A Thought About Twitter

I have been debating whether to become apart of this whole "Twitter" phenomenon. It sounds interesting, but really, what is the need for everyone to know exactly what I am doing all the time?

This new Web 2.0 social network, which keeps others informed through status updates, leaves users more connected than ever before.

As curious as I am about it, I think I will refrain from it for as long as possible. It seems like it takes the fun out of actually talking to your friends about where they are, what they are doing, and what they are thinking.

@that'swhatshesaid My 200 daytime minutes on my cell phone will go to calling and speaking to my friends to inform them of my day, rather than updating my Twitter status through my cell's internet browser.
5:35 PM Feb 28th from web

Summer Sunglasses: Suit Your Face

My Burberry's have been broken all winter long, and with the sun making more of a daily appearance lately, I decided it was time to get them fixed. I bought my Burberry's in September of first year, and to this day continue to wear them. There is nothing better than finding the perfect frames to suit your face.

Sunglasses are not just an eye protector, but are a fashion statement as well. As the sunnier seasons approach, and you shop for your perfect pair, don't be afraid to experiment with sizes and colours. Just keep one essential thought in mind: your sunglasses should suit your face shape.

Below are a couple tips to keep in mind when you buy your perfect pair!

Round Face: You should look for frames that make the face appear longer and thinner.

• Look for frames equal or slightly wider than the broadest part of your face
• Minimize the curves and add definition with soft, angular, or rectangle styles
• You should avoid sunglasses with round frames and can also experiment with sunglasses with brow bars, which pull the eye upward giving the appearance of a longer face

Oval Face: You have the most options available to you.

• Almost any style will be flattering, but slightly square frames with rounded edges often look best
• Experiment with the latest looks

Square Face: You should look for styles that can help soften an angular face.

• Your face shape consists of a strong jaw line, a broad forehead and wide cheek bones, so reducing the angles with soft, curvy styles will give your face some definition
• Sunglasses with an oval or round shape often look best on you
  

Heart-Shaped Face: You need to add balance to your face.

• Since you likely have a wide forehead and narrow chin, you need sunglasses that will soften the lower portion of your face by accenting the eye area
• Sunglasses such as cat-eyes styles which angle outward at the top corner and be wide enough to balance the jawline and metal frames with rimless bottoms often look best on you

4th Year Itch

Does anyone else feel especially anxious this time of the year? Motivated by freedom, but brought down by workload? With classes wrapping up in a mere 38 days, and my fourth year slowly comes to a close, I am finding myself to be unmotivated in my studies.

Maybe it is the fact that after four years, I am finally going to be able to read texts that do not have anything to do with school, and not feel guilty about it. Or maybe it is because I am going to be able to spend my days making money, and begin applying what I have been studying. It also largely has to do with the upcoming season filled with the beach, patios, outside sports, and not waiting in bar lines once most Western students leave London for the summer (I have always been a supporter of Londoners having a special line bypass card, since they support these bars year round. Do you think this would fly? Probably not, but worth the mention).

My lack of motivation also stems from the amount of work I have left to do. Isn't university supposed to get easier as it progresses? I'm hoping to kick this problem asap. Any suggestions?

Moksha Yoga: London's Hot Yoga

Over the break I decided to try yoga for the first time. I have always been nervous to try it, fearful of awkwardly not being able to hold the poses, and ultimately being noticed as a beginner.

Moksha Yoga London is an intriguing place I have wanted to experience for a long time. As a Londoner, I have seen it become one of the most popular yoga businesses in the area (much credit to UWO students I'm sure). It is unique because it offers hot yoga, as opposed to a studio with room temperature. Hot yoga is especially effective because it allows deeper stretching, and is a cardiovascular workout that strengthens, tones and stretches the muscles. The heated room also allows for the detoxification of the body through sweating.

I instantly felt at ease as I walked through the door. I was greeted with a warm welcome and asked what I would like to do. I explained to the instructor that it was my first time practicing yoga, and she told me about the studio. She made suggestions about where I should place myself once in the room, and explained that I can take my time, take breaks, and take water at any point. The only rules were no talking and to try and stay in the room for the whole 60 minute session, and she warned of sweating- a lot. Once we began practicing, the instructor made mention that there were many first-timers in the room- it was nice to know that we were accepted! As she walked around the room, she would take a few seconds to correct my pose if it was off. I appreciated this as I wanted to know how to properly hold and improve the poses.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Moksha Yoga. It was relaxing, an excellent workout, and left my body feeling detoxified. I would recommend this studio to anyone who has yet to try yoga, or who has been practicing for years. It is definitely worth the money! Has anyone else had the chance to visit Moksha Yoga?

