Sweep

I feel bad for the Colorado Rockies. The fact that my roomie, her boyfriend and my best friend go to Boulder make my feel for Colorado. They have never won a World Series, and for that reason, deserve to have won it this year. It's completely unfair for Boston to sweep the World Series AGAIN. I don't know if there's a curse on the Rockies or anything, but it sucks to be them. Usually if the Cubs aren't in the World Series, I don't bother watching; but since the Rockies were doing so good until last week, I just had to keep up with the games. In addition, the Red Sox clearly have too much money and buy every single good player like the Yankees do. It's an unfair advantage that the East has on every other team in Major League Baseball. I always wanted to see a game at Fenway park, but now I am just pissed at the Red Sox for beating a team that badly. It's just plain mean to not even give them one game to try and catch up. Like 2004, Boston still thinks they're the best city ever just because they have a great baseball team. Then again, if the Cubs won the World Series I would probably be bouncing off the walls reppin' Chicago as well as Boston does. Even though Colorado lost, they should still be very proud of themselves that they got this far!

-Britt

Homecoming Week

As we all know, last week was homecoming week here at Purdue. Coming from a high school who got very into all the activities and games surrounding homecoming, I had high expectations from Purdue. Besides the weather being bone-chilling, there were other things that upset my week. There should have been activites in the dorms to go along with last week. All I heard about was a parade, along with fireworks on Friday and Saturday prior to the football game. The Boilermakers DID beat Northwestern, who hails from about a half hour from my house, but I didn't feel like people got into the game enough. I did enjoy a few things though, which included the black pom poms which were given out, Purdue Pete tackling the Northwestern gorilla and seeing Neil Armstrong. I think next year, the school should schedule Homecoming week farther away from Halloween. Since a lot of people were out partying on Friday night, it was difficult to get the max number of students up early enough to get to Ross-Ade. The best part of the game was probably when the sun came out and shined just when the clock ran out and we finished the game!

-Britt

GMO's, Who Knows

-chocolate chip pancakes
-scrambled eggs
-chocolate milk
-apple juice
-take 5 candy bar
-bottled water
-apple
-tuscan chicken flat bread
-Barq's root beer



When I look at what I ate yesterday, from the start I know that I had no "slow-cooked" meals or anything that would do any good to the environment. I bet a lot of my food was genetically modified. The genetically modified foods I think I ate include eggs, the apples in my apple juice, the soybeans and peanuts in my Take 5 bar, and the tomatoes and onions in my flat bread. I believe that basically anything that came from the ground was probably genetically modified. I'm not one of those "organic" people, so I didn't eat anything organic, nor had any intent to if I did. Since most of my meals came from the dining halls or places where I couldn't check labels, I'm not too sure of the whereabouts of my meals. I am sure, though, of a few foods. The candy bar I made came from Hershey Pennsylvania, the apple I ate came from Washington, the bottled water came from a river in Tennessee and the root beer was bottled overseas in either Indonesia or China. It can't be healthy knowing that a lot of the things I ate included soybean oil or high fructose corn syrup. Even though I didn't eat any "slow food," the pancakes and eggs still took some time to cook up. The Tuscan Flat bread would be considered fast food to me and that's a category I should probably cut back on.

-Britt

Halloween

When I was younger, I loved how my mom would make me a really intense costume or dress me up in a ridiculously cute animal outfit. The fact that you get to go from house to house getting free candy from your creepy neighbors was pretty much the best thing in the world. Upon approaching middle school you ditch the parents and are finally let out to go trick-or-treating by yourself. You pray that your parents let you stay out a little later since it IS a holiday and you have school the next morning. In high school, it's all about being tan and making a fool of yourself, all while celebrating Halloween that Friday and Saturday before it's even October 31st. Later in the high school years and of course college, most girls get too tan and overexpose themselves for the big night. I'm not saying it's not fun to be a little out there and stuff, but it's crazy how you can go from dressing up like a cute little bunny rabbit to dressing up like a Playmate. I find it completely nuts that in many parts of the world, people don't go trick-or-treating, nor know what Halloween is. I know in Mexico, Halloween is actually to honor the dead. I sometimes feel bad that us Americans have changed this holiday so drastically. Well, now that pumpkin carving is just around the corner, what's everyone being for Halloween this year?!

