Friendship Bracelets

Hey guys, so I stayed home because it was snowing and decided to make a friendship bracelet for a friend's daughter. She is about 6. I went on Youtube to look for some easy and fun patterns and found this really cute pattern for a Heart friendship bracelet. I found a few videos that showed a tutorial but not all of them were very good. In the end, I learned to make it from this video which was very detailed and showed all the steps. She even used yarn to make the bracelet in her video so it was much easier to see. It's a fun project for those of you who have younger siblings or want to make them yourself. You can use yarn or sewing thread if you don't have embroidery floss (most commonly used for friendship bracelets). It took be maybe about 1.5 hours. That is a picture of my finished result.

The Environment DOES Matter.

What went wrong with New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina? Well let’s see, where should I begin? First of all, “Katrina [is] arguably the best-predicted accident in American history” (Gerstein, 5). Why? Well for starters, as emphasized in PBS’ Frontline: The Storm, everyone knows that N.O. itself is a city situated below sea level and also a city smack dab in the center of Hurricane Central (just as California is in earthquake territory). Therefore, an event like Katrina is bound to occur and wreak havoc, especially since no one was prepared (federal, state, and local governments). In agreement with Marc Gerstein and his book Flirting with Disaster: Why Accidents are Rarely Accidental, we cannot label Katrina under the conventional term: “accident” (3). Yes, the storm itself was unpreventable, the wind, rain, and its course could not have been stopped. However, the aftermath that came with Katrina was preventable with foreseeable ramifications.

As mentioned above, N.O. is situated in a very susceptible area. If this isn’t a major problem already, precautions should’ve been taken to prevent further disaster from striking. But of course, this wasn’t the case, it never is. Rather than trying to avoid an aftermath as seen with Katrina, it seemed like everyone – the government, state, and private lucrative businesses (such as big oil companies) only further quickened and increased the danger that N.O. inevitably faced.

N.O.’ problem began with the environment and “the bottom line here is, when people decided to live in this fragile area, they disrupted the natural system…. What’s going to happen is the ocean’s going to take it over again,” (Roy Dokka, Louisiana State University geologist, Hiles – City Adrift, 7) and that is exactly what occurred. “The entire Mississippi River Delta, including the city of N.O. is slowly disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico.” This “slow-motion environmental catastrophe” makes the N.O. area more vulnerable to hurricanes every year. Although this process is natural, “human actions have made it far worse.” “Levees, oil and gas extraction, and shipping canals – all products of man’s attempt to control nature – are partly to blame” (7/8). These human actions have caused N.O.’ marshland to disappear. About 1,900 square miles of coastal land has been lost since the 1930’s. Although much of this was done fairly innocently in the 1950’s (not many individuals were concerned with coastal land loss then), N.O.’ citizens have now paid dearly as a result. At the time, wetlands were thought of as wastelands, stagnant water, a breeding ground for mosquitoes (9). They didn’t know (until the 1960’s, though the facts were still ignored) that wetlands reduced hurricane storm surges by 1 foot for each 2.7miles of wetland the storm crossed (18). “Wetlands would have made all the difference; about 80 miles of restored coastal marsh below N.O. would have prevented most of the flooding” (18). In a cruel and unforgiving cycle, Katrina’s waves which were magnified by the loss of coastal land, destroyed an estimated additional 100 square miles of N.O.’ already fragile coast (17).

