By Derek Stonebraker   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Dr. Mike and Linda Shinkle of Morton, as well as several  Woodland tribal leaders have compiled stories to comemorate the sotires of first peoples of the Eastern Woodland Tribes and Nations. Their stories have been translated by artist Evelyn J. Ritter, into oil paintings to accompany the public exhibit. The exhibit will be at the Ziibiwing Center through Aug. 7.

Speaking to the public about the People of the Turtle exhibit Saturday afternoon is Ziibiwing Center curator William Johnson. The exhibit is part of the Dr. Mike and Linda Shinkle collection. 

Singing Saturday afternoon before the exhibit is open to the public is the Great Lakes Alliance at the Ziibiwing Center, located on East Broadway Road.

The People of the Turtle exhibit is a changing exhibit and is part of the Great Lakes Indian culture. It was unveiled Saturday afternoon at the Ziibiwing Center, located on East Broadway Road.

GCM Photos by Derek Stonebraker

By Dan Syckle   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Nestled in the wooded foothills of northern Michigan is a quiet resort town known as Houghton Lake. At about an hour north of Mt. Pleasant on US-127, it's the beautiful town where I spent the first 18 years of my life. 

Before I get started, I have a confession to make.  I didn't actually grow up in Houghton Lake.  I lived in a small adjoining town called Prudenville, but nobody really wants to say they grew up in a town named after someone who has never been to first base (a prude.)

Most of us already know this, but when the glaciers moved through Michigan during the ice age a few years back, we were left with hundreds of lakes.  Houghton Lake is the biggest in-land lake in Michigan and as a result, the town is inviting to thousands of visitors from all around for boating, fishing, and hunting.

Growing up, I always thought of Houghton Lake like a bipolar friend.   During most of the winter the town is nearly desolate with no traffic and a generally small town atmosphere, but in the summer, the town overflows with city dwellers seeking to escape their urban lifestyles as they flood into the resorts, campsites, and hotels of Houghton Lake.

There are two epic annual events that explain the town's overall themes.  Every year on the first weekend in August, we have a little gathering called Bud Bash. 

This is, if you didn't guess by the name, a big party where people get in their boats and head to a local bar known as the Limberlost, which is right on the water.  Once they have gathered outside the bar, they tether their boats together, and then it's on to a full day of drinking as much alcohol as they possibly can.

All kinds of people show up for Bud Bash, and we can even boast some celebrities.  Yes, that's right, once a year; Houghton Lake is graced with the presence of none other than the famous heavy weight boxer Butter Bean!  Anticlimactic, I know, but Bud Bash has plenty of fist fighting, crude behavior, and alcoholic beverages for everyone to enjoy.

The point is, the town can get pretty wild, and police are brought in from all over the county, so if you're going, then be careful.  There are numerous injuries every year, but as far as I know there has only been one death since the year it began-a heart attack. 

The other event that brings people into Houghton Lake is called Tip-Up-Town (TUT).  It takes place the last two weekends of January every year.  Now don't let the name fool you.  TUT is about drinking too. 

Of course, TUT isn't all about drinking.  There is also a reward for a hidden medallion that is worth a few hundred dollars if you can find it, and there are snowmobile races as well.  Some people even go out on the ice and fish!  I know it all sounds so exciting, but wait there's more.   

Probably the most important event that is involved in TUT is called the Polar Bear Dip.  This event is ideal for the thick skinned because it involves jumping into ice cold water.  TUT officials cut a large hole in the ice on Houghton Lake and then let people jump in.  It is a huge tradition that can earn you an official sweatshirt of TUT.  However, for many participants it is not about what you wear after jumping in; it's about what you wear when you jump in, and some participants show up in some pretty peculiar outfits.

Some of the locals think they are above jumping into the frigid depths of the lake, but others see it as a rite of passage.  As for me, I say you must be a little crazy to take part in anything that requires paramedics to be standing by just in case something goes wrong.

TUT also has a family atmosphere during the day.  There are kid's games and pony rides held on the ice, but when the sun goes down, it's the beer tents that draw the older crowd in.  The bars actually put up extra tents in their parking lots to hold all the drunks.  Good luck finding a place for your car.

To conclude my rant, Houghton Lake is a beautiful place to grow up and even to visit.   The town has plenty to offer everyone, including the outdoor life, festivals, and even parties if that's your thing.

By Mallory McLellan   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Taking on a new business venture with her mother Lois Breidenstein (owner of The Bird Bar & Grill), Allison Curtiss opened downtown Mount Pleasant's newest hair salon and spa right before the holidays. The salons name, Aphrodite, came from the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

Aphrodite is located in historic downtown Mount Pleasant right off of Washington in the old Grace Church house. The historic house was built in 1886 and still holds much of its original woodwork and architecture.

The house has lots of character and adds a certain charm to the friendly and warm modern salon. In the salon, clients can expect to receive the ultimate pampering experience as soon as they walk in the door.

While waiting for their appointment, clients can indulge in one of their favorite TV shows on the large flat screen, warm up from the cold weather with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and treat their hands to a paraffin wax dip to keep their hands moisturized from the dry cold weather. The salon is home to seven stylists and two nail techs; each of which have had over 10 years experience in the stylist industry and continue to attend educational classes on the latest styles today.

Curtiss says among the current most popular hair cuts today that clients are asking for are "angled bobs, asymmetrical cuts, and long hair with layers to resemble "Keeping up with the Kardashian" sisters Kim, Courtney and Khloe." Along with keeping up with today's hottest styles, Aphrodite salon also strives to keep with up client's favorite products.

The salon carries The Big Sexy Hair line that features products that are organic as well as meant for curly, silky or those who want a little extra volume in their hair. Curtiss says her current number one product to sell is "'Back Comb in a Bottle' the spray helps women get the volume they want without ruining their hair in the process, and is exceptionally popular among college clients."

The salon is still very new and has big plans to continue to expand over the next year. The salon is currently trying out new organic mineral make up lines to feature in their salon as well as a facial care line so clients will be able to purchase high end facial care. Until then, they are focusing on increasing their spa services with facials and body waxing; another recent addition is that they now feature hour long Swedish massages. 

To find out more about Aphrodite Salon & Spa or to make an appointment please call (989) 317-3107.

GCM photos by Brittany Novak.

By Matt Erspamer   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

"The media wants to see you, Tom." This line, uttered to the first lead character that Mel Gibson has played since 2002's Signs, might as well be talking to the troubled actor/director directly.

Gibson plays Thomas Craven, a hard-core Boston detective with a daughter that's his only shining light. When that light gets shot outside his apartment, he teeters to the edge of... well, you get the idea. He doesn't have to speak, the look in his eyes swears revenge for him. That's when Gibson, in Dirty Harry style, takes the law into his own hands.

The singular thrill to be had in this movie is to watch Mad Mel lay into the unsuspecting goons of a corporate cover up. He plays chicken with a speeding car, whipping out his pistol and taking it down without breaking eye contact. It's odd to see Gibson more troubled onscreen than he is in his controversial private life, but he does it here. He also manages to be this movie's shining black light, which is why people will see it. From the hard-edged looks to the brutal shakedowns, he plays nothing-to-lose like he's got nothing to lose.

The rest of the movie pales in the wake of his sub-par tour de force. The plot is murky and hard to tread through. People who aren't die-hard fans of Gibson will want to steer clear. The male revenge fantasy that's been done to death recently (hello, Taken) combines with the current American hatred and fear of corporations and government to make one sub par pile of fearful garbage.

Pandering to American anxiety in order to score box office acclaim is always a sign of desperate film making, as is hiding behind the leading man. Director Martin Campbell does both of these things, and mixes together genres without knowing what makes them work. As a result, none of it really does. Mr. Campbell, who did an excellent revitalization of the James Bond franchise in 2006's Casino Royale and also directed the British mini-series that this film is based upon, is a capable director who had to make this a shortened, formulaic Hollywood "event."

The R rating does help give the film some skuzzy, shock value-level entertainment, though. Repeated viewings are out of the question, though, even for big fans of Mr. Gibson. If you're looking for an excuse to not see Avatar for a 5th time, then you may find solace in this movie. Be warned, though, that there was a clear reason it was released in the months when Hollywood dumps its trash.

Grade: D

By   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Josh Berenter

Growing up a die-hard Michigan sports fan, I was particularly interested in football in 1997 just before Michigan was on their way to winning a share of the NCAA National Championship.  But that January, it was a former Michigan football player, and Heisman Trophy winner that stole the show in the NFL.

In Super Bowl XXXI, Desmond Howard, and the Green Bay Packers were leading the New England Patriots 27-21, just after Drew Bledsoe led the Patriots on a scoring drive to tighten the game in the third quarter. But on the ensuing kickoff, Howard took the ball from his own 1-yard line and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. 

The Packers went on to win 35-21 and to date; Howard is the only kick returner to be named Super Bowl MVP.  In his extraordinary performance, he rolled up 244 yards in kick returns - 154 on kickoffs, 90 on punts. His 99-yard return for a touchdown remains a Super Bowl record.

Jerry Taylor

My Super Bowl moment came way back on Jan. 28, 1998. The game pitted two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game: Brett Favre and his Green Bay Packers against John Elway and the Denver Broncos.

It's third-and-6 from the Packer's 12-yard line. Elway drops back, sees no one open and decides to try and run for it. Elway is hit by two Packers at the 6-yard line, as the 37-year old quarterback's body is spun completely around in the air as he dives for the first down.

