fun to watch the game and see classmates or friends of mine in the stands! The pool of mostly black and gold was overwhelming. It was awesome to see all the spirit come alive after it seemed to long gone after a disapointing football season. I hope even dispite this loss boiler fans can continue to bleed black and gold and pack Mackey all season long!

Exciting Opportunity!

As a member of Delta Gamma I am excited to announce the speaker for our annual Lectureship! Lectureship is a chance for my house to bring in an exciting guest speaker for a free special seminar somewhere on campus. This year we will be hosting Steve Ford.

Please check out more about this exciting guest to Purdue's Campus.
http://www.speaking.com/speakers/steveford.html

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, here are more details.

When?
Wednesday December 10, 2008
Time?
7:00 pm
Where?
Loeb Playhouse in the Stewart Center
Cost?
FREE!

Please join my sisters and I on this exciting opportunity!

Purdue Blackout?

So we all know what the Purdue blackout game is. But... that's not what my post is about today.  Today I have a question.  It goes out to the administration, staff, whoever is in charge of keeping campus fairly safe at all times.  Why aren't there more lights around; especially near the heart of campus? Recently I have noticed that campus is really dark at night.  Seeing as how this is a very large campus with about 40,000 students, it frightens me to walk through it when it is so poorly lit, especially by myself. You never know where someone could be hiding and just jump out and attack you.  I know, I know, this is a pretty extreme and irrational fear, but I know that I'm not the only one who has it.  I know most of the guys probably feel safe (because they're so big and macho and not afraid of anything, right?), but how many of you ladies can honestly say that if you were walking through campus at say 1a.m., that you would feel secure enough to walk alone, or at least without your phone in your hand.  I know I can't.  I think there should be a significantly larger amount of lights in the memorial mall, and in the engineering mall.  I don't know what makes people think that the lights on the side of buildings alone is enough to make people feel safe.  

I heard a story recently that a girl was walking around on campus, felt like she was being followed, and pressed the button on the blue light box.  At the time, that particular box wasn't working.  Luckily, the next box worked and the police came, but what if it hadn't?  It wasn't the middle of the night (just around 10 or so), so why wasn't there more people around?  This is something else I have noticed also; why are there no security guards around campus?  My small private high school of 500 even had security guards.  Reader's Digest ranked us 82nd out of 135 schools that they surveyed for campus safety.  THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!  Seriously, this has made me very concerned recently, and we don't need another Wade Steffey on our hands here, people.  

In my opinion, there needs to be more lights and, at the very least, some security guards on campus.  It is unfair to everyone who attends Purdue that they might even feel the slightest twinge of unsafety.  When looking for colleges, one of the main things my parents wanted for me was to be safe with no chance of being hurt.  Was I successful in choosing a school that met their expectations? I think not. 

BYOB

I assume that most 0f you have discovered the Purdue party scene by now. I mean come on, it's almost the end of the first semester, folks. If you are a sophomore then you might be noticing some distinct changes in how things have been going this year- especially after October break. As you may or may not have noticed, most open fraternity parties have required you to be on a "list" recently. Now for those of you who don't know, frats used to have parties where anyone could come, hang out in the rooms, wander aimlessly, etc. Yes, they would have the occasional "list" party, but those are restricted to one or two rooms in the basement and get way overcrowded really easily. Everyone who was on the list (sometimes getting close to 1000 people) would show up because they felt special to be on said "list." They really are not that much fun unless you are REALLY dedicated to waiting in a line for half an hour with 50 other sweaty, crammed together, kinda pissed people just wanting that half of a warm Keystone. And let me tell you, I'm not that dedicated. This year, IFC has passed new restrictions saying that all parties or functions must be b.y.o.b.

In theory, this is supposed to make it where you absolutely have to be 21 to drink. They say that you now either need a third party vendor (bartender who checks ID's), or you must bring your own. They all know that here at Purdue we like to have a pretty good time, but on some occasions it gets a little out of hand. Technically, these rules have always been there, but most people weren't aware of them, or if they were just ignored them completely. IFC said this would be strongly inforced after fall break, so naturally people have already started to find loop-holes or just blantantly disreguard the rules. Fraternities have been having more "list" parties because they think lower board (the guys who come in and bust the party who aren't cops) will be too overwhelmed to go around checking everyone's ID's, or be too intimidated by the door men to want to come in. Now, after the break I havn't been to any of these parties because honestly, they're just not my style. Crammed among 50 people grinding on me, spillinig my drink, and making it unbearably hot in that basement does not a good time make. So far I have not heard of any of these parties getting busted and people getting in trouble for under aged drinking, I just want you all to be aware. After these rules have been inforced, I have rediscovered the great art of apartment parties, but to be honest I kinda miss the old ways. If you have noticed any changes, or are just frusturated in the lack of good parties recently, fear not. It's only a matter of time before everyone starts ignoring the rules again.