Happy 4th of July ladies!

I hope you enjoy this holiday and appreciate the day off. Whether you’re spending it at the beach, watching fireworks, or firing up that grill, July 4th is a day to celebrate. It’s a day to reflect on how we got here and remember the people that made this country so great. It’s a day to appreciate our country and everything it has to offer us, whether it be the big things or the little things.

Today though, today I’m going to focus on the little things…

10.  Driving. On the right side of the road that is. I don’t have much experience abroad, and I have absolutely no experience driving abroad but I can tell you this much: I don’t think it would work out to well for me. So yes, I’m thankful to have my Jeep, and my license, and my ability to drive on the right side.

9. Red, White, and Blue. Primary colors often get a bad rep. But there’s something  great about red, white and blue- when the three are thrown together, whether that be on the American flag, or an Uncle Sam outfit.

8. BBQs. Nothing says America quite like a good old hot dog or hamburger right off the grill. (The fact that neither hot dogs nor hamburgers were invented here is completely irrelevant.)

7. Football. I know other countries have football as well, but their football is actually our soccer. Which makes sense because in soccer you actually use your feet. I don’t know why we call it football, but I love the sport all the same. And I appreciate the irony.

6. Thanksgiving. A holiday dedicated to, amongst other less materialistic things, eating so much food that we bust the buttons on our jeans? Dedicated to turkey and stuffing and sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie? Yes, please.

5. Our Youth. Not so much American teenagers on their own, but rather our collective youth. As a country. 235 years old may not seem too young but in comparison to most well-established countries, we’re spring chickens. Yes. I  did just say “spring chickens.”

4. Apple Pie. Why apple pie is such an American tradition I’m not so sure. I just know that it is. And I appreciate that. In fact, I appreciate it even more when it’s pipping hot and topped with vanilla ice cream.

3. Jeans. When I went to London in my junior year I was shocked and appalled by the lack of denim. I know America invented blue jeans and because of that we embrace it wholeheartedly, but it wasn’t until then that I realized other countries had not. I’d never survive.

2. American Authors. I know that when most people think of the classics they think of British Literature, but  America has some pretty amazing author as well. Fitzgerald. Twain. O’Connors. McCullers. Hemingway. Dickinson. Whitman. Just to name a few…

1. The Melting Pot. Yes, there’s an overlying “American” culture but part of what defines that culture is the diversity of our country. There is no one way to be an American, and that’s all sorts of freeing.

Time to turn this into a  love fest. What are the reasons you love the U.S. of A? 

So after a few weeks abroad, I just landed back in the U.S. of A. from Europe! I can’t believe my trip went by so quickly; I had the best time I’ve ever had in my entire life, and, being a college kid, that’s saying something. I did so many things that I’m grateful I got to experience, from walking down streets I’ve read about in Sherlock Holmes books to trekking miles to see the Eiffel Tower. And the food. The food. Never in my life have I eaten as well as I did in Paris. If you’re a foodie, make sure you get over and sample as many heavenly pastries as you can stomach.

Or do as I did and take down well more than you can stomach and end up totally uncomfortable for days on end….

Now that my trip is over, I (and you lucky kids who are also on the quarter system) still have about a month left before I go back to school. I’m sure the time will pass quickly, since it always does when there are no classes to wake up for or papers to write, and I’m determined to make the most of it.

So that got me thinking (since I got nothing else going on…):

Would You Rather win an insane shopping spree for a totally brand new back-to-school wardrobe OR get to sit down and chat with your favorite celebrity (dead or alive) for five minutes?

Things to Consider: these, this, touching Justin Bieber’s hair (!!!!) or, you know, talking to someone you love.

Vote now and give us the dirty deets below!

For those going abroad for the upcoming semester or planning a trip to Europe anytime soon, here are some helpful tips to get you around:

You are from Canada: Let’s be honest – Americans like to think they rule the world, and sometimes that holier than thou attitude rubs Europeans the wrong way. Don’t go overseas acting like a stereotypical American (you know, the ones that yell loudly when speaking to someone that doesn’t understand English as if the other person is deaf…) It may be hard when adjusting to culture shock, but the best way to get past it is to simply embrace it. If you can’t … just say you’re from Canada and all the questions will go away.

“Tap Water is For The Prisoners”: When I was thirteen, I went to Europe for two weeks on a guided school trip. The tour guide told my class that only prisoners drink tap water, so we shouldn’t order it at a restaurant. Forget that, live like a prisoner. Unlike in the states, restaurants just don’t bring out water for you. They tend to bring out bottled water, and after walking around Amsterdam all day, finishing off one of those babies happens fast…as does racking up a huge bill. Unless you really have a problem drinking tap water, order it. Not only will it save you money, but it will be cold. Most restaurants will serve you room temperature bottled water, but if you want something icy cold … tap water is the only way you’ll get those extra ice cubes. Free, cold water? No complaints there!