Not only did Katrina kill more than 1,000 people, flood nearly 200,000 homes, and increase erosion, it also created a whole new set of problems in its aftermath with issues of contamination, trash disposal, and oil spills. With the hurricane flooding up 80% of N.O., its swirling water swept up dirt, pesticides, bacteria, chemical waste, and other debris. This “toxic gumbo” was then distributed throughout the city in a “layer of brown muck,” rendering the area a potential “hazardous waste dump” (13). In addition, 22 million tons of debris was left in the wake of Katrina. Two old landfills which were formerly used for construction and demolition debris, were then opened up and became the dumping ground for all sorts of waste, (household cleaning products/chemicals, food, feces, cars, metals, downed trees, moldy carpeting, etc.) left in the midst of this disaster (16). This became a big problem because construction and demolition landfills are not properly lined to “collect liquid that percolates through the garbage.” As a result, “The more you put things in that decompose… the bigger risk you’re creating that you’ll have landfill problems with gas, groundwater contamination, et cetera” (16). As for the oil spills caused by the storm, the U.S. Coast Guard estimates that more than 7 million gallons of oil leaked into the waterways of southeast Louisiana. That is only 4 million gallons shy of the “largest oil spill in U.S. history – the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 in Alaska’s Prince William Sound which released 11 million gallons” (15).

Katrina illustrates how environmental mistakes can compound themselves, leading to more disastrous effects (14). On top of all the many environmental issues that went wrong, environmental laws were also being overlooked in the aftermath of Katrina (17). The director of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Mark Davis, is “convinced that Katrina would have been less deadly if the state, the federal government, and Louisiana residents had heeded the long-ago warnings of environmental ruin” (18). “There had been plenty of warning, and no small amount of data to support the view that things were going downhill in a hurry” (Gerstein, 3). In the first five months after the hurricane, the federal government spent $85 billion. In comparison, only $14 billion was needed to restore Louisiana’s coast and “not one nickel of that went to preventing this from happening again” (Hiles, 19). It is terribly sad in retrospect, to know that N.O. and its citizens could have been saved with just a little less then 1/6th of the reluctant money that the government ultimately needed to spend.

What to do with all those bags?

For those of you interested in repurposing all those plastics bags you get when you go grocery shopping rather than just throwing them away and harming the environment and sea life, take a look: (Sorry, it seems I don't know how to upload videos either, but I learned how to include hyperlinks!)

Sewing with plastic - (you can fast forward to 1:40 - 4:44 min. if you don't want to watch the full video.) It basically explains how to cut, iron, and then sew the sheets of plastic into items such as reusable shopping bags. I tried this once but I couldn't get the heat at the right level to properly fuse the plastic together.

Making plarn - (very quick, 52 sec. only) A quick slideshow of pictures that shows you how plastic bags can be turned into plarn (plastic yarn). Plarn can then be used in place of regular yarn and since it is much more durable, you can make nice reusable bags out of them as well as various other items. The user in this video has turned the plastic into a very durable twine like material. There are also other methods for making plarn, some may be easier than others.

Example of Bags made from Plarn - Skip to around 2:50 min for a very beautifully crocheted example of bags that can be made out of plarn.

Just wanted to share a few ideas for all those plastics bags. Another simple way is to recycle them at locations that accept bags with the recyclable logo on them. Or use them as trash bags rather than buying them.

Sad Fact: "Over 1 million plastic bags are consumed per minute globally."

Gut Wrenching Fact: "Marine wildlife mistakes plastic bags for food and dies."

Frustrating Fact: "Supermarkets and politicians will take years to sort it out."

- Taken from morsbags.com, a site whose message is to: "make your own cotton morsbags and distribute - each one has the potential to eliminate 100's of plastic bags over its' lifetime." They encourage volunteers to make bags in pods, sort of like a tupperware party with sewing machines and fabric.

totes umbrellas

I think Tuesday was the day it was pouring. So with so much rain, I decided to use a bigger umbrella. I walked out of the house and to the bus stop. It was a good thing I had my big umbrella because the rain was coming down hard and sideways with the strong wind. I got on the bus and closed the umbrella. I then opened it up when I got off the bus to walk to the train. Once I got down the stairs, I tried to close the umbrella but only the top part closed, the part where the fabric was. The metal rod part would not collapse in towards the handle no matter what I tried. So I took a very crowded train ride with a halfway closed umbrella, it was about 3ft long and others probably thought I didn't know how to close it properly. Then halfway through the ride, I realized it was pouring out and I wouldn't be able to use my umbrella when I got off the train. Since I couldn't close it properly, it wouldn't open up because of the spring loaded thing or whatever. I ended up walking from the 6 train manually holding the umbrella top open with my hand. Not only did I look like an idiot, but my arm was so tired because the umbrella was very heavy due to its huge size and I had to hold it against the wind.

