ESPN Streak For the Cash: A way to find interest in some not so interesting sporting events

Perhaps you haven't heard of ESPN's online cash game, "Streak for the Cash." To be honest, I only just stumbled onto it a mere couple of months ago. The game essentially presents daily games from the sports world to choose from at certain odds based on the ability of teams and individual players. An example you could choose from would be will Tom Brady have more or less than 15o yards in the first half? These numbers are altered based on several elements such as whether the game is home or away or whether he is playing against a stifling defense that week etc. Another example would be will Manchester United win against Villarreal or will Villarreal win or draw. Percentages of what other participants have picked appear beneath the options.

This game has a leaderboard for who has the longest streak of wins and the winner at the end of the month receives the winnings of a minimum of $50,000 dollars in the pot. However if you somehow achieve getting a streak of over 27 wins in a row, the cash pot accrues into the next month where that person can seek to increase the winnings up to $150,000 for example.

I have personally sucked at this game! I would be lucky to get a streak of 7 or 8 games! This is not so much for my lack of knowledge of sports but more because it is a game of luck and excitement. Despite my losing, I have found that participating in the game has given me a level of interest in many games I would otherwise not care about at all. I believe this game truly gives fans a stock in a much wider range of games than they normally would have cared about. I have found a wider range of sports to be that much more exciting simply due to the thrill of predicting what will happen against your friends. Overall, a great time!

-Yoni Berhanu

Vans: The Multipurpose Shoe

People are always mulling over many options when they go shopping for clothes. One area that is particularly time-consuming is SHOE SHOPPING. Why is this the case? Because shoes perhaps more than any other item of clothing are evaluated based on cost, utility, and appropriateness. It's become easier for me these days largely thanks to the Cali-originating skaterboy sneaker known as the Vans line.

I mean think about it. Where can you really not use vans? Ranging in price from $30-$60 dollars and high-top skater to casual loafer in style, Vans can virtually be used in all settings. I've personally used these shoes from everything from hanging out with friends at the park during the summer to going out to a nightclub in dowtown Washington D.C. They can be worn with shorts or long pants and go well with many varying outfits. With Vans you get affordability, comfort, and wide use. They really are the way to go for a college student.

-Yoni Berhanu

Book Review- Poke the Box

Seth Godins latest book, Poke the Box, might just encourage you to stop procrastinating and take the first step.

Poke the Box is a call to action about taking initiative and starting some thing new. Godin encourages readers to pursue their curiosity, think creatively and not to be afraid of taking risks.

Major Themes

Write Your Own Map- People who change the world do not follow the same path as others, they create their own, radically different route.

• Fail Often- The only way to succeed is to fail. Failure now is rarely detrimental to future success.
• Take Risks- Great ideas are not created by playing it safe. To truly be revolutionary, you must take chances even if it may be frightening.
• Start Something-Lots of people have great ideas, but the difference between the people who are actually successful and everybody is is that successful people actually take the first steps to start something new.

Seth Godin is a business marketing genius. He has written thirteen best-selling books that have been translated into more than thirty languages and his blogs was named one of the best twenty blogs of 2009 by Time Magazine. American Way Magazine calls him, Americas Greatest Marketer and he has founded dozens of companies.

-Nicole Mortimer

From Book to Film: Scrutinizing Adaptations

by Aliya Karim


I'm planning on having a boring yet relaxing winter break at home consisting of reading several books on my to-read list (A Game of Thrones, Les Miserables, and several others), as well as seeing the latest films to hit theaters.

Being the book nerd that I am, I noticed that there are a number of films coming out this winter that are adaptations of novels. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo are the two I'm looking forward to the most.

Whenever I see a book-to-film adaptation, I tend to hear so many more negative reviews than positive ones. It always seems like fans of the book are nitpicky about every single last detail included (or left out) in the film.

I've met numerous fans of The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, for instance, who despise the films, saying they leave out certain segments of the books. Many fans of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series say that only the first two films remained true to the book and that the directors for the remaining films took too much into their own hands.

I understand where these fans may be coming from. I despised the film, "Ella Enchanted," an adaptation of the children's book by Gail Carson Levine. Why? Because the film's plotline was completely different from the book's plotline. The only similarity between the two was the fact that the main character, Ella, was cursed with the gift of obedience. Other than that, the film ruined everything for me.

But I think this was only one of the few exceptions among book-to-film adaptations. You see, most directors and producers are aware that the books they are recreating on screen have fans and that they will be held accountable for how these books are adapted. These directors usually try to stick to the actual book plotlines, not veer away from them.

