Packing and unpacking is my nightmare..As much as I love travelling, I hate it when I have to do the preparation. Trying to minimise the time, have created two small beauty bags one for the 3 days trips and one for the longer ones (so no need to try to find that toothbrush you forgot once you get at the airport of New Delhi around 4am…) and follow my grandfather’s rule: prepare your traveller’s list.
I used to make a joke out of him preparing lists for whatever he was doing or wherever he was travelling to. But as soon as my trips started to become more frequent, I realised that, hey, Granpa was correct. It saves me time, energy and money due to overweight when everything is planned well and in time.
So, last Monday I prepared my list, filled my luggage and left for the wonderful island of Serifos on the west part of the Cyclades islands in Greece. All necessary in the luggage, reached the island with all my summer basics : beach tent, sunscreans, hats, flip-flops, bikinis..
But obviously my Granpa thought that something was missing..and so just one day after getting there he decided to make me return back home urgently: it was time to give him a last kiss goodbye. And that was the only thing I hadn’t even thought of putting into my list..

In comes an orange haired older woman clanking the tile floor with each of her short shuffling little steps.  She looks annoyed, but who knows, maybe she always looks like that.  Before she even makes it to the bank teller’s window, the teller asks her how she is doing.

“Bad,” she blurts out.

Twenty years she has been banking here, and never has she been treated so badly.  Seems as though a check her husband wrote her from another bank cannot be immediately cashed without his signature verified.  Seems fair enough.  How would one reasonably expect someone to issue funds from another bank without verifying it first?

Not good enough for her.  The teller calls over her supervisor to see if they can help resolve this impending crisis.

Here comes the parts were you resolve to yourself that you are not leaving until you see this thing pan out.  The drive-through teller that started this mess, is also the supervisor.  She does what anyone in the service industry does and kindly greets the women.

“Don’t talk to me; I don’t want your slanted Korean eyes looking at me.”

WHOA!  Really, throwing around racial epithets in a place you have banked for twenty years, really classy lady.  Let us jump right to work and please you.  Because if we do not, you are going to close your account and take your business somewhere else.

How are you even supposed to fix a problem when the person with the issue does not want you to talk to them?  How do you resolve a predicament for someone who is more driven to shoot off inappropriate comments and talking points than let you help them?

Sure, those in the business of relying on others to turn them a profit want to make their customers happy.  However, sometimes one cannot help to laugh at the threat of, “I’ll take my business elsewhere.”  Especially, when they have made a scene, ruffled up other customers, and insulted employees on a personal level.  Maybe you should take your business somewhere else.  Maybe it is time more businesses take a cue from Sprint.

In 2007, the cell phone carrier, Sprint, let go of 1200 needy customers.  Apparently, they called too much, and were never pleased.  They were deemed a financial drain on the call center.  The company realized that having them as customers cost more than they were worth.

It is not to suggest that a business fires every disgruntled customer.  Employees who wait on customers are there to help make things right.  However, there comes a time in every customer service employee’s career, that instead of working off the time old business model of “the customer is always right,” that they should simply ask:

“Are large bills okay?” as they close the account.

The notebook, a name so succinct and mundane you’d be forgiven for casting it aside as a film about a book of notes, and whilst that’s essentially what it is, a more befitting name could have been used. What if the notes consisted of nothing more than a shopping list, or a teenager procrastinating in school. Perhaps they drew a willy; That wouldn’t be a film, would it?

The film is not one I’d normally watch, but I put it on in the background and slowly – but surely – started getting into the story, and once I’ve done that, well, I can never stop watching. T’wud normally be a man’s secret weapon if English charm fails, as I think women are infatuated by the story, and by transfer of property, the closest person next to them.

So I have watched it once before, but I was watching the girl I was with rather than the film itself, and when that’s done, you just catch glimpses of the story. So I thought ‘why is this girl crying, this film is essentially about a vintage floozy committing adultery, the swine!’ And so the most prominent feeling I perceived during that period was not one of heartfelt emotion, but a cramp in my leg.

And yet it turns out the feelings expressed linguistically in that film are so semantically beautiful, so heartfelt and sincere, that it holds sentiment; but even sentimentality itself has been dubbed ‘the unearned emotion’.

I think love is transcendental, or perhaps metaphysical, something we’re meant to spend our life searching for, never to discover. The pro-verbal lapis philosophorum to a naive alchemist.

So I still don’t think that film has the right to be so tear inducing, the only person that dies is old, it was bound to happen soon.

But that film, it almost makes you want to fall in love. Almost.

I Recently made a trip to the internationaly famous Sea World in Orlando Florida; where i was met with the most fantastic yet terrifyingly eye-opening experience i have ever encountered. At this point i would like to admit that -just like many other visitors- i was captured in a sense of great awe as i watched Shamu leap through the air, splash the crowd and many other praise-worthy stunts.