So I was very upset since this was a tote umbrella and they are supposed to be great and work well all the time and are expensive. I think it cost 35$ for the size I was using and that's alot for an umbrella. I think I have 10 various different Totes at home and 4/10 have broken which is ridiculous. And all the defects are due to the umbrella itself and not poor care etc.

Totes do however boast a lifetime warranty and I just looked it up. I think I can get it replaced, I need to send it back, pay for the shipping, and then give them another 5$ for s&h in order to fix the problem :( Why can't they just make umbrellas that live up to their promised superiority?

Wow I can't believe I am posting on my blog though my phone.

New Orleans - "The City That Care Forgot"

New Orleans, Louisiana is an especially unique city, maybe one of its kind in the United States. Take for example, the fact that soil from 31 states flow from the Mississippi River and empties onto New Orleans. What other state can boast this fact? The area is a river delta and is the prime reason for its establishment. This port city was once essential to the shipping industry, but has fallen short in recent years (though still is a major contributor to NO’s economic base – aprox. 13 billion annually)(Brinkley, 31). The city has also become a site for oil extraction as well as commercial and game fishing. NO was unique from the beginning. Sieur de Bienville searched for years for a site for a great port and settled on the land where NO now resides. He chose the site because “he calculated that it was about ten feet above sea level; it was probably not quite that high, but the site was distinctly above the surrounding waters in those early days”(6). Since the beginning, this land has been in danger of flooding and damage from storms.

New Orleans is also very culturally and historically distinct. The city has a great mix of European, African, Caribbean, American, and Southern roots. This is reflected in NO’s language, zoning, architecture, hierarchy, surnames, food, and music. In Brinkley’s words, the city’s architecture became a “favorite location for Hollywood movies.” “Filmmakers could find practically any sort of backdrop in [NO], from Spanish colonial mansions and Creole cottages to American Greek revival, art deco European, and postmodern ranches” (30). As for music, Jazz was cultivated and born in the NO neighborhood of Storyville (30). The city is also widely known for its Cajun and Creole food and some still speak the languages. Its Mardi Gras season and parades are also world renowned.

During the times of slavery, NO also set itself apart as their slaves, as opposed to the British, were given the chance to work and make money to buy their freedom. NO was also the first city in the south to integrate schools as well as being home to the first black newspaper, The Tribune. Its’ citizens were holding train car “sittings” before Rosa Park became famous. The city also led politically as it was one of the first to have a legislation of which more than half of its legislators were comprised of Blacks.

While the “city was unique in many ways, it was not immune to the various ills that America’s urban flesh is heir to.” As A. J. Liebling once remarked: “I realized that New Orleans might be exotic in some respects but that in others it was exactly like everyplace else.” A city which once experienced a more kindly type of segregation (if you could call it that), suddenly saw itself as a spitting image of others, if not worse. The “alienation of black and white populations, and the decay of inner-city neighborhoods and public services” wrecked the city socially, economically, and physically (Lewis, 71). Its education system was in shambles and with the integration of schools, able whites fled the city into the nearby suburbs where there children would be protected. Crime and murder rates rose along with drug and gun violence. The tourism industry was limited to more well off white areas rather than the slums where tourists were in danger. The case of Plessy vs. Ferguson turned segregation into legalized discrimination. Urban planning also cut parishes in half, Treme for example, with the I-10 highway in the 1960’s.

