Next weekend is one I look forward to every year: the NBA All-Star weekend (Feb. 24-26). Every professional sports league has all-star breaks, but the NBA’s is one of a kind. The entire weekend, Friday through Sunday, is filled with different unique events for fans to enjoy. While most of these events draw big numbers in terms of viewers, one competition is starting to slip in recent years.

Not Such a Slam Dunk

The Slam Dunk Competition is the final event that takes place on Saturday night during All-Star weekend. This contest has featured some of the biggest moments in All-Star history. From the days of Michael Jordan throwing down against Dominique Wilkins, to the contests where Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter took home the trophy, NBA fans are quick to realize that the contest is losing steam.

I was never a huge fan of the dunk contest. I feel if you’re 6-7′ and in the NBA, you should be able to dunk a basketball on a 10 foot hoop. Still, some of the older contests were amazing to see. I still remember Vince Carter’s dunk where he got his whole forearm in the hoop and hung there. That was ridiculous. But this year, the contests include Indiana Pacer guard Paul George, Minnesota forward Derrick Williams, Iman Shumpert a forward from the Knicks, and Houston Rocket small forward Chase Budinger. Now if you don’t recognize the names on this list, you’re not alone.

All Star Weekend for a Reason

Even if the Slam Dunk contest has lost some juice in recent years, the rest of the weekend has not. Friday night starts with the celebrity game featuring past NBA stars, WNBA players, hip hop artists, and well known actors. It may sound like a mess, but the game does provide entertainment. However, if you’re big on flawless fundaments, this isn’t for you.

My favorite event of the weekend is the Point Guard Skills Challenge on Saturday night. Six point guards compete in an obstacle course of dribbling, passing and shooting, where the player who finishes fastest wins. I love it because it really showcases the most fundamental talent and skill. So pull up a chair, head to the nearest lounge in your residence hall, or even take a quick trip to the RCC. Find a place to watch and enjoy the fun! I know I will be.

Will you be watching this weekend? What is your favorite part of NBA  All Star weekend? Should BSU hold it’s own All Star weekend events?

Many Americans, especially college students (like myself), usually don’t spend a lot of time thinking about world affairs. That’s understandable, as college students have a lot on their plate, but this week has news that no one can ignore. When you think about Greece, what do you picture? For me I think of the cooking channel and, some random American pretending he’s from Greece and making food. Unfortunately,  Greece looks a little less like the Athena yoghurt commercials, and more like this.

THE RIOTS YOU DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHERE HAPPENING

Protests in Greece have reached a tipping point as the government struggles to get out of debt by passing austerity measures. Around 48 buildings were set fire too during the riots, at least a 100 people have been injured and 130 people have been detained. Protests are nothing new in Greece (or anywhere around the world, for that matter), but they have been everywhere lately. How and why did Greece’s situation get so serious?

Basically, Greece is facing financial melt down. The government has a huge amount of debt and no way to pay it off. They have been offered a deal by the European Union; a deal that will help their debt problem, but here’s the catch: In order to get this deal, Greece needs to pass certain austerity measures. This means they will raise taxes and cut funding to public programs. So basically, they are trying to level their debt on the backs on the people- and obviously the people of Greece are pissed.

SO WHAT?

Now while I can’t condone violence, I think we can all understand the frustration of these people. It’s simply not right too make the middle class bail out their government. It’s happened right here in the U.S. and, judging by the way the economy has been, it could happen again. Governments are supposed to take care of their people- NOT the other way around.

Why should this piece of global news catch our attention? Well besides the world economic factor, we can think of Greece as an example. Governments (including our own) have been trying to pay back their debts by using their own citizens. As college students soon to be college graduates, we are some of the most economically vulnerable people out there. The crushing burden of insanely high student debt could be too much too handle if austerity measures (like Greece’s) were passed in our country. Just in case you forgot, the unemployment rate is still sky-high, so who knows if grads will ever be able to pay back what they owe? We need to be paying attention to this sort of thing, even if to only survive ourselves.