As hard as he got hit, Elway jumped right back up with a huge smile on his face as if nothing had happened. It was a brutal hit. The Broncos got the first down, scored two plays later and eventually won the game 31-24.

Elway retired after that game. He led the Broncos to two straight Super Bowl appearances (1997, 1998) and won them both. Elway rode off into the sunset, on top of the professional football world.

Alek Frost

My favorite Super Bowl memory was a moment in time that many, unless you were made aware of it, watched fall by the wayside. The New England Patriots were tied 17-17 in the final minute of regulation of Super Bowl XXXVI. 

Second-year quarterback Tom Brady led the upset-minded Pats down the field. After completing a big pass to Troy Brown that landed New England on the cusp of field goal range, Brady completed a short pass to Jermaine Wiggins that setup the game-winning field goal.

What happened next I will always remember, it foreshadowed what was to come, in the final seconds and over the next several years. With less than 10 seconds remaining and the clock ticking away, Tom Brady urged his troops to the line to spike the ball and stop the clock.

Brady recieved the snap and spiked it but instead of the ball veering off to the side, it floated in the air as if Brady were guiding it with his mind and as it gently, harmlessly glided into his hand, we knew. Adam Vinatieri was going to make that field goal, Tom Brady was going to be the Super Bowl's MVP and guide the Patriots to future glory.

Doug Sears Jr.

There were a lot of special moments in the 2002 Super Bowl: The New England Patriots famously being introduced as a team. U2's emotionally charged and moving halftime performance dedicated to the tragedy of 9/11. The upstart underdog we had no idea was actually a young dynasty.

But for me, the game was defined by my long held love of the University of Michigan. I had chosen the Oakland Raiders as my preseason pick, and they had been dethroned by Tom Brady, a Michigan Quarterback who I loved in the winged helmet, even if few others did.

I had no idea that it was another Wolverine who would make me sure the Patriots would prevail over the heavily favored Rams. Early in the game, it seemed the Rams were just getting their high-powered offense rolling, when suddenly a Pat had the ball. In my disbelief I realized it was not just any Patriot, it was Ty Law, having snared a Kurt Warner pass and looking at nothing but green turf, a blue end zone with "Patriots" emblazoned across it, and his own right hand extended to the sky, one finger raised, cementing in my mind that this game belonged to the New England Patriots by way of the Michigan Wolverines.

Jason Shubnell

It is not Manning to Tyree. It is not Plaxico Burress's game-winning touchdown catch. It is not even the most impressive performer of Super Bowl XLII (defensive tackle Justin Tuck). Michael Strahan's sack of Tom Brady represented what 15 years of hard work can do for a player and a franchise.

The New York Giants were the ultimate underdog in this day and age's NFL. A wild card team, they scrapped their way to the Super Bowl, doing most, if not all, of their damage while on the road. Quarterback Eli Manning and the offense had a decent, if not fairly consistent year, but it was the defense that did most of the work.

So when the New England Patriots put their undefeated season on the line in the Meadowlands, and came away with a 38-35 victory, it was all but a technicality for them to lay claim as the best team ever to play.  Brady laughed off a comment made by Burress leading up to the game, saying the Patriots would be defeated 23-17.

"Ok, I wish he had said 45-42 and gave us a little credit for scoring more points," said Brady. If only he could have been so lucky.

Controlling the ball most of the game, New York was able to stabilize the most potent offense in NFL history. Still, they were trailing 7-3 in the middle of the third quarter. Facing third-and-7 from the Giants 25, Tom Brady took a three-step drop, and went down immediately. The Giants abused Brady the entire game, shocking many with their dominating performance.

Strahan had done everything he could in the NFL. But he could never call himself a champion. For 15 years, he put one of the NFL's greatest and most storied franchises on his back. And with the final sack of his legendary career, he helped stomp out a game and a team that will be remembered for a very long time.

By Jared Leatzow   Wed, Feb 03, 2010

American lifestyles are best described as being supersized: supersized cars, supersized homes, supersized TVs and supersized diets. And no, I’m not simply talking about eating meals from McDonalds and Burger King, but rather, the entire diet craze is supersized. 

"Calorie Consumption on the Rise in United States, Particularly Among Women", an article published in 2004 on the Center of Disease and Control’s Web site, said that Americans are eating more calories than they were 30 years ago. In fact, the article said that, from 1971 to 2001, caloric intake among women has gone up 22 percent and men increased from 42.4 percent to 45.4 percent.

Unfortunately, these statistics probably won’t mean anything to the average American since a couple of numbers won’t really change anyone’s mind about their eating habits.

So let me just put this in laymen’s terms for everyone out there: Americans are fat and we keep getting bigger.

Maybe it’s some sort of manifest destiny for American’s to grow old and get fat but this doesn’t have to be the case because there may be a few economical solutions. Granted, these solutions may not get you as completely thin as some model on a runway but they will definitely help you feel better and won’t break the bank.  

Here are 8 power foods that won’t bleed you dry and are good for your health:

8. Green Tea: When looking for a healthier caffeine alternative, try green tea. Black tea and coffee aren’t particularly bad for you, but the overall health benefits of green tea far exceed the other two traditional morning options. Green tea holds more vitamins and a mineral than black tea and is proven to aid in weight loss. Apart from its advantages for weight loss, green tea also helps to boost your immune system and may help to fight against certain types of cancer.

Finally, one of the more interesting components of green tea is that some studies show that it can boost mood and make a person feel less stressed; it’s said that a person should consume about 6 cups of green tea.

 7. Tuna: Probably the cheapest food on the list is tuna: a nutritional powerhouse. Not only does tuna cost about a dollar a can but it’s also a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids. I know the word ‘fat’ conjures up skepticism but these are the types of fats the body craves; in fact, Omega-3 can help aid in fat loss among other things. If you are a person with high blood pressure, tuna will surely aid your diet and promote healthy weight loss.

Tuna is also a high source of healthy proteins, helps to prevent cancer, improves moods and helps to prevent Alzheimer’s.

The merits of tuna alone could make for an entire article. 

6. Brown Rice: When it comes to diet, I cannot stress enough the importance of whole grain foods. Most Americans see a successful dieter as being someone who restricts carbohydrates from their diet. This is simply not true; a successful dieter is someone who knows how to make carbs work from them. One carb that is most commonly used for weight loss is brown rice.

Brown Rice is a healthy alternative to white rice and costs about the same price. Brown rice (as opposed to the white variety) contains many nutrients and doubles as an antioxidant meaning it aids in digestion and preventing illnesses.

And according to an article in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” a study done at Harvard Medical School showed that women who ate whole grain foods, like brown rice, weighed less than those that didn’t.

5. Balsamic Vinegar: One solution for people trying to lose weight is to eat more salad, which is a good idea for dieters. However, eating salad alone does not guarantee success at weight loss. Something you can do to improve the performance of your salad is to eat it with balsamic vinegar instead of regular salad dressing.

This ‘superfood’ has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and is a good source of polyphenols which help prevents illnesses. Balsamic vinegar boosts digestion and helps to suppress a person’s appetite, two things that are helpful to the weight loss process.

4. Wheat Germ: Being more of a supplement than an actual food, wheat germ is a nice little addition to any food because it has almost zero taste and costs very little. Rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, wheat germ is high in fiber which helps to relieve the body of waste and controls weight. Wheat germ contains octacosanol, which can increase muscular strength. It also contains arginine which is important for muscle synthesis.

3. Oatmeal: Oatmeal is a card the body digests slowly and registers low on the glycemic index. Basically, oatmeal keeps your blood sugar in check. One of the most important things about weight loss is blood sugar regulation and anyone who knows somebody with Type 2 diabetes can back me up on this.

Not only does oatmeal control your blood sugar, but it’s also high in fiber and can make you feel full longer. However, you must buy regular or original oats because instant and quick oats are more refined and aren’t as good for you.

2. Apples:  Apples are high in fiber; they contain polyphenols and help boost energy. The fiber and polyphenols in apples are great for weight loss, but the boost of energy that apples give you are great to get a person up and off the couch and into the gym. Perfect for a pre-workout meal, apples will help give you that slight boost of energy to squeeze out that last rep on the bench press.

1. Whole Wheat Pasta: I put whole-wheat pasta on here because (like every American) I like a supersized meal. I love to eat spaghetti, which is generally considered a ‘no –no’, but like I said earlier, the secret of weight loss is making carbs work for you.

If I’m craving my favorite pasta dish, I can safely reach for a box of whole wheat pasta knowing that I’m still in control of my diet despite what my taste buds are telling me. If you’re going to spring for the Italian food, ask for whole-wheat noodles.  

GCM photos by Elodie Gerard

By Jerry Taylor   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Talk about improving your draft stock. That is what both Dan Lefevour and Brandon Graham did on Saturday afternoon at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL.

At first glance, you might not have recognized Lefevour when he entered the game in the third quarter. Lefevour, who played for the North team, was lining up under center in a pro-style offense, instead of in a spread offense like he did at CMU. His first pass attempt was nearly intercepted and his first series was a three-and-out.

On his next drive, Lefevour was looking at a third-and-8 from the South team's 27-yard line. Instead of being under center, Lefevour was in his familiar spread formation. Seeing no one open downfield, Lefevour did what he did time and time again as a Chippewa - he used his legs to scramble for nine yards and, more importantly, a first down. Two plays later from the one-yard line, Lefevour found a hole on the right side of the offensive line, running in for the one-yard score. That put the North team up 24-13.

In addition to rushing for a touchdown, Lefevour threw a 32-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Cincinnati receiver Marty Gilyard to put the North team up 31-13, which ended up being the final score.

