How Bad is the Swine Flu? (Video Commentary)

Things my father taught me- Part II

It is impossible to describe my father's character without reflecting upon his actions. This is why I am sharing the things my father taught me.

It is rare, when meeting someone new and speaking of my past not to start a sentence with "why I was a little girl, my father..." I never realized before just how much of who I am and what I love has come from my father. One of my biggest passions is dancing. It is not a rare sight to see me dancing at every opportunity, even if it is just around the kitchen while doing dishes. At a wedding, someone once asked me who taught me how to dance. The answer? "My father." From the time i was old enough to walk, my father would spin me around the kitchen, teaching me how to keep time to the music and some of the swing moves he had used in his heydays. In high school, track was the love of my life, and my father never missed a meet, whether it was 20 miles from home at the local level or 200 miles away at the state level. My biggest heartbreak of my life came my freshman year, when I was ranked in state in the 400 meter race, but was unable to qualify at districts because I got called for jumping the gun. I walked off the track with my head held high- right to my father, who held me while I sobbed like a child.

My father taught me the importance of support and hobbies, and he also taught me the importance of family. Our family is incredibly close-knit, and my father has been a major part of it. Both parents have worked hard at peace-keeping among our family, but it was my father who wouldn't rest until he made sure everything was fine among the family. Even when I moved away for college, if I got in an argument with either my brother or mother, I could expect my father to call me every day and pester me until I made up with the person I was bickering with. If it was my brother, he would also get similar calls until the issue was resolved. This always drove me crazy, but it always worked. Because of the values our father instilled in us, my brother and I are extremely close and also close with our parents. My father also taught me, through example, several things about relationships. I got to see firsthand the way in which he treated my mother, which was with a manner of utmost respect. Our household was one in which important decisions were joint decisions made by both parents. I never doubted whether my father loved us or whether my parents loved each other.

The most important decision my father taught me, however, was the importance of religion and a strong faith in God. Though he was catholic, my father sacrificed, attending a Methodist congregration to ensure our family would attend church together every Sunday. He worked to make sure my brother and I were familiar with the scripture, even at an early age. When my neighbor died prematurely of a heart attack, my father told me after the funeral, "We live, we die, and everything in between we do for God". I never forgot these words.

It is because of my father that I am the person I am today. When I was younger and foolish, I would cringe and feel insulted to hear people tell me I was "just like my father". Today, when I hear that phrase, I smile, say "I know" and feel truly honored. I feel I can be a decent person because I was able to absorb the things my father taught me.

* Photo is of my family at my brother's wedding

Things my father taught me: Part I (When he got sick...)

Four years ago, my father got sick. I can not say what disease ails my father, because not even my father knows. At the time, I'm not sure what was worse- seeing my father plagued with a disease which could not even be diagnosed, let alone cured, or watching a man who had been vigorously active slowly become less and less energetic. Our family watched with heartbreak as my father slowly went from a man who played golf at least 350 days out of the year, refereed basketball and even played basketball with friends a few weeks every winter to a man who required 12 hours of sleep per day.


Even though I was an "adult" by this time, I could not fathom what was happening to my father. It did not make sense that he could go from so active to so tired in such a short amount of time. His condition went from bad to worse and it wasn't long before he had trouble standing. He would 'bob' up and down or brace himself against whatever he could grab to prevent himself from falling. Once, at a wedding reception, a man who had just been introduced to my father made a joke about his balance being affected by too much alcohol. My father has not drank alcohol in almost 20 years.

My father has been to countless doctors, been "diagnosed" and re-diagnosed far more than is acceptable and changed medication almost regularly for the past four years. By now, my family has almost come to accept the gut-wrenching fact that no one seems to be able to help him, but it doesn't make it any easier or less painful. My father doesn't let us feel sorry for him and he tries acting tougher than he is at times or even downplaying his condition. I think he forgets sometimes that I'm 22 now, not 5 and this makes it impossible to hide the severity of his condition from me. I love him for trying, though. Having a sick father has been heart breaking, but it has also made me appreciate what he has meant to our family. He is our pillar, and I will never forget the things my father taught me.

