The Video of the Year

Today, I'm going to change your life... or at least give you a really fun 7-minute video to watch! All you need to know about this before you watch it, is one name.

Susan Boyle.

Go click on Susan's name, and see what she's all about from her YouTube video! Come back, and read my thoughts on the subject!


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Susan Boyle's audition on Britain's Got Talent found me a day or two after her performance. There is something magnetic about her story. At first I noticed her resemblance to my 11th grade Biology teacher and I was pretty sure this was going to be one of the "duds" that these shows throw into the audition process for giggles. Susan Boyle, however, is NOT a dud of any kind.

The frumpy-looking 47 year-old confidently told the judges that she wanted to be like Elaine Paige. Paige is known for her amazing theatre career, and she is no amateur. But yes, Susan Boyle told Simon Cowell she wanted to be like her.

From the start, the crowd was against her, but those first few notes of her song, "I Dreamed a Dream," brought the crowd to their feet!! What a Cinderella story! Susan Boyle triumphed over the people who doubted her! (You could see the dollar signs in Simon Cowell's eyes as he smiled.)

I have a feeling Susan Boyle will win the competition. Not because she's that much better than the others, but because she should be the underdog. On American Idol, she would be the underdog (if only for her looks). But Boyle has gotten millions of views on YouTube from the whole world, and I don't think anyone else will be able to compete with that.

My roommate and I looked up Elaine Paige singing the same song that Susan Boyle sang from Les Miserables. We both looked at each other and decided Susan's was even better because of what the song means to her.

I've always been the kind of person to root for the underdog. This particular story is an amazing one, and I can't wait for the rest of America to hear about it!

PASS THE LINK ALONG!

Did You Watch? - House

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!!!

So last night, I was on the Internet and caught sight of what was "trending" on Twitter (in other words, what everyone was talking about at that moment). I saw one word. It was the name of a character on House. I was SO MAD at myself for clicking on the trend and seeing WHY so many people were talking about this character.

Honestly, I had heard that someone was going to die, and I had a sneaking suspicion that it was this particular character, but I wanted to watch to find out.

This morning, with the surprise completely ruined, I watched the episode and felt a little let down. The cast did a fantastic job, but I still felt confused about why the writers decided to kill off this particular character! The death had no meaning to me. It seemed very unnecessary, except that House continued to question himself. Fine, whatever. This character wasn't hurting the show, and in fact, their sense of humor helped keep things from being too morbid. If anything, I think there is a different character that is weighing down the show (hint: he quit in the episode before last but came back).

I hope this death stays present in the episodes to come, because I don't think the writers gave it enough weight. Even when Amber died I was sad to see her leave (if only for Wilson's sake). This character didn't really have any of those emotional ties, so I didn't truly feel for the characters that were left mourning.

For me, the jury is still out on this. Hopefully, we'll see more movement on this in the future.

Five MORE of My Newest Obsessions

In January, I told you five of my newest obsessions. Now, I'm back with five more.

5. Flight Control
Flight Control is the newest addition to my iPod. It is an application that costs $0.99, and is really worth the money! It's so addictive. You draw out flight plans for three kinds of plans to land in their designated areas, and pray that they don't collide! You get a point for every plane/ copter that you land. If you own an iPod Touch or iPhone, look this one up!

4. Twitter
I wanted to mention Twitter one more time. After a few more weeks of using the hottest new website, I still love how it works! Just this morning, Demi Moore apparently saved a suicidal Twitterer! P. Diddy loves to tweet with positive energy and Ashton Kutcher once posted a video of his encounter with a Cheetah ("Say hello to your mother, Cheetah"). Follow me, @Slizabeth.

3. Don't Spill the Beans
Don't Laugh! I was hanging out with some friends when we decided to make a late night trip to Wal-Mart to buy Yahtzee... we found this game, too, and it is SO much fun. The easiest game I've ever played, its like the opposite of Jenga... you add one bean at a time to the pot, until it becomes unbalanced and spills all of the beans! Whoever gets rid of all of their beans first wins!

2. Dollhouse
FOX's new show, Dollhouse, has me hooked. I'm not sure what made me love it so much in such a short time, but it really is a good show. It comes from Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I don't want to give too much away because I won't do it justice. You just have to watch.

1. The Beatles - 1
I found a copy of the compilation CD 1 in Target for $14.99. It has 27 greatest hits from The Beatles, and it is a perfect summer CD. I highly recommend it!

My Mom is on Facebook

Yes. My mother is on Facebook. She has been for a while, actually. I was sort of the person who talked her into it, but I still think it is weird. Sure, there are things that I might have once said in a status that I won't say just in case my mother reads it, but those moments of hesitation don't come very often.

I think it's nice having my mom on FB, though, because I can keep up with her and she can keep up with me... without too many phone calls a day. So far, the only downsides to having her on FB is her strange love of sending Flair, her many requests to add quiz applications, and her inability to turn down people she doesn't like for friendship on FB.

