Long weekend

The Cherry and What is striking. Just kidding, but we are Ferris Buellering it for a few days. Catch ya Sunday.

Thirsty Thursday!

It's November 5, 2009, and yes the Phillies season is really over. Someone crack open a beer.

Weather: Sunny with temps hanging in the low 50's today, falling to low 40's overnight. This weather is why they invented hoodies.
Good stuff from the Temple Today:

First off, holy crap, props to TU on setting up a carpooling system in the midst of the SEPTA strike. Need a ride or can give a ride? Head on over to these messages boards to set something up, as many people have already started to do.

11-2: Who likes veggiesss? For all those health food nuts out there, Temple Community Gardens is having a homegrown veggie sale in the lobby of the Tyler School of Art. For everyone else, there's J and H.

12-1: Also for people going to J and H, there's this seminar in Mitten Hall 250 called "Portion Distortion". They.. sugar coat.. the purpose in the description, but it essentially is that people eat too much damn food in one sitting and need tips to stop doing that.

11-2: For those who love exploring intangible things, there's this exploring leadership seminar featuring guest speaker Sara Garonsik. She used to be the Producing Artistic Director for the Philadelphia Theater company, until she decided to change career paths and become a speaker that discusses their experiences being the Producing Artistic Director for the Philadelphia Theater Company.

7:30-Victory: Temple football vs. 1-8 Miami(OH). The Owls should continue their romp, as should Bernard Pierce against one of the worst run defenses in the country. Ah but no SEPTA, you say? TU has you covered.

"Shuttle transportation to Lincoln Financial field will be available for students. Buses will depart from the Student Center, Johnson & Hardwick and 1300 Cecil B. Moore on Main Campus, and from the Learning Center parking lot at Ambler Campus, starting at 5 p.m. All buses will return from the stadium beginning at 10 p.m."

8-10: For those who like art over football, poet Juliana Spahr will be at TUCC 222 this evening to read from her latest work, "The Transformation" which discusses a lowly caterpillar's metamorphosis into a big, beautiful butterfly. Or something like that.

Other stuff:

7:30: For the 40% of you who still like Obama, David Plouffe will be speaking at the Free Library of Philadelphia tonight. Plouffe was Obama's campaign manager last year and will be discussing his book "Audacity to Win" which reviews, well, how the hell they won. Apparently free ain't what it used to be, because it costs $7.

That'll do it.

Well, at least humpday's over.

The Phillies lost the World Series tonight thanks to Yankees' DH Hideki Matsui, who had a World Series record 6 rbis in NY's 7-3 win. We're not gonna gum up the blog with baseball analysis-- that's what real journalists are for-- but we will say that the saddest part of all is not being able to see these guys play until spring time. After decades of futility we are lucky to be in Philly when one of the most exciting Phillies teams of all time takes the field night in and night out at Citizen's Bank. From Raulllll's early season tear (pun intended) , to Howard's long balls (no pun intended), Werth's 8 rbi games, Chut and J-Roll connecting for spectacular double plays, Victorino being the friggin' man, Stairs sending balls into orbit, Eyre eating twinkees, Chooch speaking broken english, Charlie bobbleheading, Doobie not smiling, and Harry watching over us, we have a lot to cheer about. Be Philadelphia fans: keep your heads up, shit talk to those gloating Yankees fans that are about to populate our campus, and never forget what matters more than anything, even championships: heart. Is it April yet?

In other news, god damn it SEPTA this is getting old, and the friggin weekend is coming up in like, 24 hours. Check out this article from the Temple News to hear a lot of your classmates bitching, and rightfully so.

In other news, god damn it Pennsylvania Congress, this not passing our funds thing is getting kind of old, and we've got tuition to pay. This Temple newsroom article discusses how the state has still not approved Temple's $180 million in funds, along with the other state-related schools. They better hurry up and do it, before we vote them out of office in that election that just happened, or whatever.

Oh wait look, we found some good news: Al Golden is up for more coach of the year awards. And that reminds us, now everyone has a free schedule to go cheer on the football team tomorrow night at the Linc. That's right, they play tomorrow. I think a romping of 1-8 Miami(OH) is just what the doctor ordered for that Phillies hangover. You guys do know about Bernard Pierce right?

Thanks for reading, keep those heads up, let's see some Phillies red tomorrow. And then let's get really, really, really drunk.

Humpday!

It's Wednesday, September 4th, and Pedro Martinez better not mind humpdays.

Weather: Don't let that sunlight fool you, it's not going to be as warm as yesterday. Expect temps in the high 40's, low 50's and some clouds/rain moving in over night.

Good stuff from the Temple Today:

First, you've got a deadline to register for a wine tasting with some dude from a wine company. This is great for those who want to get their wine cred up so you can impress everyone at the frat party by ordering a nice glass of Kina Lillet.

For all you poli sci people out there, there is a lecture by progressive(that's putting it lightly) author David Swanson on his book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperialist Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union." Oh boy.

