By Doug Sears Jr.   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

On the first of January, the National Hockey League held its third annual Winter Classic. The NHL has now held four outdoor regular season games, including three in a row that have occurred on January 1^st. The game has become a marquee event for the league, which consistently pulls in ratings the NHL has not seen for a regular season game since Wayne Gretzky's last game in 1999.
As the NHL looks forward to the next few Classics, they must maximize the appeal of these events before the novelty of it wears off, and firmly entrench the NHL as a big part of the first day of the year in the United States right next to the bowl games. With that in mind, here are a few goals for the NHL to focus on in order to create the best event and generate the most exposure.

Sell the Stars

The NHL has experienced a huge upswing in young, marketable talent since the 2004-05 lockout, led by superstars Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. Unfortunately, other than Crosby and Ovechkin, the average player in the NHL is anonymous in American pop culture. While the NHL markets their Lebron James, they have not identified the Kevin Durant, a second tier star and incredible young talent who is known by a majority of casual fans.

However, players of this caliber are spread around the league, but the NHL does not do enough to market them. For the next year, the league needs to make a concerted effort to sell talents like Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils, an American born superstar who garnered MVP votes after his 97 point season last year, or Ryan Getlzlaf, a big yet unbelievably skilled forward of the Anaheim Ducks, who has a skill set rarely seen in a player of his stature at 6'4" and 220 lbs.

Return to the Gridiron

The NHL has held the last two Winter Classics in two of Major League Baseball's most storied venues, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. While the dynamic of hockey played where Ernie Banks and Ted Williams once starred was good from a marketing standpoint, most fans who attended were left with seats that were either too far from the ice, or at a bad angle to watch the action.            

While there is a lot of difficulty in setting up in an NFL stadium, because of the NFL schedule, the football stadium still allows the best views. However, there are options the NHL can pursue to give the in-house fans a good show while still allowing the ice to exist for a few weeks to host games for high school and college teams, which were very successful and sought after at Fenway.

The NHL must instead turn to outdoor college football stadiums such as Beaver Stadium at Penn State, or Ann Arbor's Michigan Stadium, both of which would obliterate the previous record for most fans in attendance at a hockey game, set in Spartan Stadium for a game between the Wolverines and Spartans. Start with some of college football's most storied venues, and imagine a game between the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets at Ohio State's famed Horseshoe. It would be a nice contrast for all of Michigan to be rooting for the red team to beat the blue team in that matchup.

Another option is Giants stadium in New Jersey, which will be vacated next year by the Jets and Giants, and would be a great place to host the Marian Gaborik led New York Rangers against Parise and the Devils. The 80,000 seat stadium in the Meadowlands is a great place to watch a snowy football game, why not a snowy hockey game?

Bring the Canadians into the fold

The last few Winter Classics have pitted American teams against each other, in an effort to draw in two American viewing markets. While the game should be kept in America to maintain the American audience, bringing in Canadian teams will open the door for more rivalries, such as the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, or the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL could also bring in the Vancouver Canucks to the state of Washington, where many hockey fans have adopted their northern neighbors' hockey team as their own.

The Winter Classic at this point is almost entirely a marketing event, a chance to sell the game. Obviously, the number one way to sell the game is simply a great hockey game. However, the NHL must realize that while that cannot be guaranteed, what can be brought to the table are interesting storylines and well known teams and players with loyal followings. The NHL should begin planning years in advance for future Classics, setting them up to succeed by creating and bolstering the star status of it's players and searching for more and more interesting storylines that will win over college football fans feeling disenfranchised with the increasingly less important New Years' Day games.

By Jerry Taylor   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

 It has been almost two weeks since the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Texas Longhorns in the BCS National Championship. More important locally, it has been two weeks since the CMU Chippewas won a double overtime thriller against Troy, 44-41 at the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Since the bowl game, the Chippewas have named a new coach- Dan Enos from Michigan State. Enos takes over for the departed Butch Jones, who left for Cincinnati on December 16. He has a lot of work to do, in assembling a new coaching staff, getting to know his players and new recruits, as well as implementing new offensive and defensive schemes.

 From a fan's perspective, the CMU football program has never been stronger. Each of the past two coaches have raised the bar another notch; Brian Kelly put CMU on the map and Butch Jones helped establish CMU as a Top 25 team at season's end, in both the USA Today and AP polls. Jones led the Chips to a 12-2 record this season,  as they undefeated in conference play and winning the MAC Championship- and oh yeah don't forget about that big 29-27 victory over Dan Enos' former football team- Michigan State on September 12.

Fans are going to expect Enos to continue the winning trend that has been established here. However, don't expect the Chips to go 12-2 next season. Sure, I believe that CMU will compete within its conference, but the offense has to rebuild itself, with Dan Lefevour and Bryan Anderson graduating, as well as Antonio Brown forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. The quarterback position is the key to Enos' offense- and he will have 3-4 options at QB to determine who will be his starter.

On the defensive side of the ball, Nick Bellore will center the defense for his senior season. The defensive line and secondary will need to rebuilt, with losses due to eligibility and graduation of multiple players.

Overall, the CMU football program is unmistakably the best program in the MAC, as well as the state of Michigan. Michigan State has a record of 22-17 their last three seasons, while the University of Michigan has gone 17-20. During the last three seasons, CMU has gone 28-13.

The upcoming season that starts at the end of August for the Chippewas will reveal a whole new look and lineup from top to bottom. CMU fanfare is at an all-time high- by next season's end, we'll see who the true "Chippewa" fans really are.

GCM file photo by Michael Mulholland

By Matt Erspamer   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

The recession was not kind to the American auto industry.  The 2009 North American International Auto Show had a strong showing from almost every automaker except the ones in North America.  The current show, however, is a different story.

A lot can change in a year, as evidenced by the strong performance by two of the major American automakers at the 2010 NAIAS.  Ford and General Motors, the former in particular, seem well on their way to once again being in the competition for American consumer dollars.  You wouldn't know just by looking that it was only a year ago that these two companies had death knocking on their door.  

Chrysler was a different story, though.  Where the others debuted fuel-efficient new redesigns, Chrysler only showcased a couple new engines.  Their booth seemed to be the most disappointing at the show because they are the only domestic automaker that continues to stay in the stone age.   

The Ford booth was perhaps the strongest at the show, highlighting several redesigns and economic and environmentally conscious changes to already popular brands.  The redesigned Ford Focus and Fusion Hybrid were particularly impressive.  Though Ford trucks have been the best selling for almost four decades, you wouldn't know that from their part of the show.  In fact, all automakers but Chrysler pushed gas-guzzling trucks and SUV's aside to make way for more fuel-efficient and lower emission vehicles. 