After the game, Lefevour was named the Most Outstanding Player on the North squad. His final stats: 5-10 passing for 97 yards and one touchdown, 12 rushing yards and a touchdown. According to draft analysts prior to the Senior Bowl, Lefevour was a projected fifth to seventh round selection. After his performance, Lefevour is being projected drafted as a fifth-round selection. Not too bad for a guy who played in the MAC conference, one of the "mid-major" conferences in college football.

Lefevour may have been voted as the most outstanding player from the North, but the MVP of the game went to Brandon Graham.

Graham, who played four years at the University of Michigan, finished the game with two sacks and one forced fumble. Although Graham, a defensive end, only stands at 6'1", 265 lbs, his speed and bull-rush mentality off the line of scrimmage makes him tough to block for any offensive lineman. Graham was constantly double-teamed by the opposing team while he played at Michigan. The South team had no answer for Graham, which led to his two sacks and forced fumble.

Graham was projected as a late first to early second round pick before the Senior Bowl. However, after his performance, Graham is projected to go somewhere between the middle to end of the first round of the draft.

Not every senior that played in the Senior Bowl improved his draft stock; most notably Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. The former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback struggled all game long, fumbling the ball twice and completing only eight passes for 50 yards. The throws that Tebow missed were underthrown or very inaccurate. Tebow is projected to go somewhere in the third or fourth round, but a team may take him earlier in the first or second round.

Both Lefevour and Graham are now training for the NFL combine, which will take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 24-March 2. Depending on their performance in Indy, both Lefevour and Graham could see their draft stocks rise even higher.

Photo by Michael Mulholland

By   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Jason Shubnell: Colts

Not a hard argument: Peyton Manning. He is the smartest quarterback playing today. Along with Brett Favre, he is the Iron Man of the NFL. Whatever the Saints try to throw at him, he will break it down like he has this and every other year he has played in this league.

Despite a below average running game this season (leading rusher Joseph Addai's highest total came in  the divisional playoff game two weeks ago with 80 yards) and a reliance on two inexperienced receivers, Manning put up a career high in passing yards and earned his record fourth MVP.

Whether Brees and the Saints want a shoot-out or a struggle, I would be hard-pressed to bet against Manning.

Colts 35 Saints 27

John Schneider: Saints

All this talk of Dwight Freeney's injury is making me nervous. And why are the Colts favored anyway? True Peyton Manning is, in my humble opinion, the best to ever play the game, but Drew Brees is surrounded by more playmakers.

Without the presence of Freeney, I don't see the Colts putting the necessary pressure on Brees, and he will pick them apart. Plus I think the Saints are wearing the "Team of Destiny" tag.

Saints 34 Colts 24

Josh Berenter: Colts

In any sport, you can't teach experience.  It's simple, the Colts have it, and the Saints do not.

The Colts have 26 members on their current roster that were a part of the team in Super Bowl XLI, in Miami.  The Saints have only six players on their active roster that have been to a Super Bowl.

I think with everything surrounding the circus that is Super Bowl week, including media day, players getting tickets and the temptation of South Beach, the Saints will come up short next Sunday.

The Colts aren't satisfied with simply making it to the Super Bowl.  They are on a business trip and expect nothing less than the Lombardi trophy being lifted by reigning MVP Peyton Manning.

Colts 31 Saints 24

Tim Hanson: Saints

The saying that defense wins championships will be thrown out the window in this Super Bowl.  The Colts and Saints have two of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, but one offensive weapon will stand out when the game is over: Reggie Bush.

No other player can impact a game in so many ways.  This postseason, Bush already has touchdowns receiving, rushing, and on a punt return.  

One thing that cannot be overlooked is Bush's abilities as a punt returner which will turn the field position in the Saints favor. The playmaking ability of Bush will be the difference in the final score of Super Bowl XLIV.

Saints 34 Colts 28

 Jerry Taylor: Colts

To me, the key matchup to the Saints/Colts Super Bowl matchup is the Colts wide receivers vs. the Saints secondary. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has proved time and time again if you double his favorite target WR Reggie Wayne, he will throw the ball to someone else to move the chains and score some touchdowns.

Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and Dallas Clark (the Colts' starting tight end) have shown that if they are left in single coverage, they will exploit any secondary. I believe that both the Ravens and the Jets had a more complete secondary than the Saints do. Look for the Colts receivers to have the upper hand Sunday night against the Saint's secondary.

Peyton Manning is the best football player on the planet. He is getting two weeks to prepare and scheme against the Saints defense. However, a parade is scheduled on February 16 in New Orleans; the annual Mardi Gras parade. That's the only parade happening in the "Big Easy" this year.

Colts 38 Saints 31

Doug Sears Jr.: Saints

            The New Orleans Saints, on the backs of their big play, turnover-causing defense, will beat the high-powered Indianapolis offense and win Super Bowl XLIV.  Led by Darren Sharper, a prototypical riverboat gambler in the middle of the field, the Saints will employ key interceptions and forced fumbles as they have all season.

            The Saints had 26 interceptions in the regular season, five for touchdowns. They forced 15 fumbles, and recovered 13 of them.  When the Saints have an opportunity to take possession of the ball, they rarely miss it. And before we fall too deep into the myth that Peyton Manning is the perfect QB, keep in mind he was tied for sixth in the NFL with 16 picks this season.

Saints 26 Colts 14

Photo by RMTip21

By Josh Berenter   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

The Central Michigan football team officially welcomed 20 new student-athletes to the program on Wednesday.  National Signing Day brought 10 signees on offense, one of which can play both defensive and offensive line.

The most highly-touted offensive newcomer is Rivals.com three-star recruit quarterback Kyle Smith from Leola, Penn. Smith is Pennsylvania's all-time high school leader in career passing yards (8,544), career touchdown passes (118) and single-season touchdown passes (50).

Head Coach Dan Enos said at the signing day press conference that he is very excited to have Smith in the program and his upside is unlimited.

"Think about it, Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas," Enos said. "All those guys played in the state of Pennsylvania."

Although Enos said he plans to redshirt Smith next season, he did not rule out the possibility of Smith competing for playing time when he arrives in the fall.

"We want Kyle to come in and learn the offense, we want to get him acclimated here with school," Enos said. "But obviously if he comes in here and picks up things, a lot of different things can happen. If he gets himself as the third or second guy, then we'll see how it goes."

CMU also signed a pair of wide receivers from Inkster High School that helped lead their team to the MHSAA Division 2 state championship game last fall. Six-foot-3 Deon Butler and 6'2'' Jonathan Taylor are the standout wide receivers in the class.

Butler did not play football in high school until his senior year, he was a basketball player before he joined the football team. Enos said Butler, who is 210 pounds right now, could fill out to be 240 pounds before he's done at CMU.

"Jonathan has been a starter (at Inkster) for a couple years, he (was) very productive," Enos said. "He's a 3.8 student. When you meet this young man, you hear everyone rave about him."

CMU also nabbed a pair of running backs to improve their less-than-average running game last season. Ben Brown is from Romeo, Mich., and Kevin King is from Dearborn, Mich., who attended the alma mater of Enos, Dearborn Edsel Ford.

Enos says several high school coaches in Michigan said that King was the best player they had seen last season.

"My high school coach, Jack Bridges, was the head coach at Edsel Ford for over 30 years, and he told me (King) was one of the two or three best players in the history of the school," Enos said.

CMU also signed two tight ends and a fullback to round out the offensive class.

By John Schneider   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

First-year CMU football coach Dan Enos looks for three qualities in perspective recruits.

First, they must qualify physically.

Second, an athlete has to show good character. Enos says he is more interested in a player being a good person than a good athlete.

And third, a recruit must cut it academically.

Enos announced his first recruiting class at Central on National Signing Day at CMU's Indoor Athletic Facility. He outlined what he looks for on the recruiting trail during a press conference on Wednesday.

"If a guy can do it physically on the tape, but there's a question to his character, we're not going to recruit him," Enos said. "If a guy can't make it academically, or doesn't take his academics serious we're not interested in having that young man here."

FOR VIDEO OF COACH ENOS' PRESS CONFERENCE AND CAPSULES OF CMU SIGNEE'S CLICK HERE

Enos earned praise during his previous coaching stint, as an assistant coach at Michigan State University, for recruiting big-name athletes from the Detroit area. And his initial class at Central definitely has a Detroit flavor.

Ten of the 20 recruits are from Detroit or the surrounding area, including three defensive players who earned three-star status from respected recruiting website Rivals.com.

Nores Fradi (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Dearborn HS), Kevin Henry (Morris, Ill./Morris HS) and Anthony Hollis (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids CC) highlight the 2010 Chippewa defensive recruits.

Fradi is a 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker who was ranked No. 16 on the Detroit Free Press Fab 50. Fradi was an Associated Press Division 1-2 first-team all-state selection. He also made the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press Dream Teams.

"When you're around (Fradi) he's electric, people gravitate towards him because he's got a lot of energy," Enos said. "He's a worker, he's tough, he can run. And he's gonna be a guy that's going to fill out to be a 220-pound outside linebacker."

A three-sport star who also played basketball and baseball, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Henry earned Illinois High School Football Coaches' Association Class 4A all-state honors from his defensive lineman position.

"He plays both sides of the ball very well but we see him as a D-lineman," Enos said. "He can really run and he uses his hands well."

