Class Registration

Last Thursday was my registration enrollment date for Fall 2013! I'm glad that my final schedule worked out after a bit of emailing and constant pestering of other departments.

Something that I hate about SU's registration process is the fact that you don't always know whether or not you can take a class until you click enroll and find out on enrollment day. Granted, you can get around the roadblocks that revolve the administration after a bit of persuasion.

Fall 2013: Presentational Speaking, Reading Popular Culture, Photography in Broadcast News, and various news and media related classes?! I'm psyched!

News and Social Media

So I've been busy this past week doing a variety of things from midterms and papers to putting together my first news package for CitrusTV. Filming, writing, and editing in one day is hard work! Anyways, excuses aside, let's talk about the news... since, you know, I'm into that stuff as a wannabe journalist.

The bombings in Boston this past week was a tragedy for many. Why Boston? Why innocent marathon runners? While we await the details of the recent event, many people expressed their concerns whether it be contacting people they know in Boston to make sure friends and family were okay or just posting a Facebook status that expresses their sympathy for Boston's situation. All over various social media you see the words "Pray for Boston."

But there are others. There are people out there who care more about popularity in the eyes of the public than about the people. Don't know what kind of people if you dare call them that I am referring to? I'm talking about people like this...

Has the perceived use of social media stooped so low that "proving your care" in the eyes of the public is more important than sympathizing with humanity?

Syracuse University's National Communications Coordinator for Residence Hall Association

Gave a 5 minute speech and suffered through a Q&A session today, but it's all worth it! I'm very excited for the next school year...

CoCoPPa App Review

In a world where iPhones are as common as cars, the iPhone case seems to be the only personalized aspect of this must-have device. But not anymore! Now the icons can also be personalized with the CoCoPPa App, a Japanese kawaii-themed app that lets the user create and set individualized icons for various apps from Facebook to Blackboard.

Despite the cuteness overload, there are some setbacks to using these icons:

1) You don't delete the original app from your phone. These icons depend on the links the original apps have, and therefore deleting the original app would only leave a useless icon. I ended up tucking all the original app icons away on the very last page of my iPhone menu so that the aesthetically pleasing ones would stay at the frontline :)

2) These icons don't show notifications! Game and social media apps typically have a little red number at the top corner of the original app icon when something new comes up. Because you still have the old icons, those notifications show up on the original rather than these replacement icons.

3) These icons only work for apps downloaded from the app store. Original apps that come with an iPhone such as Camera, Contacts, Music, etc. cannot be replaced with a styled icon, so the inconsistent use of the original icons and the personalized ones might look awkward when mixed together on a single menu page.

So is the app worth it? If you think about it, this app really is extraneous. What's the point of this app if the original icon still exists, but is only hidden away? All this extra work is only to provide some originality. Personally, I think the wow-factor of showing your friends the unique icons is worth it. Plus, the extra personalization couldn't hurt in making sure the phone you pick up off the counter is yours.

3/5 STAR RATING

Addiction

Like most teens in this awesome virtual/technological age, I easily get addicted to video games. In fact I try to limit myself to one Facebook game and one iPhone game so that I don't waste too much time trying to beat high scores. I've done this well for the most part, until a certain someone *cough* Jillian *cough* decided to download a game onto my phone for her entertainment.

I started a mad Temple Run 2 craze last week. Since then not only have I not been able to stop, I also downloaded Ruzzle and Words with Friends to challenge my friends at different games.

What I find most addicting is when games offer awards for completing challenges. Whether it be beating a new high score, or playing so many times you deserve a virtual ribbon, this sense of achievement gets to me and feeds off of my thirst for success.

Anyways, that's just my bit on why video games are addicting to me. Why do you believe they are addicting?

The Brunch Club

It's official. We're the Brunch Club.

Obviously the name is ripped off of in tribute to John Hughes' movie The Breakfast Club. But who are we exactly?

We're people from different groups. All of us know each other separately, but these previous relationships we've made were to each our own. Now we come together with one common bond: our aspirations.

... it's actually a thing guys! :D

Pajama Sunday

I've mentioned before that I never understood the hype for sports, and I suppose my comment on my friend's status rings true to my beliefs... But today I'm here to proclaim my love of pajamas.

It's amusing to see how little people value pajamas these days. Some people prefer to sleep nakedness while others prefer to sleep in just a T-shirt and shorts. Pajamas have become the clothing of the past...

If you ask me, I think I could wear pajamas forever. They're much more comfortable than normal clothing like jeans and belts and sweaters and all. They come in a variety of patterns that can be made to look fashionable. Why would anyone want to change out of the softest, most comfortable clothes on Earth?