I'm really proud of my mom. Currently, she has 56 Facebook friends. Most of these people are from our town, her high school and college in Pennsylvania, or from work. She's even started recruiting more of her best friends to try it out. She's always finding someone she hasn't seen in 20 years and catching up on old times.

Really, it isn't that bad having a parent on Facebook. Granted, I don't have anything to hide from my mother and she wouldn't really care anyway, but it still isn't a bad thing.

I have a pretty cool mom.

Did You Watch? - Grey's Anatomy

I'll admit that I've had a love/hate relationship with Grey's Anatomy this season. I've watched each episode faithfully, but I had given up on my hopes for the series... until now.

Earlier this season, Christina Yang (Sandra Oh) was injured when she slipped and fell on some ice... and then an icicle plunged into her abdomen. When I watched this, I thought it was a dream sequence. It was ridiculous in every sense of the word. What are the chances? There wasn't even anything to cause the icicle to fall! The icicle never melted in the ER!

Anyway, I watched the next few episodes somewhat reluctantly and eventually got past the icicle that never melted (Ugh!). When comparing that idiotic episode to the one that aired tonight, it seems as though the scripts were from two different shows.

Tonight, Grey's Anatomy reminded me why I started watching the show years ago. The acting by Sandra Oh, Kevin McKidd, and even Katherine Heigl was spectacular! All of the writing was fantastic and heartfelt, but the scenes with Oh and McKidd won me over. The dynamics between the cast have changed so much from the childish he said/she said of seasons past, and the writers seem to be getting to the emotional heart of the characters. I feel like the newcomer, Kevin McKidd, has brought a new direction to the show, and I hope he receives the praise he deserves for his performance.

I just can't say enough about the show. Grey's is back in my eyes, and I can't wait for more.

(But please, please, please. No more icicle-like accidents, writers! That's lame!)

Looking Ahead

It has been quite a long week, but one of the highlights for me was being advised. I stupidly waited until the last minute to be advised, but I left the meeting feeling refreshed, confident, and optimistic about the Fall semester.

I made the tough decisions about which classes to take, and I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Looks like I'll be done with my core classes after the Fall semester (Yay!) and all that will be left will be Political Science, Computer Science, and Blount courses.

Fall 2009 holds a lot of promise. I'm moving off-campus after two very good years in the Blount dorm, I'll be returning to the band for my 3rd season, and I'm going to have another semester of FREE FRIDAYS! (Somehow it worked out that the classes I wanted all had Tuesday / Thursday schedules!)

I think I should find time to go see my advisor more often. I always seem to feel so much more optimistic about my education and my choices after seeing the bigger picture! It is so easy for me to worry about big projects and difficult exams and forget my goals!

Hopefully you had a good meeting with your advisor and are as optimistic as I am. If not, don't worry! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Spring Broken

It's official. I had one of the worst Spring Breaks ever. On Thursday, thirty minutes before I got into my car to go home to Ozark, I was in pain and knew it was going to be a bad day. Sure enough, Friday morning I was in the ER for 8 hours. Sunday night I was taken back to the hospital and scheduled for surgery. On Monday I had my gallbladder removed, and Tuesday afternoon I was finally released.

Trust me, it isn't ideal to spend the only 10 days of freedom from college in a hospital room and recovering from surgery. I didn't go to the beach. I didn't shop, sleep until noon, camp out, or take a road trip. Plans to visit my sister on the gulf coast were quickly tossed out, and I was only able to hang out with friends once.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that I don't have to make up any tests or find notes for the classes I might have missed if it hadn't been Spring Break. The irony of the timing of my illness isn't lost on me though. Ten minutes after my last class of the week, I was hurting. I was checked into the ER on Friday the 13th, and admitted to the hospital on the Ides of March (Beware!).

I hope you enjoyed your Spring Break far more than I did. I've decided to plan a few big weekends to make up for my pathetic break... I'll let you know how that goes.

Places to Go...

Here is another last-minute Spring Break getaway idea!

A long time ago my parents took us all to Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is beautiful and there is SO much to see! I think people who want to avoid the beaches would love Savannah. In Savannah you can find lots to do. You can take a haunted tour, sit on Forrest Gump's bench, or visit nearby Fort Pulaski if you want to see an authentic Civil War fort! Oh, and Paula Deen fans, don't forget that her restaurant, Lady and Sons, is in Savannah, too!

No, Savannah isn't like Destin or PCB, but sometimes being different is good!


Update: Looks like Mandy Moore agrees! Apparently she got married in Savannah yesterday!

Sometimes It's Nice to Get Away

Well, folks, Spring Break is on its way! Whether you are headed home, travelling for a vacation, or staying in Tuscaloosa, you can bet that a week without class is going to be good. If you are like me and have tests or papers to work on this week, don't forget that relief is near!

For today, I present one of my favorite places to spend a vacation! Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida is the perfect place to go if you aren't fond of crowded beaches. The Marriott there is amazing, and golfers especially love Bay Point. It's probably not the typical college student retreat, but it is beautiful nonetheless!