Hollis is Central's lone community college recruit. The 5-foot-10, 185 pound defensive back played the 2009 season at Grand Rapids CC but Enos was familiar with Hollis from his high school days at Detroit Northwestern. Hollis is valuable because he has the size and strength to play safety and the quickness to cover opposing receivers at cornerback.

"Anthony Hollis is a guy that's mature. He's played college football for a couple of years," Enos said. "He'll get a chance to come and get in the mix a little bit."

Other Chippewa defensive recruits include: Avery Cunningham (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods HS), a 6-foot, 195-pound defensive back, Mike Kinville (Northville, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central), a 6-foot-3, 215 pound linebacker, 6-foot-2, 235 pound defensive end from St. Louis, Mo./De Smet Jesuit HS, Kenny McLendon, Andy Phillips (Lansing, Mich./Waverly HS), a 6-foot-3, 270 pound defensive line man, 6-foot-6, 285 pound Clinton Township Mich./Clintondale HS product Leterius Walton who was a standout lineman on both sides of the ball and 6-foot-4, 227 pound defensive end Joe Wirth (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica Eisenhower).

Enos says he would prefer to redshirt each of his new recruits so they can be fifth-year seniors someday. But he acknowledges that's not always possible.

"If we've got a defensive line, or a defensive end, you know a Kenny McLendon, a L.T. (Walton), a Kevin Henry, you know, one of those guys that can come in and physically get themselves ready from the summer to August to compete, they may have a chance," Enos said.

Although Enos' first class has yet to step foot on the football field as a member of CMU, he is confident that his group has what it takes to make an imprint on Chippewa football.

"We want a guy with character, we want a guy with toughness, we want a guy who is going to go to class and take it very seriously," Enos said. "And we feel we accomplished all those goals with this recruiting class. And we are very excited about it."

By John Schneider   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

If early season performances are any indicator, then this could be a banner year for the women's track and field team.

On the heels of a team championship on Jan. 16 at the 10-team BGSU challenge, the Lady Chips added another piece of hardware to the trophy case on Saturday, using superior depth to run to the championship at the Chippewa Invitational held at the Indoor Athletic Complex.

"The women came out and they competed really well. I'm very excited about it around the board," said Willie Randolph, director of track and field for both CMU's men's and women's teams. "We just had a strong attack on the sprints and hurdles side of it, and the jumps side of it too."

The Chippewas scored 160 points to out-distance runner-up Eastern Michigan. Western Michigan (111 points) finished third, Kent State (53.5) fourth and Oakland (5.5) fifth at the five-team invite.

On the men's side, the Chips were nipped by Eastern 162-151.5. But Randolph was happy with his team's efforts in wake of a Jan. 15 meet at Eastern.

"We have work to do on the men's side, to balance out the scoring attack in the future but we're working really hard," Randolph said. "But if you go back a couple of weeks ago at Eastern Michigan it was not that close. So I'm very excited for the men, they are being more competitive now."

Kent State (108.5) finished third and Oakland (61) fourth at the meet. Western Michigan did not participate in the men's competition.

Reigning MAC indoor and outdoor champion Erika Schroll soared above the competition to win the high jump with a leap of 5-foot-10 inches. Other CMU champions were: Shanaye Carr (8.6) in the 60 meter hurdles, Dierra Riley (7.69) in the 60 meter dash, Cara Dukes (56.46) in the 400, Veronica Garcia (2:17.55) in the 800 and 3,000 meter champion Raeanne Lohner (9:58.69). The CMU distance medley relay team (12:01.93) also captured first.

Kevin Bacon had a big day for the Chippewas on the men's side. Bacon won the long jump (22-8) and took second in both the triple jump (43-5) and high jump (6-8) to single handily account for 23 of CMU's points. Central dominated the pole vault competition with Marcus Briedinger (16-1), Joseph Jankowski (15-7), Josh Kettlewell (15-7) and Mike McGregor (15-1) taking first through fourth respectively.

Renaldo Powell was a double winner for Central, taking first place honors in both the 60 meter hurdles (8.26) and triple jump (43-8). Riak Mabil, the runner-up at last fall's MAC Cross Country Championship, captured the 3,000 meter (8:37.61) to account for the Chippewas' other win.

By Tim Hanson   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

This week Grand Central Magazine's Top Five saw very little change.  Syracuse, Kansas, Villanova and Kentucky all hold their respective positions in the rankings, Purdue debuts as the fifth team in the rankings.   

1. Syracuse

After struggling last weekend to knock off DePaul, the Orange bounced back by blowing out Providence Tuesday night.  With the win, Syracuse is off to its best start in school history at 22-1.

In the Saturday matchup against DePaul, Syracuse fell behind by 18 points at one time in the game before storming back to win 59-57.  Wesley Johnson recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The Orange showed why they hold the top spot in this ranking, destroying the Friars 85-68 in Syracuse's most recent game.  Reserve forward Kris Joseph led the team in scoring with 23 points and Arinze Onuaku added 20 points to go along with 7 rebounds.

Upcoming games for the Orange include a road trip to Cincinnati, followed by a home game against Connecticut. 

2. Kansas

The Jayhawks passed their hardest test of their season so far, knocking off in-state rival Kansas State on the road.  The win did not come easy for Kansas who needed a late layup from Sherron Collins to close out the game in overtime.  The final score read 81-79 in the favor of the Jayhawks.

Five players scored in double figures for Kansas.  Cole Aldrich, a junior center, racked up 18 points and 11 rebounds, both team highs.  Others who totaled double-digit points include Marcus Morris, Sherron Collins, Tyshawn Taylor and Brady Morningstar. 

Next week Kansas hosts Nebraska before traveling to No. 10 Texas. 

3. Villanova

The Wildcats are one of the hottest teams in the nation having won 11 straight games with Scottie Reynolds leading the way.

In their first game in almost a week, Villanova needed an 11-0 run to help put the game away against Seton Hall 81-71.  The deep Wildcats had ten players score in the win with Antonio Pena putting up 16 points and Scottie Reynolds chipping in with 15. 

The Wildcats have now won 36 straight games at home. Unfortunately their next two games are on the road against Top 10 teams West Virginia and Georgetown. 

4. Kentucky

The Wildcats have run off two straight wins since their Jan. 26 road loss to South Carolina.  Included in that win streak was an impressive win against No. 20 Vanderbilt

In the game against Vanderbilt, Kentucky led by double digits most of the game and the Commodores never challenged in the second half.  Super freshman DeMarcus Cousins notched another double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.  Sophomore guard Darnell Dodson pitched in 16 points as the Wildcats ended Vanderbilt's 10 game winning streak.

In their latest game, the Wildcats upended Mississippi 85-75.  Freshmen DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall scored 18 and 17 points respectively.  Cousins added 13 rebounds for another double-double, his 13th in 22 games.

SEC games continue for Kentucky with their next two games against LSU and Alabama.

5. Purdue

A three-game losing straight made people wonder what was wrong with the Boilermakers, but since then Purdue has won four straight games and are climbing back up the rankings.

Three juniors, E'Twaun Moore, Robbie Hummel and JaJuan Johnson spearhead the Boilermaker attack.  With senior Chris Krammer providing strong defense, Purdue has the experience to compete long into the NCAA Tournament.

In Purdue's latest game, the Boilermakers pulled away in the second half to defeat Penn State 66-46.  Robbie Hummel exploded for 23 points, including 12 points from behind the arc.  JaJuan Johnson added 13 points and six rebounds for the Boilermakers. 

Purdue will travel to Indiana, then Michigan State in the upcoming week.

By Alek Frost   Wed, Feb 03, 2010

A self-proclaimed historian of the game, Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning, may one day look back at his career and consider it the best of any at his position in the history of the National Football League.

Being a Tom Brady supporter, it is difficult for me to utter the following words but Peyton Manning might just be; the greatest of all-time. His NFL record four MVPs, a league record six consecutive seasons with at least 4,000 yards passing, 12 consecutive seasons with at least 25 touchdown passes and potentially, if the Mississippi gunslinger ever decides to hang them up, the most consecutive starts made (285), gives this claim merit.  

In addition to these as well as many other statistical achievements he has and will achieve, the opportunity to earn his second Super Bowl ring is on the horizon. Manning already has won more championships in Miami then Dan Marino ever did (my sincerest apologies to the Marino harem).   

Peyton was once considered the next Dan Marino, a record setting signal caller who simply could not get the job done come January. In many respects he still is like Marino, except now he is a winner.

What initially began as a disastrous beginning as a starter in the playoffs, as he lost his first three starts from 1999-2002, steadily improved over the last several years. His record currently stands at 9-8, which can be deceiving because he has a 6-3 record in the playoffs since 2005.

Manning's mental prowess is unmatched and unheralded in the history of the NFL, his work ethic and attention to detail are astounding. He is as his contemporary counterpart Tom Brady is, consistent and nearly unflappable.

The AFC (American Football Conference) Championship game is a perfect example of how his preparation and ability to dissect a defense gives his team an obvious advantage. The New York Jets were the No. 1 defense in the NFL this season and Peyton could only throw for 377 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

Manning does what it takes to win but some argue that Tom Brady is better due in part to the fact that he has a better winning percentage in both the regular season (.770) and the playoffs (.777). Peyton's regular season winning percentage (.682) and his playoff winning percentage (.529) dwarf in comparison to Brady's.

While Manning has three more MVPs than Brady, Brady has two more Super Bowl rings and the NFL record for most touchdown passes in one season (50), formerly held by Peyton. Although Brady's passing statistics will never match Manning's due in part to the open offensive system that Peyton has played in for his entire career, it could be argued that despite the mathematical gap between the two, Brady is better because he has won more consistently.