*Picture is my mother and father dancing at my brother's wedding

Why I was wrong about blogging

When I first heard this class included tri-weekly blogging, I cringed. In my mind, blogging was a lame outlet for drama queens to express their every thought and emotion. The last thing I wanted to do was read multiple entries including boyfriend problems, fashion disasters, chick flick raves, Twilight talk or the phase OMG. Nor did I want to contribute to writing which I feel is not the least bit credible.

This is why I am so grateful I was mistaken about blogging. While undoubtedly these sub-par blog entires exist on the world wide web, the UNK blogs have been delightful and can be put in the category of legitimate compositions. I have discovered the power of using the web to express your viewpoints on vital issues, politics and even the things you love (in my case sports). With the click of the mouse and the stokes on the keyboard, you can voice your opinion on pressing issues, entertain others, critic anything from food to movies or just blow off some steam during finals week.

Perhaps the best part of the blogging experience has been the opportunity to read high-quality writing. While I have taken several literature courses, some of the best student writing I have encountered has been in the form of my fellow classmates' blogs. It is refreshing the read such good writing, and I fully expect quite a few of my classmates to be published in the future. Blogging can be shallow, but it does not have to be. I have enjoyed the experience, and I am glad that I was wrong about blogging.

Still running...

Out of the few things I've managed to love in my life, track my be one of the biggest. In high school, track was my life, but I made the mistake of giving it up so I could follow my at-then boyfriend to a community college that did not offer the sport. At the time I made the decision, I vowed to never look back, never think of track again, but lately it's been all I've thought about because I have come to a conclusion as of late: a college semester is like one big race.

I ran the 800, so I will use that as a basis of comparison, partly because it's what I'm familiar with, but also because it is a fitting race to compare a semester to. When running this race, one starts out strong, working to get into a good position. This is much the same as a semester, when a student begins with enthusiasm, working to be placed above the rest of the pack. However, the race is longer than the first hundred meters, and soon you find yourself settling into a comfortable pace. You find yourself lulled into a false sense of security, thinking this isn't so bad. This is parallel to the middle of the semester, when students begin to relax, organize their schedule and feel as if they have control.

Just when you get comfortable, you go a few meters further and suddenly, the pace does not feel so comfortable. Fatigue has set in, and you find yourself struggling to push through the exhaustion. This is comparable to the phase toward the end of the semester, when students feel worn down, and have trouble envisioning the light at the end of the tunnel. You find yourself wondering why you strapped on your cleats (or picked up your pencils). The reward does not seem worth the means, and one finds themselves thinking, what's the point?

This is the stage where the weak falter, and drop out of the race, or their classes. The strong push through, even though they're undoubtedly dreading the last phase: where you must run harder than ever despite the fact that you're thoroughly exhausted. Naturally, this is the 'dead' week and finals week stage. If you can manage to push through, however, nothing feels sweeter than crossing that finish line. So put on your running shoes and finish the race that is the final part of the semester.

Column #3- The Glass Passenger (A Review)

Andrew McMahon and his band mates are at it again, with a brand new CD titled The Glass Passenger. In the months after battling his bout with leukemia, McMahon has resurfaced with his band, Jack's Mannequin, producing the band's sophomore album. While the band's freshman album was filled with the angst and hopelessness that goes along with being diagnosed with cancer, their second album is filled with optimism and hope. The band's second album's content seems to be in contrast to Everything in Transit, the band's debut album. While Everything in Transit deals with the goodbyes associated with battling cancer, we see the joys associated with survival in many of the lyrics found in the tracks of The Glass Passenger.

Throughout the tracks on The Glass Passenger, the audience is blessed with poetic lyrics which serve as a seeming portal into McMahon's feelings and emotions. These lyrics are extremely expressive, with phrases such as "I'm alive, i don't need a witness, to know that I survived, I'm not looking for forgiveness. I just need light, I need light in the dark as I search for the resolution" and "I swim for brighter days despite the absence of sun, chocking on saltwater... I'm not giving in- I swim". These type of phrases allow the audience to not only experience the thoughts and emotions McMahon dealt with but also give them an opportunity to understand how he felt about these complex emotions.