If the absence of big trucks wasn't a big enough sign of the times, the showings from exotic automakers were.  Brands with price tags upwards of $200,000, like Ferrari, Bentley, and Maybach, brought only one or two cars. Other pricey brands, like Lamborghini and Rolls Royce, didn't even bother to show up.

Though domestic car companies had an overall strong showing at this year's show, cars from overseas automakers still showed up en masse and had some impressive showings.  Eastern car companies like Toyota and Honda continue to highlight fuel efficiency and affordability in their vehicles, while German automakers like Mercedes Benz continue to showcase expensive, luxurious new models and redesigns.

Going to the Auto Show, held in downtown Detroit's Cobo Hall, offers prospective buyers and young dreamers the chance to get up-close and personal with the objects of their curiosity, and it's as affordable as ever to make the trip.  A general admission ticket costs only twelve dollars, where once it was almost twenty.  Traveling from Mt. Pleasant in a car that gets 25 miles per gallon, expect to pay around $35 round trip for gas at current prices.

Those looking for a cheap meal that doesn't skimp on quality or flavor should look no further than right across the street from the event to two local favorites, Cobo Joe's and The Post Bar. Cobo Joe's has been voted the best sports bar in downtown Detroit, as well as consistently winning the award for the best pizza downtown.  The Post Bar is a Michigan-exclusive chain that offers daily cheap drink specials and typical bar food like nachos, chicken wings, and burgers.

If you're planning on making this an overnight engagement, the best bang for your buck can be found at the Hotel St. Regis, located only 4 miles from the show.  For $56 you can get a room that is rated 4/5 stars by Expedia users.  Comparably priced hotels in the area are rated two stars or less. 

The NAIAS is a staple of Michigan, bringing international attention to our state every January.  Every resident of the state should check it out at least once and now it is more affordable than ever.

GCM photos by Matt Erspamer

By Vanessa Oblinger   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Kennedy finally left the senate seat open in Massachusetts and in response the Democrats and Republicans battled it out this weekend to gain control over that seat.  The battle was extremely intense, because of the current focus on the health care reform bill.

Some believe that the result of this election is determining factor of the future of the nation in the aspect of health care reform.

The College Republicans of CMU felt the same way.

Three of us headed down there on Friday, January 15^th to help out with Scott Brown's campaign for the senate seat-although, according to him, the seat isn't his.  It's ours.  It's the American people's seat.

We teamed up with other Republican volunteers from Macomb County and took three fifteen-passenger vans to Andover and even though the people we met were great, the ride was a painful sixteen hours. 

We arrived early in the afternoon on the following Saturday in Andover, MA at the La Quinta Inn, which was paid for us by the campaign in exchange for our volunteer work. 

Within hours, we had left the hotel and gone door-to-door to campaign.  The homeowner's were mostly pleased that we were from the Scott Brown campaign and impressed when we told them we were from here from Michigan volunteering for him.

Rarely, did we stumble upon Coakley supporters-which came as a great surprise, considering Martha Coakley was fully endorsed by President Obama.

When we returned to the LaQuinta Inn, we made campaign phone calls reminding people to vote for Scott Brown and of Sunday's rally.  The phone calls seemed to annoy people more than it pleased them, but it was a personal and private way for the people of Massachusetts to ask questions about their Republican candidate.

The next day, Sunday the 19^th, we all went to Scott Brown's rally, which was at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA.  The doors opened at 3 p.m.  Unfortunately, however, Mechanics Hall was packed and so were two other buildings-one of the other two was the Crowne Plaza just down the street and we decided to watch the rally on a projector there.

Although, it was hot and space was limited, it was worth it.

The amazing thing about Mechanics Hall was that it seats 3,000 people and at least 1,000 more people were outside.  I heard someone say that they hadn't heard of anything like this happening in Massachusetts since John F. Kennedy came to town.

Even in the hotel, people yelled and chanted and cheered and held up signs and applauded for the MA celebrity-figure supporters speaking before Brown was introduced.  The energy was amazing. 

Actor John Ratzenberger, who is more commonly recognized as Cliff, the mail carrier, from the TV show Cheers or even one of the many voices from a Pixar cartoon, showed his support at Brown's rally by giving a brief speech and introducing Brown.

Curt Schilling, a Boston Red Socks pitching legend displayed his support for Brown and even "joked" about Coakley's false accusation of him being a Yankee's fan.  He gave a brief speech about being an underdog and their moments of success and expressed that Brown was that underdog now.

Doug Flutie, a football veteran of Boston College, was also there firing up the crowd with a speech comparing this election to his last-second Hail Mary Pass.

The signs in the crowd varied from being the standard Scott Brown campaign signs to homemade signs saying "Democrats for Scott Brown" even some with old pictures of Scott Brown posing in a pair of underwear for a Cosmo magazine that said "I'm voting for Senator McSexy".  It was very funny and when Scott Brown took the stage the signs were forced upward following by "Go Brown!" chants.

The content in Brown's speech, like most speeches during in a political speech, included a few hits against Coakley.  One of the hits revealed her desire for higher taxes and the other for her ignorance of what's going on in Afghanistan.

"In our debate, my opponent insisted that there are no longer any terrorists in Afghanistan.  Maybe the president can pull her aside today and explain the basics: There are still many terrorists in Afghanistan, Martha!  They are at war with the United States, and for the safety of this nation we must defeat them"

Also, Brown spoke of the "political machine" originally writing the Republicans off completely and assuming so effortlessly that Coakley had the seat with no questions asked and that this election would just be a minor detail that wouldn't get in the way of Obama's reign and then followed that with "Well, there was just one little problem with that plan - the independent-thinking people of Massachusetts wanted a real choice, and they - and you -- have made this a real contest." 

At this, the crowd went crazy and Brown continued to mock Washington's Democratic majority.

"The voters are doing their own thinking, and the machine politicians don't quite know how to react.  So they put in a distress call to Washington, and the next thing you know, Air Force One is landing at Logan."

He was referring to the fact that when Obama had learned of Brown's "underdog-like" success and spurt of popularity, he scheduled a visit to endorse Coakley in person on the same day at a college auditorium not far from Brown's rally-and he followed through.

While, Brown spoke, Obama and Coakley shared the stage at Northeastern University in Boston-Obama explained that if Coakley isn't elected this would be like the beginning of undoing everything he's done during his term thus far.

However, Obama's speech didn't go nearly as smoothly as most.  Obama was interrupted several times by "hecklers".  I haven't found out yet what exactly they yelled, but it was rumored that one of the hecklers dragged out by secret service was a boy of about 9 years old.