Transportation made easy: With an abundance of train services, ferry boats, and cheap flights (EasyJet and Ryan Air – however, beware of extra fees), traveling from one country to the next is affordable and a must for any European experience. If you shop around for the best deals, you can save lots of money hopping from Belgium to France in one weekend. Although taking the train may seem foreign (trains are rarely utilized in the USA as a form of fast, easy transportation), it is the best way to see Europe. Really, how can you complain when you’re on your way to Paris for the weekend with countryside outside your window?

Hold the Anchovies: I ordered a ceasar salad expecting just you’re standard plate of lettuce and ceasar sauce, but instead, I got a plate full of anchovies (complete with their eyeballs still intact) and a mayo sauce. Make sure when ordering at a restaurant you are as specific as can be or else you may be surprised. Also, if you like your meat cooked a certain way, tell your waiter or else you’re “well done” steak may come out bloody and pink. However, if you can get past some food differences, indulge yourself in as much cultural foods as possible, i.e. when in France, live off of croissants and macaroons!

See the sights: While a lot of my study abroad group got wasted every night, a good amount chose to see the sights. You are abroad, so why are you blacked out outside of Big Ben? A big mistake that a lot of abroaders make is mixing culture with fun – they think they can’t. You paid a lot of money to go abroad, so it is important to see everything that you can. No one wants to come back from Europe to say “I skipped out on the Mona Lisa because I was hung over” or “I couldn’t climb to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral because I was puking in a pub instead.” Party and have a great time, but prioritize what you are going to see. If you can schedule your days ahead, you can save a lot of time for partying and pub crawls later.

Be a local: Instead of eating at restaurants you are familiar with or sticking to simple tourist destinations, expand your travels and pretend you are a local. Ask opinions of the receptionist at your hostel of where to eat. Find out what shopping areas aren’t as famous and go see what you can dig up there. Try new foods and drink. For example, you can’t leave London without at least trying their fish and chips once. Don’t just stick to the same old path everyone else is, explore the beaten path and you will have a much more rewarding experience of culture and understanding of the area along the way.

Happy Traveling!

Chances are if you’re currently in college, you don’t remember the collapse of the Berlin Wall, but you know about it. Or should. (Stop skipping class!)

Well today, November 9th, marks the twentieth anniversary of the wall coming down; leading to the end of the Cold War.

In honor of this monumental event, artists around the world have created musical performances and art installations. There is even a Berlin Twitter Wall for people to share their thoughts on the fall of the wall and how our world has changed since then.

In case you aren’t totally familiar with the history, let me give you the Cliff’s Notes (or Leah’s Notes) version:

Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, the victors of the war decided to split up Germany.  On top of splitting up the country as a whole, they also decided to split Berlin into quadrants: the Americans, British, French and Soviet Union each gained control of one portion.  The communist Soviet Union separated its portion, creating East and West Berlin.  Initially barbed wire and armed guards divided only the borders of East and West Germany, with citizens throughout Berlin being able to move freely around the city.

In 1961, the Berlin Wall was built, separating the sides of the city and preventing those in East Berlin from moving to West Berlin.  For over 20 years the wall remained intact, the people’s freedom non-existent. When the East German government resigned in November 1989, people began to tear down the wall.

But the fall of that wall did more than open up a city and allow its people to move freely; the dismantling of the Berlin Wall has had significant impacts on our world, both good and bad. Changes that we should realize and consider on this important anniversary:

- Within two years of the wall coming down the Cold War was officially over.
- The fall of the wall represented the collapse of the communist Soviet Union.
- There was an emergence of pro-democracy attitudes around the world.
- It led to European democratization and the creation of the European Union.
- China switched gears to pursue capitalist policies, thus changing the world economy.
- There was an increase in political and religious freedom in Eastern Europe.
- Capitalism began to dominate the world.
- The United States emerged as a global superpower.
- The entire idea of globalization emerged, and with it a strong anti-globalization movement.
- Governments started to put more money into science and technology, thus propelling the popularity of the computer and personal technology.
- Religious extremism spread around the world.
- Countries signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, though it has yet to be ratified by the United States.

The world would not be the same if the Berlin Wall were still standing. Many of the things we enjoy and take advantage of in the United States (and, yes, some that aren’t so positive) stem from this pivotal moment in history. There are still some who believe not much has changed in the past 20 years – that what we fought against has only morphed into something new and more dangerous - but today, the rest of the world celebrates.

What do you think?

George W. likes what he sees at the Olympics

Cuteness Alert: High-fiving dog and adorable baby

A “Trophy Ring” for “Douchebags”

Just let me drink my damn caffeine in peace

Hey, Daniel Radcliff…spare some change?

I want to see Tropic Thunder…but these people don’t

No, really, thank God they invented this. My life was really unlivable without it

Adorable remake of the Dark Knight trailer

Imagine if they were all on the rag together?