-Britt

Squirmy Wormy

Worms are quite possibly the stickiest, slimiest and sickening organisms to prawl under and on our sidewalks. Due to the rain showers today, all the worms were on the go and in their full suit of 9 inch attractiveness. I can sometimes stand them if I'm planting flowers and happen to come across them. On the other hand, when I'm trying to rush somewhere to get out of the rain when it's dark out, I hate these creepy crawlers getting in the way of me tip-toeing around campus. Worms should serve two purposes and two purposes only. Number one, they should be implanted in dirt pudding for that extra flavor at the end of your dessert. Number two, worms can be used for decoration around this lovely Halloween time! Of course, they are vital to the cycle of life, and our soil would most likely suck without them, but hypothetically, if they served no purpose, I would not mind banishing them from planet Earth. I think the people that love and or used to eat worms are just plain out of their minds. Finally, on my last complaint, I hated opening them with a scalpel in high school biology class and pinning their sides to a wax plate. Gross!

-Britt

GO GREEN

CATEGORY ACRES

FOOD 4.4

MOBILITY 1

SHELTER 2.7

GOODS/SERVICES 3.5

TOTAL FOOTPRINT 12

IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON.

WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.


IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 2.6 PLANETS.

I never would of thought that if everyone lived like me, we would need 2.6 planets. I barely get in a car here at Purdue and when I do, it's a two mile drive at the farthest. Also, I walk pretty much everywhere except when it rains. I think that it's not fair that we consume more resources than we are allowed. Just because we have the technology in more developed countries, doesn't mean we should use it like there's no tomorrow. If I lived in a third world country I would definitely be upset with the way Americans treat the environment and how we are so ecologically inefficient. I know in the past few years or so there has really been a big push for "going green." I believe we have taken big steps to save our Earth and everyone needs to contribute to keeping the world clean. In addition, countries that make lots of our products have very loose laws on pollution and waste. These other countries need to be more strict about how they dispose of their waste, take care of their cars and do their day to day activities. Since there's no cure for restocking the Earth's resources, us as Americans should use our knowledge of keeping our Earth alive and spread it across the world.

-Britt

Mail Please!

I'm pretty sure that about every two weeks or so, you should get a package in the mail from your parents or something. At the beginning of the school year, I got a few packages and was like, "Wow this is sweet!." In the past few weeks, I haven't even gotten a lousy card in the mail from anyone. I go to my mailbox today and find about 6 envelops from Purdue telling me about my Boiler Express Account, how much money I owe the school or other useless information. First of all, according to SSINFO, all my billing stuff should be going to my house, like in Illinois where my parents are so they can send in a check or whatever. Then, Purdue pisses me off by sending me all these letters in which I have to send back home at a cost of around $1.20 or something. Why are stamps and large envelopes so expensive? Clearly, if someone sent me fresh baked cookies or brownies I wouldn't be complaining now. Moral of the story, since I am the youngest in my family, I should be receiving the most packages in the mail... and I'm not. I guess my mommy and daddy don't love me too much! ha.

-Britt

the weatherman

Have you ever had those days when you wake up in the morning, greeted by no sun and a bunch of rainclouds overhead? Then by the time you start walking to class it's either freezing and chilly or rainy and cold. I hate how the sun doesn't rise till super late and now that winter is coming, it's going to be dark at around 4:30. I'm so much happier when I can roll out of bed knowing it will be a nice 70 degree day with the sun shining on my face. When it's forty degrees out or looks like it's going to rain, I simply just want to sit in my room and watch a movie while having my blanket wrapped around me. No one wants to really go to class when it's a gloomy day. I don't even want to study for a test or do homework when it's not beautiful out. Therefore, I am considering having an artificial UV sun lamp installed into the ceiling of my room. I'll perk it up by throwing some sand on the ground and plugging in a few light up palm trees. I've dealt with the cold for way too long in the Windy City and I need to move south or something. Snow is nice and all, but when I have to drive in it, it gets pretty ugly. Until next time, I'll be doing something productive until the sun goes away!