But this Does not change the fact that Shamu is a living creature, and it’s purpose is not the entertainment of humans. The living fercilities in which these whales are living in are cruel and un-just! I was absolutly flaberghast when i saw the size of the pool in which the whales would be performing, as although it may look big, these animals are used to living in oceans, where they have all the room they need, and the pool in SeaWorld is just not up to the standards it needs to be, for the whales to be happy in their enviroment.

It is no wonder that terrible accidents occur. Just recently on 24th February 2010, a trainer who had worked with killer whales for 16 years, and had a pleanty of experience was tragically killed by Tillikum, a whale at SeaWorld Orlando. The Orca is a huge 26ft weighing 12,000 pounds, dragged Dawn Brancheau- a trainer at SeaWorld- under the water and thrashed her around until she drowned.

Although neither Dawn nor Tillikum can be blamed for this brutal attack. Using wild animals such as Tilikum in the way they do in SeaWorld is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. The huge Orcas are natuarl predeators, and no amount of training will change that. It is un-fair to the animals being used and also to the trainers that work with them. Tilikum has continued to be used in shows at SeaWorld and was actually there on my visit to SeaWorld just a few days ago; although procedeurs have changed, and the trainers no longer go in the water with the Orcas.

Orcas born into captivity must remain in captivity as they would not survive in the wild having to fend for themselves. Which is very un-just on the animals, as if they are not ill or in need of special care they could be free in the wild where they belong, but instead must remain in the tiny pool of a tourist attraction.

The way these animals are treated is not right, and should be changed imediatly! Humans have rites, so why shouldn’t animals? If you agree then do something about it, because this is cruelty, the Orcas deserve to be in better living conditions.

written by Courteney age 13

Tuesday February 2, Fort Lauderdale First Baptist Church was involved with a project called “Love Bags.”

Love Bags are one gallon Ziplock bags filled with necessities such as, socks, deodorant, a toothbrush, soap, lotion, etc. ,and handed out to the homeless.

Participants met at Brew Urban Café in Fort Lauderdale where they discuss what to do for the event.

“The Brew is our meeting location where we learn from the Love Bag leaders about what to do and what to expect before heading out to Holiday Park where we meet up with the homeless. We want to go out there and recognize equality,” said Tom Faw event sponsor.

The opportunity to participate in Love Bags is opened to everybody who is willing to go out and help other people.

“I just wanted to get out there and help people, not because I’m forced to do it, but because it shows what kind of people we are,” said Matthew Parkin, sophomore. “Rather than sitting back and playing with our friends or playing our X-Box, we could be going out of our comfort zone and help those in need with one or two Love Bags.”

Love Bags was started four years ago in Fort Lauderdale by Ryan Alexander, one of the sponsors. It takes place every Tuesday night, 52 weeks a year.

Love Bags are created to show compassion and generosity. Every Tuesday night a different church would also come out and serve dinner, to the homeless people. Those who come for the Love Bags are usually already there for dinner.

Love Bags is a volunteer based project. Without volunteers they would not be able to go out and assist the homeless.

“I believe it is our lifelong project to strive, to be ever-presently involved in the true meaning of Love Bags. Do unto others as you would have done on you,” said Faw.

Many of the volunteers sit down and have conversations with the homeless about what has been going on in their lives. The volunteers do their best to listen intently and be an encouragement, hoping to bring light and joy into their life.

“This not only helps the homeless people but it really makes you feel good about yourself. What a lot of people fail to see is that even though they are homeless, we are all the same. They are just less fortunate than us,” said Parkin.
Felicia Fish, one of the volunteers, believes in order to bridge any ideas of an “us” and “them” gap, they [people] have to see them [homeless] as an equal first.

Fish’s life has been changed drastically after participating with Love Bags for the past two years. “Love Bags has been such a monumental step in the right direction in my life,” said Fish.

The Love Baggers who come out every Tuesday have become a second family to her. She no longer feels any disgust, disgrace or fear towards a homeless person, but instead has been given a feeling of love and compassion and mercy that conquers over the bad judgment that she used to have.

“We have conversations. We give deeply to people to change their lives. We need to break away from everything and recognize what is going on in the world. I believe that Jesus gave us everything so why can’t we try to give something back. We really should fight away negative thoughts. God is not okay with people sleeping on the streets. Why should we be?,” said Alexander.

NBC’s Luke Russert, son of the late Tim Russert, NBC Washington Bureau Chief, challenged Charlie Rangel regarding ethics violations. Rangel clearly upset about Russert’s repeated questions of whether he was afraid to lose his job and then being schooled by young Russert in how he could responded angerly. Rangel said, “You’re young, I guess you do need to make a name for yourself, but basically you know it’s a dumb question…it doesn’t really sound like NBC asking these dumb questions, but it just shows what has really happened to a channel that did have some respect.”