Election Wrap-Up

Wow. Yesterday's election was electric. I didn't expect to see those fantastic numbers (14,000+ voters!). Hopefully the independents who voted won't scare off the SGA and lead to a move back towards paper ballots (I'm just sayin').

I'll admit I feel quite strongly that Kendra Key was the better candidate, but life goes on. (Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, right?) I wish Kendra the best because she is going to succeed at whatever she does. Thanks to Kendra we already have a fantastic recycling program, and I hope she will work with the SGA to implement some of her other plans. Her platform truly rocked.

I feel quite relieved to have this whole election over with... no one will be stalking students with little pieces of paper (though I was sad to miss out on the awesome Kendra Key cups), chalkings will get washed away, and students will move on. That's the way it works.



By the way, is it football season yet??

Did You Watch? - The Bachelor

Beware! Bachelor spoilers!


Wow. Who would have guessed "nice-guy" Jason could mess up so royally in the eyes of his many female fans? The fan favorite from his own season on the Bachelorette, Jason had a huge following when he started his reality show journey as The Bachelor. When he was turned away by Deanna, women everywhere cried foul.

This season Jason picked the motherly, adorable Melissa to be his future wife while emphatically rejoicing in his decision. Flash forward 6 weeks to the taping of the After the Final Rose special... Uh-Oh. Jason wasn't smiling. For weeks there had been rumors and conspiracy theories about the results of this season's The Bachelor, and most of them were accurate. On Monday's special, Jason officially ended his 6-week engagement with Melissa to ask Molly, the runner-up, for a second chance! I was watching the Twitter trends about the bachelor, and the majority of the tweets bashed Jason's decision. I continue to wonder why he even proposed to Melissa rather than just picking her and forgetting the engagement for a while! He even appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live after filming ended to reveal that he was engaged!

I started watching The Bachelor a few seasons ago because my sister was really into the show. It's hard for romantics not to get caught up in the magical editing. Truthfully, the show isn't magical, and it has only produced one healthy marriage. Who knows how much is real and how much is planned? The truth is that, after so many seasons, the show may have lost what little magic it held. A bachelor before Jason didn't pick a girl. He chose to remain single. The front-runner from that season, Deanna, picked a loser snowboarder and later broke off the engagement. The front-runner from that season just flip-flopped his choice and let down the wonderful Melissa.

Truth is, I won't be watching the show any more. I think I finally realized how amazingly stupid it is.

*Insert Key-Related Pun Here*

Kendra Key has my vote for SGA President!

After comparing websites and platforms for both candidates for SGA President, I made my decision. Granted, I knew enough about Kendra from last year's election to know how accomplished she is. I had seen her name on Environmental Ambassador fliers during the fall. I even have one of her plastic cups from her last campaign. (Okay, I was biased to begin with!)

Who can resist Kendra's brilliant parking ideas? I know I can't! I especially love that she wants to shorten the ticketing day by an hour! That is so helpful with night classes and late tests that start at 6! Also, her dining platform is fantastic to me. I think her approach to increasing businesses that accept dining dollars and bama cash will help more in the long run that just encouraging business to give student discounts. (Click HERE to see a video on the CW's website of this discussion.)

Kendra Key also has some intriguing ideas for technology, athletic events, and lowering costs on her website.

Check it out!


Also, don't forget that voting is happening NOW on http://www.mybama.ua.edu/! You can vote until Midnight on Wednesday!

Think Pink - Cheer for the Tide

If you are looking for something to do tonight, you should go to the Gymnastics Pink Meet at Coleman Coliseum. It's Alabama vs. Auburn in T-Town, and tickets for the general public are sold out, according to RollTide.com.

1,700 seats have been set aside for student, though, so get there early to get in!! Don't forget to wear PINK to the meet and show support for breast cancer awareness!

What Do Mad Cow and Alzheimer's Have in Common?

I heard a very interesting story on NPR today about the link between mad cow and Alzheimer's. Apparently, the link is something called a prion protein, known to cause brain damage in mad cow cases. What was unknown was how the brain becomes damaged in Alzheimer's patients. It is now believed that these same prion proteins act in a different way to lead to brain advanced Alzheimer's.

Scientists hope this new discovery will lead to a way of preventing Alzheimer's! Sounds promising! Click here to read and hear more about this discovery!

Did You Watch?

Did you watch President Obama give his first speech before Congress this evening? I sure did. I was more impressed with our President tonight than I have ever been.

I consider myself a Republican (economically, anyway) and I was very impressed with the address. First, I don't remember him using the word "change" ambiguously. I think that was a very important step forward that he needed to make tonight. Also, I think his emphasis on education and health care really shows his long-term commitment to improving the economic problems.

President Obama made an effort to stress the severity of the problems we face as a nation before turning to the plans he has for the years ahead. Obama has a long road ahead of him, and I'm glad people are starting to realize that this financial downturn won't be fixed in his first 100 days.