When Brown ended his speech, the whole lot of us listening inside of the Crowne Plaza waited outside for Brown to stop by.

I was able to shake his hand while he thanked us all for the support and then the mob of us followed him back into the hotel where he gave a short thank-you speech which ended with "God Bless America"-which caused the crowd to break out in patriotic songs.

The rally was by far the highlight of the trip.  After that, we went back to the hotel and relaxed and the rest of the trip pretty much included more campaign phone calls.  Some of CMU went to Boston and saw sights independently from the group.  Everyone says you can't go to Boston without the clam chowder or seafood, so they made sure they had some.

The trip overall was great.

I feel more patriotic than ever.

The College Republicans that stayed behind celebrated Tuesday night when the election results came in.  Our campaigning certainly paid off.  Brown took the seat.

GCM photos by Vanessa Oblinger

By Megan Townsend   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Nick Jonas & The Administration with guest Diane Birch at The Fox Theatre. The Fox Theatre literally shook on Saturday January 16 as Nick Jonas & The Administration took the stage for the hour and a half long set.

"I never realized that the mezzanine kind of shakes," Jonas said, "when everyone jumps. That kind of looks unsafe."

Jonas showcased nearly all 10 songs from The Administration's upcoming debut album "Who I Am," in stores February 2. The concert stripped away the fancy stages and effects typical of a Jonas Brothers concert, and focused on the rock sound of these new songs with just a few candles scattered around the stage. The first song of the nearly 16-song concert displayed a more mature sound from the 17-year-old prodigy. Jonas' voice transitioned smoothly throughout the night from a blues-y growl all the way up to a Michael Jackson-reminiscent soprano and back.

"Last Time Around" starts the show off with a hard-rock kick. "Rose Garden" is a darker, more electro song. "State of Emergency" grooves hard with a Stevie Wonder influence. The show was split by an acoustic mash-up, played by Jonas alone, of several popular songs from the last year, including "Fireflies" by Owl City, "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift, and "Catch Me" by Demi Lovato. Jonas also performed remixes of some popular Jonas Brothers songs that meant something to him. Jonas joked with the audience during the interlude working to convince the fans that he is the funny Jonas, and the most asked question from fans ("Can I touch your hair?"). "Stronger" finishes the show with a bluesy feel and an uplifting vibe. Jonas came back for the encore with the more pop "Who I Am," the band's debut single and only released song. The crowd came prepared with signs that read "Who I Am" on one side and an adjective describing him or herself on the back.

Jonas rock and funk influences carry over from his new music to his choice of touring band lineup. Three of the four members of The Administration touring band used to play in Prince's New Power Generation group; guitarist Sonny Thompson, drummer Michael Bland, and keyboardist Tommy Barbarella.

Jonas recorded and produced "Who I Am" over two weeks this past spring while the Jonas Brothers had time off. Part of the show at the Fox involved two songs that he wrote for The Administration after the album was already recorded. "Stay," a Boyz II Men style soprano serenade, was a late-written song that was a big hit with the crowd, predominately female. Jonas peeled off his over shirt to a chorus of screams, even from the middle-aged mother that sat next to me with her teenage daughters.

The widely varied ages of the audience at this show really proves Nick Jonas & The Administration is a very different sound from the Jonas Brothers. Think more John Mayer or The Fray and less Mickey Mouse. Do yourself a favor; don't judge Nick Jonas by his name, and check out "Who I Am" when it drops on February 2.

Photo by Megan Townsend

By Kristen Newhouse   Thu, Jan 21, 2010

On the outside Kandis Contos' apartment looks like every other stark white four-bedroom rental. But behind the walls of this seemingly cookie-cutter home, lies what Contos describes as a hippie jungle.

The design is a true medley of the decades. A tie-dye tapestry adorns the wall in place of the typical college wallpaper of movie posters and stolen beer banners. A leopard-print blanket is wrapped around the sofa, not a person.

Mini Corona bottles hang from the cabinets lighting the kitchen counter. Snowflakes hang from the ceiling and potted plants sit on pedestals.

Her style is eclectic; a fusion of  '40s pearls, '60s earth mother and '90s grunge.

But her mix-match of patterns, colors and eras isn't limited to her apartment. As an apparel merchandising and design major, Contos infuses her off-beat vintage-modern style into all of her clothing designs.

"The combinations most find tacky, I look at it and think this is awesome," Contos, a Davison senior, said.

With this year's Threads' theme "Autobiography," however, Contos is excited to show her personal style but is hesitant to make herself vulnerable through her designs.

"The idea is that it's your story, you can tell it how you want, which at first I was really excited about but then I realized what everyone is going to see is you," she said.

While the theme asks designers to tell their stories through fashion, it is understandable why this second year Threads designer is having trouble finding the right brocade and leather to exemplify her past.

Growing up in a conservative school, Contos' after school activities were not the same as her other 7-year-old classmates. 

"I grew up in a Catholic school and was surrounded by more gay men than straight," Contos said.

After spending the day in khakis and a white polo, she traded in the stark uniform for a world of glitz and glamour. Contos spent her afternoons in her father's alternative bar where you couldn't always believe your eyes, influencing her into her future career.

"I grew up watching men transform into beautiful women," she said. "All you needed was a caboodle of make-up and a dress and you became a completely different person."

From the first time Contos glued fake eyelashes on a man in the fourth grade her destiny in fashion was set.

Despite her original major in communications, after taking a design class as an elective, Contos' love for fashion was reignited. She quickly changed her major to apparel merchandising and design and has been unstoppable since.

While many design majors have their sights set on designing in the big city, Contos' only goal has been to own her own business, designing everything from the fashion line to the floor plan.

 "As long as I could be happy and do what I wanted to do everyday, I'd be happy wherever I'm at," she said.

Small town or big city, Contos will be happy as long as she is following her dreams. And when all is said and done, isn't that what defines true passion?

GCM photo by Jillian Pekel

By Amanda Stidd   Thu, Jan 21, 2010

I've now lived in Mt. Pleasant for almost 3 years and I'd never been to Mountain Town before last week. Yes, I'd heard of it before. Mostly I'd heard about their famous growlers of beer... this is a college campus, after all. But what I hadn't heard about was all the things that made Mountain Town a wonderful dining experience.

From the intriguing look of the outside of the building to the classy atmosphere inside, it was a winning experience from the start. Dark wooden tables and booths filled the interior of the restaurant and white lights tangled along the ceiling lit the bar area.  With a pleasant atmosphere from the entrance forward, my overall dining experience was greatly enhanced.