I'd rather be here...




-Britt

rOCkTOBER BREAK

Over this October break, which flew by extremely fast, I did some catching up with family, friends and shopping. While trying to catch up with my mom and sister on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, we decided to go to the local Apple Fest in a cute little historic town of Long Grove which is about 20 minutes away from my house. This was the 15th year of the fest and it was super hot out, which attributed to the fun time I had. Basically, there are a bunch of little shops within a block or two which you can walk around and buy anything from apple cider donuts to apple pies to apple lattes, etc. My favorite are the donuts. Me and my sister waited in line for a good half hour (in the scorching heat) just for a dozen. After that, we got fresh apple cider. Upon almost finishing it, I took the lid off and discovered a tiny bug in the cup and I almost puked. Unfortunately, I had to pass on the free face painting and was too big to go in the fire safety house. I wish I would have stayed longer to see a few bands play on one of the many stages set up. Next year I think my whole family will just go to an apple orchard in Wisconsin to get our own donuts and apples. This was fun, but there's nothing like climbing the tree yourself and eating apples that you picked yourself!

I didn't take any pictures myself at the fest, but that's kind of what the downtown area looks like. It's small and cute with little shops all in a row!

Prized Poetry

Here's a poem I wrote. I really don't want anyone to read this becuase frankly, I think it's terrible. We can't all be great Walt Whitman, but I try. I seem to have run out of topics to write about each week so maybe poetry will spice this up a bit. So sit down with a warm cup of cocoa and feast your eyes on this baby.

Anxious sprinted to the mailbox
Opened the letter
Frolicked around

Anxious bought me new apparel fit for a new school
Anxious found me a roommate
So I was completely secure with myself
Anxious mapped out my dorm room
Specifically placing everything in its perfect place
Anxious was excited to meet new friends
Was psyched to see best friends as old as the universe
Anxious took me to my first frat party
And brought me home jealous and worn out the next morning
Anxious went to the furiously fun football game against Notre Dame

Anxious called her parents every night
Gave them the I-miss-you-dearly-speech on the phone
Never knew being away would be so lonely
Anxious took the Amtrak home every Friday

Anxious sprinted to the mailbox
And grinned at her grades
Saying to herself, “this rocks!”

-Britt

James Loewen

By idolizing those whom we honor, we do a disservice both to them and to ourselves....We fail to recognize that we could go and do likewise.
--Charles V. Willie

In Loewen's chapter, we see that we honor people that we shouldn't be honoring; at least that's what I got out of it. We only recognize people for the good things they've done in life and fail to realize their wrong doings. This is not true for everyone though. For others, we look at them for being a good person and we don't even know why they are a good person, like Helen Keller. This saying from Charles V. Willie goes along exactly with Loewen's point. I am one of the many Americans who have been pulled into my middle school history book and only learned the goodness in heroes and never even talked about how they either cheated the government, killed neighbors or stealing money. I totally agree with this epigraph. It's simply not right to honor those who don't deserve to be honored. I for one, myself, could save a few homeless people and call it a day. But do you see me in a history book?! Of course not, because I am no president or woman of color who has done a great deed to the nation. I feel like the people that I thought were my heroes now have no reason to be. For instance, Ryan Theriot is my hero. I only seem to look at what amazing plays he's made and don't even think about how he failed me in the playoffs this past week.

-Britt

Is That a Dress?

