St. John’s Survival Guide: 5 Tips to Surviving Finals Week

Today, December 2nd, marks the last official day of classes of the Fall Semester!

Before we all start jumping for joy, we have to remember that we are not home-free yet. There is still that one little issue of FINALS. Yes folks, that dreaded little test at the end of the semester that gauges whether we’ve actually absorbed anything over the past 3 months, as opposed to just acting like a human seat warmer.

The pile-up of projects, papers and cumulative exams is enough to stress anyone out, even the most organized among us. (Ahem, not me.) But fear not! I have five sure-fire tips to get you through FINALS WEEK in one piece:

1. Don’t Freak Out.

Before you have a panic attack and decide to bash your head in with your overpriced textbooks, just take a deep breath. Relax, taking a final never killed anyone. (Well, maybe in the REAL sense of the word). Stress can only make things worse–if you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed with all the studying, take a break. Go talk with a friend. Drop by the Finals Week Stress Reduction Workshop in the UC Lounge on the 10th. If it gets to be too much, visit the Counseling Center located in Marillac Room 130.

       2.   Find A Study Group. If you find that studying alone can prove to be a difficult task, shoot your fellow classmates an email on St. John’s Central and ask to form study groups. You guys can break up the course material and quiz each other. Who knows, you may even make a few new buddies.

Inside Gate 6:Pigs on Campus

Last week, the Campus Ministry and Students for Global Justice teamed up for an fundraising effort. Members of the effort could be seen around campus toting home-made piggie banks collecting spare change to buy pigs for impoverished South American families.

I hope you all were able to give whatever change you had to the worthy effort. However, the best part of it all was this…

ISN’T IT CUTE?!

Fund-raising participants said the pig’s name is “Serena” but they couldn’t quite agree on that fact.

Students and faculty were allowed to pet her (or is it him?) and I was even able to feed it!

Good Luck to the Campus Ministry and Students for Global Justice in your worthy efforts!

The Angry Johnnie Revisited: Library Facilities reopen

When I came back to school in August, to my chagrin, my favorite spot on campus, St. Augustine Hall (ok, the library) was closed for business. Where was I hang to out? Study? Spend time between classes…Sleep?!

Image of St. Augustine Hall

I clearly stated my dissatisfaction here. The anticipated wait until Mid-October seemed an eternity. Well, the wait is finally over–let’s see how the brand spanking-new library stacks up.

The second level is still not open, however the third and fourth levels are available for student use.

The entire space has been revamped to reveal more wide open space. In the old library, at times it would seems as if you had to turn sideways to walk the corridors due to the number of desks.

Now, the dozens of workspaces have been chiseled down to just a couple of dozen, with some comfy couches thrown in for good measure. On the downside, study spaces fill up quickly.

The new St. Augustine Hall

Study and meeting rooms are still available for private use, and more have been added on the upper floors. The central computer lab has been moved from the middle of the third floor to the left side of the floor and is now unfortunately half the size it used to be.

The bathrooms have all been remodeled as well, and the perpetually out-of-order stall in the women’s bathroom on the third floor is now back in business!

What We’re Loving: Pandora

My Pandora Player

Since most radio stations these days recycle the same 15 songs over and over, Pandora Internet Radio is a welcome departure from the same ol’, same ol’ that is constantly on repeat over the airwaves.
Here’s how it works:
Log on to Pandora.
Type in an artist or the name of a song you like.

If you choose an artist, Pandora will play a song by that artist, while simultaneously scanning its massive index of music, compiled from what it calls the Music Genome Project.

Each song in the Music Genome Project is analyzed using up to 400 distinct musical characteristics by a trained music analyst. These attributes capture not only the musical identity of a song, but also the many significant qualities that are relevant to understanding the musical preferences of listeners.

Says the Pandora Website.
Basically, It analyzes the artist, the elements that encompass that artists music and then plays similar music!

Still don’t get it?