Poetic lyrics are not the only asset offered by this album, however. The tracks range in both subject and tempo. The listener can enjoy soft ballads such as "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)" and "Caves", but also is offered up-tempo songs such as "The Resolution", "Swim" and "Miss California". The subject matter is extremely diverse as well, ranging from a ballad about perseverance in "Swim" to a tragic love tale found in "Miss California". The Glass Passenger also offers subject material such as the emptiness of hollow sex, insecurities of losing fame even when McMahon healed, survival, love and the desire to help ailing friends. The listener is exposed to songs which are filled with great sadness, such as "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)" and "Bloodshot". However, these songs are also contrasted with songs filled with hope, such as "Swim" and "The Resolution". The audience is even subjected to songs which deal with shallow love, such as "American Love". Those who listen to this cd can expect an extensive array of material.

The soulful lyrics are paired with skilled bass, guitar, drums and melodic piano rifts. McMahon composes and plays rifts which perfectly accent the lyrics and accompanying music.
Jack's Mannequin's music throughout The Glass Passenger is refreshing and original. The music offers compositions which include great depth in an industry that produces seemingly shallow music. The lyrics have meaning and the background music is extremely expressive. It also serves as a reprieve, music which can be used as an escape or method of therapeutic release.

In an industry which does not put a premium on meaningful music, it is rare to find a band which produces music with actual meaning and depth. Jack's Mannequin serves as an oasis in a desert of mainstream bands. So, if you're looking for soulful piano rifts, beautiful vocals and well-written compositions, don't hesitate to give The Glass Passenger a listen. Just don't be surprised to be blown away by the music, the lyrics and the heart that was put into producing this album.

Tips to survive "Dead" week

A friend of mine recently pointed out that next week is "dead" week. This sent me into a mini-panic because I am nowhere near finished with all my projects. So, I have developed a few tips on surviving "dead week" (which is far worse than finals week if you ask me) and decided to share them.

* Make a list of projects due and set goals on time-line for accomplishing them. For example, put "have three pages of my ten page paper done by Wednesday"
* Don't spend too much time on facebook. Getting online is almost synonymous with getting on facebook, so it's only natural to want to get on facebook while being online to work on homework. It's important Never a good situation, trust me.
* Take breaks- while it may never seem ideal to stop working, spending too much consecutive time periods on homework can be detrimental. Good break ideas include exercise or going for ice cream.
* Make time for your friends and social life. Pick a day when you're not completely boggled down with homework and have some fun with your friends. Homework will seem more desirable after you've relaxed a little.
* Talk to your instructors. Most will help clarify assignments and may even be flexible on due dates.

So good luck everyone!

How I survived College (A tribute to my girls)

In an episode of Scrubs, J.D. once commented "I challenge anyone to survive being an intern without a close-knit group of friends". I have found the same is true of college- it would be impossible to survive without a close group of friends. While I have found some amazing friends throughout my years at UNK, this column is dedicated to the four girls who have remained closest and have helped me get through the best-and worst- years of my life.

I'll start with Laci (the girl in bottom photo), who has been like a little sister to me for about 18 years now. Aside from my older brother, Laci's the first person I call in a crisis and one of the people I confide in with issues I don't feel comfortable discussing with my brother. Though she moved to Cheyenne, WY, we have remained close, scheduling visits with each other every few months and talking on the phone a couple times a week. Laci is now married, and enrolled in a prestigious, demanding physical therapy program, but still manages to take time for her friends. Though I've met some amazing people, no one can replace my "little sister" and close friend. While we grown and changed dramactically, we've never grown apart and our friendship has not changed. For this I am very grateful.