No matter who you believe is the better quarterback, the fact is Peyton has made a strong argument through his consistent and statistically astounding career. Peyton rises to the occasion time and time again; at 33 he will more than likely continue to do so for many years to come.

Photo by kyleburning

By Carisa Seltz   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

NUTRITION BASICS

Before we can really get started, some nutrient basics need to be covered.

But what exactly is a nutrient?

Answer: a nutrient is a specific substance that must be taken into the body in sufficient quantities to meet the dietary needs of the organism. Nutrients can either be essential or non-essential. Non-essential nutrients are nutrients our body manufactures whereas essential nutrients need to be eaten because they're essential for survival.

Some nutrients are macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) while some are micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Water is also a nutrient. Water is so important I'm not going to waste time explaining why: just drink is - a lot - all day. Shoot for 64 oz. a day (equivalent to eight 8 oz. glasses).

Carbohydrates are the preferred fuel source, proteins are used to rebuild and repair, and fat is used for insulation, protection and fuel (though only in small quantities).

Nutrients, when consumed, yield energy that enables our body to function and 'do work'. Energy in food is measured in kilocalories (which is actually referred to as a calorie on food labels so to avoid confusion, the word calorie will be used for the purpose of this blog when referring to kilocalories). The official definition of a kilocalorie is how much heat is needed to raise 1 kg of water 1 degree Celsius.

Now that the (what some people might call "boring") definitions are out of the way, we can start delving into what all this stuff means and how it affects your health, weight and well-being.

EVALUATING YOUR FOOD DIARY

Hopefully you've honestly recorded everything you ate throughout this past week and didn't cheat by avoiding things you would normally eat to avoid writing it down (which I admit would have had it's own benefits because at least you weren't eating/drinking the bad items) or just straight up not writing it down.

The point of the exercise was to make you consciously aware of what you were putting into your body because, as the old saying goes, you are what you eat and nobody wants to be solely comprised of fat, sugar and processed chemicals. Now, look over your food diary.

Did you consume plenty of fruits and vegetables?

Did you drink 64 oz. of water a day?

Did you consume large quantities of red meat or did you stick to lean meets and fish?

How many times did you eat fast food?

How many times did you stuff whatever was in front of your face because you were too lazy to cook something substantive?

If you're feeling guilty: good.

If you aren't, it's probably because you don't realize the mistakes you're making yet.

But don't worry because the purpose of this blog is to open your eyes and help you make better decisions about your diet as you go about your life.

Here's a quick motivational tip before I sign out for the week:

Instead of paying $5 or more on an un-healthy burger from a fast-food joint, go to Wal-Mart (or whatever grocery store you prefer), buy a bag of salmon filets (you can get 4 for $3.50, plus tax of course, at Wal-Mart), thaw one of those suckers out, sprinkle the seasoning of your choice and grill that baby for 3-4 minutes.

And voila. You have a healthy dinner that took less than 10 minutes to make and your body will thank you for it.

Stick with me folks because we have a lot to go over so stay tuned.

By Theresa Baughman   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Ingredients: 

• ½ gallon apple juice
• ½ gallon apple cider
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks or a few hearty shakes of cinnamon spice
• Everclear liquor - to taste

1. Combine juice, cider and cinnamon and let simmer on the stove for two hours or however long you can wait. I did about thirty minutes and the results were adequate. The longer you simmer, the better the cinnamon will mix.
2. Turn off heat and add Everclear.  Recipes call for as much as a liter of Everclear but I only used about half a fifth. The key to success in this drink is to not be able to taste the alcohol, so add accordingly. 

Whether you’re taking shots or mixing drinks, you can’t go wrong with Apple Pie.  A batch of this will serve plenty of people and these shots are delicious.  But a word of warning, Everclear is 151 proof, so these suckers aren’t for the light hearted.  This recipe makes up quite a large batch, but luckily, like fine wine, this drink only gets better with time.  So whip up a pot of this yummy treat and celebrate the winter season.

GCM photo by Theresa Baughman

By R.E. Whipple   Wed, Feb 03, 2010

From 1,000 Vegetarian Recipes by Carol Gelles

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas (cooked from dry or canned, drained)
• 3 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste)
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients in a food processor container fitted with a steel blade. Cover and process until pureed.

Variations

Add ¼ cup chopped scallions and Tabasco to taste

Personal Notes:

• The hardest part of this recipe is actually the chickpeas. I had never worked with chickpeas before this recipe (though I’ve had hummus several times from places around town and know it’s absolutely delicious), so I had no idea the amount of work that goes into them. If you cook them from dried chickpeas, you may want to do some pre-planning; at least a day before you want to use it. You have to soak the peas overnight or “flash cook” them. (I prefer the overnight method because it’s too much work and time consuming.) The canned chickpeas taste differently to me, but I may be a naturalist snob. Do what works best for you.
• Though tahini sounds really exotic and hard to find, it’s actually quite easy to get your hands on. Though I didn’t find it at the mega supermarkets (i.e. Meijer or Wal-Mart), I did find it at Green Tree. For a huge can (which went for about $10), you can certainly get a lot of hummus out of it.
• So “why hummus?” you may ask. Well, hummus makes for a really great dip or spread on crackers (though most people eat them with pita chips) and it’s not so bad for you, either. Most people are usually turned off by its grayish appearance but it’s more than meets the eye. Promise. Totally worth it.

Happy Cooking!

GCM photo by R.E. Whipple 

By Darrin Livengood   Wed, Feb 03, 2010

Bow-Tie Pasta Salad
-1 lb box of bow-tie noodles
-1 cup of diced onion
-1 cup of diced green pepper
-1 cup of mayonnaise
-1 cup of Italian dressing

Directions
1. Fill a medium sized pot with water and bring to a boil.

2. When the water is boiling, dump the entire box of bow-tie noodles
into the pot and turn the heat down on the stove.

3. Cook noodles until tender.

4. When the noodles are cooked, strain and dump them back into the pot.

5. Mix into the noodles the onion, green pepper, mayonnaise, and Italian dressing.

6. Stir thoroughly, then refrigerate. Serve cold.

By Ashley Kennett   Fri, Feb 05, 2010

Taylor Swift

Swift's side-swept waves and flawless skin looked perfect, as usual, but the dress left more to be desired.

The gown was OK. The color choice made sense (blondes tend to look impeccable in blue) but the cut didn't work in her favor because it created the illusion that she had a larger tummy than what she really does.

Rihanna

Maybe I've been watching too much of TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" but a long, fitted white gown can almost always read a bit bridal. On the plus side, white did nicely offset her gorgeous dark complexion; the feather detail with the high neck made for a high-fashion look.

This gown, with its gathered fabric in the hip area, would have sent most women looking for something more figure flattering but Rihanna was able to pull it off.

Ciara
Unfortunately for Ciara, this gorgeous girl didn't know when to turn away from lace pants and oversized, tacky looking jewels.

Ciara is another celebrity where, because of her fabulous body, she can get away with even the most daring of looks, but, in this case, she didn't pull it off. It does seem to photograph better than it looked on TV, though.

Miley Cyrus

I wish "young" didn't always translate to wearing something that hits just-below-the-butt. Ironically though, Cyrus just looked like she was trying to be much older than she is. I think her long black gown and tied-back hair from last year's show was the perfect look for her. It's too bad she didn't follow suit.

Heidi Klum

While Klum has made her living being a supermodel and has essentially been bred to ooze good fashion sense, I would argue the assumption still holds any weight at the age of 36. It's not necessary to show cleavage and wear a short dress to look youthful.

Her husband Seal, however, pulled off the head-to-toe-black look wonderfully.

Katy Perry

Aside from her side-boob, I thought Perry looked stunning. I really thought this nude gown with gold detail fit the newly engaged songstress' personality - and her lean body - perfectly.

Lady Gaga

I think I've given up on trying to figure out whether I like Lady Gaga's fashion sense and so I remain fairly undecided about her look. Let's put it this way, she goes far out of her way to get loads of attention for her wacky works of art that she wears and that's exactly what she gets.

So in a sense, she's effectively entertaining, which is what the Grammys is all about, right? On the other hand, she did have some sort of spiky contraption attached to her left hand that could have probably killed whomever she stood next to with one swing.

Ricky Martin

It was a pleasant surprise to see Martin on the red carpet. Over the past 2 years, the musician has taken a step away from the spotlight to raise his 2 daughters and write a book.

While many remember him as the Puerto Rican pop star that always seemed to need to expose a little chest hair, he was seen at this year's Grammys looking all zipped up and grown up. Martin looked smoking in all black, sporting a leather jacket and just the right amount of facial hair. He is definitely "livin' la vida loca" and in style.

By Danielle Tuckfield   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Celebrities hit the red carpet in style for the 2010 Grammy Awards Sunday evening. Dressed in their best fashion, most women appeared in elegant, form fitted dresses while exuding a classy and sultry look all at the same time.

Then Lady Gaga stepped on the scene in a sparkly futuristic looking dress with orb-like features surrounding it. She flaunted bright yellow colored hair while she worked the red carpet.

She looked like some sort of cross between Glenda "The Good Witch" and Judy Jetson. Her custom-made Giorgio Armani Prive gown was just the start of a phenomenal and creative night for the fashionably bold musician.

"The series of pieces Mr. Armani created for me are truly iconic; they represent not only beautiful fashion, but my spirit and essence as an artist," Gaga told Us Magazine.