As much as the city of New Orleans became a paradigmatic urban area, it was still at greater risk than others. As mentioned above, the city itself was settled on land that was barely above sea level, and this was in the early 1700’s. NO was prone to flooding/storms and have experienced a few major deadly ones within its history (1893, 1909, 1927). As the many years passed, “subsidence” described as the “sinking effect that had taken hold of coastal Louisiana through a number of contributing factors both natural (invasive flora eating insect species, shifting subsurface faults), and man-made (dredging, canal digging, polluting) (Brinkley, 12). As a result, NO has “sunk to an average of 6ft below the waterline” (13). Man-made factors especially contributed to the disastrous results of storms such as Hurrican Katrina. These factors had reduced the city’s wetlands at an alarming rate of one tennis court every thirteen seconds in 2005 (9). The city without its natural marshes/wetlands would see an increase of one foot of storm surge for every 2.7 miles of disappearing land (13). Not only were these facts ignored by the government in favor of oil/shipping, seafood, tourism, education, crime, and other economic and social issues, but they were a clear indicator of what would be expected (not if but) when faced with a category 5 hurricane. Another indicator is the fact that the the Red Cross “refused to operate a facility in [NO] because none of the commonly used emergency sites was much above sea level (17). They also didn't have a Hurricane Command Center or a network of communications established in advance.

In addition, the Mayor at the time, Nagin, can also be blamed for the aftermath of Katrina. Rather than issuing a mandatory evacuation order, he was busy shooting his first film debut and meeting with lawyers regarding legal action from hotels and the tourism industry if he were to order an evacuation. He was too concerned with economic issues and tourism and overlooked the thousands of disabled, elderly, or individuals without vehicles to evacuate. The city itself also did not posses a realistic hurricane plan though it did have a evacuation plan. Though there were clear cut guidelines in the NO Emergency Management Plan booklet and federal guidelines, they were ignored by Mayor Nagin.

Though New Orleans was once a striking and unique city, it fell under the weight of societal norms, pressuring it into the same situations faced by other cities. With the city’s special location, it was bound to one day suffer the disastrous affects of a storm like Katrina. Though indicators in its history had forewarned of such an event, they were ignored time and time again. As a result, it will take years before NO will become the splendor it once was.

Boots

I ordered these boots online and I just got them in the mail and I think I love them. I haven't worn them out yet so I'm not too sure but from the looks of them and trying them on at home, they seem great. They are eco friendly. The soles are made from old car tires and the suede is from an eco certified tannery (though I would've preferred to not have had to kill an animal for the shoes =\). The knit part of the shoe is made of hemp and organic cotton. You can also roll the knit part up to knee length or fold them down and wear as booties. (I just hope they don't stretch out too badly.)

The best part of all? They were originally priced at $85. I saw them when they first came out but i wasn't sure I wanted to pay that amount for them, especially since I couldn't try them on and I didn't have the shoe itself in front of me to look at. The picture online wasn't very helpful. But now they are on sale for $40. I also got free shipping and I goodsearched a discount code for the website which I was able to use. (TIP: When you shop online, you can often find extra discounts via google etc. You will have to check if the codes are valid, mostly through the shopping cart of that particular site. Ex: search: "GAP online discount codes") So now, I have new, eco friendly shoes for the winter which will also hopefully keep my feet warm. They look a bit different and not everyone may like the style. But if you do, you can find them at www.simpleshoes.com

The site also sells mens and childrens shoes and some bags. They are all eco friendly and even carry some vegan items.

Volunteers anyone?

Ok, so I know I already mentioned Sue Rock with my blog presentation but I had planned to do a blog post on her when we were first given this assignment so I'll just briefly say a bit more now.

So, Sue Rock Originals Everyone (SROE) collects donated materials such as yarn, fabrics, knitting/crochet tools and pairs these items with volunteers who turn the raw materials into finished goods (clothing, accessories). These items are then donated to victims of domestic violence.