As college students we might think we don’t have enough power to really affect change, but that is simply not true. We need to peacefully take back our democracy to avoid these financial meltdowns and to help the victims of them. 2012 is an election year in the U.S. and college students are a big demographic. Whatever your opinions are on politics, there is one thing I hope everyone can agree on: until we rid or governments of the greed and corruption that allow for such ridiculous debt to exist (like in Greece), we cannot move forward on any other political issues. We should use Greece’s example and take back our democracy now, so that we can guide it into a safe and sustainable future.

Do you pay attention to world events? Is the kind of mayhem in Greece possible here? As college students how do financial problems affect us?

I cringe every time I watch my bank statement go down.  Money, funds and bills are scary things! As students, calculating what we spend our money on isn’t an easy task.  Many of us have an enormous amount of things to pay for- college, books, gas, rent, car payments, food, clothes, etc. The Wu Tang Clan was right when they said “Cash rules everything around me.”

I have a peculiar obsession with “stretching a dollar;” I’ve been called frugal many times- which I consider a compliment.  But still, I feel guilty when I spend money on things I’d survive without-like getting my hair highlighted (robbery!).  To make up for some of the fun (but unnecessary) things I spend my money on, I go to great lengths attempting to save money in an effective way.

You don’t have to be cheap to be smart with money.  Us college students can save an extra dime without sacrificing quality, and without sacrificing(too many) guilty pleasures.

1.      Technology, man!

Yes, I AM that person who follows CVS, Amazon.com, and local grocery stores on Twitter. I don’t do this for laughs- I do it because they tweet discounts on a daily basis, and let’s confess that we’re all online more than we’d like to admit, so these savings will be on your brain- leaving you the hassle of remembering discounts.

2.       There’s an APP for that-

Although I’m that weird college student you know who gets the free phone whenever it’s time for an upgrade, most of you have iPhones, Droids,etc.  Lucky you, savings-wise: The ShopSavvy app will scan barcodes on certain products, providing pricing information and even locations with better prices  This app is SO worth it that I’m jealous that my phone is from the Middle Ages and not 2012.

3.      A little goes a long way.

Having a savings account is not only a potential life-saver, it’s also far less complex than it sounds.  Anytime you receive funds (get a paycheck, $ gift, etc), just set aside a small amount each time and put in savings. It adds up.

I hope these ideas can help you with saving money.  Remember, life is unpredictable, and saving money is much less painful than (dare I say it?) getting over your head in debt.   

How do YOU save cash? Do you use any finance apps? Have you ever used social media to keep in touch with your favorite store?

I don’t hate or even dislike celebrities. I value genuine talent in acting, music, crazy Youtube stunts- whatever propels people to earn fame. However, I also believe that people need to form their own opinions. It’s no secret that, these days, Celebrities use their platforms and status to promote political figures.

This is a free country and they are welcomed to do so, but if Lady Gaga tweets to her nine million followers that she’s going to vote for whomever, that doesn’t mean the rest of the “little monsters” should jump on that bandwagon. Anti-bullying bandwagon? Absolutely. Voting people into office you have no knowledge about? Please don’t.

Pro-Voting- YES:

When it comes to any type of power, people can use it for good or they can use it for evil. As much as I am not a fan of Puffy Daddy, P-Diddy, Shawn Puffy Combs- whatever his name is, he did a lot of work  with the Rock the Vote campaign and urged people to go out and vote. The celebrities involved in that campaign weren’t pushing youth in any political direction- they were simply promoting the importance of voting. Whether we like to admit it or not, a great deal of the population can be swayed by celebrities and the media.

For those of you who don’t think we live in a “monkey see, monkey do” society, you may want to take another look around. We all have minds of our own and I wish more people used them ALL the time, but if celebrities are promoting something GOOD- it will only benefit the rest of us “little people”.

Copy Cat Voting- NO:

People need to be informed on issues and about candidates. I’m sure some celebrities do take the time out to research and truly understand the candidates they support, however, just because you like their movies or music doesn’t mean you see politics on the same level. We are talking about celebrities with huge sums of money. How can we assume their political values would necessarily even compare to ours?  You are adults and I’m sure  (like me) you are more than familiar with our old friend Google. Learn about the candidates on your own and vote according to the TRUTH that you learned.

Welcomed Attention:

Now I don’t want to completely rag on celebrities because, like I said, power can be used for good. Instead of celebrities simply supporting a candidate, they sometimes use their power to support a CAUSE. The money celebrities have donated, the awareness they have brought, and the impact they have had on AIDS, cancer research, homelessness, and thousands of other causes in the past few years is incredible.