This isn't the first display of Gaga's eccentric appearance. She is unquestionably quite the breath of fresh air after a solid set of years filled with ordinary and mundane style in the pop scene.

The 23-year-old artist's eye-popping outfits are commonly made of latex. Although wearing a hard plastic sounds uncomfortable and a bit stifling, Gaga seems to trade comfort for fashion.

A large number of Gaga's outfits in the video of her chart-topping single, "Bad Romance," are made of thick latex. The musician has collaborated with a significant amount of well-known designers to construct some of her most notorious outfits.

Her peculiar hat at MTV's 2009 Video Music Awards, which is often referred to as the "bird's nest hat", was done by world renowned hat designer Phillip Treacy. During an interview in Germany, she wore another design, most commonly known as the "Kermit the Frog" outfit, which was made by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.

The designer has worked with several other monumental artists including Madonna. Gaga's intense inspiration comes from personal past experiences.

On the Ellen Degeneres Show in November of 2009, Gaga shared a moment of truth with the host. She said that in high school she didn't fit in and always felt like a freak.

So, in creating a space for her fans where they could "feel free and celebrate," she has also made herself into a major fashion icon.

"I like to create this atmosphere for my fans where they feel like they have a freak in me to hang out with and they don't feel alone," she told Degeneres.

Rumors of Gaga's own fashion line exploding on the scene in the near future are still swarming. Currently, she has her own creative production team called the Haus of Gaga, which she handles personally.

The team creates many of her clothes, stage sets, props and sounds. As for her own line emerging, Gaga told a number of magazines that she is talking to fellow artist, Akon, about creating her own fashion line within the next year.

However, there is not currently any ground work being laid, at least that is spoken of. Whether Lady Gaga entertains, inspires, shocks or frightens you, she has successfully captured the art of powerful imagery.

Needless to say, the leotards and latex aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

Photo by Stephen Carlile

By Jessica Suder   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

When you hear about the style from the 1990s, you probably think of grungy, sloppy and comfortable clothing.  Indeed, the '90s was full of neon colors, baby doll dresses; stone washed jeans, ruffles and shoulder pads. 

Obviously, it was a style unique from any other.  At the start of the new millennia, however, styles started to change and the trends of the '90s began to fade. 

But now, after just one decade, people are starting to bring their old wardrobes out of retirement but with new, terrific twists. The most popular come-back trend at the moment is neon colors. 

We are starting to see more bright colored shirts on men and women, colored pants, neon nails and different colored leggings.  People are starting to express themselves by mixing brightly colored clothes and accessories while also layering different brightly colored items.  

Ruffles are another style that is slowly making its way back into our closets.  From the tops of dresses and shirts to the bottom, it's becoming more popular for women to express their style in this way. 

These aren't the same ruffles from the 90s, though.  Today, we are flaunting a more sophisticated and sassy style that is drawing more attention than ever before. 

From bell-bottoms to skinny jeans, our pants have changed in trendy cuts numerous times.  Coming back into style now are the high wasted, stone washed jeans and the high wasted work/casual pant. 

More women are starting to exemplify this style in a more chic way.  From business casual attire to simple casual wear, women are flaunting this remarkable look. 

Even though grunge may be out, the '90s style is returning quickly and fashionably; the trend is spreading like wildfire.  The new millennium is returning with a fiercer and sexier attitude so be ready 2010 because the '90s are back.

GCM photo by Jillian Pekel.

By Jared Leatzow   Fri, Feb 05, 2010

Information moves freely through space lost and looking for a transmission to which it can cling. A signal goes out and the information grabs a hold moving speedily across some unperceived dimension, it is then downloaded and stored in a mobile device, finally being accessed by its user in which this time it goes through a similar process. Only this time it is being stored in the human hard drive called the brain.

The Internet offers human beings an almost unlimited amount of information, information that is being consumed at a rate I cannot even calculate. The Internet is like the universe always expanding, but unlike the universe the Internet is read and interpreted by electronic devices. These devices, although capable of interpreting the Internet, have their limitations, mainly limitations in memory.

The memory of the device is what stores the data in the device, the memory is used for uploads and downloads; saving and storing passwords and numerous other things.

Well with a device's memory being a limitations then it is no wonder that much of technological innovation comes through memory upgrades and expansions upon already existing technologies.

Recently, companies Intel and Micron have reached a new zenith in flash memory technology. According to an article on PC World's Web site, "Intel and Micron Double Flash Storage Capacity With 25-Nanometer NAND," that a 25 nanometer NAND flash memory device capable of holding up to 8-gigabytes was created by the two computer companies.

According to PC World, the device is so small that that it can fit through the hole in the center of a CD but holds over 10 times the amount of information.

What this means is that all those super cool mobile devices that are being used today like smart phones and mp3 players could see a significant boost in memory or a significant decrease in size.

By Paul Young   Fri, Feb 05, 2010

Every last Friday of the month, a line forms behind the Majestic Theater on Woodward Avenue. The price is cheap. The event is Motor City Funk Night.

The gathering began roughly 10 years ago and continues to grow as new acts hit the stage each month. This award-winning party started as an underground event, changing its makeshift location frequently to keep law officials away.

DJ Frank Raines, the king of Funk Night, began the tradition with the help of local live acts. Raines, 29, spins a set each month, exploding with raw soul sounds that would have James Brown doing the ‘mashed-potato’ in his grave.

Raines’ wife, Nicole, who is noticeably involved in the action, has started a program in conjunction with the monthly blowout. The Funk Night Foundation has begun to raise money for after-school music programs in Detroit.

Many big names in Detroit music come to see Frank and the others pay funky homage. One of the back-stagers was President and CEO of Iron Fist Records, 1stBorn. 1stBorn has signed such artists as D12 and the late Detroit rapper, Proof.

“I’m a fan of the music and the people," said 1stBorn, who had a brief set on stage.

Last month’s act, moved to New Year’s Eve from Christmas Day, marked the premiere of the new Funk Night Records label. The label promotes the use of vinyl music, therefore releasing two 45’s for purchase. Detroit artist Billy Love arranged the two singles, and also appeared at this month’s show.

“Bigger," said Love, when asked to compare Majestic and pre-Majestic shows. 

The music is far from the glittery-glam of Rick James. The music encourages horn-stabs, phenomenal drumming, and even an MC adding lyrical rhythm when the crowd is ready.

When Frank performs, the aura is truly magical. The lighting adds to the funky sounds blaring throughout the Majestic and whips the hundreds of funkers into a frenzy.

“I want everyone to know about this. It’s a beautiful thing," Raines said after his set.

Motor City Funk Night and Funk Night Records information can both be found on Facebook.

To contribute to the movement, contact the Director of Operations for the Funk Night Foundation, Nicole Raines, at www.funknightfund.com.

GCM Photo by Paul Young

By Dan Syckle and Pat Jones   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

The Cold War Kids' Behave Yourself EP marks the first new material from the band in the two years since their moderately-received second album, Loyalty to Loyalty. While these songs were mostly written and recorded during the sessions for Loyalty to Loyalty, The Cold War Kids show better consistency here than in any of their other releases.

While The Cold War Kids' blend of gospel, blues, and garage rock is certainly a very unique style, and the band excels at crafting shining examples of catchy tunes, their albums have been extremely uneven. Each of their albums have a handful wonderful, beautiful bluesy gospel pop songs with great hooks, but the rest of their material becomes pretty forgetful after a few listens.

Behave Yourself, however, maintains a great level of quality throughout each of its four songs and makes obvious that the band is becoming far more comfortable with their sound. The opener, "Audience of One," stands among the band's best songs, its only competition being "Hospital Beds" or "We Used to Vacation" from their debut, Robbers and Cowards. Nathan Willett's soulful crooning is the centerpiece of this song and is complimented by a very playful piano and handclaps. This song is one of the lighter Cold War Kids tracks, but still features the obtuse and cryptic lyrics they are known for, which creates a sort of eerie combination that still makes listeners want to sing along to.

"Coffee Spoon" and "Santa Ana Winds," the middle meat of the EP, seem to flow right into each other, creating the illusion of a single song. The only real way to tell they are two separate songs is to watch the tracks change. While this may sound like a bad thing, both of the songs are beautiful, ghastly, ballads that feature shimmering guitars and a very jazzy drum beat. "Santa Ana Winds," however, climaxes into a frenzied, yet tasteful finale with Willett mashing piano chords while howling, "you tore me up by my roots and fell silent again/my seeds have blown around but never land."

The EP's closer, "Sermons," is a re-recording of "Sermons vs the Gospel," a hidden track at the end of Robbers and Cowards. This re-interpretation of one of The Cold War Kids' more religious songs really benefits from higher-quality recording and more pronounced instrumentation, and is a clever way for the band to signal a return to their roots.

Behave Yourself is a solid release unquestionably, but there is nothing here that is going to win over new audiences. Fans of the band will be more than pleased with all of the songs here, but it comes across as just a small appetizer before their next full album.

Colours-Alive and Well

If you like what you hear when you walk into American Eagle or Aeropostale, then you will love the band Colours. This two man indie-rock band from Dallas, Texas just put out their EP Alive and Well, which consists of catchy choruses and lyrics that speak to the masses. The overall sound is upbeat and poppy.

Lead singer Rico, has little range and variation in his cool and almost whiny voice. He reminds me of Something Corporate's Andrew McMahon with less passion and range in his vocals. Rico's lyrics consist mostly of love and relationships and don't stray too far from either of those two themes.

The majority of the instrumentals are handled by Phil the only other band member, and they are very basic, but well mixed, and professionally produced. Each song has a nice flow that makes the music easy to listen to.