A few points that I noted as I listened were:

• President Obama emphasized that Americans invented the automobile and that we need to become more dominant in that area. He said the same for solar energy.
• Families with an income of more than $250,000 may see increased taxes ahead, while 95% of working families will receive tax cuts.
• By 2020, President Obama wants the United States to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

It was clear that foreign policy was on the back burner during tonight's address. Though he mentioned education, jobs, health care, and the recession numerous times, he spoke only briefly about the war in Iraq. There is no doubt in my mind that this issue will come to the forefront again in the future.

Overall, I think President Obama did a fine job of reaching out to his country this evening. I truly look forward to seeing his programs in action.

SGA Voting!

SGA election time is nearly here, and things will be a little different for voters! In case you haven't heard, voting will be done via MyBama this year.



Voting will be March 3-4, and you can find the link on your MyBama page! After logging in, you can scroll to the bottom and you should see this:

This new system seems much more convenient than having specific voting places, and hopefully even more people will be able to voice their opinions!

The Advantages of Perfect Attendance

In high school, students with perfect attendance often receive certificates and praise. In college, however, attendance is often not recorded, and rarely rewarded in such a public, official way. There are, however, several perks that come to students who are vigilant with their attendance.

You Might Get Bonus Points
On especially beautiful days, or extremely stormy days, attendance is often low. Just today I went to one of my classes and more than half of the class had skipped. Luckily for me, the professor decided to reward the attendees with bonus points. We answered a very simple question and everyone present received credit. Those who didn't come will never see those points.

You'll Know Things
Today, along with the bonus points, our professor told us that we will be having a quiz on Tuesday. If, by some strange chance, the students who missed today show up then, they will probably not be prepared to do well on the quiz. There are some days when tests or deadlines are postponed, moved up, or cancelled. If you are in class, you'll probably hear it straight from your teacher's mouth. If not, you may be mad at yourself for pulling an all-nighter to finish the assignment that was changed and/or postponed.

You'll Absorb Information
When I take essay based tests, I will likely remember key concepts and examples that I heard in lecture, but the textual information often slips my mind more easily. I would not call myself an avid note-taker. I tend to write key points and skim the specifics. Mostly, though, I absorb the key points. I relate the notes that I do take to the anecdotes a professor tells or the interesting facts given so that I can draw on them during the test. Perhaps that is just the way my brain works, but it works nonetheless.

Pop Quiz!?
Maybe it is just me, but my teacher have really enjoyed giving out pop quizzes lately! The dreaded words that ultimately lead to a pop quiz freak me out. I start wondering if I read the information thoroughly enough. Even making a bad grade, though, will put more points toward my total than someone who misses the quiz.

Study Guides, Helpful Hints, and Friendly Faces
Another professor of mine gave us thorough study guides via eLearning before our test. Everything that was on the test was on the 3 pages of text that she posted to the web site. The day after the test, roughly 20 people came to class, and she decided to change her policy. People who attend class will receive the study guide via email, but the snoozers will be losers. This is just one example of the help that can be found by going to class. Teachers often hint at possible test questions as they lecture. This is invaluable! Also, by going to class, you may form bonds with fellow students and form a study group.

Almost as Good as Office Hours
If you haven't learned the secret yet, here it is: GO TO OFFICE HOURS! Professors have these hours for reasons, and if you don't go, they just sit in their offices grading. But, if you can't (or are too lazy) to make it to a teacher's office, try sticking around after a class! Ask some questions, introduce yourself, and be mindful that the professor probably has only a few precious moments.


My point, in case you haven't figured it out: Just go to class! The benefits far outweigh the extra 50-or-so minutes of sleep that you'll lose by going to one class.

5 Reasons to Use Twitter

Whew! It's been a rough few days! I had a test and a paper last week and two tests today! Now I am done with tests and big assignments for a while, so I wanted to tell you about one of my newest obsessions.

Last week, after reading an article about celebrities on Twitter, I decided to create an account! Since then, I've started following some amazing celebrities as well as the few people that I know who are on Twitter. I guess in Alabama Twitter hasn't quite caught on, but in other parts of the United States it is HUGE. Ever since Myspace.com started getting bogged down in spam and advertisements, Facebook has been the social network. Now, I think Twitter is gaining ground.

For people who have never heard of Twitter before, here's what you need to know:
Essentially, Twitter is like one GIANT network of Facebook statuses. The only things to do on Twitter are to update with what is going on in your life, follow and reply to friends' updates, and express yourself in less than 140 characters. (Also, each update is called a "tweet.")

So, without further ado, here are 5 Reasons to Use Twitter!

5. Its Facebook without the hassle. No pesky application requests, no chat feature, and very little safety risk. You don't put personal information on your Twitter. You can add a very short bio, a link to a website, and your picture. It is so simple, too!