These are the things people should be jumping on board for and following. Politics and “your vote” should be a personal endeavor. Family members, celebrities, boyfriends, girlfriends- what have you, these people shouldn’t effect who and what you vote for! You are an adult, form your own opinion don’t take the easy way out by following someone else’s.

Do you vote based on celebrities? Do you gain political awareness from TV, Twitter, and the media? Do you think celebrities affect the way people vote?

Between the passing of a music icon and all the craziness in the political world, this has been a wild week in the news. Here are a few things people have been chatting about this week.

Whitney:

Whether you were a die hard fan or you are simply sick of hearing old songs playing on the radio, the fact is, Whitney Houston was a legend. Yes, maybe she had issues with addiction or other problems, but that does not take away from her vast amount of accomplishments. She was a singer, an icon, and also a mother and, regardless of ones opinion of her, it is a sad event. Although her funeral was originally going to be an invite-only event, it has been announced that the star-studded memorial will also be streamed live online… which I think is in seriously bad taste. The press have field days with saddening things like this and, regardless of her stature, cashing in on a tragedy is never okay.

Poltical Mayhem:

I’m sure everyone is starting to get overwhelmed (or annoyed) with the political jargon and nonstop Republican media coverage.  Quite frankly, it is hard to keep up with. We still have a ways to go until the actual elections so I don’t feel compelled to get too involved just yet. However, between Romney and Santorum, the crazy seems to be enough to go around. I realize that people say we should vote on how candidates “govern” and not on their own personal beliefs.  HOWEVER, this is 2012. Gay people deserve to get married. Women should be allowed to choose if they want to take birth control or not, and while I personally am anti-abortion, no man should ever be dictating what a woman chooses to do with her body.

Grammy Buzz:

As many of you know the Grammy Awards were last Sunday.  Adele cleaned up at the Grammy’s this weekend bringing home SIX awards. The fact that she is ACTUALLY talented, not a super-stick thin celebrity, and seems to do what SHE wants in life and in her career,  is ridiculously refreshing. I think it is time that people value real talent without voices being altered, transformed and covered with loud background music and fireworks. Good for her.

What did you hear buzzing in the news this week? What are your thoughts on the trending topics?

“Where am I gonna live?”

It’s probably the most important, yet most difficult parts of college life.. Most campuses have plenty of dorms as well as off-campus housing, but both options have multiple pros and cons. Dorms are the more traditional route, but apartments tend to have more appeal.

Where should YOU live? Let’s explore the factors.

$$$

Dorms:

• BSU Room and Board for one year comes out to $10,367.
• No matter what building you’re assigned to, all the rooms go for the same rate.
• Simple, basic rooms- nothing fancy.
• Financial aid is available, but you have to borrow a lot more money.

Space

Dorms are crowed and loud. Unless you are an RA, you’re going to be sharing a room which can be a lot of fun if you like your roommates, but if not, have a nice semester stuck in a box with someone you don’t like. In an apartment setting, while roommates help pay bills, they aren’t required. If you want a bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen to yourself (I wish), go for it. Not to mention, apartments house all kinds of people- not just college kids.

So, if you like your space and quite time, an apartment might make more sense for your living arrangement. Then again, dorms provide a larger community, and if you’re someone who is very involved on campus and loves being around lots of people, dorms might suit you just fine. This category really comes down to your personality and what you are looking for.

Location

Dorms are, of course, on campus. Apartments (technically) are not. If you need to be in class at 8am it will help to cut down on the commute and the daily battle for parking spots. Obviously, dorms seem like the best bet to save time, money, and stress. Then again, if you wanted to stay in the nearby Waterford or Kingswood apartment complexes, you’re just as far as the residents are from school buildings. So, depending on how much traveling you want to do that could greatly influence your decision. This ones a toss up, basically which ever choice is closest to were you need to be is gonna be your best choice.

Do you live in a dorm? Apartment? Had the experience of both? Which do you prefer?