My party was seated at the rear of the restaurant and served promptly. A couple friends and I went on a Wednesday, which is sushi night! Another positive aspect to note about Mountain Town is the specials they have occurring each night of the week. Whether it's beer, barbeque, or sushi being sought out. Mountain Town has a special for it. We were given the regular menu and the sushi menu.

Within seconds of being seated, our server greeted us with a smile and took our drink orders. To get a variety, I ordered the barbeque brisket while my friends feasted on sushi and a salad. As someone who frequents Texas on a regular basis, I know a good brisket. I have to say, this was a quality brisket. Though I'm no expert on sushi, it looked wonderful. I was impressed with the selection of the menu and the quality of the food served.

The meals were reasonably priced and the service continued to be exceptional throughout the meal.

On our way out, we made sure to take a couple growlers of beer home and stop by the wine shop located in the restaurant. If ever I'm looking for the perfect wine, Mountain Town will be my first shop. They focus a lot on Michigan wines and carry a wide selection.

The experience of Mountain Town cannot be beat in Mt. Pleasant-it's a town favorite for a reason.

Four stars, hands down.

GCM photo credit: Colleen O'Brien

By Jason Shubnell   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

In what is certainly the most shocking sports story of the new decade, Mark McGwire admitted to using steroids sporadically throughout his career.

Then again, maybe none of us are surprised, but it is nice to finally hear it from the man's mouth.

McGwire, however, deserves the Andy Petite-treatment here. While the former slugger's numbers may be juiced up, who is to say that other numbers were not just as juiced? McGwire never lied to fans, Congress, or Major League Baseball; he simply did not say anything.

Unlike Petite, McGwire did not come out right away with his admission. Would it have been nice for McGwire to be completely honest from the start? Sure. It also would have been nice for David Ortiz, Barry Bonds, and countless others to do the same.

Unlike Pete Rose, McGwire never vehemently denied any accusations in his time away from the game, he only decided to reveal the truth (coincidently, I'm sure) prior to the release of his new book.  

The former Cardinal's admission came at possibly the worst time - accepting a job, a coaching job, within Major League Baseball and with the team he last and most famously played for. Not the best of PR moves on either part.

But this admission, and this player, is just a microcosm of an entire era of America's most historic and most beloved sport.

For the better part of 25 years, questions have lingered about performance-enhancers. Since the late Ken Caminiti's admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his only MVP season in 1996, the questions towards steroids use have really heated up. Following the league wide strike in 1994 and before Barry Bonds' dominance, there was one summer where all seemed right with the baseball world.

McGwire, along with Sammy Sosa, reinvigorated baseball fans. Their home run chase brought excitement and energy back to the diamond. Without McGwire, Bud Selig and every baseball writer out there could very well be in a different line of work.

McGwire was only one of hundreds to play in a dark era in baseball. But as the stats show, only a certain few were able to exceed. Only the best accumulate the type of numbers that McGwire did over his career and only the best are considered Hall of Famers.

He is a World Series champion. He led the National League in home runs two times and the American League in home runs for two years as well. He is a 12 time All-Star and was named Rookie of the Year in 1987. He achieved an MLB record with a 10.61 bat/home run ratio. Most of all he had 583 home runs, eighth all-time.

Bonds. Clemens. Griffey. McGwire. Ramirez. Sosa. Thomas.

Names we are all familiar with. Some have lied. Some have never had to lie. Like it or not, all of them one day belong in the Hall of Fame.

By Tim Hanson   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

The college basketball season is in full swing and with a new season comes new rankings.  Last year seems like a distant memory as North Carolina has struggled to replace most of their star players and Kentucky, a team that made the NIT last year, looks like the team to beat with their two big time freshman recruits and new big name coach. 

1. Kentucky

The only undefeated team left in college basketball deserves the top spot until a team can knock off the Wildcats. 

Freshman point guard John Wall, who has averaged 17.1 points through the team's first 18 games, leads the young Wildcats team.  Fellow freshman DeMarcus Cousins, and junior Patrick Patterson combine to form one of the best frontcourts in the nation this season.

The 18-0 start for the Wildcats include victories over top 25 teams: North Carolina, and Connecticut.  A victory over in-state rival Louisville is also a key part of the Wildcats fast start. 

Upcoming tests against Tennessee and Mississippi will show how good the Wildcats really are this season.  For now, Kentucky looks like a team that could make a run to the Final Four.    

2. Syracuse

The Orange is the surprise team of the season.  After losing Johnny Flynn to the NBA, expectations were down for the season and the Orange were not ranked in any preseason polls.  Early season wins over California, North Carolina, and Florida-- all top 25 teams-- vaulted the Orange back into the polls and into the top five.

Junior forward Wesley Johnson is one of many experienced players that have contributed for the Orange.  Johnson is averaging 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.  Four other Orange players average more than eight points per game.

The Orange's next challenge comes against No. 14 ranked Georgetown and also includes a match up with No. 4 Villanova.   

3. Texas

The No. 1 team before the week started showed why polls are not always right.  The Longhorns fell Monday night to Kansas State, giving Texas their first loss of the season. 

Regardless of Monday night's game, Texas is loaded to make a run in March.  Leading the way for the Longhorns are two seniors: Forward Damion James and Center Dexter Pittman.  James has been dominating, averaging 17.3 points per game to go along with 11.0 rebounds per game. 

Newcomer Avery Bradley is making his presence know in his first season of college basketball, averaging 12.2 points per game. 

The Longhorns hope to get back on track Saturday against No. 21 Connecticut.  Their toughest test after the Huskies will come against No. 3 Kansas in February. 

4. Kansas

The preseason No. 1 team in the country held onto the top spot for the first eight weeks of the season before the Jayhawks fell to Tennessee earlier this month.  Lately, Kansas has shown that they still deserve a top 5 ranking, winning three straight games, all by double digits.   

A strong backcourt duo of senior Sherron Collins and freshman Xavier Henry set the tone for the Jayhawks.  Both guards are averaging over 15 points per game.  They receive help from frontcourt players Marcus Morris and Cole Aldrich, who are the team's two leading rebounders and also provide scoring.

The toughest part of the Jayhawks schedule is still ahead with matchups against top 25 teams Kansas State and Texas.   

5. Duke

Once again Coach Mike Krzyzewski has put together a team that should challenge for a National Championship.

Besides two close losses against Wisconsin and Georgia Tech, Duke has been dominating their opponents.  Their average margin of victory is well over 20 points with their closest margin being nine points against both Connecticut and St. John's. 

