My name is Jess.

There are no words for this one.

MTV has launched a lyric contest. A lyric contest in which the subject matter of the lyrics has to be on the importance of HIV testing. Hip-hop/R&B singer Common will sing the winner's lyrics.

Don't believe me? Check out this link. http://think.mtv.com/Campaigns/iysl/

I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but this competition just seems silly. Maybe I'm taking the rules with a strict interpretation, but I think this contest may be a flop.

Then again, I could be wrong. This thing could really take off-- if the rules are loosely interpreted. I just don't see a worthwhile song coming out of this.

Somehow, this reminds me of the sort of sensationalism that happened in the 80's when HIV/AIDS exploded on the media and we saw things like LiveAid. I'm not saying that these things were bad. They were actually helpful. I think they really raised awareness about the disease.

But somehow, this contest still seems a little hokey to me.

Any thoughts?

Here we go again.  :(

It's March. Snow needs to stop. Grr.

I know that's not very articulate, but I'm frustrated!

See you all in a few days...if we're lucky.

-Jess

I'm just wondering why people rip on FOX news so much? I don't think it's our local news (which I watch pretty religiously in the morning), but the BIG FOX news stations. I think someone told me it's because FOX is Uber-Conservative.

Family Guy and the Simpsons even rip on their own network. I think I was watching a Simpsons rerun, and they were talking about how FOX news networks are so Conservative, but local FOX channels which play actual TV shows (I can't remember the word for it for some reason. It's early, okay?) that are so controversial.

I was just curious as to anyone else's thoughts on the matter.

-Jess

Why do I say McSkillet Leap Day, you ask?

Well because McDonald's was giving out free McSkillet burritos this morning (with a drink purchase, of course) in celebration of Leap Day!

Because nothing says "Celebrate an extra 24 hours" like breakfast wrapped in a warm tortilla.

So...you could sense my sarcasm, right? Hope so. Actually, the McSkillet was pretty tasty. I had mine without salsa (I have a very sensitive stomach in the morning) and it was pretty good. I can only imagine the sheer amount of calories I just ingested, but oh well. It tasted good all the way down. :)

Happy Leap Day to all!

-Jess

p.s. I posted pictures of the snowburst from Wednesday on my previous blog. Check it out!

I miss blogging so much. But I'm always so busy! I'm sitting at school right now, and the snow is just coming down. So of course, I visit myfoxstl to get a weather report...and here I am.

I now resolve to blog more often. lol. I wish I had my camera cord. I'd send a picture of how crazy the weather is right now.

I'm actually getting sick of snow days!

-Jess

Spiderman 3 was AWESOME.

I'll give more details later, but it was pretty good.

-Jess

Yes, it's true. Regina Spektor is my newest obsession. Typically, I go for current rock bands like Breaking Benjamin, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Used, stuff like that. But there's something about Regina Spektor's quirky style that I like. I like the obscure sometimes.

So anyway if you like her, I suggest searching for her performance on NPR. I just found it the other day, and I loved it. I don't have the url, but all you need to do is search "regina spektor in concert" on www.npr.org and click on the first link, and then click the link for the audio.

If you've never heard of her before, I suggest you google "regina spektor fidelity". I think that's her newest single, and what initially interested me as far as her music goes.

But anyway, I just thought I'd throw that out there.

-Jess

So, me and my sweetie bought tickets to the midnight showing of Spiderman 3 next Thursday Night/Friday Morning. The problem is, we forgot that next Friday is our last day of official classes before finals start. Uh-Oh. I am going to be SO tired(our classes start at 8 AM). But I'm sure it'll be worth it.

Anyone else bought tickets yet?

-Jess

Finally, I'm in the home stretch of the spring semester here at college. I've got about three weeks left until finals and it just keeps dragging on and on AND ON...

These past few weeks have been killing me with professors cramming in tests and last-minute assignments. I'm so stressed out, I think I feel a gray hair coming on. If only I had a minute to take a breather from all this chaos!

I'm sure many other students (college and high school alike) feel the same, so I've devised a few ways to pull your noses out of the books and squash those blahs.

1. Get Outside

Whether it’s just taking a walk during a break in between classes or eating lunch outside, or even just asking a professor (or teacher, or boss, or what have you) to open a window, getting some fresh air and sunshine can really do some good.

            Your body produces Vitamin D when you get out in the sun, a very important and beneficial vitamin. See this link- Vitamin D myths, facts and statistics -to find out more about the benefits of Vitamin D.