This seems to be a growing trend where even indie-rock bands are losing their raw connections to the elements of music, and heading straight for the clean sounds of the studio. The album lacks any standout bass lines, and there are no guitar solos. I would recommend this album to those who are looking for easy listening rather than to be dazzled or even slightly impressed by tight technique although it is by no means sloppy.

The album grows dull after one listen. This is due greatly to the overall similarities that each song shows to the next. In my opinion the best song on the album is "Colorful" because the singer ventures slightly away from the normalcy of the album in his vocal melodies.

If I had to give this album a rating, it would be a 2.5 out of 5 stars and that's half way there, but not quite enough to impress avid music lovers.

By Jenna Rummer   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with an entertaining movie about coming of age, self discovery and roller derby.

Although Whip It marks her first time as director, Barrymore has been part of the film industry for basically her whole life. She began acting as a child and comes from an acting dynasty. In addition to directing Whip It, she has a role as a supporting character who is the most aggressive and perennially injured player on the roller derby team.

The script for Whip It was written by Shauna Cross who adapted it from her novel of the same name. Cross based the story on her own experiences as a roller derby girl.

The story revolves around Bliss (Ellen Page): a shy, small-town Texas girl who doesn't fit in. In the beginning of the film we see Bliss as unsatisfied teen who must routinely deal with uneasiness and being demeaned. She is forced to endure participating in beauty pageants that her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) forces her into. She also works as a waitress at a little diner called The Oink Joint where she has to deal with obnoxious customers and don an apron with a big pig face on it.

One day while shopping with her mom Bliss, sees roller derby girls skate in and is immediately entranced and picks up a flier they left and decides to go to a match. At the game she expresses admiration to a player and is encouraged to try out. Bliss tries out and becomes a member of the Hurl Scouts team and is given the name "Babe Ruthless" as her derby name. Her new name describes the disposition that she must take on in the rink and also learns to adapt in her everyday life.

Through roller derby Bliss finds something that she can be passionate about in addition to discovering who she is. Bliss becomes more self confident, happier and more aggressive. She even applies her roller derby techniques to high school and shoves a mean girl who continually harasses herself. Afterward she quips to her friend, "We deserve better villains."

Bliss also has her first love and an interesting take on a love scene that occurs underwater. What is nice about this film is that while there is a love interest, it is not Bliss's main concern. In many films about teen girls the main goal of the character is to have a boyfriend who she must maintain to be happy. In this film the boy is an interesting side note, but Bliss does not need a guy to define herself or her happiness.

Whip It captures the grittiness and fun of the roller derby world and is set to an alternative soundtrack that complements the story nicely. The story itself may not be a wholly unique tale, but it is still one worth watching. Yes, the whole concept of a young girl finding herself through a newfound passion has been done before, but what makes it watchable is the fact that it was done well. Page is great as Bliss and there are also strong performances by Harden as her mother and Kristen Wiig as one of the Hurl Scouts who serves as a mentor to Bliss.

Another thing that makes this film special is that it is not just about how Bliss becomes happy because she is a dedicated and skilled derby girl, though she is. It is about how just being able to find something she enjoys is enough to make her happier with her life. She, along with the rest of the team are happy just to be in the derby and don't care if they win or lose.

This film is a great start for Barrymore. The film is both quirky and funny which are two things that Barrymore often does in her work as an actress. Though the film wasn't highly successful at the box office, it is plausible that Barrymore could have success as a director with future endeavors. The film will likely find a larger audience on DVD.

By Nick Baker   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

10.  Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World – Aug. 13

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Evans, and Brandon Routh

What it’s about:  A down and out 23-year-old, Scott Pilgrim has no job, no money, and plays in a band that’s going nowhere.  His life gets a little more promising though when the girl of his dreams appears in his dreams. Literally.  There is only one catch to dating the beautiful and mysterious Ramona Flowers though; he has to defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends first.

Why you should care:  The Bryan Lee O’Malley comics that this film is based on are excellent reads and are ripe with material for a movie adaption.  It should be the perfect mix of action, comedy and romance, and if it’s anywhere near as good as Director Edgar Wright’s previous films Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead expect this to be well worth the ticket price.

9.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1 – Nov. 19

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson

What it’s about:  The first half of Harry Potter’s final story; Harry, Ron, and Hermoine go in search of the Horcruxes, the source of Voldemort’s unlimited power, in a mission to destroy both them and the Dark Lord in the process.

Why you should care:  It took six movies, but with The Half-Blood Prince we finally got a really good Harry Potter film for fans and non-fans alike.  While it may have strayed from the book more than the novel’s devotees would have liked, it managed to incorporate enough of the book into a story of it’s own to make an excellent film that even non-readers could enjoy.  Thankfully, this film keeps the previous entries director so Deathly Hollows is likely to continue with the outstanding additions to the film series.

8.  Alice in Wonderland – March 5

Director: Tim Burton

Starring:  Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham Carter

What it’s about:  Taking place after Lewis Carroll’s beloved story, 19-year-old Alice returns to Wonderland to find that the Red Queen’s reign of terror has only gotten worse.  Now she must end Wonderland’s tyrannical rule along with the help of all her old familiar friends.

Why you should care:  Anyone who has seen a Tim Burton film knows he has an affinity for the weird and fantastical, and what better place to vent that imagination then on Wonderland.  Burton’s version of Wonderland is sure to take his level of amazing imagery to a whole new level.  Combine that with an excellent cast and 3-D effects and you get a unique adaptation that shouldn’t be overlooked.

7. Due Date – Nov. 5

Director: Todd Phillips

Starring:  Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, and Michelle Monaghan

What it’s about: An expectant first-time father’s journey home to be by the side of his wife goes wrong and instead of a comfy flight, he has to make the trip cross-country with a less than phenomenal aspiring actor.

Why you should care:  Todd Phillips’s previous movie, The Hangover, was the best comedy of 2009.  If this movie even comes close to the bar set by Hangover then this is going to be a must see.  With Galifianakis in a leading role again and Robert Downey Jr., who proved he could be funny with his oscar nominted role in Tropic Thunder, opposite the Hangover’s comedian, this is sure to be a great follow up to Phillip’s last film.

6.  Iron Man 2 – May 7

Director:  Jon Favreau

Starring:  Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and Mickey Rourke

What it’s about:  Tony Stark and his alter ego Iron Man are now a public figure, and now he has to deal with both of their newfound fame.  Stark has politicians, competing industrialists, and super villains all attempting to bring him down and it seems like he’s going to need a little help from his robot suit companion War Machine to take them all on.

Why you should care:  The first Iron Man was a rarity; a good movie adapted from a comic book hero.  While comic book adaptations are a dime a dozen these days, Iron Man was a stand out among the crowd.  Now, with the origin story out of the way, Iron Man 2 should have more action, more character depth, and a more fleshed out plot, taking each aspect of the already great original and making it even better for the sequel.

By Alysha Schlundt Bodien   Fri, Feb 05, 2010

For the correct answer: check out 8 Super Foods that won't Break the Bank

By Brittany Smith   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Ise Lyfe, spoken word artist, emcee and educator kicked off Black History Month with his presentation "Is Everybody Stupid.(?)" 

Lyfe advocates social change in his critical analysis of society, and tries, not to change peoples' minds, but to get people to "join the conversation." 

During his speech he commented on the ways in which society functions and the inconsistencies it faces.  He mentioned Lil Wayne in his speech, saying that his music is about "the money he has, the money you don't, and his desire to ejaculate on you."

Yet, knowing this, millions flock to his concerts to hear him perform.  In fact, Lil Wayne sold one million albums in a week with lyrics like these from the song Lollipop:

Man, she ain't never had a love like mine
And man I ain't never seen an ass like hers
And that p**** in my mouth had me loss for words
Told her back it up like erp erp
And I made that ass jump like jerk, jerk
And that's when she lick me like a lollipop (oh yeah I like that)
she lick me like a lollipop (I like that)
she lick me like a lollipop (I like that)
she lick me like a lollipop

Wayne's album cover depicts a baby picture of himself with his characteristic teardrop tattoos and gold jewelry in place.  In popular culture, Lyfe mentioned, a teardrop tattoo on the cheek means that person has killed someone, and to place those tattoos on the face of a child is wrong. 

"It's the monsterization of black people," Lyfe said, and instead Lyfe promoted a healthy view of black men. Instead of the gangster image that many rappers have adopted, he supports an image of strength and focus, which Lyfe believes there is room for in today's society. 

In his presentation, Lyfe also talked about Tiger Woods and his downfall.  He relates Woods' GQ magazine cover picture a year ago to the picture recently appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair, noting the difference in Woods' appearance. 

On GQ, Woods appeared professional and respectable in a classy tailored suit and a smile, while Vanity Fair depicted him in a classic thug image, half naked with a black hat on and showing physical aggression.  As allegations against Tiger Woods appeared on the front page of nearly every magazine in the country, Woods lost what Lyfe calls "white acceptance" and moved to "general acceptance" which is shown in these magazine cover pictures.

Lyfe went on to make several points about the way black culture is portrayed in society, how it has become "something you can throw on, like a shirt."  He talked about the low level of respect society seems to have for a culture that brought those beats everyone loves to dance to, and who have changed American history so greatly. 

Americans view of black people has fallen Lyfe proved by showing a screen shot of a Google search for "white people stole my car," and the Google correction to this search phrase being, "black people stole my car." 

This search correction no longer exists on the Google website.