Top 7 Places I Would Have Rather Spent Spring Break

As my final spring break of university faded away into my snow covered community, I began thinking about where I would have preferred to spend it. Instead of working at my job all week, these are the seven places I would have loved to be enjoying.

7. Mexico

6. Jamaica

5. Dominican Republic

4. Lake Louise, Banff

3. Cuba

2. Blackcomb, Whistler

1. Miami, Florida

Robinson Rises Over Defending Champion

What better way to have spent Valentine's Day, then watching the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest? With a sick boyfriend, and a passion for basketball, this evening made perfect sense.

How do you top Superman capes and cupcakes? How about having a 5'9, 180 pound Nate Robinson clear defending champion, Dwight Howard's 6'11, 265 pound frame. Dressed in emerald-green Nike's, New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson cleared and dunked over Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard's head, to land the slam dunk title.



This dunk came after Howard brought out a second net, raising the rim to 12 feet. A standard NBA rim height is 10 feet. Dunking on the elevated net with ease, Howard agreed to be a prop for Robinson, who became one of the few players to win the contest for the second time.



Howard's most exciting dunk required no tricks. He tossed an alley-oop off to himself off the side of the backboard, catching it with one hand, and elevating his body before slaming it down. Robinson's final dunk was similar, where he reversed alley-oop off the bounce that he brought down to his knees before throwing it down.

What's next for the 2010 All-Star Slam Dunk Contest? LeBron James. Enough said.

Mr. Big Coming to London

This fall, Chris Noth, known to most of us as Mr. Big from Sex and the City, will be opening a tea business with his spouse Tara Wilson in London.

An article in today's London Free Press, reports Once Upon a Teacup, based in Windsor, will expand to north London, beside A&B Party and Tent Rental on Hyde Park Road.

With the business also comes the promise of a visit from Noth and Wilson themselves. They will make time for his fans and sign autographs, as Wilson describes,

"We're so excited. He loves coming to Canada just because everyone is so gracious there. I love coming to Canada because it's home for me."

Wilson goes on to say, "It's wonderful when people come out and support what we're doing. It's great that people are excited to see him."

Noth, Wilson and Wilson's sister Stephanie Cence, own the tea shop in Windsor, which caters to families and has child-size chairs and tables for dress up and play time. Franchise license holders Laura and Chris DeGroot, have already began booking birthday parties, and are holding a Sex and the City party at their house to get their North-end neighbours aquainted with this new business, which will likely be a hit!

2009 USC Election Results

With 3,957 votes, Emily Rowe took the lead in this year's USC Presidential Election,

"I'm so unbelievably excited... it's beyond description. I want to give congratulations to everyone who ran. Everyone did a phenomenal
job."

The Gazette reports Ben Singer finished second with 2,616 votes, and Andrew Beach followed in third with 1,024 votes.

Ashley Bushfield, Tabitha Navratil, Ryan Cassidy, and Stephen Nelles finished with 809, 774, 259, and 31 votes.

With 9,470 students voting in the presidential election this year, it was an increase from last years 6,898 students who voted.

For a list of all 2009 USC Election Winners, click here.

Congratulations to all who worked so hard to make their voices heard!

USC Elections Winner

Emily Rowe!

After weeks of campaigning, Emily has succeeded in obtaining the most votes in this year's USC election. Emily is the next University Student Council President at the University of Western Ontario. Congratulations Emily!

Check back tomorrow for more election results!

Top 10 Unsuspecting Celebrity Drug Arrests

After the photograph of Michael Phelps smoking marijuana from a bong at a South Carolina college party surfaced, I thought I would do a little research into other unsuspecting, famous individuals who have also been caught for drug possession. I came across the website Busted! 100 Celebrities Arrested for Drug Possession, which has helped me develop this list. Of course there are the ones you are familiar with, but these ones surprised me.

10. Kareem Abdul Jabbar

A NBA basketball player for 20 years, Abdul Jabbar paid fines after surrendering a small amount of marijuana at a Toronto airport in 1998. In 2000, he was arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana, with the excuse that it was to help with the nausea from migranes.

9. Mischa Barton

This O.C. starlet was arrested in 2007 for impaired driving. She was charged with two misdemeanors and a DUI, and is currently on probation for three years.

