How to Get Dumped!

Guys, this one is for you (and you know at some point you might need it). From the enigmatic mind of Marcus Barbagallo (My Era My Words) comes “a thorough guide to being a terrible boyfriend; whether it’s a conscience decision or not, that’s for you to decide.” Here’s just a taste, Step 1, of this fool-proof 4 step undertaking:

1) Shower your woman with attention. This may sound like it would benefit your relationship rather than hinder it, however if used wisely this tactic could be deadly.

· Buy her things she doesn’t need, and probably doesn’t want

· Inappropriate PDA is a sure fire way to put her on edge

· Insist on sex: everywhere, all the time

· Emphasize the importance of oral sex; tell her things like: “If you loved me you would [insert imaginative explicit content]…”

READ THE REST AT IGREC ZED!

(photo from: university of california, riverside)

Microsoft Surface: Freedom for the Desk and Lap

Today, in five different cities, Microsoft has taken the cover off its new “Surface” technology.

These tabletop multi-touch computers incorporate the same touch-sensitive technology found in devices such as the iPhone, and include wi-fi and Bluetooth for internet access and device interaction.

Unfortunately, the computers won’t be available to consumers for another 2 years or so, but expect to see these beauties in AT&T stores starting this year—perhaps in casinos and hotels.

Check out this video to see how AT&T Stores will use the Surface table.

Jamaica Plain: Brookline, Without The Price

Story taken from Renting Boston.

Jamaica Plain is a classic “streetcar suburb” that has evolved into one of Boston’s most diverse and dynamic neighborhoods.

“JP,” as it is commonly known, is an ethnically diverse area home to many young families, Latinos, and a growing gay and lesbian community.

Notable areas include the largely Spanish-speaking regions of Hyde Square and Jackson Square.

The blend of cultures is reflected in the area’s many local businesses.  Most of which are found along Centre Street—one of JP’s main thoroughfares.

Residents and visitors enjoy walking, biking, and running along Jamaica Pond situated on the Riverway section of Boston’s Emerald Necklace.

Andy Eats: The Spike’s Junkyard Dog Challenge

Spikes Junkyard Dogs aren’t just any ol’ dogs.

In fact, by the looks of it they are perhaps twice the size and twice as filling as any ordinary American hot dog. Consider the bread—wrapped around each dog is essentially a sub roll.

We interviewed one of the spikes employees. Apparently most who set off to complete the challenge end up finishing nowhere near six hot dogs. I believed them after eating three. Three down and three to go, I already felt I had consumed more then enough food for the night.

On to number four and five. I concluded that I had gone too far to stop. I sent number six down to swim with the fishes (the other condemned dogs). Corey Major, my producer, and Joe Vallee, an experienced consultant of mine, encouraged me to try for more, but I had had enough.

This is a fine challenge for those who want to see what they are made of. I must admit, being an eating-champ (winner of Emmanuel’s Battle of the Dorm’s pie-eating contest), I was over-confident going into this. But after seeing the actual dogs, after consuming the first 3, I knew this challenge was no joke.

Check back soon for more blogs and video posts.

To learn more about the Spike’s Junkyard Dog challenge, visit there website here.

“Speed Roommating” in the Modular Unit

Story taken from If I Only Had A Stamp, by CMS

Dear fellow Emmanuel students,

It’s that time of year again.

Those of you still looking for a roommate are not alone.  In an attempt to facilitate the process, the Residence Hall Council will be hosting “Speed Roommating” on April 15 in the campus modular unit (across from the library) from 8-10pm.

The event will be comparable to speed dating.  Students will move from table to table and meet other students who are looking for someone to live with next year. There will be refreshments and door prizes.

Lots of students here don’t have roommates, and for various reasons.  Some of us are graduating, and others are going abroad.  Come to this event and meet the many others in your situation—chances are you will already know many there!

See you there,
CMS

Made In Ireland: Live Music! Irish Booze! Gourmet Dishes?

There are a good amount of Irish pubs around, but not all of them are great.