I find it silly that fans scrutinize such small details in these films - in the "Potter" series, for instance, the fact that Hermione Granger wears a pink dress instead of a blue one in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the fact that the Marauders are never explained in detail in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," and the fact that Peeves the Poltergeist is never included in the films.

But really, what do these measly details add to the main plotlines of each book? Not much. While they are very interesting details in the books themselves, they're not that important, and some of them would unnecessarily prolong the films.

Why shouldn't directors and producers be able to leave small things out and make their adaptations a bit more theatrically exciting? So long as they stick to the plotline, I don't see a problem with this at all.

What I'm trying to say is: Give the directors, producers, actors, etc. some credit. They're trying their best to create films that remain true to the books they are based on and create theatrically successful films that bring in more viewers - except "Ella Enchanted." That one will never count.

Trailer for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" film:


Trailer for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" film:

How to de-stress during finals

Finals always seem to make college students go crazy. They sleep less, drink more coffee, spend an insane amount of hours the library, all in the effort to cram in as much material as possible in their brains or to write that most perfect research paper.

So what can you do to make this horrible time better? I offer five handy tips on how to make finals week a little less likely to make you go insane.

1. Hydrate! Drinking excessive amounts of coffee can often cause headaches so its best to match coffee with plenty of water.

2. Maintain a sleep schedule. Going to sleep at a wide range of times makes it more difficult to fall asleep so having a consistent schedule will lead to a better nights rest.

3. Exercise. Working out is a great study break and can help the mind relax. I particularly like doing hot yoga during exam week because of the meditation at the end of the workout, it helps me be extra-focused during finals.

4. Eat Healthy. During exam week it is very tempting to load up on sugary snacks while studying, but this does not lead to optimal performance. For more tips check out this blog.

5. Plan Ahead. Make a schedule to map out your studying with a time line and a to do list. This will help you know what you need to get done.

-Jacqui Corba

Love is Louder

The video I have posted here should be viewed with discretion. Within the first 30 seconds of watching this video, I began to cry.

"What's Going On" posted by Jonah Mowry on December 4, 2011 is a video about the struggles he has faced throughout his life by being bullied. The video shows Jonah holding up a series of flash cards in his handwriting explaining his story with music playing in the background. The cards start off normally saying things like "Hi! I'm Jonah, I look happy right?" Then they get very dark when he reveals that he has been cutting himself...since the second grade. He reveals that he has seriously considered taking his own life multiple times and begins to break down and cry. At the end, he reassures the viewers that he is "not going anywhere because [he's] stronger than that."

This emotional video reveals the SERIOUS problem we face today in America and around the world of bullying. Hurtful words or actions can have bigger consequences than we think, as demonstrated in this video. Watching bullying take place and doing nothing to stop it is just as wrong as bullying itself. Stand up for those in pain and take a stand against bullying. It's not cool, it's not funny and it is causing people like Jonah serious pain. Love is louder than hate. End bullying now.

Tebow Train

For the fifth week in a row, Tim Tebow has brought a W to the win column for the Denver Broncos, yet he is still being doubted. Ok, he may not be the best throwing quarterback, he may not have the best accuracy, or the best vision, but he wins games. Critics of Tebow will surely never let up, but they have to start giving him some credit, and maybe even start believing he can be a starting QB in the NFL.

Looking at the facts, Tebow is 6-1 in his 7 starts this season with multiple fourth quarter comebacks and heroic drives. He may in fact pray too much as many people complain, but you can't fault his determination and willingness to believe in himself. While he has been criticized by his general manager and hall of fame quarterback John Elway, and even his coach John Fox, Tebow has remained a constant wind of positive air, making all the right comments to the media.

Tebow has arguably been one of the leagues best QB's this season and is slowly gaining respect around the league. As he improves, so does his team, which is really the only way you can judge a player in his position. If he leads his team to the playoffs and somehow gets a victory the critics will have no choice but to ease up, but if he stumbles AT ALL, the critics will strike fast and hard. However, with his mojo, his confidence, and his work ethic, I think he will be just fine because the only thing you need to succeed in sports and to succeed in life. I'm a Tebow fan now, and I think he deserves a little more credit than he has received.

Looking forward..

Maybe redemption has stories to tell...
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell...

Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up
off the floor,
I dare you to move
Like today never happened before...

"Dare you to move - Switchfoot"

There are days when we can't see to get out from under the warm covers in the morning, and face those bright rays of sunshine falling through our windows. We know that familiar sting that comes with opening our eyes; we know it all too well. We are far too comfortable to stay in, curl up and hope that this too will pass. The work that lies piling up in the corner would slowly dissapear, the impatient knocks on our door fade away, and the expectations we live by day
in and day out would finally never have built up the way that it has.

