Ahhh, Fourth of July.

It’s not a holiday that carries the burden of gift exchange, and you don’t feel guilty if you don’t spend it with your family. Is that why it’s one of the best days to celebrate? People make plans for the Fourth months in advance, which is more than we can say for St. Patrick’s day, its celebratory-drunkfest cousin. So what is it that makes Independence Day so special? I mean… other than the fact that we have freedom of speech and right to assemble and such.

1. Fireworks.

They appeal to everyone. The rebels can light stuff on fire and blow things up. The artists can appreciate the colorful patterns of light against a midnight sky. And the lovers can tell themselves it’s okay if they just did it in a park on a blanket. Fireworks and Fourth of July are like Mistletoe and Christmas. They just aren’t as cool if you pick the wrong day. Read More »

Welcome to July. After the 4th (chock full of parties, fireworks, barbecues, and every imaginable type of food on a stick) the rest of the month is sorta meh. It’s the middle of the summer, there is not much to do and you’re counting down the days until you’re back on campus.

Well stop counting. July just might be the most underrated month of the year. There are tons of things to celebrate besides our independence, namely the fact that it’s National Ice Cream Month. So grab a tub of Edy’s and let’s rock out with our…er…well, let’s enjoy the month of July.

July 4th- DUH.

Celebrate it with your favorite dogs – corn dogs and hot dogs, I mean. Enjoy the fireworks, but be careful because (not ironically) it’s Fireworks Safety Month. Not that it needs to be – the fear of blowing your hand off should be enough to keep you away from those shady shacks hawking cherry bombs on the side of a dirt road.

July 8th – Video Games Day

For my brother, every day is video games day, but at least today he has an excuse. Pick up the Xbox, Wii, or old-school Nintendo controller and unleash your inner child. Duck Hunt, anyone? Read More »

Sure, the Fourth of July has passed, but we still have a couple months of lovely summer left, and what goes better with summer than throwing some food on the barbie and chowin’ down? Oh, and some beers. Afraid of the BBQ? Don’t even know where to begin? Used to letting the guys take care of it?

Ladies, grilling isn’t just for the boys! You too can become a master griller and show up those braggarts who claim the grill is man territory.

I learned how to grill at a young age because my dad is a phenomenal griller (his BBQ ribs are some of the best you’ll ever have…not that you will be having them anytime soon) and taught me the tricks of the trade right from the womb. The truth is, grilling is easy…as long as you know the rules. So, here they are.

There are two kinds of barbecuing: direct and indirect heat.

Direct heat is when you place the food directly over the source of heat/open flame. This type of grilling is best for thinner cuts of meat and items such as hot dogs, bratwurst, burgers, fish and pork chops.

Indirect heat is when you grill items outside of the main source of heat so they cook at a slower pace, more thoroughly, and without burning the outside of the meat. This is used for thicker pieces of meat such as whole chickens, beef and pork roasts. (Note: most of the “basic grilling” people do uses the direct heat method.) Read More »

What is it about that gets us off? There are websites 100% dedicated to it!

Does it make them seem more attractive when they’re photographed scarfing down hot dogs and slurping milk shakes? Not really.

Relatable? Likable? Personable? Nah.

Just because Jessica Biel eats a sandwich doesn’t mean I’m her new biggest fan and want her to come over and do my nails.

It’s probably because there’s something vulnerable about being caught in the act of eating. Most of the time, I feel kind of sorry for them, their mouths stretched all ugly and their and faces askew.

Just like watching celebrities fall down and/or trip, there’s simply something human about seeing a Cover Girls and Guys stuffing their perfect, rich faces.

Or how about it being just plain FUNNY? Read More »

Hailed as “one of the greatest moments in American sports history,” Joey Chestnut, 23, made America proud yesterday as he shoveled 66 hotdogs into his mouth in a mere 12 minutes. Needless to say, it was one of the most disgusting displays of American pride I have ever seen.

In a brutal showdown, 6 time Japanese champion Takeru Kobayashi went dog for dog with Chestnut until almost the very end, despite a jaw injury. Unfortunately for Kobayashi, his “reversal” (aka barf) during the final stretch cost him 3 HDB’s (Hot Dogs and Buns eaten) for a total of 63. Both competitors broke their own records as well as the record for most hot dogs ever eaten.

The competition, held annually, has been around since 1916. If 90 years of hot dog pounding doesn’t scream what is wrong with our countries eating habits, the amount of calories Chestnut consumed—20,394—should.

Welcome to America, land of the free and home of obesity.