The Kinsale Irish Pub & Restaurant (near Government Center) is a festive place to eat and get together with friends. Despite the warm and impressing atmosphere, Kinsale’s regulars are there for the good food.

On the menu is diverse mix of good old pub food (we’re talkin’ nachos and mozarella sticks) as well as gourmet entrees such as apple-bacon-wrapped filet mignon and lobster ravioli.

Upon my first visit my friends and I decided to start it off with the basics. We ordered the nachos—a heaping plate of tri-colored tortilla chips, salsa, and melted cheese. They were messy but worth it. They don’t call them “Boston’s Best Nachos” for nothing.

Recommendation: For the nachos, substitute the creamy-spinach artichoke dip for the chili.

For an entrée I ordered one of the specials, which was haddock stuffed with proscuitto in a lemon caper sauce with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. One of my friends choose the steak tips (tender and flavorful), and the other had the “classic” corned beef sandwich (piled high and tasty).
Delicious. For the lighter appetite, the Kinsale also offers a great selection of salads.

Other reasons to visit the Kinsale include: the live Irish music, played every night, and, of course, the large rotating selection of beer!

Prices at the Kinsale are slightly higher than the average pub-goer might want to spend, but if you don’t mind spending money for quality it is worth it.

Dinner entrees range from about $10-20. But if you want something a little cheaper, you can order off the pub menu—sandwiches, salads, and other dishes, some under $10.

Feel like having a taste of Ireland in the heart of the city? Head over to the Kinsale Irish Pub.

Check out their website for their other restaurants, locations, and menus.

Police enforce new laws for Red Sox Nation

by Elizabeth Pontes

Diehard Red Sox fans were kicked off the sidewalk next to the Green Monster by the Boston Police Department last night.

It seems that Red Sox Nation couldn’t catch a break because soon after Sunday night’s Sox loss, one of many this weekend, the BPD made an appearance on Lansdowne Street.

The two officers were requested by Fenway Park administration, and told the 20 Red Sox fans already lined up for Tuesday afternoon’s home opener to leave.

This enraged the fans waiting outside the Gate E ticket booth, some of whom had been standing there for days.

Emmanuel College sophomores Julie Lyons and Donna Centrella were the first two in line to receive tickets for opening day.

“This [expletive] sucks! We have been here since Friday, three in the afternoon,” said Lyons. “This has never happened before.”

According to Lyons, around 5:30 last night, Fenway security officers came out to inform the line that they would no longer be able to camp outside Gate E for tickets because Fenway Park was concerned about losing their entertainment license. Although, no information was given to explain what exactly would be a violation of this licensure.

The fans reacted with complete confusion. Some said they have been camping out for tickets for years despite the rule already in existence concerning lining procedures. The rule states that no one can line-up until six hours before game start but this was never enforced until now.

“I’ll be at opening day even if I have to wait until 6am on Tuesday like the cops said,” Centrella said. “I’ll find a way in.”

Fenway Park officials may have to deal with a lot more hassle from fans this season due to this little scuffle on Lansdowne, as well as the recent increase in ticket prices.

Blu-Ray Won . . . But Does Anyone Really Care?

Story taken from Traffic Jam, by Devin Connors.

Blu-Ray has not, and likely will not, see the success regular DVDs have. Why? Two words: The internet.

It has been several weeks since Toshiba announced it would stop the manufacturing of all things HD-DVD related. This move was the result of Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema’s (the last major studios to support both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray) decision to go Blu-Ray-only come this May. That, coupled also with Netflix’s choice to severely limit their HD-DVD selection, ended the short-lived and consumer-agonizing format war.

However, though Blu-Ray truly offers a superior format, it isn’t going to receive a parade.

For starters, not enough people own Blu-Ray players. These HD formats came out right after everyone started using and collecting DVDs, and now, for less than $75, an up-converting DVD player can make the DVD collection you treasure so much high-definition. Why buy a $500 Blu-Ray player, along with movies that go with it for $30 a pop?

Second, America is not the HD nation some make it out to be. This is obvious because the government keeps pushing back the date (now Feb 2009) on which all broadcasts must go digital.