I'll move on to Kayla and Laken, (in the top left photo) who are part of an inseperable group of three with me. Kayla and I have known each other our entire life and Laken met us in junior high when our schools consolidated. Our group has not always had smooth sailing, in fact, there were moments (not within the last 5 years, though) that we'd go long periods without speaking or flat out fueding. I think the dissention is what has made our friendships so special, however. After we got through all the petty early stuff, we realized that if we had made it this far, we'd probably just always be friends. Though Kayla and Laken are now married, Laken is pregnant, and both have matured into fully repsonsible adults (I still have a long way to go in this category) we make it a point to continue making time for each other. We see each other every couple months, email frequently and call and text each other on a regular basis. We have already scheduled our next get-together, which I am eagerly looking forward to. Kayla is a unique friend because she is genuinely compassionate and kind. She is very unselfish, and I can count on her to give me good moral advice on even the smallest issues. Kayla is the person I call when I want an answer that has good moral, religious background. She is alway my phone call when the issue seems trival because she always treats it seriously. Laken is special because she is completely honest and forgiving. I can always count on Laken to tell me the truth, even when no one else will or it's hard for me to hear. She also is a big believer in seeing the good in others and giving second chances. These girls have got me through the craziest years of my life, and I love them for this.

And finally, we move on to Shelly (top right photo), who I met while attending UNK. Though I have known her the least amount of time, she has easily moved into this category along with my other lifelong friends. Shelly got me through some of the worst college moments, from going on ice-cream breaks with me during "dead week" (which is way worse than finals week, strangely) to crying with me after my break-up with a four-year boyfriend. It's because of my friendship with Shelly that I've learned how to enjoy college, from dancing to shopping to studying and everything in between. Shelly is the logical friend, who has the rare talent of removing emotion from a situation and seeing it objectively. She has helped me do the same with my predicaments several times, which has helped immensly. She is also a talented writer and I plan on reading her books someday. I couldn't have made it through this past year without her.

So there ya have it, a rarely mushy blog from a hardcore cynic. (Or, as Kayla would say, someone who pretends to be but really isn't. Not sure if that's true, but I love that she calls me out on it).

Why Jon Stewart is the smartest funny guy alive...

Anyone who has heard of Jon Stewart probably knows him as the anchor on the parody news show "The Daily Show". Everyone knows Stewart is funny, but hardly anyone knows he is also dangerously intelligent. Stewart's show will get a laugh out of any American with a sense of humor, but there's much more than meets the eye when it comes to this funny guy.

Stewart displayed possibly his most ingenious bout of intelligence in comedy when he guest starred on "Crossfire". Rather than use that opportunity to springboard his comedic career, Stewart got right to the point, attacking the anchors on their presentation of 'debates'. Stewart accused them of taking a tactic that America needs, but ruin this vital opportunity by play acting and arguing whether than getting serious about the important issues our country faces. Stewart hit home so hard, that the anchors politely pushed him off, using breaks and even cutting him off before he could convince the audience of his point. Stewart still incorporated humor, saying things such as, "Of course you're acting, you're 35 and you're wearing a bow tie". Though he used humor, Stewart refused to stray from his soap box, even responding to the anchor's question as to why he couldn't be funny with "I'm not your monkey".

Crossfire is not the only example in which Jon Stewart speaks comically about hard-pressing issues. On his "Daily Show", we see him mocking euphemisms our government uses to disguise injustices.

Comics are a dime a dozen, but few have the brains to back it up. Jon Stewart speaks about issues which really matter, and he does it in a way which Americans can relate to, and even laugh at. This is why he's not only the best comedy, but also the smartest. In a comedic realm in which all comedians seem the same, it's refreshing to find one that uses their intelligence and breaks away from the pack.

Rantings of an angry Jack's Mannequin fan

One of the most amazing things a music lover can experience is the opportunity to attend a concert. The overall concert experience is elevated when the band is not just any band, but rather the overall favorite group of the music obsessee. I have now seen my favorite band 4 times, and it never gets old. However, this Saturday was the first time I had to put up with a less-than-exemplary fan base. In the past, Jack's Mannequin fans respected each other's space and appeared to have a genuine appreciation for the music.

