A Nod to Norway

Norway, a country not known for violence, was attacked single-handedly on Friday.  This attack was the country's deadliest since WWII.  One man managed to kill over 90 people (and counting) in the span of an hour, although he claims to have supporters.  In a country the size of a large city in the United States, this sort of terrorism act is devastating.  What make is even more devastating is the amount of young peoples' lives that were taken.  You can follow updates on the killers court hearings, trial and more through USA Today.  But, let us all take a moment of silence today to remember all of those who were murdered & to pay homage to a country that is now in mourning & must rebuild.

Creative Cuts

We all know the economy doesn't look pretty, and that budget cuts are being made everywhere.  However, some of the most creative cuts are coming from colleges.  Public universities are not immune to budget woes, and they are definitely being hit pretty hard.  One way that colleges are getting creative with their spending is cutting lesser used or less important items from their budgets.  While these cuts don't make a huge impact by saving millions, they do help the colleges spend less on what's less important and more on the necessities.

How have you gotten creative in hard woeful economic times?

Heterosexual Education

California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that will add gays and lesbians to history lessons within public schools.  This is an effort to include everyone who is important in history lessons, and not discriminate based on lifestyle.  However, this new law does not come without it's opposers.

What's your opinion on the matter?  Is it good that schools are being forced to have an all-inclusive education?  Should this even have to be a law?  Is this law absolutely ridiculous?  I want to know what your thoughts are!

Trademark Taboo

Trademarks are tricky little devils.  There are many common words that we use everyday that are actually trademarked.  While this may not seem like a problem, it can be for journalists.  Journalists have to be careful about how they use words when writing because they certainly don't want a lawsuit on their hands.  To be safe, journalists must avoid using trademarked words in their pieces, and instead come up with another way to get their point across.  This task can be a bit difficult, but it definitely saves the money and time of having to go to court.

Did you know that these words are trademarked?

Magical Endings

I'm copying this post from my blog Sweet Tea Serendipity in honor of the end of the Harry Potter series.  Enjoy!

I solemnly swear I'm up to no good.


Tomorrow.  It all ends.  The last Harry Potter movie premieres at midnight.
This is a time of mixed emotions for me.  I grew up with Harry Potter.  He has almost always been a part of my life.
I can remember sitting on my mom's bed at the age of 6 (or so), and her trying to read me the story about a boy named Harry and the world of Hogwarts.  I absolutely hated it.
A couple of years passed, and I was finally ready to embrace the magical wizarding world.
My mom would read the books to me out loud during long car trips.  I couldn't read on car trips because I would get car sick, so it was a great way to pass the time.
The tradition continued for many years, but around the time of the 5th book, I got tired of waiting for car trips to get to hear more.  So, one my friends loaned me her book, which I would read in secret.  
After that, I was finally allowed to read the books on my own, and read I did.  I devoured the last two books, and reread the first ones.  I laughed, cried, worried, learned, just about everything you can imagine.  The characters became real to me, and I could always turn to them.
The movies also started.  Each movie brought the images in my head to life, and captured my imagination.  I grew attached to one Dumbledore, and then another.  Of course, I also reveled in the attractiveness of some of the actors.
Now, the final movie is set to premiere.  There will be no more "new" to the story.  But, I guess, all good things must come to and end.  And really, it's not the end.  I still have the wisdom and lessons taught to me by Dumbledore, Hermoine, Harry, Ron and so many others.  I still have my books and movies that I can indulge in anytime I want a bit of magic in my life.  
Plus, Pottermore will be here before we know it.




Mischief managed.