A trio of upperclassmen is making their presence known for the Blue Devils.  Guards Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith pace the scoring as both are averaging over 18 points per game.  Forward Kyle Singer is not far behind averaging 15.7 points per game.

The Blue Devils have notched victories over top 25 teams: Gonzaga, Connecticut, and Clemson.  Their tough schedule continues with future matchups against Georgetown, Clemson, Georgia Tech, and archrivals North Carolina.

By Jerry Taylor   Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Central Michigan Athletic Director Dave Heeke knew he had to make another big splash in coming up with another CMU head football coach.

 And on Monday, January 11, Heeke knew that he had the right guy.

 “We kept circling back to Dan Enos; my gut felt he was the right guy. It was sometime yesterday (on Monday) that we made that decision,” Heeke said.“But all along it just kept circling back to Dan Enos.”  

 Dan Enos was officially named and introduced as the 29^th head coach of the CMU Chippewas on Tuesday, January 12th. Enos received a five-year deal worth a total of 1.25 million, with a 75 thousand dollar stipend a year for radio, television, and public appearances.

 Enos comes to CMU after being the running back coach at Michigan State under current MSU head coach Mark Dantonio for the past three seasons. During his introductory press conference, Enos thanked Dantonio for everything that he has learned from and done for him.

 “Mark has done so much for me and my family, my career…without him this opportunity would not have come available,” Enos said.

 Enos has yet to compile a coaching staff, but he will run what he called a “wide open offense”, which should please the CMU faithful.

 “I’m a quarterback, so I like to throw the ball. When I was at Michigan State, I had to hand off the ball off way too much; I think it demented me for life,” Enos said with a smile on his face.

 Enos played quarterback at Michigan State from 1987-1990, where he started for two years, compiling a 16-7-1 record under center for the Spartans. He led the Spartans to bowl victories over Hawaii in 1989 and Southern California in 1990.

GCM file photo

By Mike Mulholland   Wed, Jan 20, 2010

By R.E. Whipple   Wed, Jan 20, 2010

It's a new semester. Why not reward yourself with some delicious and somewhat nutritious carrot cake?

*Taken from 1,000 Vegan Recipes by Carol Gelles.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup wheat germ
• ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
• 1 cup golden raisins
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown or dark brown sugar
• ¾ cup honey
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups coarsely shredded carrots
• 1 cup lightly packed shredded sweetened coconut
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1.     Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.

2.     In a large bowl, using a wire whisk, stir together the all-purpose flour, wheat germ, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the walnuts and raisins.

3.     In a separate bowl, beat together the brown sugar, honey, oil, buttermilk, and eggs. Stir in the carrots, coconut, and vanilla.

4.     Stir the carrot mixture into the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Pour into prepared pan.

5.     Bake one hour or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let stand 20 minutes. Turn onto rack to cool completely. Cut into 2-inch squares.

Variations: Omit the coconut.

Optional: Homemade Cream Cheese frosting

It may seem like extra work and a hassle, but it's really easy and it makes the best carrot cake (or any cake really) taste that much better.

• Two 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

1.     Beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy.

GCM photo credit: R.E. Whipple

By Theresa Baughman   Tue, Jan 19, 2010

Irish Car Bomb

• 1/2 oz. Irish Cream (Bailey's)
• 1/2 pint Stout (Guinness)
• 1/2 oz. Whiskey, Irish (Jameson)
• Mixing Instructions

Pour half a pint of chilled Guinness into a beer mug and let it settle. Take a shot glass filled with 1/2 oz. of Irish whiskey on the bottom and 1/2 oz. of Irish cream on top. Drop the shot glass into the Guinness and chug... yes, chug. If you don't, the cream and beer will mix and coagulate. I don't know about you, but that's not something I want to be consuming.

This is the perfect shot that also doubles as dessert, with a rich and sweet taste.  Irish car bombs are delicious and also contain a pretty fair amount of alcohol.  What more could you ask of a drink? Though it is not the best drink to have on a full stomach, as chugging the drink is essential to avoid curdling.  This a great drink to start out the night with!

Photo by: loremipsum http://www.flickr.com/photos/loremipsum/

*Grand Central Magazine does not promote nor condone the use of alcohol under the age of 21.

By Jenna Bishop   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Fist-pumping, hair-poufing and fake-tanning dominate the persona of every Guido and Guidette flocking the Jersey Shore. With traits like these, its no wonder that MTV’s show, “Jersey Shore,” became a success captivating audiences with all the essential elements of quality television: pecs, pit stains and hair product.

And CMU students are of no exception. With the Facebook guest list currently at 1,299, it’s obvious that the students are anxiously awaiting the arrival of “Jersey Shore's” Jenni “Jwoww” to campus in February.

During her visit, she will be judging a "Jersey Shore look-alike" contest at Wayside on Feb. 20. But before competing in such a contest, one must prepare to be the fiercest fist-pumping, open-shirt wearing, bling-blingingest greaser in Mount Pleasant.

So here’s the situation, without looking like a wannabe muscle-loving hotshot or bikini-wearing babe, contestants must follow these basic essentials to guidoism before competing.

First, make sure to use enough gel and hairspray for the pouf or blowout to withstand a category five hurricane. Prosperous Guido’s should note that a perfect blowout needs to take at least 30 minutes to do for authenticity and accuracy. A Guidette is usually distinguished by her long, straight, black hair. This may include random, thick blonde extensions. So ladies, leave the curling iron, and stick to the straightener. 

Italians are usually marked by a tint of natural, olive skin; however, natural isn’t good enough for a Guido or Guidette. Therefore, every competetitor must hit the tanner, or get a spray tan but preferably both. Remember, it doesn’t matter how unhealthily tan you look; if you want to look like a cast member of the “Jersey Shore,” the oranger the better!

Aspiring Guidettes, ditch the usual French manicure or basic black nail polish to have an actual chance in the contest. A reoccurring trait for a real Italian Guidette living at the Jersey Shore is the constant need to be the center of attention, which includes loud nails. Stripes of pink or glittering, neon nails bright enough to see from Mars is key; however, don’t forget to make them long and plastic! Self-grown nails are an automatic negative.

When it comes to Jersey Shore attire for a Guido, sparkly T-shirts are a must. However, if in order to pound-it-out with a wannabe Guidette by the end of the night, a skin-tight Ed Hardy shirt would work best. It’s also important for a Guido to accessorize his attire with a. tattoos, b. golden cross necklaces, and c. big, diamond stud earrings. Whatever outfit picked, make sure it’s fresh from the dry-cleaner and perfectly ironed.