4. Less time-wasting. I admit I have wasted plenty of time on Twitter in the past week or two, BUT, compared to Facebook, this time is very short! There is nothing to check, really, except for the tweets of people that you follow!

3. Get information surprisingly quickly! Do you remember the plane that landed in the Hudson River? Well, people who were following Janis Krums on Twitter knew just minutes after the crash landing. He took this picture of the crash as his ferry boat approached the plane to help rescue the passengers and crew.

2. CNN, NPR, and other news outlets are twittering daily. I follow many news outlets so that I know if something truly epic happens. It is very convenient to have your friends, news, and celebrity insights in one place.

1. Oh, the people you'll follow! My favorite part of Twitter is following the celebrities! John Mayer has the best tweets, but since I'm a new fan of the office, Rainn Wilson's tweets are must-reads, too! Other celebrities on Twitter include: Taylor Swift, Ashton Kutcher, Greg Grunberg, Coldplay, Perez Hilton, Dave Matthews, Lance Armstrong, and SO many more! Some of my favorite Tweets thus far have been Lance Armstrong reporting that he collided with a motorcycle during the Tour of California ("Body's ok tho"), Rainn Wilson's posting of this hilarious video, and John Mayer's tweets immediately following his Grammy wins ("Heart is about to explode!").


I'm determined to convince more of my friends to join Twitter. It is so simple, and it isn't just something else to check... it is a fantastic way to stay in touch with your friends and to express yourself.

Go, now, and get a Twitter!!

And follow me: www.twitter.com/slizabeth

Domestic Violence

With the recent story of 19-year-old Chris Brown's alleged attack on singer Rihanna, the media has put a big spotlight on domestic violence. Rihanna, talented and kind-hearted, is not even 21 yet. The deaths of three members of Jennifer Hudson's family were also the result of domestic abuse, according to authorities.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, anywhere, and it is never justified. For more information about Domestic Violence, check out DomesticViolence.org.

If you're in need of help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.


I'll leave you with interesting statistics about Alabama from 2005.

Statistics of Domestic Violence in Alabama

· There were 26,051 domestic assaults in 2005.
· Hands, fists, or feet were used as a weapon in 51% of the offenses. Other dangerous weapons were used in 17% of the offenses, including knifes and firearms.
· There were 27 homicides due to domestic violence in 2005.
· There were 57,176 shelter nights provided for adults and children in Alabama shelters in fiscal year 2006.

The Day I Met Nick Saban

Ever since Nick Saban came to Alabama, people have been talking about him. He was featured on the front cover of Forbes magazine, voted Liberty Mutual's Coach of the Year, and has earned praise all over the country.

Last April I signed up to be in a pep band for the Crimson Caravan promotional tour. It was to generate support and donations in several Alabama cities, and took place on several different days over a three week span. The Caravan consisted of Big Al, Alabama Cheerleaders, a Million Dollar Pep Band, Eli Gold, and of course Coach Saban.

One stop was in Dothan, Alabama. Dothan is very near my hometown, so I was excited to see my dad while the Caravan was in town. He had gotten tickets, so when the band was given a short break, I went over to him. When I did, it was just minutes until Nick Saban made it through the crowd to where my dad was.

It was exciting. I didn't know what to do, but I managed to say a few words, shake his hand, and smile for a picture.

That was a good day... one I definitely won't forget.

Super Bowl Gear

When the Super Bowl finishes and the winning team is given shirts and hats, do you ever wonder where the losing team's memorabilia is? Tonight the Steelers went away with snazzy Super Bowl gear with their franchise's logo on it, but the Cardinals will never see their hats.

I did a little google search earlier to see what I could find out about the losing team's gear. The New York Times published an article a few years ago to inform us about this topic.

Apparently, the gear will stay in boxes under heavy security until the time when they are donated to struggling nations in Africa. These people won't really know the problem with the shirts they wear, and the gear will never end up on eBay.

Interesting.

No-Bake Recipes for a Super Bowl Party

Do you have a microwave? A freezer of some kind? Good.

For Super Bowl Sunday, why not impress your pals with a few of these recipes for a party or quiet gathering around the TV!



Ranch Crackers

A friend of mine, Leah, gave me this "recipe." There aren't very precise instructions because it is quite hard to mess up! Enjoy!

1 bags of oyster crackers
1 packet of ranch dressing powder
1 stick of butter

Melt half of the butter in a small bowl (or coffee mug). Pour the butter over your oyster crackers which should be in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour the ranch dressing packet over the crackers and mix well. You want everything to be coated evenly, and add a little more butter if needed. Also, you could add another ranch packet if you want it. Some people like less, some people like more.

Put your mixture in the microwave for just a minute. You aren't cooking it, its more to dry the crackers. It isn't really a science, so you can't mess it up. Don't keep it in a closed container, because you don't want them to get soggy.



Create Your Own PARTY MIX!

A full-proof snack for the Super Bowl... Fill a bowl with a few of these things, and everyone will find something they like!