8. Bob Denver

Gilligan from “Gilligan’s Island” was arrested in 1998 for having a parcel of marijuana delivered to his house. At the time, he thought he was in an episode of the show and said that “Mary Ann”(Dawn Wells) sent him the package. He must have realized what he was doing because he refused to name her in court and said “some crazy fan must have sent it.” More marijuana and other paraphernalia was found in his house and he pleaded no contest to the charges earning him six month’s probation.

7. Queen Latifah

Arrested in 1996 for possession of a small amount of marijuana and a loaded hand gun, resulted in a fine and two years probation for the Queen.

6. Robert Iler

Ironically, this Sopranos star was arrested in 2001 for armed robbery and marijuana possession, and received three year’s probation.

5. Haley Joel Osmant

In 2006, Osmant was arrested for marijuana possession and driving under the influence. He received three years probation, 60 hours in an alcohol rehabilitation and education program, a fine of $1500, and a minimum requirement of 26 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings over a six-month period.

4. Dionne Warwick

In 2002, Warwick was held at the Miami International Airport after a case containing 11 marijuana cigarettes was found in her carry on bag. Unsure of how the marijuana got in her bag, the chages were dropped and she agreed to perfrom a series of public service announcements regarding illegal drugs.

3. Louis Armstrong

Armstrong was arrested in 1931 for marijuana possession, but the charge was later suspended.

2. Bill Murray

While he was attending Regis University in 1970, Murray dropped out after being arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport for trying to smuggle nearly 9 pounds of marijuana.

1. Paul Reubens

Reubens, better known as PeeWee Hermans, was arrested in 1971 for possession, and then famously arrested for indecent exposure in 1991.

Ox born with Heart on his Head

Just in time for Valentine's Day, this adorable male ox, now twenty-two days old, was born with a heart-shaped marking on his head, reports ABC News: Baby Animals.

Relaxing at Yamakun Farm in Fujisawa, near Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, February 8th, it seems ironic that this special ox was born in the Chinese Year of the Ox. I also found it a little odd that I came across this photograph on my birthday, the 8th, and this photograph was taken on that same day. I was also born in the Chinese year of the Ox.

Is it a sign? I think so. For what? I'm not sure yet. I'll keep you posted.

Happy Birthday

Today was once again spent low key, with those closest to me. My boyfriend made me an amazing breakfast, my mom made me an amazing cake, and I overall had an amazing day. I hit up Sexapalooza with my friends at the London Convention Centre, and watched the Lakers vs. Cavaliers game at TJ Baxter's. What more could I ask for!? It looks as though my 23rd year should be a good one.

Here are ten other people you may have heard of, who also share my birthday:

1. 1819 John Ruskin (author)
2. 1828 Jules Verne (author)
3. 1920 Lana Turner (actress)
4. 1925 Jack Lemmon (actor)
5. 1931 James Dean (actor)
6. 1940 Ted Koppel (journalist)
7. 1941 Nick Nolte (actor)
8. 1961 Vince Neil (musician)
9. 1968 Gary Coleman (actor)
10. 1983 Jim Verraros (singer)

Birthday Festivities: Wonder Sushi and Yuk Yuk's

Let the birthday festivities begin! This year I decided that I was going to keep the festivities to a minimum and low key. I have done the bar parties for the past four years, and it begins to grow tiresome. So this year I thought I would switch it up with dinner and a little laughter with friends.

Wonder Sushi was the host of dinner, and if there are any of you in the London area who have a love for sushi but have not tried it- you must! I order from there practically every week, and it is never a let down. The food is like no other, and the staff are friendly and fast. I prefer the Highbury location as opposed to the Wonderland location, as it is much more spacious. You can order from the menu, or do all you can eat, which I would recommend. Anyone who tries it loves it, so next time you are thinking sushi, give it a try!

My night ended with a little laughter at Yuk Yuk’s, with one of my best friends who also shares the same birthday. Yuk Yuk’s, a comedy bar across Canada, brings in local and distant talent in a two-hour long presentation. Although a little crude at times, ok, all the time, it was definitely funny.

Until tomorrow...

Joaquin Phoenix: Rapper?

Sidenote: How many times did he say like?

I couldn't help but feel a little shocked, as most people are, in hearing the regrettable news that Joaquin Phoenix is leaving the film industry to become a rapper. Yes, you read that correctly. A rapper.