Lyfe gets his word to the people through his "Is Everybody Stupid.(?)" presentation and compares the attendance with that of a basketball game, saying, "this conversation is at minimum as important as people putting balls in holes."

He believes it is important for this generation to pay attention to the message they are sending to the rest of the world, that this generation should be aware of the legacy it leaves behind and to ask what it wants to be remembered for.  

Lyfe relates it to past generations, those who fought for social change, lead a non-violent movement, fought wars, and changed the world to suit themselves.  What does this generation do? Update our Twitter status and post pictures on Facebook.

 "I'm inspired by the idea that we can all be better," Lyfe said, and through his performances and presentations, shows that a change in mindset can make that happen. 

GCM Photo by Brendan McGaughey

By Alysha Schlundt Bodien   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

An electronic chime system set to a speaker in the Warriner Hall bell tower  has been heard all over Central Michigan University since the 1980s. 

Chiming for 25 years, it has been broken and beyond repair for the last six months. 

Last summer the chimes were off key and made an out-of-tune pitch. 

"The system was old and just worn out," said Keith Voeks, assistant director for university events (UE). 

The cost to fix the old device is high, so purchasing a new digital machine will be more efficient says Voeks. New electronic chime systems can range from $5,000 to $100,000. Replacement costs will go through a proposal stage this semester. 

Voeks is working on a proposal to replace the system, excluding real bells because they are more costly and an electronic system can do more. Student Life Director, Tony Voisin suggested a recording that can play the CMU Fight song or other seasonal tracks. 

Students, faculty and the Mount Pleasant community will have to wait until summer for the new system to be ready to chime. Summer is when UE does major repairs on campus, and fixing the bell tower is a priority. 

Readers who want to chime in on what sounds the bell should make are encouraged to do so in the comment area.  

GCM Photo by Jill Pekel

By Alana Goeringer   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

As the snow continues to fall here in central Michigan, it is difficult to imagine that Spring Break is nearing very quickly. Thankfully, the highly anticipated week is fast approaching, and plans are beginning to form.

While many students are planning extravagant flights to tropical locations, others are planning exciting road trips with their friends and roommates. But how do you know you've remembered everything you need for your road trip? Here are 10 things that every road tripper should never be caught without!

1. GPS: For those of us who are directionally challenged, a GPS becomes a best friend. This device not only tells your directions and arrival times, but can direct you to gas stations and restaurants along the way. On certain models, you can also change the voice for a more entertaining travel buddy.
2. Cell phone: Many of us are glued to our cell phones during 90 percent of our lives, but this is definitely a necessity. Cell phones are very useful when wanting to call a friend on the road, and also if an emergency were to occur. Remember to bring a phone car charger!
3. iPod with road trip playlist: What road trip would be complete without music?! Compile a list of everyone's favorite upbeat songs and play them on shuffle while you are driving. Spontaneous sing-a-longs are a fun (and sometimes hilarious) way to pass the time!
4. Spare change: If your destination requires you to use a toll road, make sure you have the money to pay the tolls. If you get caught without the cash, many states have regulations that can result in huge fines!
5. Snacks/car food: Be sure to pack some of your own food. Yes, fast food can be delicious, but it is both expensive and unhealthy. Plus it requires making a bunch of stops while on the road, and you could just pack exactly the kind of food you know you'll want to eat!
6. Spending money: It would be a real shame to drive the whole way to your destination and then not have any money to purchase things! Be sure to plan ahead so you are financially sound for your entire trip. Don't forget about gas money! Also, if you have a credit card bring it just in case of emergencies. 
7. Camera: If you and your friends are putting all this time and effort into a road trip, shouldn't it be documented? Digital cameras are always a great choice, but disposable cameras can be a lot of fun to play around with as well.
8. Pillows: On especially long road trips, people get tired. When it's not your turn to drive, you can always take a cat nap. Pillows are definitely important so you don't wake up with a stiff neck!
9. Road trip book: This is not a necessity, but these books can certainly be fun! There are many that are written to show road trippers the interesting sights that they will be passing on their journey! You can buy these online or at any bookstore.
10. Your luggage!!! We've all had to turn around during a car trip because someone forgot something. Make sure to double (and even triple) check that you have everything you need for a successful vacation!

Make sure you have all of these things, then pack up your car and be on your way. Happy driving!

GCM stock photo by Jillian Pekel

By Chrissy Fritisch   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Jan. 12, 2010

Hello from Ghana!

It's already pretty hot here, even before 10 a.m. We got to the airport last night around 10 p.m., and the flight was not that bad time-wise. I slept for a lot of it. When we landed, we had to go through customs, and then waited around a little baggage drop for our bags. It was pretty crazy, and my bags never did show up since we almost missed the flight from London to Ghana. We were on a list of bags that were still in the London airport. They'll come today! We met some ISEP (Internation Student Exchange Programs) leaders at the airport and then rode to the university in a big white van. Though it was dark, we could still see some of the beautiful scenery around. I even saw a tree that was flat on top just like the ones in The Lion King! Our room is decent sized, and it has a balcony that looks out into the campus and beautiful scenery. We also have a middle courtyard that is really green with some native African plants. We checked into our rooms, and got dinner, and all called home. I was so exhausted and surprisingly homesick that I went straight to bed. My roommate Evie and her friend from school, Meredith, helped calm me down.

This morning I woke up pretty early and ate a dry scone that they gave us for breakfast. I tried having a shower, but there was no water! So, Evie and I got buckets and filled them with the hose for showers. It was a real African start. I also saw some lizards today which surprised me since I did not realize they would be so close to us. They were in the courtyard and running through the drain pipes. We had time before we had to meet, so I went for a walk around campus with some members of my group. Then we had lunch all together at Tasty Treats, a local restaurant that is really close by our hostel. We had the start of our orientation, and then hung out with some girls at night. It was Rachael's 21st birthday, so we had some wine in water bottles, and then played Apples to Apples with some other friends.

Jan. 18, 2010

This morning I was awoken at 4 a.m. to men shouting, "All residents must get out now!" It was really scary, and I didn't know what was going on, but I left my room to join all of the other residents outside. The reason why we were outside? There was an Earth tremor warning for all of Ghana, apparently all over the radio stations. Eventually we found out that it was a hoax for all of Ghana, (um, duh, there are no such things as warnings for earthquakes!) but lots of people all over the country were freaking out about it. In the morning we still had no electricity, so I had another shower from a bucket. For breakfast that morning I ate my first mango from the market right by our hostel, and it was really good.

Today was the start of registration, so I went with my friends Amanda, Rachael, Heather, Taylor and Evan to go register for classes. Classes actually start today, but it's really laid back, and most are still registering, so we don't go to class until next week. We had our last orientation session, and were told about some volunteer opportunities we could get involved in. A student that was involved with ISEP last semester and then decided to study for one more semester now works with children at a village nearby. She brought some children with her, and I got to hold one of them who was about two-years-old, and then a boy came over who was about four and gave me a big hug. It was such a beautiful moment! These children have parents, but they cannot afford school, so they go to one run by Renee and a man named Kwami from the village. I had my first pineapple today, and it was amazing! The water came back on this afternoon when I was gone, but it was not on when I came back. My roomie is still not here, but more stuff is appearing.

By Colleen O'Brien   Thu, Feb 04, 2010

The term 'hostel' is often associated with the gruesome horror film depicting young backpackers who are tortured and sold into human trafficking.

A common misconception is that hostels are dangerous, grungy and crime-filled. The truth is hostels are fun, safe, inexpensive and great way to meet fellow travelers.

Hostels, sometimes called 'backpackers', provide dorm-style accommodations, with shared bedrooms and bathrooms. Some hostels offer private rooms for a higher rate. Shared rooms can be coed or single-sex.

Staying in hostels is similar to college in some ways. When sharing a room, there may be noise if people come in late night or wake up early.

However, the occasional lack of privacy does not mean a lack of security. Hostels provide lockers to keep personal items safe. Most hostels have staff available 24 hours and a late night security policy.

Although amenities range, hostels provide a common kitchen and lounge. The kitchens have all the essentials for cooking. Guests must bring their own food and clean up after using the kitchen. 

Lounge areas often have a TV, DVDs, books, a stereo and board games. Internet is available at hostels for free or a small fee. Some hostels provide free breakfast or feature a free soup of the day. They usually have an outside patio area, courtyard, or front porch where guests can relax. Most hostels allow guests to bring their own alcoholic beverages and drink in the common areas.

 In my experience, nights at hostels usually involve drinking games and socializing between travelers. They're an opportunity to meet diverse travelers from across the world.

Hostels provide maps of the city, sightseeing guides, food listings and other useful information. Many sponsor pub-crawls and have information on activities for young adults. 

When staying at a hostel, guests should bring sandals and a towel for showering. Guest should pack a lock for valuables and earplugs for unwanted noise.

I first discovered hostels while planning a European backpacking trip in 2006. I was a little nervous to stay at a hostel, although I was traveling with a friend.

After my first night at a hostel, I was hooked. I loved the young atmosphere, the amenities and inexpensive rates. Most of all, I loved the people I met and the adventures I had while staying there.

After experiencing hostels abroad, I decided I wanted to stay at a U.S. hostel. Recently, I booked a hostel in New Orleans for spring break with friends. For a six-night stay, I am paying a total of $135.

When booking a hostel, consider the amenities, customer reviews, location, and ranking to ensure a quality experience. To find information about hostel locations, reviews and booking, visit hostels.com, hostelbookers.com, hostelworld.com or hostelz.com.

Photo by Colleen O'Brien