Clothing for a Guidette is less technical, meaning, fewer clothes. Belly-bearing and cleavage-showing are the only trends needed to follow. Make sure every skirt is short enough to reveal some goodies when vibing with a Guido. It’s also important to wear lace, animal print or stripper-like clothing. Dressing like a perfect Guidette for the night will be apparent when people “hate,” and call out, “Hippo!” or, “You’re dirty!” Guidette’s, make sure to wear barely-there panties under the teeny-tiny dresses in order for the gymnastics moves on the dance floor to be extra classy.

And in discussing “Jersey Shore” cast members, it is imperitive to get violently drunk at every possible occasion. So, along with religiousl carrying around a can of hairspray, don’t forget attitude, attitude, attitude. It’s practically vital for Guido’s and Guidette’s to engage in a fight-raising altercation with someone. Be prepared to bring the drama.

For fun Jersey Shore Vocabulary, click here.

GCM photo by Chelsie Wyse

By Sharon Smith   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

It’s the 10^th anniversary of the Organization for Black Unity’s fashion show detailing swimsuits and the changing trends of time in its theme for the year “The Evolution of Fashion” hitting the runway on Feb. 5.

The organization started in 1978 and was the first registered African American organization on CMU’s campus.  It serves as a support network for students, as well as an advocate of diversity among the university.

Last year’s show “Once upon a time, a fashion fantasy” was directed by Jasmine Wilson, a CMU senior.  This year, the co-directors Laurea Marshall and Camille McKelton and Assistant Director Charmaine Edwards led the organization for the event. And as always, experienced fashion and marketing students joined to help direct the occasion.

Tickets purchased in advance at the CMU box office are $5 with a 50 cent service charge. Tickets sold at the door the day of the fashion show are $7.  Proceeds go toward the funders of the event Student Budget Allocation Committee. To see a preview of this year's show, click here.

By Jared Leatzow   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

PC World reported on their website that there is a possibility that video streaming from ESPN might become available on XBOX Live in the near future.

Apparently if the service becomes available it would be through a subscription-based service. This deal of course is not set in stone and is really dependent on whether the information is legitimate. PC World said that announcement originated in a New York Times article using anonymous sources.

Nevertheless, if this ESPN thing is to go through it could help edge the XBOX 360 along in this arms race it is having with the Nintendo Wii and the Sony Playstation 3. Microsoft clamoring to stay ahead of the curve once was the only system to have video streaming from Netflix, an online movie rental site, but no longer an exclusive service Playstation and the Wii now have similar contracts with the company.

If this ESPN video streaming deal happens and does become a success it can be expected that it will eventually be carried over to the other consoles.

ESPN picking Microsoft's XBOX 360 to try out console based streaming was probably a good idea because according to a 2010 study conducted by market research company Nielsen, the XBOX 360 is the most played system in the U.S.

By Matt Erspamer   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Many of the best films of 2009 were about traveling. This spoke to the American state of mind more than anything. Were we trying to escape from something, and if so where were we going? Hopefully this list will help answer that question, at least in terms of filmmaking heading into 2010.

1. Up In the Air- In the year's best film, director Jason Reitman basically holds a camera up to the year 2009 and takes a scenic snapshot with a George Clooney cutout. In that photograph is a country rotting from the outside, but not rotten on the inside. Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man above all the stress of the job market, both literally and figuratively. Ryan's job is to fly around the country and fire people. Business couldn't be better. Clooney is extraordinary in the role, achieving a height his career hasn't seen since Syriana. Knockout supporting performances form Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick help give the movie one of the best ensembles of the year. This is the rare movie where you can tell everyone involved gave their best effort, but also enjoyed doing it. With Reitman as pilot, Up In the Air soars on the wings of polished creativity and tightly honed ambition.

2. Where the Wild Things Are- Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendack's mostly-illustrated children's classic shows the director as an untamed creative thinker. In his portrait of youth through the eyes of a young boy named Max, he perfectly conveys the raucous, sporadic emotions of childhood. The casting of young child actor Max Records combined with excellent voice work from James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Lauren Ambrose and a slew of other Hollywood renegades gives this film its soul. Once this wild rumpus starts, you'll never want it to stop.

3. Precious- People will rag on this movie for being too stereotypical. Another inner-city story about escaping the ghetto? Pay attention, people, and learn something. Precious is not the kind of sappy Hollywood melodrama you expect from a Tyler Perry endorsement. This is an uncharacteristically excellent film that grabs your attention early on and moves you in unexpected ways. Director Lee Daniels directs the film with an unnerving honesty that may turn off some. This honesty would mean nothing if he didn't have an excellent ensemble of actors to pull it off. With newcomer Gabourey Sidibe as the title character and Mo'Nique giving a jaw-dropping, monstrous turn as the mother, he finds it. This is a film that had to struggle much like its protagonist to find success, and we can all be glad that it did.

4. An Education- Warning: boring period drama this is not. Baby Boomers looking for a time capsule back to the early 60's should stick to AMC's Mad Men. This seemingly boring film set in Pre-Beatles London is actually thrilling and hilarious from start to finish. Carey Mulligan gives the acting debut of the year as Jenny, an Oxford-bound teen who starts to rebel when she meets a playboy almost 20 years older than her. This movie will educate you in the fine art of filmmaking, thanks to an excellent script and a star-making performance by Mulligan.

5. District 9- 2009 was a great year for science fiction and fantasy films. While the best of the latter can be found in Where the Wild Things Are, those looking for a groundbreaking, jaw-dropping, thought-provoking epic looked no further than Neil Bloomkamp's District 9. The documentary-type realism style utilized first in The Blair Witch Project and then in Cloverfield is done right here.

6. Up- Pixar scores another instant classic in their latest release, further cementing their reputation as the best, most consistently good studio working today. The first 10 minutes of near-silence shows an entire marriage in one of the most beautiful sequences ever captured on film. That's not to say there aren't laughs. A talking dog, a stowaway boy scout and a squawking snipe offer plenty of laughs, but it's the shocking gravity of Up that keeps it grounded in humanity.

7. The Hurt Locker- Kathryn Bigelow has my vote for Best Director after seeing this heart-poundingly suspenseful war film. By taking politics completely out of the story, The Hurt Locker could take place during any war. The tension never lifts, and your attention will never be drawn away from the bomb squad at the explosive center of this action milestone.

8. Away We Go- After seeing this beautifully done romantic comedy, I've decided director Sam Mendes didn't even need to make Revolutionary Road. With Maya Rudolph giving a great performance in her first big leading role and John Krasinski backing her up, the two leads couldn't be better. Add in excellent cameos from Allison Janey, Jeff Daniels, and Maggie Gyllenhaul and you have a movie that will make you laugh out loud and still find time to make you care.