M&M's
Chocolate Chips
pretzels
Peanut Butter pieces
marshmallows
Rice Chex
Popcorn
Peanuts



Classic Rotel

I'm not sure why I'm adding this, but in case you've never heard of it, then here it is! Its a cheese dip! Great with tortilla chips!

1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 lb. Velveeta cheese

Cut cheese into 1 inch cubes and pour Rotel tomatoes over and microwave until melted, stirring occasionally. Don't over-heat! Just melt it and serve it with chips!



Lemonade Pie

This is by far the easiest pie I've ever made. It takes very little effort and tastes pretty good. I made this for a study party for my Blount class!

1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust (on the baking aisle!)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 – 8 oz. Cool Whip
1 – 6 oz can frozen lemonade, thawed (do not use pink lemonade)

Thaw cool whip and lemonade. Combine sweetened condensed milk, cool whip and lemonade in bowl until thoroughly mixed. Pour into graham cracker pie crust. Put in freezer until set firm.

Serve within minutes of removing from freezer or things could get messy!



Have fun (and go Steelers!).

Student Football Tickets

We have problems with our student football tickets, and I think we can all agree that something should be done.

(I guess I should mention that I have no need for tickets since I'm in the MDB, but that I am still a student and I have friends that deal with this problem.)

I came across a link to Tommy Deas's blog suggesting a semi-plausible solution that should be discussed. (I was surprised to read of the same solution in the CW today, but because Deas elaborates a lot, I couldn't help but break it down.)

In a nutshell, Deas suggests that students be awarded points for each sporting event (other than football) that they attend. This would mean a drastic increase in attendance for volleyball, tennis, soccer, and many other attention-deserving sports. In theory, I really love this idea, but in reality, it needs work.

Firstly, there's a big issue with time-management in college to begin with. If someone really wants those tickets, they'll skip their night class, study sessions, and extra-curriculars to swipe their act card for extra points. If they don't, students will send a Freshman to skip their night class, study sessions, and extra-curriculars to swipe an upper-classman's act card. Some people will naturally attend every event possible to ensure that they receive the most points. Students with more difficult schedules won't be able to keep up.

Secondly, attendance will be an issue. If there is a volleyball match coming up against Auburn, surely the point-desiring students would rather attend that event than a hockey match against Alaska! Can the Cave hold those kinds of crowds? When people are turned away, will they receive points?

Also, there are plenty of students who buy football tickets simply to sell them for triple face value... that's not good for the students who couldn't get a whole package and want to buy from a fellow student.

Finally, students will swipe-and-go. Obviously, students will swipe their card, take a seat, and leave as soon as possible. In the end, this is probably the least worrisome downfall to Deas's idea, but still something to consider.


Some solutions? A slightly more complex, but hopefully better procedure.

Three Events.
Give students who have swiped their ACT cards at THREE events some points. Going to four events doesn't help, and going to two doesn't accomplish anything. Students will space out their attendance throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, and overall, attendance will rise. It takes the pressure off of a student who can't keep up with truly motivated people and avid fans. Also, skipping classes won't really be required.

Selling Consequences.
So, for those students who sell their season football tickets, points should be deducted from their total, hindering their ability to buy tickets the next season. (What if a student can't attend a football game? They can donate their tickets to that fantastic ticket program the SGA has worked hard to set up and they will be eligible for a prize. For a donation, there should be no consequences.)

Dean's List Points.
Offer points to first-time Dean's Listers! If a student who has never made it to the list before, we could encourage better grades with extra points. (Okay, for repeat Dean's List offenders, give a few points, too, but don't go weighting the point totals for a genius majoring in underwater basket weaving.)

Three-Tiered Confusion.
Confuse things up a little more by giving out tickets by level. Sell tickets by the point-range in which students fall. People with lots of points buy on day 1, and the tickets are distributed on first-come, first-serve terms. People with many points on day 2, same first-come, first-serve basis. Everyone else on day 3... the truly motivated will wake up and be online before 7 (you snooze, you lose).

Other Things:
Expand the student section. Please?
High point totals + seniority = SECCG and Bowl tickets. Not that hard.
Perhaps initiate a way to reward volunteering with points?



Honestly, looking at what I just typed, my head hurts. It's pretty complex, but something should change, and saying "have at the tickets" won't work. My brother missed buying tickets last year. He made it to one or two games by paying way more than the usual student ticket value. He's not alone. My roommate didn't go to a single game because a single ticket would have cost her more than an entire package of student tickets. Amazing things could happen in the next few years, and it saddens me that some students won't get to see it in person.

My dad attended Alabama for law school. He was here for three years, and in that time Alabama won TWO National Championships. Hearing him talk about those years and the games that he went to really makes me excited for my time here.

We're living football history... let's share it with the other students who are paying tuition.

Discovery Classes at the Ferg

Did you know that the Ferguson Center is offering several kinds of Discovery Classes?These classes look like a LOT of fun! You can take classes in guitar, crocheting, vegetarian cooking, yoga, and baking!