Since when is asking questions and demanding answers for the New York citizens that pay your salary disrespectful? Rangel’s response is exactly the issue that disgusts those of us who are tired of politics as usual.

The real question is, is Russert’s report a sign of NBC turning a corner in political news reporting. Will NBC actually begin holding politicians accountable? One would hope.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

New Begginning!

People say at the start of a new year they are starting a fresh but all that happens is they get dragged back to the same old trouble.  Why does that always happen?

Nobody knows and most of the time they don’t even care. They say it’s karma, some say it’s bad luck but it happens you can’t change it, only to look forward not back is my opinion.

Thank you for reading!!!! :)

With all the controversy concerning race, I think it’s time for the National Association for the Advancement of Color People to rethink it’s mission. I’m suggesting a name change to the NAAPP or the Advancement of Poor People. It’s time for the world to look beyond race.

Choosing what style you want to approach the new school year with can be a tough decision. Do you wanna have a laid back style with the plain old tee, blue denim jeans, and sneakers? Or would you prefer the new style that will grab everyone’s attention like a bright yellow top with sequins, shredded green pants, and stunning red heels?  Or maybe a mix of the two? It can be confusing and a hard decision, but what’s most important is that your style fits you & your personality. Make sure that you feel confident and comfortable in the clothes you wear. If you wanna girly up your look, try putting your hair in a high pony, or maybe even get a new hair cut that goes with your style, or add some exciting highlights. Another important thing to remember if you want to glamour up your look is to accessorise with handbags, scarfs, jewelry, and backpacks that compliment what you’re wearing.  If your a plain jane who only buys plain graphic tees and denim jeans, try shopping with a friend who’s style is different, and then maybe you can explore other styles outside of your normal. Sometimes when you shop the clothes on the hangers and mannequins can look intimidating, and look like they wouldn’t look good on you. But actually you should grab it, try it on, then make up your mind; you’d be surprised how things look on you instead of on the hanger! I know that summer time can sometimes be a crunch on money, because you wanna go out to shop, eat, go out to the movies, and hang out with friends.  So that by the end of summer, your money might be tight; but if you’re not a picky person, you should try going to a store that buys and resells clothes. That way you can sell clothes that you don’t like or don’t fit anymore to get extra money to shop with. But if you’re skeptical about shopping there, ask a friend to go with you! At little shops like those, you can find good name brand clothes for under $20, and their clearance clothes are like 50%-70% off! But remember that whatever you decide will be your style, should be easy & comfortable for you to wear. And never ever worry about what other people think, what you wear is up to you!

Chihuahuas, the most ridiculed dogs in the United Sates, the dogs that are held in purses and dressed up in outfits that match their owners, are they, “Friend or Foe?” The little mexican dog, has one of the largest brains of all dog breeds, and a “kick-ass” attitude.

“Did you hear about the little boy who was playing in the yard with his pet chihuahua when a large pit bull came in through the gate? Well, the pit bull came after the little boy, so the chihuahua attacked it. The chihuahua lost his life, but he saved the little boy’s.” said a citizen on the “Friend” side of the issue.

A citizen who has strong feelings for the “Foe” side, had this to say, “Chihuahuas are a great nuisance! My daughter bought one and I had to watch it over the weekend. Within the first hour of me watching it, the little devil pooped on the carpet. So I shoved his nose in it and kicked him while wearing my favorite new shoes. Then a little while later after my nap, I slipped my feet into my shoes to pull them out as quickly as possible. The demon dog pooped in my new shoes. These stupid little rats are “stupid,” but also dangerously clever.”

Another citizen, who is uncertain on the subject, had this to say, “Chihuahuas, I have one. Um, whether I like them or not is not for me to say. Well, there are good and bad points. Like this one time when Taco (chihuahua) was outside and these joggers came around the corner. Taco ran down the driveway as fast as he could, barking all the way. The joggers looked at the commontion and saw this little dog running full speed at them, making such a racket, and they stopped and laughed. Meanwhile, Taco, who was still running, stopped about 10 feet from them and turned back around and started squealing. It was the funniest thing I ever saw.  Also, everytime I sit on the couch, he jumps up and sits in my lap. I can’t really say that they are a “foe,” because if they are, they can be thwarted easily, Taco still trembles and hides under the bed when there is a storm. And I can’t really say that chihuahuas’ are friends either because my chihuahua, not trained very well, still goes in the house. They aren’t mean unless you raise ‘em mean. I think they are just a little dogs that want to be loved.”

Whether chihuahuas’ are friends or foes, agreeing with the last quote, “they are just little dogs that want to be loved.”