This is why I was so disappointed with the fan base present at the Jack's Mannequin concert at Sokol Auditorium in Omaha on Saturday. We got there early, and were thrilled with our position, which was about 4 rows back from the stage. During the two opening bands we were left undisturbed, but by the time Jack's Mannequin took stage, fans began pushing forward, knocking people out of their way in order to get closer to the stage.

Now I payed the same amount for tickets as these rude fans did, and I got in line a good 45 minutes earlier to get these sports, so of course I was beyond upset when this began occuring. At the worst point, a guy who was much larger than me both in height and stature yelled "close knit group!" and pushed his way in front of me. For some reason this made me see red. Who the hell was he to cut in front of us? In fact, who has the right to cut in front of anyone under any circumstance? I would never dream of cutting people off to get a better spot, so it does not seem right that anyone else does it to me.

Though a few people had already cut in front of us, when this particular 'close knit group' guy shoved past me, I lost it. I mean, hardcore lost it. I grabbed him by the neck, momentarily forgetting that he was twice my size yelled at him "get back" (the PG version of my actual words) and when all else failed, dug my six-inch heels right into his shins.

After about 30 seconds attempting to beat up the cutter, my brother pulled me off. While I was flailing around in his grasp, Wes yelled "Back off, Kelly- what do you hope to accomplish?! Just enjoy the concert." I respond well to logic, so I immediately forfeited. Eventually, the jerk pushed his way straight to the front, but it was in a diagnol pattern, so he stopped blocking my view after a couple songs.

Despite inconsiderate fans, the show was sensationsal. Jack's Mannequin was passionate and lead singer Andrew McMahon put out an excellent vocal effort as always (I've seen them four times now). I'd also like to recomment Lowe vs. Diamond, the opening band. They were incredibly talented. "Heart Attack" is a great starter song for this band.

I want to tell all of you, don't cut in lines. Ever. It's incredibly inconsiderate and shows a major lack of character. When you cut in front of someone, it basically says "I think I'm more important than you are" and makes you look like a total jackass. My only consolation was that the guy who cut in front of me got my six-inch heels momentarily lodged in his shin to remind him that he's a jackass. Don't let this discourage you rom going to concerts, though- just make sure you wear heels.

Column 2- When Police Officers aren't the good guys....

Ryan Moats was not running from the cops. Though the Houston Texans failed to pull over immediately after being chased by a squad car for running a red light, Moats was not running from anyone. Instead, he and his family were speeding toward the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, where Moat’s mother-in-law was dying. Moats made it to the Medical Center’s parking lot before pulling over and emerging with his hands held up, pleading with the officer to allow him to see his mother-in-law before it was too late.
(Police Video) http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4017382
Moats was threatened by Dallas police officer Robert Powell, 25. Powell used phrases such as “I can screw you over” and “Your attitude will dictate everything that happens.”
At one point, the same tape that caught Powell’s threatening remarks also caught his reaction when Moat’s wife, Tamishia got out of the SUV and proceeded to rush into the hospital. Ignoring Powell’s comments to stay inside the vehicle, Tamishia yelled “Excuse me, my mother is dying- do you understand?” Moats continued to plea with the officer, crying out “She has seconds man, then she’s gone!” At one point during the video from the squad car, a nurse even came out, verifying that Moat’s mother-in-law was dying, and a Plano officer also pleaded with Powell, requesting the release of Moats to visit the dying patient. To this, Powell responded “All right, I’m almost done.” Powell did not immediately release Moats, however, and by the time Powell issued Moats a ticket for running the red light, his mother-in-law had passed away. “I just held her hand,” Moats said to a reporter. “But she was already gone.” Moats never got to say goodbye to his dying mother-in-law. He never got to hold her hand in the final moments before she succumbed to breast cancer. Instead, Moats was threatened by a Dallas Police officer while an important family member lay dying.
After the incident, Moats said he had waited until there was no traffic to pass the red light, which is also shown clearly on the police tape. Moats also expressed that he would not have minded getting a ticket in the hospital, after he was allowed to say goodbye to his mother-in-law. “I don’t know what he was thinking,” Moats told KRLD-FM. “Basically, I was just very shocked… I even said I can’t believe this is happening.” Moats added, “He should lose his job”. Dallas police chief David Kunkle said upon reviewing the police tape that both Moats and his wife “exercised extraordinary patience, restraint in dealing with the behavior of our officer”. Kunkle also commented “At no time did Mr. Moats identify himself as an NFL football player or expect any kind of special consideration. He handled himself very, very well.” Powell resigned and Moats and his wife even accepted the apologies of him as well as the Dallas police department, but Moats lost a moment in his life which he says he can never get back.
When a situation such as this occurs, we have to seriously contemplate the shortcomings of our law enforcement. There should never be a situation in which an individual is unable to say goodbye to a dying family member due to hindrance from an entity which has promised to “protect and serve”. After hearing a story such as this, we have to wonder how many times officers abuse power or prevent those in dire need from getting where they need to be. It is unacceptable to be producing police officers who behave in the manner in which Powell behaved during the encounter with Moats. It is vital to support our law enforcement, but it is even more important for the system to ensure they are not producing corrupt officers. It may be time to re-evaluate certain aspects of police training, such as empathy training and protocol under special circumstances. That way, no one will ever miss out on a chance to say goodbye to a family member due to an officer again.