            Also, have you ever heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? Also known as the winter doldrums, or just the blahs, SAD is due to lack of sunlight (which is why it is so prominent in the winter). See? Dreary weather (or keeping yourself cooped up indoors all day) can make you feel depressed. So now that it appears spring is here to stay (finally), get out and get some of that sunshine—it really will improve your mood!

2. Unplug

            Everyone knows life is pretty fast-paced these days, and it can really take a toll not only on your mind, but your body as well. So, I suggest taking about an hour a day to “unplug”. Turn off your cell (or at least put it on silent!), step away from the e-mail, turn off the t.v., and just relax. Maybe you’ll just space out the whole time and do nothing, maybe you’ll read a book. Maybe you’ll go for a drive (I highly recommend that one).

            And if you can’t squeeze in an hour a day, try shorter breaks (anywhere between 5-15 min. or so). They can make just as big a difference as long breaks. I use this tip when I’m cramming for a big test, or I have a lot of homework to do. I give myself several short breaks, which makes the work seem a little less redundant. By stepping away from your workload for a short time, you’ll feel much more focused and refreshed when you come back to it. I promise.

3. Don’t tackle it all at once

            There’s a saying that goes, “when it rains, it pours.” Boy, does that one ring true when I get assigned to do three research papers all at once! I find the best way to tackle a giant workload into a couple of main parts (ex: Paper A, Paper B, Paper C). Then, sub-divide the work to be done in each main part (ex: Research, Outline, Drafting). Now you have goals to accomplish. Set a reasonable goal to accomplish for the day (ex: Finish Paper A Research by 8 p.m. tonight). By establishing a more reasonable, smaller goal, you don’t get overwhelmed by the daunting appearance of a large workload.

Just follow these tips and I promise you’ll breathe a sigh of relief! I hope I helped! Feel Free to comment and/or add your own tips to de-stress.

-Jess

Ugh. I hate this cold weather. What I really hate is the drastic changes in weather. I always get sick. I was sick all Easter weekend. My sinuses were literally screaming in pain(okay, maybe not literally, but it really sucked). Thankfully, this bitter weather is supposed to let up soon. Maybe I'll be able to breathe out of my nose by Friday.

But anyway, I didn't post this blog just to whine, did I? No, I wanted to warn the other people like me that get these head colds because of the weather. I nearly passed out Monday morning, and I think it might have been because of this cold.

I was sitting in my Bio class Monday morning, when suddenly I felt very nauseous. I seriously felt like I was going to throw up (which is something that rarely happens to me). I started feeling dizzy and started sweating, so I decided to sneak out to the restroom before I tossed my cookies all over the girl in front of me.

I was halfway down the hallway when I got even more dizzy. I leaned up against the wall for a second, then pushed on. I started seeing blue and purple dots, and I couldn't really see where I was going. After almost knocking over a fold-out table in the hall, I reached the restroom. I grabbed hold of the stall, and the next thing I knew I was on the floor trying to catch my breath. My head felt like it was spinning, and I could hear myself wheezing and gasping for breath. The blue and purple dots were pretty much all I could see, so I laid on the floor and closed my eyes for what was probably five minutes or so, until I caught my breath, and the nauseousness subsided a little.

Thankfully, no one had come in the restroom and saw my predicament. I finally opened my eyes and sat up. I went to scratch the back of my neck when I noticed it was soaked. I looked and saw my t-shirt was soaked too. It was sweat.

This is by far, the strangest thing that has ever happened to me, and I think it was because of this head cold I have, or the meds I've been taking to treat my symptoms. Anyone else had anything like this?

Just thought I would share,

    Jess

Hey there! Just your local college geek here to tell you that it is National Poetry Month. So, I thought it would be neat to make a post where everyone can post a favorite poem, or even something of their own!

So, I guess I'll kick things off with a poem by Billy Collins. It's called "Introduction to Poetry". I thought it would be a good way to start. :)

Introduction to Poetry

I ask them to take a poem

and hold it up to the light

like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem

and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s room

and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski

across the surface of a poem

waving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to do

is tie the poem to a chair with rope

and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose

to find out what it really means.

                                               >

                                                   
  --Billy Collins

Hey there!

So I have to do a 5-7 min persuasive speech for a class, and I'm hitting up the message boards for ideas. I need a controversial topic that's interesting and not overdone.

All I've thought of so far is global warming-- like the other side of the issue-- how some people say that the changing climate is natural for earth, and not really this drastic thing humans are doing. I don't know; that's why I'm asking you! I want to talk about something people CARE about, you know?

Thanks for any comments in advance!

-Jess