The former Oscar nominated actor will finish his career with Gwyneth Paltrow in Two Lovers.

Despite rumours of his transition into music as being a hoax, he tells the Associated Press,

"There's no hoax. Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that's possible, but that's certainly not my intention."

Phoenix's debut performance on January 9, 2009 at Lavo, a Las Vegas nightclub, and the fact that Casey Affleck is filming a documentary on his transition into music, is leaving doubts in many people's minds,

"I'm not sure, to be honest. There were moments when I looked at him and I thought, 'I can't believe he's doing this,'" Mike Snedegar, head of entertainment marketing at Lavo, told ABC.com. "Then, there were moments he seemed to be very serious."

Only time will tell what becomes of this new music artist. I personally have my doubts on his ability to make it in the hip-hop industry. Growing a beard doesn't magically make you a rapper. I would however, like to be proven wrong by this now former movie star, and see him succeed. There is no harm in trying.

As Dead Prez once said: "If you feelin what I'm feelin then you hearin what I'm sayin, cause these fake fake records just keep on playin."

Response to "The State of the Live Web"

As a newcomer to the blogosphere, I still can not help but be amazed by the amount of blogs on the internet. I come across blogs and realize what they are now, where in the past I did not understand. Like anyone who is unfamiliar with something, fear of the unknown discouraged me from not only attempting to create a blog, but even reading them. I did not understand what the point of a blog was, who was writing them, and above all if the information was valid. I doubted this huge phenomenon. After becoming an active blogger, I have realized that every man or woman and his or her dog, has a blog.

After reading The State of the Live Web, April 2007 on Sifry’s Alerts, which discusses Technorati’s State of the Blogosphere Reports, I thought I would discuss two details in it that have opened my eyes even wider to the blogging world. The first piece of information in this report that peaked my interest was that by April 2007, 22 of the top 100 sites were blogs. The amount of top 100 blogs almost doubling from Q3 in 2006, which at the time only categorized 12 blogs in the top 100, suggests that this spike in blogs as a reputable source for information is on the increase. Although I would not use a blog as a main source for information, I would use it to gather others opinions and ideas relating to a subject. Bloggers post first, then check facts; where the mainstream media checks facts, then publishes. This alone makes me a little weary to rely on a blog for important information. However, there is no doubt that this idea is quickly losing strength.

The second piece of information I found interesting was the rise in the use of tags being used in blogs. A tag is a keyword or term assigned to a piece of information, such as a blog post, which can describe an item, making it able to be found by browsers or searchers. A tag is most often chosen by the item’s creator. The growth of tags is slowly beginning to rise, and Sifry’s Alerts notes that over 230 million posts are using tags. Tags are not only found on blogs, but have begun to be utilized on websites as well. Tags make it convenient for users to link to other blogs or websites with similar content by clicking on the tag. It is like one-stop shopping, but for bloggers and users. I have noticed an increase in the use of tags, even before I knew what they were. They appear at the bottom of website articles, waiting to be clicked on. Now familiar with them, you will notice how ubiquitous they are.

It is no question that this medium, blogging, is now considered mainstream.

Tim Best Charged with Impaired Driving

The husband of London, Ontario's mayor, Anne Marie DeCicco-Best, has been charged with "failure to remain at the scene of an accident causing bodily harm, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, and two other related charges," according to an article in the London Free Press.

In the London Free Press' February 1, 2009 newspaper, it reports that Tim Best, the owner of a downtown London Bar Friday Knight Lights, collided with two cars on two separate occasions, in and around the Dorchester area. After fleeing the scene of the first accident, Best struck another vehicle, and then fled the police on foot.

Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. He has been charged and released and will appear in court on March 24, 2009.

Super Bowl XLIII

Above: The Office Super Bowl Special

Another Super Bowl has come and gone. As I sipped on my Coors Light with an amazing group of friends, and felt awkwardly full from the amount of food consumed, I couldn`t help but get in the spirit of the game.

Depsite Larry Fitzgerald`s 64 yard touchdown to put the Arizona Cardinals back in the game, and which sent the room into utter chaos and cheers, it unfortunately was not enough to stop the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-23 victory over the Cardinals.

I would have to say that this is one of the best Super Bowl`s I have seen. The close scores keep it interesting and intense, and it is true competition.

The best part of the evening came after the game. The Office had an all new, hour long episode, that was hysterical. Did anybody see it? The fire, and the roasts? Definitely one of the funniest episodes I have seen. I'm still laughing over it today.