Are you a BSU student finding that you have nothing to do some nights during the week? Do you enjoy playing sports, feeling like a team, getting involved or just having fun? Spring intramurals are just starting up! Say you love to play a sport but you know you’re not exactly good enough to make the varisty team. No problem! EVERYONE can make an intramural squad: residents, commuters, upperclassmen, lowerclassmen, boys, girls… anyone!

It may be too late for indoor soccer and handball, but there are so many more sports coming up. Such as:

Volleyball Tourny:  1 day tournament played on Sunday Feb. 26^th

• Rosters Due: Tuesday Feb. 21^st

Men’s and Women’s Basketball: Basketball league for girls and boys played on Sunday-Thursday nights.

• Rosters Due: Tuesday March 13^th

Indoor Wiffleball: Mini league of the classic summer game: Wiffleball! Played Tuesday nights.

• Rosters Due: Tuesday March 13^th

Outdoor Field Hockey: Anyone who likes hockey should give this one a try. Played Tuesday nights.

• Rosters Due: Tuesday March 20^th

Outdoor Soccer: Anyone who missed the indoor sign up date can play soccer outside on Sunday and Monday nights

• Rosters Due: Tuesday March 20th

GatorBall Tourny: It’s like soccer, basketball, and football combined! Played tournament style on Monday April 16^th

• Rosters Due: Tuesday April 10^th

Softball Tourny: 1 day onslaught of softball played on Sunday April 22^nd

• Rosters Due: Tuesday April 17th

Flag Football Tourny: Awesome 1 day tournament of flag football played Sunday April 29^th.

• Rosters Due: Tuesday 24^th

So why not join?

I played in the flag football tournament last semester and I had a blast. It’s a great way to meet new friends and compete alongside (or against) old ones. You can visit BSU intramural website for more details. Here’s a calendar for info on captains meetings : IM Calendar

Have you done intramurals at BSU yet? Will you join one this semester? What other intramurals do you wish there were?

Last week, I learned that Bridgewater is a hot bed for innovative independently owned businesses.  I’m a commuter who, until taking on this article, had never stepped off campus before, so I was in for a pleasant surprise when I went to the Nails and Spa Club on Central Square Street. I adventurously walked the half mile from where I normally park in order to go and investigate what appeared to be an intriguing business. Intriguing it was!

My Long Walk Was Worth It!

I made the journey across the potentially fatal location of the crosswalks on Central Square Street in order to get to it. But after that ordeal, I walked into the Nails and Spa Club and was warmly welcomed by Kayla, an associate of the business. She kindly answered the questions I asked her, giving me loads of information about the many services they provide.  It’s imperative to tell you up front one of its most appealing perks: Bridgewater students get a 15% off discount! Just bring your Connect Card as proof that you attend the school, and the discount is applied to the total cost of the services you get.

Pedicure, please!

The atmosphere gives off a peaceful vibe, surrounded by a beautiful backdrop of brown wooden walls and marble floors.  The cushiony chairs used for pedicures provide the perfect set-up for a pedicure, and not just any pedicure: at Nail and Spa you will get a ten minutes massage before the pedicure.  If you’ve ever been lucky enough to get a professional pedicure, you’ll agree with me that it was outlandishly difficult to leave the place without getting one.  A pedicure is the perfect mode of de-stressing after a long week of extra hard work- hint hint, BSU students.

Manicure Mania

When I walked into Nail and Spa, I immediately looked to the life and saw the exponential amount of nail polish colors they had to choose from.  Take it from someone who can’t go to Target without going to the isle with the OPI and Essie nail polish, my breath was taken away by the colorful bliss I was looking at.

Nail and Spa manicures start out with a shoulder and hand massage, which is amazing, obviously, and they have an extensive amount of manicures to choose from.  For example, if you wanted to get a classic manicure, it would still consist of the massage and shaping/ painting of your nails, or you could get a French manicure, or you could get acrylics- oh my god I could go on and on…(I’m sure some of you can relate to my excitement and don’t think I’m too crazy)!

They also offer the popular UV gel nail polish manicure, and of course beautiful acrylics as well.

WAXING

Are you uncomfortable with the headline above you (“WAXING”)? If so, sorry. But many people adore the results of professional spa waxing.  At Nail and Spa, they have very reasonable prices for this service, FYI.  Get your eyebrows beautifully waxed with precision at Nail and Spa- the relaxing atmosphere makes the experience unintimidating and easy!