If you were looking for a nail biting, edge-of-your-seat, intense NCAA championship... you didn't get one this year. The North Carolina Tarheels blew past the Michigan State Spartans as easily as if they had been uncontested.

The Tarheels topped the Spartans by a margin of 89-72, though they led by a margin of over 20 the majority of the game. Next to the Heels, the Spartans looked slow and flat-footed.

REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

In the first half, North Carolina not obtained a drastic lead, but also set a NCAA tournament scoring record with 55 first half points. Ty Lawson also set a tournament record, with 7 steals by halftime. The Heels also broke a 42-year-old title-game record for biggest lead at the half. At the end of the half, North Carolina led Michigan State by a margin of 55-34.

The second half was no better for the Michigan State Spartans, either. The Tarheels kept their game up, with Hansbourgh contributing with 18 points and Ellington adding 19 points. It was a performance we expected from the unanimous No. 1 preseason pick. North Carolina proved to the nation that they are indeed the No. 1 team, and they did it in style, winning by over double digits in every NCAA tournament match. They topped it off with a record-setting championship performance which will not be fogotten by Hansbrough, Lawson, Green, coach Williams, the nation or the Michigan State Spartans.
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Because I have Tarheel pride (A love letter)

They've been in 18 Final Four appearances, won 43 ACC championships, been ranked #1 at the end of the season 11 times in various poles, been home to 8 National players of the year and won 5 national championships.

I am speaking, of course of the North Carolina Men's basketball team. Though many schools can be dubbed "power houses" of their respective sports, none has been more dominant in their field as the North Carolina Tarheels.

Throughout this year's NCAA tournament, several teams were heartbreakingly inferior to
their talent level. We saw teams which should have easily made the Sweet Sixteen fail to pass the first round. We witness teams which had been prophesized to take home the title fall in the Elite Eight and Final Four.

With all the upsets and letdowns, it is a comfort to know that North Carolina isn't letting anyone down or cracking under the pressure. Throughout the NCAA tourney, Hansbrough and Lawson put up impressive numbers, shining brighter than they had all year. Ellington and Fraser have stepped it up a notch, and Green has emmerged as Carolina's biggest three point shooter.

Tomorrow I look forward to watching these boys prove to the world that they are the best team in the nation. Though I don't believe they will pull a 33-point win over Michigan State again (they beat them by that margin earlier this year), I don't expect North Carolina to have a problem with the Spartans. So tune in, cheer for the NCAA and see just why North Carolina basketball is the only sport that has my heart.

*Image from Wikipedia