Finally, as Apple TV and other media streaming suppliers become increasingly prevalent, most people who don’t live under a rock will be getting HD entertainment streamed into their homes as a rental, or stored on their computer’s hard drive. No need for a $500 player that might be obsolete in 4 or 5 years (see Matteris’ Terabyte disc).

You can watch HD content on virtually any computer out there. Even as HD resolutions get bigger and the picture more lifelike, whatever basic computers out then will be able to handle it.

So, beyond your average teen who buys a PS3, Blu-Ray is not that big of a deal. Besides, who wants a 50GB disc when in a year or two they will have 1TB discs? My thoughts exactly.

SGA ripoff: big screen scam

Written by Tucker Duclos, of Emmanuel College, Boston.

BOSTON– Emmanuel College students returned from spring break this semester and found ten 37-inch flat-screen televisions hung in various spots on campus.

Emmanuel’s Student Government Association funded the TVs, which are mounted in all dorm lobbies, the Yawkey Center, the Library, and the Administration Building.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel’s wireless Internet service was down again for several hours that same week, making students question the college’s priorities.

“The TVs are an unnecessary expenditure,” says Andrew Malone, a sophomore at Emmanuel College. “The school could spend that money more appropriately…what do we have, like two color printers on campus?”

The televisions act as electronic billboards, so far cycling through fewer than 15 frames every 4 minutes. That’s roughly 360 cycles within a 24-hour period. They are all the same images and the TVs don’t turn off at night.

No one actually knows why the televisions have been put in place.

“The Class of 2011 Representatives did not have any input concerning the installation of the flat screen TVs around campus,” said Dias. “We just came to school after vacation and they were there.”

A message was released via email to the All Students Conference stating,This is part of an effort to better communicate with students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to reduce the number of printed posters and paper waste.”

A student worker at the Cardinal Cushing Library estimates that up to 2,000 sheets of paper get tossed everyday.

Faculty remains tightlipped concerning the cost. Similar televisions retail for around $1,000 each – not including installation fees.

If you are an Emmanuel student and are interested in voicing your opinion about the televisions, there is an Emmanuel Facebook community you can join called “The new screens all over campus are wicked lame!”

Catchin’ Z’s with Californian nugget

Written by Katy Ward, of Emmanuel College, Boston.

San Franciscan Chris Angelo can’t sleep.

He has been to six different doctors, endured 9 different medications, and found no refuge in any. It wasn’t until his doctor suggested medical marijuana that Angelo started smiling.

Angelo began seeing a new doctor and was considered an ideal patient to carry a cannabis card. This card allows Angelo to go into stores located in California and purchase high quality medical marijuana.

“My doctor suggested I get a (medical marijuana) card and all I could say was … how can I complain?” Angelo says with a laugh.

Angelo, 20, has been diagnosed with insomnia for the past two years.

“Doctors prescribed me all sorts of drugs from Ambien to muscle relaxers to anti-depressants. None of them helped and only made me feel physically worse”, says Angelo.

These cannabis clubs are legal in California and are available to only those who posses a cannabis card.

Each club has its own personality and style. Some clubs are called the “Golden Triangle,” “The Love Shack,” or the “Hemp Center.”

Jason Beck, owner of Alternative Herbal Health Services in San Francisco describes the “flavor” of his center.

Beck writes at his website: “The walls are covered with a recently painted graffiti mural that features a wall-spanning Buddha holding a cannabis leaf in a cannabis pasture with trippy red mountains in the distance.”

Besides the greenery, paraphernalia, and edibles are also sold at these clubs.

Carrying an array of hemp infused pastries, you can purchase smokers (snickers), reefers (reeses), or buddahfingers (butterfingers). If still not happy, check out the large display of pipes, bongs, and hookas.

“I never thought I would be able to go into a store and walk out with an ounce of high power weed and not get in trouble for it”, says Angelo.

“I get the sleep I need now,” says Angelo with a grin, “And I enjoy when it’s time to call in for a refill.”