9. Public Enemies- Michael Mann's take on the gangster film is a jaw-dropping exercise in filmmaking. Throw in Johnny Depp as the first public enemy John Dillinger, and you have a towering performance in this reinvigoration of the gangster movie.

10. The Road- The Coen Brothers scored a knockout when they adapted the Cormac McCarthy novel No Country For Old Men. Director John Hillcoat does the same with his adaptation of this Pulitzer Prize winning novel from the same author. Viggo Mortensen and child actor Kodi Smit-McPhee are a father and son wandering the ruins of an America destroyed both geographically and morally. Hillcoat gives you time to think in between onslaughts from cannibals and other desperate souls, and that's the scary part.

5 runners-up: Moon works sci-fi miracles on an $8 million budget because it depends on ideas, not explosions, to thrill and entertain. Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds gave Hitler his due at a movie premiere and entertained the hell out of audiences in the process. (500) Days of Summer told a brutally honest love story out of order and became one of the best romantic comedies in years. Drag Me To Hell let Sam Raimi return to comedy horror with this laugh/scare slasher film to die for. In A Serious Man, the Coen Brothers film what it was like to grow up Jewish in their neighborhood using hilarious pitch-black comedy that also cuts deep.

By Nick Baker   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

The Book of Eli starts out with a bang, but ends with a whimper. Not even the M. Night Shyamalan-like twist at the end can save this movie from its preachy plot.

The film takes place 30 years after war has left the earth barren and lifeless. It follows Eli (Denzel Washington), a man whose has been chosen by god to carry the only remaining bible to the west coast. His journey takes him to small town where some of America's only remaining survivors have taken refuge. There, the town's deranged and power hungry leader Carnegie (Gary Oldman) wants to take Eli's rare text and use it to convince the disheartened population of Earth to follow him. Eli refuses and he, along with his newfound friend Solara (Mila Kunis), must try to get the book to its final destination before Carnegie can stop them.

At the start of The Book of Eli I was optimistic. It was the story of a quiet drifter, traveling alone in a post-apocalyptic world, mercilessly killing the hijackers that got in his way. It felt like a modern day Road Warrior, but as the movie progressed I saw less and less of Mad Max in Eli.

After the first half hour Eli rarely shows off his fighting abilities and instead, shifts to show off his bible reciting abilities. While I have nothing against Eli's affinity for the sacred book, it seemed out of place in movie that sells itself as action-packed. Eli's personality is almost non-existent, leaving you with little emotional connection to him, since almost everything he says and does is related to his holy mission.

The plot, while a little heavy on it's preaching of the bible's importance, isn't terrible. It's a unique tale, and while it lacks the fun of movies like the Mad Max trilogy or the drama of films like The Road, it does help to give it some originality. Eli's world has been crafted from scratch, with subtle hints as what happened to our planet and it's cause for destruction that really gives the movie some much-needed life. The film's final twist though, while unexpected and surprising, is also pretty unbelievable, making you question everything that happened in the previous two hours and whether or not any of it was even possible.

In a world with little scenery the characters have even more expectations to live up to. A film like Avatar can rest on its effects, but The Book of Eli has little very little left of an ecosystem to fall back on. Eli is really the only character that seems to be out of place in the movie, which is unfortunate since he is the main protagonist. His character's preachy attitude and lack of personality makes him bland, thankfully an actor with talent like Washington was in his shoes to breathe some life into the soulless persona. It's Oldman's Carnegie and his band of followers that steal the show though. He seems truly evil, doing all he can to gain power in a helpless world. And while Eli's character lacks heart, Carnegie's character is truly heartless, doing whatever he can for his own personal gain.

Had The book of Eli kept to it's action packed beginnings and gave Eli a little more life it would have been an excellent film. It had a descent plot, an original world and some excellent actions to back it up. Unfortunately, The Book of Eli relies too much on its mild title character and a twist ending that leaves you with more questions than answers.

GRADE: C+

Phot used with permission of Warner Brothers

By Andrew Hoskins   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Last spring I bought a book by Max Brooks that changed my life forever; it was all about staying conscious and positive with an impending apocalypse, zombie apocalypse that is.

Now I was a zombie fanatic before Milla Jovovich sported a that red dress and a Berretta Inox, but that sure did it, and like many of you out there I like to think I could survive for some time should there ever be an outbreak.

I mean, I'm always yelling about how stupid people are for splitting up during a horror movie; that's enough, right?

But as I read through Brooks "The Zombie Survival Guide," I realized that just me knowing isn't going to cut it. Everyone should know how to handle themselves should they be faced with a bloody, groaning mob of the undead, looking like an all too real Halloween costume group.

And let's face it, if you don't know how to protect your neck then you're just the responsibility of some survivor, like myself, who has to do it for you; and no one wants to be a nuisance in such tough times.

So I thought I would start this blog to share with others knowledge that I have gained about staying alive against zombies from watching movies, reading books, and just pondering "wouldn't that be awawawsome!" (you're supposed to rev it like a motor for that part).

What is a zombie? Zombies don't have to be human, or a corpse for that matter, like many people believe; it could be of mystical form that overpowers the person, or even a mutated creature from genetic experiments gone wrong.

There is a lot of hype surrounding Hollywood zombies that downplay the real spiritual beliefs of some groups, as well as some of the accounts of zombies.

Most of which I plan on revealing over the coming weeks, along with weapon reviews, lessons on how to protect yourself, find supplies, and utilize shelter; exerts from Max Brooks book, recorded attacks, and must see zombie movies.

The next instilment of my blog will look at the zombie, its forms and abilities, origins, and needs; until next time, remember Brooks number 1 lesson for surviving a zombie attack:

"Organize BEFORE they rise!"

By Sharon Smith   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Actor, Political Activist, and Humanitarian Danny Glover graced the stage of Plachta Auditorium Tuesday evening in regards to MLK week.

Carly Wilson introduced keynote speakers Felix Justice and Danny Glover, while giving insight into their great endeavors they achieved throughout their careers.  Danny Glover has been in the industry for more than 25 years and played roles in the Lethal Weapon series, Dream Girls and The Color Purple co-starring Oprah Winfrey.

During "An Evening with Martin & Langston," Felix and Danny individually depicted the two great men: Martin Luther King Jr and Langston Hughes; Danny Glover narrated Langston Hugh's poems while Felix narrated speeches from the Activist and Prominent Leader Martin Luther King Jr.