Each class meets once a week (for 4-5 weeks). There's a fee for the classes, but the skills you can acquire will probably be worth it! The classes are small, so be sure to register soon!

Easy Cooking on Campus

I live in a dorm, so I share a kitchen with a building full of people. Trying to cook in the kitchen in my building isn't worth the hassle most of the time, but finding a simple recipe to use really helps.

My mom loves to cook and has tons of suggestions for simple cooking. She gave me this "Taco Soup" recipe a while back. I've made it for my roommates and also for a piccolo party last fall.
This recipe is really simple! As long as you drain the ingredients as instructed, it's really hard to mess up!


TACO SOUP

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
2 cups diced onions
2 (15 ½ ounce) cans pinto beans
1 (15 ½ ounce) can pink kidney beans
1 (15 ½ ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 ½ ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1 (14 ½ ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 ½ ounce) can tomatoes with chiles
2 (4 ½ ounce) cans diced green chiles
1 (4.6 ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional
1 (1 ¼ ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (1 ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix

In the pot you will use for your soup, brown the beef. Drain the excess fat and put beef aside. Cook the diced onion in the same pot. When the onions are cooked, re-add the beef. Also add the beans (drain the liquid!), corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, and simmer over low heat for about 1 hour on the stove.

Serve with corn chips and consider topping the soup with sour cream, cheese, and green onions. This recipe will serve 12 to 16 people, and freezes very well!


I hope you enjoy it!

Five of My Newest Obsessions

As I drove back to Tuscaloosa today, I thought about all of the new things I've been listening to, watching, and playing... SO, here are just a few new things that I LOVE!

5. My new HP Printer
For Christmas, I got a printer! So far, not having to find a computer lab with a working printer is FABULOUS! I thought I wouldn't use it much, but I have definitely been able to, and the semester hasn't really even started!

4. Damien Rice
A friend of mine gave me a copy of his CD "9 Crimes," and I definitely enjoyed it. I recommend not listening to it while operation heavy machinery (it may cause complete relaxation and slight drowsiness). I loved his song "Cannonball" but hadn't really heard any of his other songs. Now, I'm hooked!!

3. The New Season of Desperate Housewives
I remember watching the first-ever episode of this show with my sister. By last season I had lost all interest in the show and decided to stop watching it... then I heard a rumor that the new season of the show was set to take place 5 years later! As it turns out, this clever change brought new life into the show and got rid of some ridiculous story lines! Now, I eagerly await the show each week... just like I used to!

2. John Grisham's The Appeal
As with any Grisham novel, The Appeal kept me interested. I could tell that Grisham had a bone to pick, and perhaps this book will open more eyes to the problem with electing State Supreme Court justices. It was a good read, and I can't wait for his new book, The Associate, coming very soon (January 27, 2009)!!

1. Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS
This game is just like the real version, only it fits in your pocket! I've enjoyed playing it, though it is much less comfortable than playing the original version. I've been using the game to brush up on my skills, so that I can compete with my friends at our next "Rock Band" Party! It was definitely worth the money to get this great game!


Enjoy!

Something You Should See

A month ago I happened to catch Oprah talking with John Quinones about his show for ABC News. It is called "What Would You Do?" and I think it deserves a lot of attention.

Basically, the show examines situations in which people should speak up. A man putting a mysterious powder into his date's drink while she is in the restroom, a woman in traditional Muslim clothing being refused service at a lunch counter, and two girls verbally abusing a young girl in a park are previous experiments. Each experiment involves actors playing these tough roles as hidden cameras record the reactions of bystanders.

I think the experiments on racism are some of the most powerful examples of how this show succeeds. I have seen two such set-ups in which an angry lunch counter worker discriminates against someone seeking service.

The bystanders who witnessed discrimination against an actress wearing a traditional Muslim head scarf, or hijab, reacted to what they thought was actual discrimination. The vast majority of bystanders said nothing, while many even took the side of the belligerent bakery worker.

There were, however, a good number of people who emphatically supported the woman and even cancelled their orders after hearing the argument.

This show both troubles me and gives me hope for America. On one hand, the number of people who said nothing or supported the actor who belittled the Muslim-American woman astounds me. I would love to think that we are better than that as a society.

On the other hand, the brave customers who defended the woman touched my heart. According to an article on the ABC website, one man had this to say when the actor behind the lunch counter called him a "bad American": "I believe I am a good American. My son just came back from serving in the army for over a year in Iraq and that has nothing to do with her rights. I am deeply offended by this."

Not all experiments are this heavy, but they are definitely entertaining. Last week, one segment explored the reaction of Paris locals to the atrociously stereotypical behavior of two American tourists.


"What Would You Do?" can be seen on ABC each Tuesday night at 9:00 PM, and there are many videos on the website.

A Tuesday/Thursday Schedule.

This semester is an experiment for me. I was curious. I had seen plenty of my friends arrange their schedules so that they could have free Fridays (and sometimes Mondays as well).

