Student+Blogs

The following was originally published February 15, 2010 at http://thereandback207.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/crunch-time-for-mountaineers/ As the 2010 college basketball season nears the end of the regular season, West Virginia is entering a crucial part of its schedule. Looking at the [|Big East standings], there are pretty much five teams battling for the final two double-byes in the Big East tournament. West Virginia and Pitt have the advantage with just four conference losses, but Georgetown, Louisville and Marquette are all just a game back. And that’s why the next four games on West Virginia’s schedule are crucial. In the next two weeks, the Mountaineers have road dates at Providence and Connecticut, along with home contests against Seton Hall and Cincinnati. All four are games the Mountaineers //should// win. And if they do, that all-important double-bye in the Big East tournament will likely be wrapped up. Still, the Big East is brutal. If you don’t show up to play 100 percent in every game, you’ll probably get beat. Two prime examples from over the weekend: Louisville went into Syracuse and [|knocked off the Orange], while 15th place [|Rutgers defeated No. 8 Georgetown.] The Mountaineers have lost two in a row after falling to Villanova and Pitt last week. So, a lack of effort over the next couple weeks shouldn’t be an issue as they will be looking to bounce back. West Virginia’s regular season Big East title hopes are probably extinguished at three games back – but stranger things have happened. Still, if the Mountaineers are to have //any// chance at all of getting that title, the next four games are must-wins. To close out the year, West Virginia will have Georgetown at home and Villanova on the road — both contests should be tossups.

The following was originally published February 16, 2010 at http://kenziekat.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/blog-a-day-week/ So, last week was blog a day week, and at the end of that week I was supposed to do an overview of what is was like for my blogging class. I forgot. I’ll do it now instead. Blogging everyday about the love of your life is an easy thing to do…especially when there happens to be a foot of snow outside preventing you from doing anything else. Overall, the constant blogging wasn’t difficult to do at all, because there was absolutely nothing else to do. My car was stuck all week. I had every intention of keeping this daily blogging routine, but found that once the snow had melted and my car had been dug out, the daily blogging wasn’t quite so easy. Which leads me to the conclusion that those who blog daily probably don’t have a full-time job, a full-time class schedule, law school applications, a lovely boyfriend, and [|WVU News] madness on their plate….I hope I have that luxury one day. Until then, expect two lovely Kenzie blogs a week, and if she does something spectacular (as I know she will), expect more

The following was originally published February 14, 2010 at http://evanmoore.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/green-is-a-color/ The “Green Revolution” is happening and no one will be left behind! Especially not the marketing departments for skiing and snowboarding companies worldwide. It seems like every company this year has come out with some kind of “green” gear, but is it really that green? Let’s think about it. After buying a new, shiny board or skis from your local gear shop you then gas up your SUV and bound through the snow for a couple hours. After that you are pulled up the slopes on a lift that runs off of electricity generated by some kind of fossil fuel, and then you slide down a mountain on artificially made snow. So… is a green board really going to help and how green is it anyway? Greenest of Green I think Omatic Snowboards probably have it right. They came out with the EXTR-ECO (with BS technology). This board completely throws the idea of a green company on its head with satirical graphics and an acknowledgement that this sport isn’t environmentally friendly. Sure, there are companies who are legitimately making progress when it comes to green boards but progress is a relative term. If skiers and snowboarders really want to make a difference, buying green products isn’t the way to go. It can be a piece of the solution but it isn’t the solution in itself. There needs to be a commitment from buyers, companies and resorts if we really want to make a difference. That being said, I’m not holding my breath.

The following was originally published February 14, 2010 at http://thefontanareport.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/a-big-day-for-womens-basketball/ Today is the annual pink zone for the Mountaineer women’s basketball team, which is the day the entire team wears pink uniforms to support breast cancer awareness. During this annual event the team always gets its biggest crowd of the season. Not only is this a big day because of the cause they are trying to support, but because it is also a big game for the ninth ranked Mountaineers in general as they face the 16th ranked Georgetown Hoyas. This day is the perfect day for many Mountaineer fans to see how good this basketball team is and in return hopefully they will get more support. All across the country woman’s basketball isn’t supported like men’s college basketball is, but there is one female blogger named Rebecca who thinks marketing is the reason women’s basketball isn’t as popular as men’s basketball. If marketing is the reason then this game is a big marketing opportunity for the team to showcase its talents. I completely agree with that response because I know on the men’s side if you say WVU is playing Providence people are going to watch the game because they’ve seen the team play before and know the game will be entertaining. It’s not the same way with women’s basketball. Not that it’s not competitive or entertaining, but not too many people have seen the women’s team play and in return the women’s version of the WVU vs. Providence game isn’t going to be paid as much attention to because people haven’t watched anything like that before. I hope today, for the team’s sake this marketing promotion for a good cause helps them get more support because this is a team that has a chance to go deep into the NCAA Tournament and possibly make it to the Final Four.