Who was the real Russell Conwell? How did Temple University come to exist? Who actually cares about these questions? If you answered yes to those three questions, might want to head over to Paley Library at 4 pm, when they're having a little exploration of some archives to learn about Temple's history. We'll be there, riiiightt after our own little wine tasting.

Other stuff:

Party in the PHIL-A-DELPH! Miley Cyrus comes to the Wachovia Center tonight, and tickets start at only 43 bucks. How can you not go?

Because of the Phillies, that's why! Pedro Martinez takes the mound against Andy Petitte at 7:57 in Yankee Stadium tonight, attempting to even the series at 3 games a piece and ignite a god damn firestorm here in Philadelphia.

Oh, and for those who keep running into that husky fellow who swipes meals at the SAC and won't stop talking about the Yankees, we finally said enough is enough yesterday and talked baseball with him. Turns out he doesn't know much at all about baseball, so if so inclined, feel free to talk some trash. Because if you're anything like us, nothing is more satisfying than getting into verbal altercations with lunch people.

Go conquer that humpday and GO PHILS!

Later Tuesday

So in case you didn't hear, Septa like, went on strike at 3 am this morning, leaving thousands of people, including Temple students, to find their own way around. Something isn't quite right here; let's try and determine where the break in the logic occurs. People who use Septa do not equal people with lots of money. People who work for Septa also do not equal people who make lots of money. People who ride Septa are probably sympathetic to people who work for Septa, in terms of getting screwed by the man every once in a while. People who work for Septa piss off people who ride Septa by deciding at 3 am, before the morning commute, to strike. Well, I think we've found the break in the logic.

So what now? Well, apparently the school is running shuttles up and down the length of Broad Street, although according to people we've spoken to, this BAC post, and this TTN video, they're running late and are often full.

In other news, if you want to read a really confusing article that involves Temple, the military, and clean energy, you may do so here. Something about how a Temple professor is helping the military understand how to get their energy usage under control.

Does anybody know Temple students Kelly Fowler and Erin Fedirko? If so, please give these Yankee fans an earful when you see 'em. Fowler was quoted in this article today saying "half the Phillies fans don't know about the game" and professing her love for the Yanks. She and Fedirko bought $300 tickets off of Stub Hub yesterday morning to go see game 5. Just like the Yankees, lots of spare cash lying around. And just like the Yankees, learning that money doesn't always buy you what you want.

And finally, we leave you with this video of our marching band..yes our marching band..playing Sum 41's fat lip at Navy. And yes, it's actually pretty damn cool and gets a rousing applause from the midshipmen.

SEPTA Strike on a Sunny Day

Weather: And the sun shines on Philadelphia today. Expect clear skies with temps even breaking into 60 right around 2 pm.

Oh and um, SEPTA is on strike. Yea, that would mean no subways, and most trolleys and buses are shutdown. Students who escaped the grime of North Philly for the more "interesting" living in southerly neighborhoods collectively groan.

Good stuff from the Temple Today:

10-10:30: Online audacity seminar: Ever wish you could strip the vocals out of your favorite songs so you could sing karaoke like an idiot from the comfort of your own bedroom? This freebie will teach you how to use Audacity to do just that.

3-4: For all those full time creative writers out there, good luck making money. For all those people who like to creatively on the side, but are busy with other, money-making stuff, might want to visit this workshop in Tuttleman 201. Learn how to write "short short stories," which are probably infinitely more interesting than clever tweets and fb updates.

Other stuff:

7: Celtics at Sixers at the Wachovia Center. Starts at 10 dollas yo.

9-11:Temple's Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association (MEISA) is having a little open-mic shindig at the Draught Horse where they are encouraging the musically inclined to sign-up and take the stage live, Eminem 8-mile style. More importantly, $5 rolling rock pitchers. Gotta fill the time between Phillies games somehow, right?

Monday= Done. Phillies= Not.

The Fightins do their best to give everyone a heart attack, but thanks to Cliff Lee and Chase Utley's MLB record tying 5th postseason homerun, defeat the Spankees 8-6. Now the Phils will have to go back to the Bronx and face 37-year-old Andy Pettite on 3 days rest, followed by C.C. Sabathia on the same. Just please keep Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge away from the mound. Go Phillies.

Other than that, not a particularly big news day.

First check out this article about how congressman Joe Sestak hosted a webinar at the Fox School of Business in which University reps from around the state could tune in to find out the transition to direct lending for all government-financed student loans. What does that mean? We have no clue, but go Temple!

Temple students doing their thing once again. This article mentions how Temple's landscape architecture students are behind big design plans in Cape May. Temple students will be visiting local elementary schools to get the youngsters' opinions on what they want in new parks that will be built. Blank check anyone?

If you're a journalism major and haven't heard about the Philadelphia Initiative for Journalistic Innovation this Saturday, you're definitely going to want to check it out. As seen here, the dudes from Technicallyphilly.com(Temple alums) will be visited, along with a shit load of other successful entrepreneurs. Worried about making money after graduation? Can't say there wasn't anything at Temple to help.