If you have a few extra bucks to spare or you’re a sucker for beautifully done manis and pedis, make the trip to Nails and Spa Club.  I’m sure you won’t regret doing so!

What’s your favorite local business in the Bridgewater area? Have you ever been to the Nails and Spa Club?

Even my title grinds my gears. “Valentine” can’t be both the name of someone you want to give you stuff and also the holiday at the same time- ARGH. If you aren’t taking Valentine’s Day too seriously, good.  I either enjoy the laughter or forget the whole thing, because Valentine’s Day isn’t on my short list of “things I care about.” (Just kidding- my list isn’t short, I’m not that cynical).

What even is Valentines Day? HAH, I’ve been WAITING for you to ask me that! Come with me, your fake-holiday guru, and I’ll help ya as much as I can.

First: Stop Crying. I don’t have a “Valentine.” I’m not crying.

Next:  Listen to my History Lesson.  According to my advanced search-engine searching, there isn’t one singular reason for Valentine’s Day at all.  I weeded through a few “explanations.” If I were to judge by those alone, Valentines Day is:

1. Named after a Saint Valentine, right? WRONG. The Vatican dropped the celebration of Saint Valentine in 1969, unable to define its purpose.

2.  A robbery-worthy money-maker for Hallmark- and for that matter all big corporations, looking to exploit us all! You could easily say “SO IS EVERY HOLIDAY.” To that I’d respond: “RIGHT, BUT THOSE HOLIDAYS ACTUALLY DO HAVE LESS THAN 100 UNCONFIRMED REASONS FOR BEING HOLIDAYS.”

3.  In 400(s) AD, it was a time for men to sacrifice goats, and then, after running the blood all over their faces, chase women around in that fashion. Actually- if you want to go back to the corny romance thing- I find this far more romantic then a box of chocolates. How much work does that take compared to slaughtering animals and rubbing their blood all over your face? And going to such great lengths in the name of love is, quite frankly, HOT.

In truth, if you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the traditional way with your soulmate or whatever, that’s absolutely fine, it’s cute, I get it. But as for me? I’m going on a search for someone to rub goat blood all over their face to show their true love for me. I won’t settle for any less- and I hope you won’t either.

What do you think about VDAY? Would you rub goat blood on your face for true love?

Everyone knows the feeling- you are filling out a job application or an internship form and you get to the “references” section. At age 14, it was acceptable to put down a neighbor we used to babysit for (guilty) or a family friend (also guilty). However, we are in college now (or getting ready  to graduate) and those references are more important than ever.  College is the best time to meet people, make connections, and get the references you need. Here’s how!

Don’t Quit That Part Time Job

The jobs we have during college aren’t typically glamorous. More often than not, it’s easy to complain or even quit those lame part time jobs. Don’t. As much as we may hate these jobs, we are building references while being there. You pulled an all-nighter on that paper or covered a coworker when they were sick? Employers remember good work ethic and will speak highly of you in the future. Maybe the part-time job isn’t in your “intended career path” but your punctuality, accountability, and work ethic will be noted by any company.

Join an Organization

Being involved at school will never ever be something you regret. The connections you make and the people you meet will be invaluable during your time as a student and afterwards.If the organization is community service based or a Greek organization, you will be constantly meeting people from different outlets  that you can network with. Keep in touch with those contacts and let them get to know you so that they can vouche for all of your great qualities in the future.

Intern, Intern, Intern!

Internships are a huge part of a college career that shouldn’t be overlooked. They give you a hands-on experience into what you may be doing with your life while also giving you the opportunity to let a company see you on a professional level. What more could companies want in a reference than hearing from someone who has seen you work in that field? Internships give you college credit, work experience, and references to use once you graduate.

Professors

Not everyone forms close bonds with their professors, but in some instances they do. If there is a professor you respect or look up to, seek them out as a mentor while in college. Gain a relationship with them and they will remember you. Employers realize that professors have thousands of students. If you have the ability to make a connection and leave a positive impression on a professor their opinion of you may be a helpful reference when applying to jobs.

Who do you write for your references? What connections have you made while in college that you will use as references? What do you think is the importance of networking while in college?