Yesterday evening, me and a couple friends decided to go eat at Ford instead of Earhart or Hillenbrand, where we usually go. So of course I was really excited and in a good mood to eat quality pizza, Chinese food and dessert. I got my food and sat down at our table when I glance over to my right. A girl who looked about my age had this dress on. The thing in, that DRESS is really a shirt. First of all, I was angry because I have the same shirt and I don't like having the same clothes as other people. Not to mention, this girl was wearing the shirt as a dress. This shirt isn't even a longer one. It's clearly made to stop at your waist but apparently she thought differently. It was big and baggy and way too long on her. I was just pissed she had the same shirt as me and couldn't even wear it properly. Other than that, this girl ruined my dinner. To top things off, I felt like a moose after eating and thought I was going to die while walking home (because I ate so much).

Does anyone else get mad when someone is wearing the same thing as you?!

-Britt

Underprivileged at Purdue

I have yet to understand why Purdue University doesn't allow freshman students to have vehicles here. I think the rule is that if you don't live in a residence hall you can have one but if you do, then you're screwed. My RA said that there isn't enough parking for everyone but clearly, there's a brand new parking garage next to my dorm which has more than enough room for, let's say 50% of students to bring their cars here. It's not that I hate walking or taking the bus because I use both forms of getting my a** to class daily. I just hate waiting a half hour for a bus on the weekends or having to ride the CityBus to Walmart before arriving at the mall an hour later on the Sunday route. It's just one of those comforts that you would just LOVE having here. On the other hand, people really need to slow down when driving. Whenever I cross the street I feel like people speed up just to get me to walk faster across so they can look cool going 50mph down State. Jerks. Speaking of, as soon as I get home this weekend I'm going to hop in my Civic and pick up my friends while eating that delicious Lou Malnati's pizza!

-Britt

Love Those Dining Halls

I swear I am going to gain 20 pounds by the end of freshman year. Monday through Friday, I find myself eating one huge meal in either Earhart or Hillenbrand. As if fried rice, a salad, a wrap and some other fatty item wasn't enough...I make my way to the dessert table. I am in heaven after the main course of my meal. I manage to either have a 12 chocolate chip or sugar cookies and ice cream, or 12 chocolate chip or sugar cookies and cake! They should have a rule that you can only take one item and then you get cut off. I've seen enough large people in the dining halls to make me want to puke my meals up for the rest of the week. Now comes Saturday. The new thing to do on Saturdays now is binge eat at Ford after a home football game. I've said no thanks to going there after our big wins, but then I'll just be hungry later and will have no one to eat with. In addition to feasting like a beast, every Friday and Saturday night at about 4am I welcome a Jimmy John's sandwich or a few slices of Mad Mushroom cheesy bread into my tummy. So far today I've consumed around 1,390 calories according to some calorie counter I found online. That makes me kind of sick considering I'm probably going to eat a late night snack after working out later. In conclusion, I've found that I'll be better off this weekend when I'm at home and away from these dining halls...that is minus Chicago's very own Lou Malnati's pizza I'll be eating starting Friday night!

-Britt

Not All Native Americans Lived in Tipis

Curtis and Neidich respectively showed different angles of what the Indians of America were like. Curtis focused on displaying how these Native Americans were before the white man stepped into the picture, while Neidich portrayed "fake" history, such as violence, like one would see in an old western movie on the History Channel. Curtis staged the Native Americans with good reason. Modern life already hit them and he just wanted to show the public how they were prior to the American culture. Although he stereotyped tribes, he made the world aware of the small piece of history that was left in them. I don't understand why Neidich took the photographs he did. Both photographers edited their pictures but Neidich did what people didn't care to see. Neidich, a century too late, staged his photographs to show how Native Americans battled bloodshed through tough times. Both men wrongly showed us how the real Indians were, but they knew what they were doing and kept in mind how easy it was to persuade us stupid Americans of how we pictured these cultured people really were. I'm not saying either of these men took "bad" pictures, but neither went in and strictly captured what they REALLY witnessed. Curtis' work is nostalgic, in that, he shows the good times like headdresses, tipis and women of their era. Neidich looks back on the shadows of the Native Americans, like when they fought with the white man and other acts of violence. I simply prefer Curtis' photographs because they are blissful, rather than angry. Also, a picture in focus and cultured would look better on my wall next to a blurred image of a wounded Indian falling off of a horse.