I was looking to volunteer and do something I really enjoyed and through Goodsearch.com http://www.goodsearch.com I found this non-profit. The most appealing part to me was the flexibility I would have with time and the choices in items to make. Volunteers pick up yarn and materials and can then do everything from home (or on the train or whenever else you have time). When you are finished with your projects, you take them back to her. She really doesn't have a set deadline and you can do everything at your own pace (ex: beginners may take longer than veterans). You also get to be as creative as you want and can make hat and scarf sets, sweaters, tank tops, socks, bags, and even hair accessories. Of course, it all depends on what you know how to make. She makes donations 2x a year, once in October during Domestic Violence Awareness month and again in May for Mother's Day.

I finger knit (done with hands only and no knitting needles) the scarf in the photo. I learned the technique on Youtube.com which is also where I learned to crochet. I thought it was cute and wanted to try it out, maybe for a child or something. I'll probably blog about that another day.

So, if anyone is interested in volunteering, let me know. Or if you know others who knit/crochet or sew and have the time for this, spread the word. =] Her blog can be found at: www.suerockoriginals.blogspot.com

www.Goodsearch.com allows you to pick any charity or school and for each search you process, they donate 1 cent to your charity of choice. You can also register your non-profit or school with them and start raising money for your own cause.

does anyone know how to get the hyperlinks to work? please? Thanks.

Citizen Journalism

As the book Blogging mentions, it has often been said that “freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one” (Liebling 1960) (Rettberg 84). That however, was before the time of blogs. As Jill Rettberg, the author of Blogging writes, “Bloggers have seen themselves as an alternative to mainstream media, and as a force that can reform and change the ways we conceive of media: today, anybody can own a press. Anybody can be the media” (108). Blogs now allow greater accessibility to a “press.” Anyone’s voice can be heard on the World Wide Web. Individuals can write about anything that interests them without the fear of gatekeeping. They do not have to worry about whether or not their topic will be published or edited or whether their comments will be screened. The blogger controls what he/she wants to put on his/her blog, while governments on the other hand, may try and control society’s accessibility to these blogs.

“There is no doubt that blogs have allowed people to share ideas and build resistance in non-democratic countries such as China and Iran, where censorship is heavy but blogs are able to slip through” (108). The notable blogger Yoani Sanchez can definitely be placed into this category of bloggers. Though she may not exactly be “building resistance,” she does indeed share her ideas with the world, even with those who do not have direct access to the web. Though the Cuban government has definitely tried to censor her blog, Generacion Y, she acknowledges that “the internet has a way of slipping through the fingers.” She says, “fortunately for us, technology evolves faster then censorship.” Sanchez has also come up with an idea to distribute her blog to Cubans who do not have access to the internet. She has formulated a minidisk, “a copy of [her] blog as it appears on the web without the option of posting comments.”

As Sanchez has found ways to get around Cuban censorship, she is able to voice her opinions on topics that are left out of mainstream Cuban media. She is able to cover controversial issues on her blog as it is her “press.” She takes advantage of this ownership by directing the information being published, which would not be possible outside of her blog. She is capable of sharing ideas and inciting what she calls “serious civil dialogue.” In Sanchez’s own words, “nothing becomes so attractive as what has been prohibited” and her blog allows her to do just that.

However, though blogs may be very insightful and useful, not all blogs carry the same quality of writing and information. Blogs are written from the perspective of one person (or maybe peoples), even though many may share this person’s point of view. These person’s views may range from an infantile understanding to that of an individual with a PhD, making it hard to filter for “right” and “wrong” opinions. Blogs can also be very biased which may or may not be a pitfall. Blogs however, may be more diverse and allow for greater discussion of alternative perspectives than journalism may provide (94).