It was bugging me. I wondered if I could do it and if I'd like it. So here I am, all of my classes piled onto Tuesday and Thursday, with one Monday/Wednesday class, and an extra lab on Monday. My observations thus far? Holy cow.

It is fantastic in theory... but a few things are bothering me. What if my teachers all plan tests for the same day? Essays? What about all that reading?

Okay, so the chances of a MASS test day are very slim, but still it's something to worry about. We're barely a week into this semester but I'm already optimistic that this could work. I might be able to get away with having Fridays off for a road trip or a visit home... I'm actually pretty excited about it, but I know I have to stay on track with reading and homework.

So far, I'd say having this kind of a schedule is a great thing... I'll let you know if something changes.

New Years in New Orleans

Ringing in the new year in New Orleans was fantastic... we watched fireworks over the river, ate on a balcony on Bourbon Street, and watched two great football teams. It's been 8 days, and I've come to terms with the loss (perhaps because the weekend was so memorable!). The mood on our bus after the game was much lighter than it was after our loss to Florida. Rather than sit in our hotel and play games, we ventured out into New Orleans and enjoyed our final night. Losing to Utah was awful, but in spite of the outcome, I'm excited for next year. I think we all are.

The last Alabama football game for many months was bittersweet, but it sure was memorable. I think we'll have even more fun next year in Pasadena if we get the chance. So here's to a new year, and a countdown to Bama's 13th National Championship.

It's Not a Small Galaxy...

I was in the car today, and caught a little bit of Science Friday, one of my favorite NPR programs. Ira Flatow had a guest on talking about new measurements of the Galaxy. They say that the Milky Way is actually larger than what was previously thought.

I thought it was pretty interesting, and just wanted to share. You can listen to the segment at the link above!

Sara Elizabeth Matthews is bloggin' it up.

One of my favorite things to do when I'm bored is to change my Facebook status, but after a while the generic "Sara Elizabeth Matthews is tired" gets boring and predictable.

It's always nice to switch it up a little bit, which is why I'm blogging today about some cool Facebook statuses that I've seen in action. There are a few things that can make a really good status, in my opinion.

Creativity
If you've never seen someone use a particular status before, you've probably got a winner on your hands. You can make a play on words or take an old phrase and make it your own!

Are you a fan of Descartes? Try this:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews thinks, therefore she is.

Or, if it's really late and you've had too many Red Bulls:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews has too much blood in her caffeine system.

Something I like to do is look on the back of a novel and pick one of the reviews to make into a status. I liked this one:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews packs a wallop.

Song Lyrics
One of my favorite fall-back statuses is a simple song lyric. When a status looks like it is a lyric, I often google it to see which song it is from.

I use this Green Day lyric on days when I can't think of anything else:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews is one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone no doubt about it.

Hairspray supplies a good one, too:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews can't stop the beat.

Songs that mean something to your friends are good material, too.:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews just wants to celebrate.

Chuck Norris Style
I'm sure you've heard a Chuck Norris joke or two in your lifetime, so why not convert one into a unique status?

Sara Elizabeth Matthews CAN touch this.

Sara Elizabeth Matthews always knows the EXACT location of Carmen San Diego.

Sara Elizabeth Matthews doesn't bowl strikes, she just knocks down one pin and the other nine faint.

Abstract
So, basically abstract is my way of saying "Make absolutely no sense." If people don't understand what you're status means, they'll probably comment away! Try going to this LINK and letting the website generate something completely random for you!!

Sara Elizabeth Matthews is writing a dissertation on various puddings.

Sara Elizabeth Matthews is nibbling marinated cocktail umbrellas.

Sara Elizabeth Matthews is teaching a class in superfluous cabbages.

Just Different
If the point of a good status is to let your friends know what you're up to, then just saying things in a different way can be as cool as anything else.

Rather than saying you are going to class, tell your friends this:
Sara Elizabeth Matthews is sketching pretty patterns, day-dreaming, and staring at the inside of her eyelids... she's in Math class.

Going to the 'Bama game, later?
Sara Elizabeth Matthews is ready to roll over the Tigers and watch them crawl back to Auburn.

Skip the English
If you want to drive your friends crazy, go to a translation website and enter your own text. You'll probably recieve a really rough translation, but your friends will hop on over to the website and see what you're trying to say!


The best thing about changing your Facebook status is that there are no rules! They even took away the "is" that used to be a permanent fixture to any status.

Have fun with your status, and hopefully you'll get more and more comments on each one!


(PS: if you're mysterious, people will get curious and be forced to comment!)

It's a New Year!

So, the winter break is winding down, and my blog is about to start winding up. I've got a few posts up my sleeve, but I just wanted to wish you all a very happy New Year!

It's 2009 and anything is possible!



PS: Be on the look out for a summary of the Sugar Bowl trip, as well as a post about Facebook, and new videos to go with my posts!