"To love one another was his form of Christianity", "He tried to love his enemies, most of us have failed to manage" says Justice when speaking highly of MLK.

"I hope you will find the courage to follow in the footsteps of that model" says Justice.

Danny Glover reiterated the great poetry that once graced the lips of Langston Hughes himself. Glover recited works such as "Weary Blues", "The Negro Speaks Rivers", Mother to son", Let America be America Again, and "As I get Older".

"You wonder how a 17 year old has clarity and such depth" says Glover when speaking highly of Langston Hughes.

GCM Photo by Elodie Gerard

By Ashante Thomas   Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Central Michigan University's annual CommUNITY March drew students, faculty and Mount Pleasant residents to reflect on the life and legacy of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.

Madison Heights sophomore Cody Cyr said he viewed the march as an opportunity to acknowledge King's work and reflect on the civil rights work that still needs to be done.

"As a gay student I fee it is important to support other minorities and their marches against inequality," He said.

Cyr was one of 500 attendants who marched from CMU's Bovee University Center to Downtown Mount Pleasant.

Interim Assistant Director of Minority Student Services said the event was an example of the university and local community working together to honor a great man.

"The support we have from Downtown shows their support of their event, and eagerness to bridge the gap between the campus and city," he said.

Detroit sophomore Melody Brown said the march provided the perfect setting to commemorate King's dream of equality and unity.

"It's important to remember Dr. King's dream," said Detroit sophomore Melody Brown. "It's important today that we still believe in it."

2010 marked the first time the march and vigil were combined into one event. It was a move that allowed a greater number of people to participate, Booker said.

"Its a time for everyone to be acknowledged as an individual," he said. "Dr. King stood for many voices."

Speakers for the event included Interim President Kathy Wilbur, CMU Police officer Laura Rico, Saginaw junior John Ketchum,  and Campbell Hall Director James Span. Mount Pleasant senior Michelle Brooks and Lansing senior Chris Cadogan performed "Just Believe," a song Brooks' wrote especially for MLK Jr. Day.

GCM photos by Derek Stonebraker

By Brendan McGaughey   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

The calamity in Haiti seems to be getting increasingly dire with each aftershock and the climbing death toll, but all hope is not lost.  The spirit of Haitians remains unbroken.  Aid is pouring in from every corner of the world, but the airport and relief effort are still experiencing difficulties.  

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010 devastated the poor nation of Haiti by toppling buildings and orphaning thousands of children.  Furthermore, the survivors, stranded outdoors, desperately seeking aid endured a 6.1 aftershock the morning of Jan. 20, 2010.

Yet the human spirit of Haitians practically oozes from the cracks in the earth.  Their homes are in greater shambles than before because of the quake.  Parents and children are lost and separated, yet the survivors still live to fight another day.

The main question of people's minds is: How can I help? And when I say help, I mean help.  Twenty years ago, before the internet and ease of global communication, the relief effort would be much more complicated.

The U.S. State department issued a travel advisory expiring Feb 13, 2010, which warns travelers not to visit Haiti because of the dire situation.  On top of that, all nonemergency government personnel have been asked to make their way to the airport in Port-Au-Prince for immediate departure.

So...would I suggest traveling to Haiti right now to hand out blankets? No.  Would your plane even be able to land when supply planes are still being diverted? Probably not.  How can you help?  Easy.  You can text Haiti to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross, which is automatically charged to your phone bill.  Or if you are looking for a charity closer to Haiti, look in to the Jesuit Refugee Service, located in the Dominican Republic, which has provided aid to 16,000 citizens already.

Haiti probably isn't listed as a Travel Channel Top 10 couple's destination for Valentine's Day weekend. However, hopefully once the situation is resolved, and if smart rebuilding is employed, it could be one day.  Sandy beaches, fresh coconuts, and cheap Haitian rum ensure a romantic getaway.

Photo by SavethechildrenCanada

By Maureen Stephan   Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Traveling gives students a perspective on life that they would not get if they chose to stay at their home university.

Student-traveler, Amelia Sweedyk, lived and studied in Querétaro, Mexico with a host family for one semester in 2008. While she was there that she said she gained a much greater respect for other people's culture as well as an excitement for travel.  During her time in Mexico Sweedyk also traveled to many other cities in Mexico.  It was on these trips she says that she really learned the language and obtained a greater understanding of the culture of Mexico.  

A study done by International Education for Students (IES) of 3,400 students reported that about 96 percent of students who studied abroad for a semester reported increased self-confidence.  Also, 97 percent of respondents reported that studying abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity. Ninety-three percent said that their experiences abroad continue to influence their interactions with people from different cultures. 

Sweedyk agrees with these results of this survey, saying that she too experienced these benefits after her time abroad.

"I really feel like it changed me as a person," Sweedyk said, "in a good way of course."

Not only is traveling important for students but according to research done at Tel Aviv University says that burnout decreases significantly during two-week vacations for full-time employees.  Research also shows that travelers experience a 25 percent increase in performance on vigilance tests after returning from vacations. 

Also, there is an increasing amount of information proving that vacations are not only a luxury but also are actually necessary for good health.  A study done in 2000 by Framingham Heart Study looked at 12,000 men over nine years who were all at risk for coronary heart disease.  Of those 12,000 men those who failed to take annual vacations were 32 percent more likely to die of a heart attack.

Take Back Your Time, a non-profit organization, is working on introducing legislation to Congress called Minimum Leave Protection, Family Bonding and Personal Well-Being Act that will mandate three weeks of vacation per year. 

Once people have retired they finally have the time to travel.  One study done by Donald Roberson, The Impact of Travel on Older Adults: An Exploratory Investigation, reported on the travel experiences of eight individuals ranging from 56 to 89 years old. 

Throughout the interviews Roberson concluded that older adults gain valuable life experiences throughout their time traveling.  Participants stated that traveling gave them a new perspective on all that they know, and also a changed sense to self. 

One woman who was 81 years old at the time said that one thing she has learned from her extensive traveling is to trust people.Another man who was 56 years old at the time of the interview said that, "The impact of being in a completely different culture helped him see how different the world is from the south."

Delores Nolan, a Mt. Pleasant, Mich. resident traveled to Australia when she was 75. She said that although it was a very long journey it was one of the most memorable experiences of her life.

"I will never forget the things I saw while I was there," Nolan said, "I am so lucky to have gone, even at this old age."

Older travelers have the time and life experience to search for more meaning in traveling than just a leisurely vacation away from home.  Overall traveling for older adults can impact their perspective on the world and possibly transform their lives.

Photo by Amelia Swedyk