Sanchez’s blog provides a good example as to why it may be problematic to rely solely on Generacion Y for information regarding Cuba. The opinions shared on her blog are hers only and may not reflect the thinking of every Cuban (and may not be entirely correct), though there may be similarities in thought. An outsider reading her blog to gather information on Cuba may be misled as her blog reflects her perspective and her point of view on certain issues may be skewed due to varying circumstances (though, it may not necessarily mean that she is wrong). In addition, Sanchez may not cover everything regarding Cuba. Some topics may be just as important but may not appeal to her preference and may be filtered out. Just because her blog is accessible to the world, does not mean that it should be a one-stop shop for information. Readers too, should make an effort to validate (or try to, as it may be hard to do so with opinions) what they are reading.

Black Friday Shopping

I'll be heading off to shop in a few minutes. UGH definitely not looking forward to this. Its so crowded on Black Friday and I think it's supposed to rain today. What a horrible combination. I think I'm heading to Soho because of the variety of stores so I hope I won't get too wet walking to and from them. I normally wouldn't go shopping on Black Friday but I'm looking for a coat and I'm broke so I'll have to compromise and go today. I hope I find something. I really liked the coat I bought last year but the size didn't fit well and I returned it and then decided not to get it.... and now I regret it =[

Well I guess this is a Before and I'll update this again later with an After.

So, Soho wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. It was pretty much normal, like a weekend, maybe even a little less crowded then it is in the summer. I picked up a few items but I wasn't able to find a coat. Then I went to 34th and it was packed. Only checked H&M (as that was where I found the coat last year) and Macys. The rest of the stores there are pretty much in Soho too. Macys was ridiculously crowded. Made my way to the coats section, didn't see anything, and left asap. Train rides to and from the city were empty and got seats so that was great. Other than that, I guess I had a some what productive shopping day. =\ Did anyone else go black friday shopping?

Going Green

A few weeks ago I went on a little field trip with the ECO club (Environmental Cooperation Organization). We visited a store on 222 Bowery St. in lower Manhattan called Green Depot. It was founded in 2005 and its goal is mainly environmental living and building. Anyways, just thought I would mention the store because they do have some cool stuff thats also good for the environment and you... your pockets, not so much =[ It all depends on what you buy. Some items are pretty affordable especially since they are "green" products.

For example, they sell cleaning supplies developed by their own line. These suppplies are free of harsh chemicals and toxins, are plant derived and biodegradeable. The also come in reuseable 32oz. spray containers. What's great too is that they have this cleaning solution tap thing they invented, sort of like a beer tap/soda fountain. When you are finished with your products, you can bring the empty bottles back to the store and have them refilled. You also get a discounted price for refilling bottles rather than purchasing new ones.

Some of their pricier items may be air filtration sytems, which can run up to $500. The store sells all sorts of items ranging from counter tops to insulation for your walls (made from recycled denim). They have a whole wall of paint products from exterior to interior paint jobs. They also have some cool, fun items such as pencils made of recycled news paper (no more wood), tumblers/cups made from recycled wine/glass bottles, and wallets made from recycled materials. They also carry a whole line of baby products such as cribs, blankets, bottles, and clothing. You name it, they probably have it. And remember, everything is "green." They also try and sell items that focus on Air Quality, conservation, Local businesses, Energy, and Responsibility.

P.S. - my favorite item was their homemade soda maching thingy. it uses tap water and you hook it up to your sink or whatever. you need the tank of carbon dioxide (i think?) and it carbonates your water. you can add your own flavors or just go for seltzer. they also had a boxed set of little powder packets that are supposed to make your bottled water fizzy like soda. I also liked their fruit and vegetable sprays which should wash off pesticides etc. I might go back and get those because I can't find them anywhere else and i know it exists.

anyways, Check it out:

http://www.greendepot.com

My schedule sucks

So, I registered for classes yesterday and my schedule sucks. I was hoping to maybe do a two day schedule with 4 classes (i mean i am already taking 4 classses in one day this term with a total of 6 classses). Well anyways, of course there aren't many sections for Real Estate classes and I just wasn't able to come up with a schedule that I wanted. So I am now taking 3 RES classes M/W from 4pm - 9pm.... that is so ridiculously late. And then there is a 1 hr train ride home. On t/th I only have one classes 10:45 - 12 which is not that bad but Its such a waste to come in for just one class. I wanted to find an internship during the spring and it will suck if I have to work during the day on M/W and then do school until 9 pm.... Oh and RES classes are really boring.