There are days when we realize all we could have hoped for, was never ours to hold;
When we realize that dreams we dusted under the rug, stare up at us when we least expect it;
When people we expected to stay, discover a different road, and those we didn't, become our comforters..

The unexpected reality of life can fascinate and frustrate us at the same time; But where would half the fun we have ever experienced be if we always knew the answers of when, how, and why? The unexpected surprises satisfy us the longest because we never saw them coming, and we appreciate them more because the outcome is better than we ever could have imagined. We may have these secret expectations of others and long for them to surprise us, when we fail to realize they may be expecting us to surprise them as well.

I wake up every morning and think of one thing I want to achieve that day - whether it is going to the grocery store to pick up that carton of milk I was putting off for so long, or acing that interview I was prepping myself for. Big or small, it gives us something to look forward to. It gives me the strength to throw the sheets off, sit on the edge and stare directly into the sun - because I want to!

- Hyacinth Mascarenhas

A New Adventure

Growing up, my family moved about every four years because of my dad’s job. At the time, I hated each move because it meant a new home, a new school and a new set of new friends. I never really got used to the constant change, but eventually I learned to embrace it because I realized it gave made me more independents than most kids my age and it allowed me to explore new places. Last summer, my family moved once again; this time from Raleigh, North Carolina to London, England.

Now, going home for the breaks is bittersweet. I don’t have a familiar bed or a big group of friends to look forward to like most students, but I have something else- a new city to discover. I definitely miss my friends from high school and familiar surroundings, but I still keep in touch with them and I see my family’s latest move as a new adventure filled with unknown opportunities.

-Nicole Mortimer

Something Happens Here

By Lauren Hoenemeyer

Something happens here. When I first came to GW, I thought that this official GW slogan was vague, if not a little bizarre. I imagine that the late Andy Rooney would have a heyday with this motto. What exactly does GW mean by that cryptic statement? What happens here? Something happens here. Actually, a lot happens here. It’s hard to describe the meaning behind this proclamation in a few words but easy to see when walking around campus in the heart of our nation’s capital. The most recent illustration is that President Obama, President George W. Bush, U2 singer Bono, and Alicia Keys are convening in our very own SMPA for World AIDS Day tomorrow morning, and they’ll be interrupting access to my journalism class (rude). But GW is where stuff like this happens all the time. Every day, the classroom meets the newsroom and the pressroom.

My father asked me the other day why I didn’t go to journalism school at Syracuse University, because he heard it’s one of the best journalism schools in the country. I was in the middle of doing sit-ups in the gym and was annoyed that he even asked me such a loaded question over text especially since he knows how much I love SMPA(dads + technology don’t always mix). I responded, well yes, it is a great school, there’s no doubt about it. But why study journalism if you can’t apply it in real life? While SMPA may not necessarily have a coveted number one rating from U.S. News, it has provided all the real-world knowledge any journalism student can hope for. Washington, D.C. is a playground for journalism and politics, and SMPA has a backyard that no other school can compare to. Not to mention, most professors are seasoned journalists who are experts in their craft. Something happens here that no other school can compare too, even if they are number one in the college rankings.

When GW says something happens here, a lot happens here, like the most important politicians in the world interrupting my class time. A writer for The Hatchet said that so many “somethings” happen here that it’s hard to keep track sometimes. While it may sound nice on paper to attend a top-ranked journalism school, I wouldn’t trade my experience in SMPA for anything. I’ll never stop smiling when a presidential motorcade drives through campus, I’ll never stop boasting about the time when five former secretaries of state sat on the same GW stage, and I’ll never stop thanking my dad for telling me that DC would “eat me alive” if I decided to come here. As my four years come to an end and graduation is near, he knows that I proved him wrong. In the meantime, Obama and Bono can interrupt my class time anytime.

More info on tomorrow's World AIDS Day event:

Salvador Dali and the Media

Eugenio Salvador Dali i Domenech was considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time and a leader within the Surrealism movement of the 20^th century. Dali was inspired by many different aspects of life, which is demonstrated in his work. One of the many influences of Dali and perhaps one of the most important was his symbiotic relationship with the press mass media. Dali was fascinated by cinema and created a media world of his own, while the press itself was also infatuated by Dali and his work. This codependent relationship is important to both parties in many ways.