From the Temple newsroom, this article discusses how Temple is hosting latino students from local highschools in an effort to encourage them to consider jobs in the medical field, where that ethnicity is underrepresented. No word on whether or not the students were asked to sign non-disparagement agreements.

Finally, holy shit, Temple football got a vote in the AP poll. That's huge.

In upcoming news, don't forget to look for the latest edition of the Temple News tomorrow. Also, we've got a host of student interviews lined up for this week, so check back daily for those.

Monday is over, get some sleep Owls and we'll see ya in the morning.

The week ahead.

Muundays, big time.


Weather:

Today: 55/42 mostly cloudy
Tuesday: 61/35 partly cloudy
Wednesday: 52/39 partly cloudy
Thursday: 52/36 partly cloudy

Today:

12-1: Want to hear about government's role in energy policy, from gov. official Chris Ross? Of course you do, so check him out in Gladfelter 24 (no homo).

4:30-6: Temple's having a BYOBB??!? Wait a minute, that's too many B's. Turns out it's the "Be Your Own Boss Bowl" competition, where all are encouraged to form groups and come up with small business plans. Here's to hoping a bunch of drunken buffoons show up anyways.

5:15-8:30: Need a quick-pick me up on this awful Monday? Good thing they're playing the "Executioner's Song" for the Monday night film series in Tuttleman 101. Yes, this would be sarcasm.

7:57: Oh yea, the umm Phillies are playing at Citizen's Bank Park. Hey, they had 12 win streaks of 3 games or more this season. Don't count the Fightin's out til the last out.


Tuesday:

10-10:30: Check out this online class on Audacity from the comfort of your own house, apartment, or shitty dorm room. This will teach you the basics, and concludes with demonstrating how to strip vocals out of music to create your own karoke track. Ok, that's kinda cool.

12-1: You know that one asshole kid in every class who thinks he knows everything from Day 1, and likes to voice all of his/her wrong opinions? Well not that was can attend, but it's nice to know that the faculty are working on how to shut that kid up.

3-4: Flash fiction workshop. Basically, this teaches creative people who have no time to be creative how to be creative when they don't have much time to be creative. Got it? Tuttleman 201.

7: The undefeated Boston Celtics come to town to play the Sixers. Tickets start at $10.



Rest of the week to come.

Wha happened?

Well didn't that just ruin the weekend. Things were wonderful at Temple University-- Halloween parties we in full force, with no signs of significant cops/undercovers, football picked up its 6th straight win, in come from behind fashion over Navy to become bowl eligible for the first time since most of us could speak, the 76ers had dispatched the NY Knicks in OT, and the Eagles had put a hurtin' on the Giants. Hell, we even got an extra hour of sleep to beat the Halloween hangovers thanks to daylight savings time (where the hell did that come from anyways)?.

All we needed to make it probably one of the better weekends ever was a series-evening win by big Joe Bla against Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia. The Yankees got the lead early but when Pedro Feliz ripped that 8th inning homerun off of Joba the Hut (does anybody else think this guy looks exactly like Turtle from entourage?) to even the score, you could feel the Fightin' Phils doing their thing. When Brad Lidge got 2 quick outs and 2 strikes on Damon, you could feel the comeback. The Phils would even things 2-2, with Cliff Lee coming to the mound the following night against Burnett, pitching on 3 days rest. Take a 3-2 lead into NY, and anything could happen.

Except of course, none of this happened. What did happen was Brad Lidge, giving up 3 runs and looking like his old Asstro self. We're not countin' the Phils out yet, never will, but god damn if we don't want his head on a platter.

However, there is a world outside of sports:

First, check out this article that discusses how the Union over at TUH is claiming Temple tried to put in a "gag-clause" in their latest contract offering. The clause essentially says that union people can't shit talk on Temple in any way, and it seems pretty shady on paper. However, the University is claiming that it just exists so that Union officials, not individual nurses or employees, can't bad mouth Temple's health systems, as they apparently did this past summer.

Next, check out this article on mental health of college kids. What's going on out there everyone, because it looks like health clinic visits on campuses nationwide are shooting through the roof. The article mentions Temple specifically, as it states that 34 of us were hospitalized last year with mental health conditions. The article goes on to make educated guesses about what is causing it--it's the economy, stupid-- and also mentions that Temple has their shit together because it operates a walk-in clinic. Take care of yourselves and remember: 4 out of 5 doctors recommends the C&W for daily stress relief.

Did you know that if you give kids more fruits and veggies, they'll eat more of them? Imagine that! That's what this study figured out, spending god knows what kind of money.

Ok back the sports: this article served as a quick reminder that the Philadelphia Kixx indoor soccer team is, in fact, playing at the Liacouras Center this year, with their home opener on Jan. 9. Also, in case you didn't hear, Temple's running back Bernard Pierce rushed for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns on Saturday, making him the third leading rusher in the country and putting him up for national player of the week honors. You can vote for him through Wednesday, so make sure you give him your support.

Finally, following in the footsteps of the men's team, women's basketball will also be hosting regional NCAA games in 2011.

Thanks for readings, and check back in a bit for your weekly outlook.

We'll be back tomorrow.