What's even more annoying is that when I check open sections for Finance or Accounting classes etc, a HUGE list of choices comes up. But when I go to RES.... half of the courses only have ONE section. Thats how I got stuck with a 7-9pm class, the most critical class that I needed (which is also a pre-req. for my other major classes) only has one section at that time. =[ I also have to stay indoors until after the sunsets in the Spring =[

ok, well anyways, just wanted to complain about my schedule. I'm sure other people are also in similar situations.

Best Buddies

So, I hate when I tell people that I am in a club called Best Buddies, everyone starts laughing and says something stupid. And then after I explain what it is, they don't have anything to say.

So anyways, Best Buddies is an international non-profit that helps to build one-to-one friendships with people living with intellectual disabilities. This program is in 42 countries and 6 continents. It was started by Anthony Kennedy Shriver (Eunice Kennedy Shriver's son) in 1989.

http://www.bestbuddies.org/best-buddies

Some of the programs are Best Buddies Colleges, High schools, middle schools, jobs, and e-buddies. Baruch College is part of Best Buddies Colleges and college students who join are paired with a buddy. There are some basic requirements and most people seem to be thrown off when they hear them, but they really aren't that bad. When you are paired up with a buddy, you mainly want to become their friend and do things that friends normally do. Call them maybe 2 or 3 times a week and hangout with them at least 2x a month. We also know that everyone at Baruch seems to be really busy so we hold one Chapter Event a month during club hours on Thursday where everyone, college buddies and the buddies get together. We count this event as 1 of the 2 times for meeting up so technically it's only 1 other time outside of school. And you can meet up to do anything. Like I said, you're trying to build a normal friendship so you can do whatever you would normally do with your other friends such as shopping, a walk in the park, movies, or just getting coffee.

So, as much as this may sound like you are trying to make a difference in these individual's lives, they really are impacting yours. I mean, when we see such individuals on the street we normally try and stay away or don't want to be bothered etc. But when you actually get to talk and listen to them, you see a little bit into their world. You can see how the littlest things that wouldn't mean much to others (such as a phone call or a birthday card), just brighten their day. Well, I hope I've been able to tell at least a few of you a little bit more about this club. You can find us on Facebook: Best Buddies Baruch with pictures of previous events if interested.

I guess I'll start with me.

Hi everyone,

I'm a 20 years old Junior majoring in Real Estate Development and minoring in Sociology. I dislike business. I have found all the classes I've taken at Baruch so far to be boring and uninteresting. I've only really enjoyed my Sociology classes. I would've rather majored in Religion and Cultures but didn't see a very great future in that. After I graduate I hope to have a short career in Business and eventually move into Non-profit work. Oh, and if you haven't noticed already, I am pretty boring (at least this blog will be).

I enjoy crocheting and knitting, rollerblading, reading books that I want to read, cooking and baking (or trying to), arts and crafts (i guess), recycling and finding a new use for old things, and volunteering. I enjoy learning about different Religions but am not very religious. I am Treasurer of a club called Best Buddies at Baruch and I wish more people knew about it (I'll be dedicating a whole post to this eventually to hopefully spread the word). I dislike writing about myself and have always dreaded assignments that required me to do so. I also really dislike school. I love the show/series Stargate and think other people would too if they gave it a chance. I didn't like the original movie though. And just because I like the show does not mean I am a huge sci fi fan.

And since this is all I can think of right now, I will put an end to this boring rant and save you all from misery.

~eL