Say, you create a station called: Frank Sinatra. Pandora will give you your Ol’ Blue Eyes fix, and then play songs by similar artists such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, or Nat King Cole. Then you can create a station and whenever you are in the mood for standards, you can revisit it.

Cool huh?

Beyond Gate 6: Bush biopic

Josh Brolin as Pres. George W. Bush

Coming to theatres this Friday is Oliver Stone’s biopic about the not-so-late, nor great President George W. Bush. Titled simply “W”, Stone takes a stab at the unfinished legacy of our current prez but unfortunately, it’s in the can before things started to get really interesting; I’m just saying our current crisis, and intense election season is rife with material…!

Check out the trailer for the film here!
Are you going to see it?

 

 

 

–Lynecia B.

Debate Coverage Round-Up: What People Are Saying

The New York Times highlights the spars over the economy at last night’s debate.

The Political Wire thinks Senator Obama won hands down.

The NY Daily News weighs in on debate. McCain too far behind, they say.

In fact, CNN reports that the general consensus is that Senator Obama won the debate.

Only FOXNews favors John McCain.

Beyond Gate 6: Linkage

Congress is trying again. Leaders in the Senate will vote on a revised bailout plan tomorrow. Good Luck.

Warren Buffet to the resuce. He is now investing $3 Billion in General Electric.  This comes on the heels of his recent “gift” of $5 Billion to to Goldman Sachs. He’s like the business world’s rich uncle.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg thinks he’s the only fit to run New York City. Therefore, he’s seeking to change the law so he can run for a third term. Hmmm…

Janet Jackson is recuperating after being hospitalized earlier this week.

Stuff We’re Loving: Joy Denalane

I always find myself more inspired by artists from overseas who create soul music, than our own home grown songstresses and griots. Why? Simply, because its a testament to the universality of soul-music; someone a world away can reach back into the rich history of the artform, add in their own elements and serve us up an enjoyable and refreshing soul cocktail to enjoy.

Joy Denalane is a German-born R&B singer from Schoenberg, Berlin. Of German and South African roots, she’s combined African folk and contemporary R&B and hip-hop in her career to create her own unique sound. However, I didn’t catch wind of her until recently when her video “Change” featuring another favorite of mine, Lupe Fiasco was brought to my attention via Youtube.

You hip-hop fans out there will recognize the beat from Young Jeezy’s “Go Crazy”,

FYI: both tracks are sample from an old Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions song called “Man Oh Man”.

It isn’t as bass-heavy as the aformentioned Jeezy track, and features a live horn section. Denalane’s beautiful voice isn’t overwhelmed at all, by the instruments and her voice sails over the track. “Change” is what we call “conscious” music because it’s a song that’s talking about important issues like war and poverty. It’s from Denalane’s first English-language album called “Born & Raised.”

Beyond Gate 6: UN General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly Hall

Quite an important event, that has been overshadowed by the current economic turmoil, is taking place in New York City this week: The United Nations General Assembly.

Hundreds of dignitaries and world leaders have congregated here to discuss and vote on important global issues. To a lot of New Yorkers, this congregation is merely the cause of annoying traffic delays and street closures.

This assembly will be President Bush’s final address as leader of the United States and also marks the return of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose appearance last year caused quite a stir. Ahmadinejad’s controversial remarks regarding Israel and the Jews have sparked much outrage and protests. Only time will tell on Tuesday if the Iranian president will steal the show this time with his colorful commentary.

–Speaking of protests, The New York Times has an article on the various protestors who’ve gathered to voice their opinions on more than just Ahmadinejad.

-Lynecia B.

Photo Source

Beyond Gate 6

Well, well, well….

Looks like it’s gonna cost us a whopping $700 Billion to save our economy! Geez, looks like we all better start putting in more hours at work. According to the New York Times this raises our national debt to over 11 TRILLION bucks.

Travis Barker and DJ AM were critically injured in a plane crash last night. Four other people who were on board the plane were killed. Both guys are reported to have been burned badly. Let’s send up well wishes, everyone.