The following was originally published January 25, 2010 at http://embracingmyvoice.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/sources-that-will-help-me-in-my-journey/ Being that the mission of this blog is to help me recapture my creative voice as a writer, I have picked 10 blogs that I feel illustrate someone or a group of people who are embracing their creative voices by writing passionately about things that mean something to them. The ten I chose are all about topics I am really interested in. The first one is about my favorite TV channel…The Food Network. This blog is designated for Food Network fanatics who are just as, if not more in love with this wonderful channel than I. There are posts about the shows themselves, but even better there are posts specifically about the hosts of the shows and their personal and professional lives. [|http://foodnetworkaddict.blogspot.com/] The second one I ran across that really struck my interest was a blog that discussed African American education. I am an Africana Studies major and it is always interesting to see how others feel about educational issues and how they affect the black community. [|http://en.wordpress.com/tag/african-american-education/] Fuge State is a blog that I relate to on more than one level. It is written by a person who used to play cello but they gave it up for journalism school and now 15 years later, they are picking it back up and starting from the beginning. I play the cello but stopped because of my education and other things that began to consume my time. It has been a few years but I am picking it back up as well. I think that it’s crazy I ran across this especially at this point in time when I am doing the same thing. [|http://www.fuguestate.co.uk/] I was led to this next blog by exploring the previous one. I have always love classical music and for a long time, intended to be a professional cellist. This site is not the fanciest, but it is full of great information. It displays classical music from many different perspectives which is great. [|http://classicalmusicblog.com/] This next one belongs to the Sankofa Community Empowerment Inc. I found this one through my research of the West African principle of Sankofa which I live by. Sankofa means ” to go back and fetch it.” The symbol is a bird with its head facing behind him. It means that you must understand and appreciate your past before you can move forward. This principle has been a huge part of my life and played a major role in my transformation from a child to a woman. I will be writing about Sankofa more in the future. [|http://blogs.myspace.com/sankofaempowerment] Out of all the things in my life that I love…volleyball is without a doubt one of my true passions. I have been playing since I was12 and it has always been a big part of my life. Even though I no longer play on an organized team, I still love to watch and play for recreation. “Volleyball: Growing the Game Together” is written by someobe who truly knows and loves volleyball. A lot of people do not realize that being an athlete is a lifestyle; and the sport of volleyball is far more intense than it can sometimes appear. [] Jane Austen is by far my favorite author. Her work has intrigued me since I was very young. ” Jane Austen’s fantastic site that brings her work to life in a really cool way. [|http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/] There are few things that are more creative than dance. I am by no means a “dancer” but I do have a great love for African dance. Being that many dances that have become popular in this country derive from the traditional dances of Africa, I think that this site is a great source for all dancers regardless of their specialty. This blog has great pictures, and does a good job of showing how fun African dance is while at the same time exhibiting the beauty of it. [|http://greatdance.com/thekineticinterface/2009/07/west-african-dance-alvin-ailey/] As a member of the National Association of Black Journalists I follow the NABJ Blog. It is a great networking source, and it provides a lot of information regarding the state of the organization [|http://nabjindy.wordpress.com/] The last source that I will list is called Embrace Your Voice. It is for young women (such as myself) who are trying to recapture their voice and grasp their inner strength whatever it may be. This is great for me because that is exactly what I am trying to do with my writing. Along with that, it offers some truly inspirational messages and words of empowerment for young women of all different backgrounds. [|http://www.embraceyourvoice.com/]