In his early years as an artist, Dali was like a sponge; he absorbed many influences and inspirations that he came across. Some of the main influences include, the death of his brother and the death of his mother, sexuality, his muse and wife, Gala, and the avant-garde lifestyle. All of these influences can be seen in his work throughout his career. However, one of the most important and fascinating inspirations was the avant-garde lifestyle that Dali observed when he was in Paris, France. Dali became infatuated with cinema and its ability to create another world that is separate from reality.

Perhaps a more famous cinematic work of Dali is Un Chien Andalou in which he collaborated with famous filmmaker, Luis Bunuel. This short, black and white French film is known for its graphic opening scene in which a human eye is cut open with a knife. This scene is meant to be an interpretation of one of Dali’s poems about the moon. This scene and other elements in the film are all representations of symbolism; that is, they stand for a greater meaning that Dali wanted to convey through cinema in this film. The interesting aspect of the film is that is has no plot. The entire film is a montage of clips that have different representations that are shown together to create a short collage-like film. This is linked with Dali’s obsession with escaping and demonstrating a different world outside of reality and presenting a dreamlike piece of art. This film was widely accepted by the members of the Surrealism movement and also the media.

Salvador Dali was one of the most influential and inspiring artists of his time and continues to have an impact on the art world today.

A Non Traditional Thanksgiving

All the housewives in my town hate my mom. For years she has been instilling non-American traditions in our family. We've become radicals in my small suburban east coast town. We don't eat turkey on Thanksgiving.

"Look sweetie, the turkey matches the cabinets."

The simple explanation is that no one in my family particularly cares for turkey. It's just a taste thing.

The longer explanation goes like this:

Thirteen years ago my family of four moved to the east coast from California leaving absolutely every single one of our relatives behind. Since then, nearly all of the holidays have been just the four of us. It's been really hard because we don't even get the chance to complain about inappropriate and obnoxious relatives on the holidays like everyone else. Just another way in which our Thanksgiving is non traditional I suppose.

We've had one 'normal' Thanksgiving our entire time here. It was our first year in New England and we jumped through all the Thanksgiving Day hoops: dressing up, football on TV, hosting friends we only moderately liked, and hours spent stuffing butter and herbs under the skin of a dead turkey. Gotta love it.

I don't know what spurred her exactly, but the following year my mother asked if we were okay with trying a turkey-less Thanksgiving. Given that we didn't like turkey much and it was just going to be us four that year, we okayed her plan. So instead she made enchiladas, quesadillas, and sweet corn cake. Yum. And the leftovers were even better. There was simply no comparison to that stuffed, frigid turkey. With no one to impress we stayed in our sweats all day and only spent 2 hours in the kitchen opposed to the usual 7 (elbow-deep in giblets). Traditional Thanksgiving had officially been beat. We never looked back.

Some of the families in our town strongly disapproved. They claimed we're non-American, and unpatriotic. Even some friends I've explained this to over the years have the same opinion. But we've stuck with our tradition for the last 12 years. We do the same thing every year chicken enchiladas, sweats, and Its a Wonderful Life**

Eat me.

We're all supposed to eat turkey because that's what some pilgrims and indians did one Thursday, but what if they had eaten mutton instead? We'd all be screwed, that's what. Sheep are cute, it's a good thing turkey's are so damn ugly.

Tradition is tradition no matter what you do. My mom claims that she will always host her Mexican Thanksgiving and our future families will just have to deal. Guess I will end up with disapproving relatives and awkward holidays after all.

**Yes, I know that Its a Wonderful Life is categorically a Christmas movie, but it also stresses the importance of thankfulness so it is able to straddle both holidays. We watch it on Christmas too... because it's that good.

If no one was watching..

After the recent horrors involving Penn State football and Syracuse basketball coaches and underaged children, I had a conversation with some of my friends that had a rather sour subject. With all of this stuff coming out now, who knows what else is being covered up, or isn't even known. I'm not just talking about inappropriate relations with underaged kids, but any other illegal or inappropriate actions that "adults" take part in. After talking with my buddies the question arose, "If people are doing this type of thing now, what would they or other people do if no one (the law or society) was watching?"

This is a scary thought, but something that leaves me scared for the future, my kids, my grand kids, and even people I don't even know. Growing up in a rather sheltered society where I was shielded by a lot of potentially harmful things, it is only when I see big stories like Penn St. that I am reminded of what kind of people live in our community and often go undetected. I wonder how much of this stuff is really going on, and how many people are being hurt all around us.

These type of stories (Penn St. and Syracuse) always leave me wondering if the evil in the world outweighs the good; what people would do if they knew no one was watching; and what we as a good society can do to prevent it. Unfortunately, it is hard to regulate such actions and so I have come to the conclusion that while society will do its best to educate itself about right and wrong, some things are just going to happen and are beyond our control. A scary thought, but a realistic one.