Thinking of doing the Detox Diet? Think again

The United States of Cheap Beer

And Now the News with Kandy Korrespondent

On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of ending the death penalty for the crime of child rape. This is the second such ruling this year. Last September an unofficial national moratorium on the death penalty went into effect when the court agreed to hear two appeals to lethal injection arguing that the practice causes extreme pain constituting cruel and unusual punishment. The moratorium was ended when the court finally ruled on April 16th that Kentucky’s, the state in question, guidelines for lethal injection did not in fact constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

The death penalty tends to be considered a “third-rail” issue along the lines of abortion. The sudden willingness of the highest court to rule on such cases seems to mark a shift in this regard. Anti-death penalty activists are hopeful that this current trend will end in an eventual ban on its usage. The United States is one of the few “western” countries to still use the death penalty.

In Other News:

Also on Wednesday, during a phone-in town hall meeting Presidential hopeful John McCain told a Floridian voter that only World War III would justify reinstituting a national draft. While this calms some fears, the fact that he failed to define World War III of course still leaves the issue a bit open to interpretation. Given the current ambiguous nature of the so-called “War on Terror”, it is unclear at what point a conflict would in fact obtain such a label.

On Tuesday, Senator Clinton officially returned to the Senate after her unsuccessful presidential bid. She was greeted with tearful hugs amid a pair of standing ovations. Afterward she reemphasized the need for a united party going into the November election, stating, “If you care about the issues I care about … you really have to stay with us in the Democratic Party and vote for Senator Obama”.

Zimbabwe ruled on Wednesday that the June 27th presidential vote will go on despite the opposition candidate’s withdrawal and subsequent international condemnation. The US warned on Tuesday that it would not recognize the results of the election. (this writer fails to see how such a statement will in any way impact Mugabe but that’s neither here nor there)

And Now For Something Completely Different:

For those of you who always forget to charge your phone prior to attending music festivals (all ten of you!) your worries are at an end! The UK phone operator “Orange” has teamed up with GotWind, a renewable energy firm, to produce a special phone recharger powered by “dance energy”. Simply attach it to your arm and presto… apparently.

They plan on testing out at this year’s Glastonbury Festival—good luck guys!

That’s the News.

[photo courtesy of javno.com]

Wimbledon 2008 kicked off today in Wimbledon, England (and I thought it was just a creative name!). In honor of this exciting event, we at CollegeCandy have put together a very handy little gallery of all the most important players at this year’s event. And by “most important players” we mean, “The hottest guys of Wimbledon.” God, we love our jobs.

 So, peruse; enjoy; tell us which one is your favorite.

And thank us later.

[Album=62]

Mad that hundreds of men and women are being held and tortured without legal recourse;

Mad that such actions only make the rest of the world angrier at America and therefore more likely to attack us in the future;

Mad that a handful of powerful men are destroying our chances to bring about resolution in the Middle East.

And mad that at one point I dreamed of being a part of it all. Seriously.

I was a junior in high school when 9/11 happened. I waved the flags, prayed for our troops, and supported the Patriot Act. I even went a step further—I decided that I wanted to join the CIA. Already fascinated by international affairs and politics, I was enchanted by the thought of accessing/gathering raw data, traveling, and serving my country.

It wasn’t until spring semester of my sophomore year that I changed my mind. I was meeting with a ret. Marine Captain to plan my course into the agency, via military intelligence. Near the end, I told him how excited I was at the prospect of developing my analytical skills in combination with physical ability. He paused.

“Um… actually you probably won’t be analyzing much, per say. Why don’t we focus on getting you physically prepared?”

That was all he had to say. It suddenly struck me. As an operative I would be a tool. Thinking isn’t a skill you want in a tool. (Imagine a hammer looking up at you saying “Um, are you sure you want to hit the nail again?”) I valued my capacity for individual thought too much to be reduced to someone else’s tool.

Three years later, I am so incredibly thankful I changed my direction when I did. It has since become clear to me that the CIA, military, and Bush administration were not who I, in my teenage naïveté, supposed them to be. Silly me. I thought that only the “bad guys” tortured their prisoners. They were the ones with secret prisons and sensory deprivation techniques. I was wrong.

Yesterday’s BBC headline says it all:“US Interrogation Policy Condemned”. The adjacent BBC side panel reads, “CIA ‘Secret War’”, listing key stories over the past few months: “CIA admits water-boarding” reads one. “Inquiry into destroyed CIA tapes” reads another. And, my personal favorite, “US ‘may’ use waterboarding again”.

Yet everyone tries to pretend that we are still the “good guys.” The US Senate Armed Services Committee’s 18-month investigation continuously illustrates this duality:

On the one hand someone admits that yes, water-boarding has been used and may be used again,

then on the other hand, the Bush administration says that all detainees have been treated humanely.

There is no such thing as humane abuse.

Luckily I decided to follow my own path. But I often think of those who choose to follow their patriotism and idealism– those who perhaps discovered too late that Americans do torture, that presidents lie, and that wars are not just. And that makes me mad.

[photo courtesy of www.ongoing-tales.com]