The following was originally published February 14, 2010 at http://friedgreenbananafish.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/chinese-new-year-4708-year-of-the-google/ Last year, on the 20th anniversary of the massacre of Tiananmen Square, something “strange” happened in China. TV screens went black, pages were ripped from magazines, and computers flashed HTTP 404 error messages. The country experienced a media blackout. There was no way the Chinese government was going to let its citizens commemorate the anniversary of its most shameful moment in history. But there was a small light that managed to shine through the darkness. Social media. According to blogger Michael Anti, censors in China aren’t equipped to screen out the flow of this user-created information. He says they “need time to figure out what it is.” Photo: Xinhua Photo Fast forward to 2010 and internet giant Google rebuking China for hacking into its citizen’s Gmail accounts. So far, Google has bowed to the sleeping dragon, scrubbing its Chinese version of controversial images. But not anymore. Google is stepping up its game. If the Chinese government won’t allow them to provide the same search results they do in other countries, the company is threatening to leave China – and give up nearly $1 billion a year to prove their point. And after a recent speech on internet censorship made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, it seems Google has chosen the right time to do so. There are critics of Google’s decision. Some say it’s a PR scheme, or a cover-up for the fact that Chinese hackers actually got into Gmail’s source code. But with 92% of Chinese citizens using social media, the country is emerging from behind the Iron Curtain, whether the powers that be like it or not. The People’s Republic is using technology in ways never imagined by the generation that witnessed the events of Tiananmen Square. It’s time for a revolution. And this new year will show us just how far it can go.

The following was originally published February 9, 2010 at http://ourgoldenlife.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/a-level-of-cabin-fever-i-didnt-know-existed/ This is getting a little ridiculous. Okay, a lot ridiculous. We have been snowed in since Friday! While the main roads were “plowed” over the weekend (there was still at least 2 inches of packed snow on the main roads as of Sunday) it seems that our street was forgotten. Not one plow has driven down our road yet! Gilmore Street—the road that the city of Morgantown forgot.

[|View Larger Map] As of today our street STILL has 4+ inches of snow on it left over from Friday’s blizzard. We have witnessed 6 accidents and 4 cars getting stuck on our street since the snow started, so there’s no way that the city can tell me that people aren’t being endangered as a direct result of their lack of road care. It has been raining/sleeting/snowing all day today, and the forecast says the wintry weather will continue on for at least another day. I think that I can safely assume that Gilmore’s street conditions will only get worse. As I am typing this, this very minute, there is a black Volkswagen spinning its wheels on the side of the road. It went to go drive up the hill to exit our street, slipped backwards, and got stuck in a ditch. I would say that I can’t believe it, but I can. Snow plows of Morgantown—where is the love?

The following was originally published February 12, 2010 at http://brittanynelson.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/how-about-that-super-bowl-music/ As one of the millions that tuned into the Super Bowl last Sunday, I fell in love with the intro of ‘Run This Town” by Jay-Z and Rihanna. Most notably missing was Kanye from the song since he’s decided to lay low after his “Yo, Taylor… I’mma let you finish” moment on the MTV Video [...]

The following was originally published February 15, 2010 at http://austindrizzy.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/david-beckham-will-start-vs-man-united/ Seven Years after leaving Manchester United for Real Madrid, in what was a mega transfer at the time, David Beckham is set to start against the club that turned him into a football god and global celebrity. Facing his former club for the first time on Tuesday The England midfielder, who never faced United during four seasons at Real Madrid, will get the opportunity during a second loan spell at Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS. AC Milan hosts United on Tuesday as the Champions League resumes after a two-month break, with the eight first-leg matches in the first knockout round split over two weeks. An Italian source in Milan says,”Beckham will start on the right side of midfield with Pato just ahead of him in a 4-3-3 formation. Beckham has played up front in a three and it hasn’t worked – he is too old for all of that running around – but he is better off on the right of midfield, and we think he will start. That’s what we have been told and that is what has appeared in the press today.” Beckham has been on the bench for the last two Serie A matches could replace Gennaro Gattuso in an attacking midfield line-up alongside Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini. This position on the pitch suits his style of play much better than on the right side of the three man attack for Milan. It is expected that Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho will then form a three-man attack with striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. David Beckham playing for Man. United vs. Leeds United in 2003 David Beckham did say it will be difficult to keep his emotions in check, but he admits this is the first time he will want Man. United to lose a match. “As an AC Milan player, I want to beat Manchester United and to say that as a Man U fan is quite difficult. As much as it is emotional for me personally, it is important that we win the game. I am a Milan player and I want us to play well in the game and progress to the next stage.” Beckham left Old Trafford under a cloud in 2003 after 394 appearances in 11 years, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson frustrated by the then-England captain’s celebrity lifestyle.

The following was originally published February 9, 2010 at http://fromplaygroundstopantsuits.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/go-here/ Since I will be talking a lot about the WVU Career Services Center, I thought that I should show everyone where it is, just incase someone doesn’t know. The Career Services Center is located on WVU’s downtown campus right beside the WVU Bookstore.

[|View Larger Map] Also, I wanted to introduce you all to[| ULOOP] WVU Classified Ads. All you need to register is .edu email address. There is everything from housing to jobs. I thought it was worth a look, a mentor of mine sent it to me so I just wanted to share it with everyone else.