Miss Representation

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a Q & A session with filmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom on the Mount Vernon Campus at GWU. Newsom is the writer, director, and producer of Miss Representation. The documentary exposes how the mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in positions of power and how the media often portrays women in limited and negative ways. According to the film, women hold only 3% of clout positions in mainstream media.

During the discussion, Newsom said that in order to change the representation of women in media we need to speak up and more women need to seek out high-level positions in media.

One of the great things about this film, which will be released to the public in December, is its campaign efforts. The website immediately asks users to take a pledge by entering their name and email address. The end of yesterday's discussion focused on how GW students can help spread this movie and its' initiative.

Check out the trailer:

-Jacqueline Corba

'90s Nostalgia

by Aliya Karim

I read something recently that my friend posted a link to (on Facebook, of course), 10 Things 90s Kids Will Have To Explain To Their Children. The post had me laughing all the way through, because I knew and understood everything the writer was talking about: "Boy Meets World," Tamagotchi, and even Lisa Frank.

It is the ideology that no notebook is complete until it literally hurts your eyes to look at from so much color saturation. It is the hope that no school supply, no matter how insignificant, will be left un-bedazzled.

Remember these? I'm pretty sure I owned the folder with the unicorns back in second grade.

It's pretty interesting when you think about how nostalgic our generation is. We're all just entering our 20s, and we already miss childhood and "the good old days."

My friends and I always exchange photos, videos, and links to subject matters pertaining to the 1990s. This summer, we all got extremely excited when we found out that TeenNick would begin re-airing our beloved '90s shows - no, '90s classics - like "All That," "Kenan & Kel," and "Doug."

But really, why are we so nostalgic? The 1990s ended almost 12 years ago - but that's nothing compared to the 1980s, 1970s, and times that our parents and grandparents would be nostalgic about. According to the New York Times,

One possible explanation, say authors who focus on generational identity, is the impact of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The political and economic climate of the late ’90s had been as soothing as a Backstreet Boys ballad: no wars, unemployment as low as 4 percent, a $120 billion federal surplus.

Interesting point. I guess you could say the 1990s were a simpler time. You could also pinpoint the nostalgia to the fact that our generation practically grew up with the Internet and all it has to offer - including remembrances and memories of childhood. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr - they're all filled with posts about this show or that game from the '90s.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be nostalgic - heck, I'm nostalgic for childhood all the time - but it's funny when you think about how quickly we've begun missing something that isn't even 15 or 20 years in the past.

And now, I leave you with this. Let's sing along, shall we?

Las Vegas: Top Five Things To Do

By Lauren Hoenemeyer

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas--the overused mantra of Sin City. Beside the bright lights and late nights, Las Vegas has a lot to offer. Here is a list of the top five must see and do in a city that never sleeps:

1. Ride roller coasters. The tallest building in Nevada, the Stratosphere hotel, houses four rides at frightening heights and scream-inducing speeds. For the ultimate thrill ride, daredevils can jump off the 108^th story of the hotel in the world’s highest controlled free fall. Or ride through a mini-Manhattan on the New York New York roller coaster that zips and zooms right through the hotel.

2. See a show. See a Cirque du Soleil show inspired by musical greats like The Beatles, Elvis, and now Michael Jackson. Or watch a free show like the famous Bellagio fountains show, the Mirage volcano show, or the Treasure Island pirate show complete with battle scenes aboard life-size boats.

3. Party at the pools. For some fun in the sun, head to the Hard Rock Hotel, home to a man-made beach, a water slide, and even poker tables floating around the pool. At Mandalay Bay hotel, float down the lazy river or hang ten in the enormous wave pool. After catching some waves, head to the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium to check out crocodiles, komodo dragons, and sting rays. If you want to get more up close and personal, dive into the 1.3 million gallon Shipwreck Exhibit with sharks, sawfish, and sea turtles.

4. Experience Fremont Street and Downtown Las Vegas. After exploring the Strip, take a stroll down Fremont Street, the site of the first Vegas Strip. You’ll see Old Vegas, complete with a blinding neon light show. You can even go zip lining across a neon light canopy for a 30-second thrill.

5. Hike Red Rock Canyon. Even though it’s only a fifteen minute drive from the Strip, Red Rock Canyon feels worlds away. Whether you are a hiking enthusiast or a casual stroller, Red Rock has a trail for everyone. Take in the gorgeous scenery but beware of rattlesnakes and burros.

If that all leaves you bored and looking for a different kind of thrill, go to the Little White Wedding Chapel and get married by Elvis.