The Olympics: my favorite thing that happens every four years (even more than the extra day in February, haha). The one time SWIMMING is what people are talking about. And for the record before I get into anything, I am not a Michael Phelps fan. Good for him for getting all those gold medals and breaking all those records. I will say it was impressive with the water in the goggles, but that’s all I will say about Michael Phelps. I am more impressed with the fact that basically every race that was won, some record was broken. Whether it was a World Record, Olympic Record, American (or Swimmer’s Home Country Record), nearly every race saw some record fall. The big thing was how people were saying the times would be slower because finals were in the morning. Those times were much faster and the pool was fast as well. I was quite impressed. Shout out to Cullen Jones for swimming on that AMAZING Gold Medal and World Record Setting 4x100 Free Relay…..in my opinion the BEST race of the games. And to my favorite swimmer, Aaron Peirsol, for taking gold in the 100 back and in his relays as well. Sadly, I will be tuning out of the Olympics from here on out – except maybe for a couple of things like volleyball and basketball. Swimming and gymnastics are my favorite Olympic sports.

Now, last year in one of my first blogs, I talked about how I went to the Meet and Greets with both the NC State and ECU football teams. Since then, nothing has changed really. NC States was organized and seemed like they put a lot of thought into it. ECU’s on the other hand, while they put some thought into it, they really left fans stranded once again. This year, they had the blow-up games for the kids and music and stuff like that, which was cool. But, the event went from 6-8 and the players didn’t even come out until 6:30. Then, like clockwork, at 7:25, one coach came out, barking at the players telling them to get up and leave, just like last year. Now, they again, left dozens, maybe a couple hundred fans, just sitting there, all for what they were calling a “team meeting”. Now, I didn’t truly voice my opinion on this last year but I am now. Really? A Team meeting? That is something that could wait until the next day or Monday. But, to tell the hundreds of fans who put their butts in the seat and pay for those overpriced tickets every year, that they aren’t worth moving a team meeting for, is ridiculous. I sat through the John Thompson era. If anyone deserves to stand in line and get those tickets, those of us who suffered through those two years should be the first ones. And really, it’s not so much for my benefit as it is for the 10 and 12-year-olds standing behind us in line waiting to get everyone’s autographs or the ones who stood in Skip Holtz or Patrick Pinkney’s special lines for 30-45 minutes, only to be told their wait was in vain. Come on ECU, you can do better than this. Don’t alienate your fans because your coaches and others have things they want to do later that night. We heard all about those rumors and if they are true, I am sorely disappointed in the staff. These are your fans and if you don’t treat them right, they’ll leave.

Countdown til College Football Starts: 9 Days
Countdown til NFL Starts: 16 Days
Countdown til Colts win Super Bowl XLIII: 165 Days

Are those frequent flyer mile credit cards worth it?
Well, the New York Times posed these five questions to help you decide if it’s time to switch to a different rewards program:
Two deal breakers:
1. Do you carry a balance - if yes, then don’t do it. Just work on paying off the card.
2. Do you have kids. Airlines limit the number of seats that overlap with school breaks.
These could be Deal Makers:
3. Do you have elite status? Airlines like that a lot
4. Are you a big spender for your business? Save the points and get pricier tickets later.
5. Do you value upgrades? They can still be used to get you into first class.
In fact, the New York Times reports U.S. AIR has stopped giving bonus miles for the Dividend Miles program who have elite statues

For the full story try this website:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/business/yourmoney/16money.html?_r=1&em&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

Hello, I’m Storm Team 9 Chief Meteorologist Phillip Williams.  I will use this blog for entries regarding Tropical Storm Fay.  As of this entry, Fay has just crossed Key West, Florida on general northward path.  Max winds are 60mph and South Florida is getting soaked.  The National Hurricane Center forecast track takes the circulation center of Fay toward Jacksonville, Florida by Thursday and then turns the system northwest into Georgia as it weakens to a Tropical Depression.  Of course, much can change between now (Monday) and then.  The reason for the late period change in the forecast track is that high pressure is expected to build down the coast and this will help to steer Fay back to the left of the current motion.  This high pressure is a dry air mass that could very well prevent Eastern North Carolina from getting any rain from Fay.  Winds will increase over the later this week because of the difference between the high and low pressure.  Onshore winds will increase tides and increase the rip threats for swimmers.  As of now, I don’t expect problems from these winds unless Fay does something unexpected.

Stay tuned for later updates and feel free to ask questions or add comments.

Phillip Williams
WNCT Storm Team 9 Chief Meteorologist

Opening day at E.C.U. is set for next week, and we wanted to help students save some money on text books.
.
We found, there are ways to legally download text books for free.
one way is called subsidizing.
http://www.freeloadpress.com offers dozens of e-textbooks for free by selling ad space on their web site and on the e-pages.
And then there is http://www.projectgutenberg.com - it offers more than 25-thousand free e-books of older out of copy write text books and classics like Jane Ayer or the Illyid.
Selection is the biggest problem right now, so don’t bank on finding all your required reading. .

Most people who know me know that I’m a metal head.  I won’t deny that by any means.  My brothers converted me to a metal head when I was young.  But those who truly know me know that I’m more than just a metal head.  I’m a music lover first and foremost.  And my first true musical love is jazz.  Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved Miles Davis’s landmark album, ‘Kind of Blue.’ And John Coletrane is by far my favorite jazz musician of all time.  As I’ve gotten older, though, my musical horizons have broadened.  In my senior year of high school, I discovered the Yellowjackets.  I even had the honor of performing for and being critiqued by them when they came to ECU for a jazz festival there.  That was when they were touring in support of their album, ‘Club Nocturne.’ The band has put out a handful of releases since then.  The last release was in 2005’s, ‘Altered States’ on its current label, Heads-Up International. Between then and now, the band has offered its fans a live CD/DVD release in ‘25’ and even a holiday album to tide them over. Now, after much anticipation, the band has given its fans an enjoyable new release, full of great songs in ‘Lifecycle.’

This album could not have come at a better time. It is an album that is perfect for a warm day. A person could open some windows, let in the warm breeze, turn on this wonderful record, and simply relax. It is even great for summertime social gatherings. A person could invite some friends over, and have the record on in the background to help set a laid back mood.

‘Lifecycle’ is yet another outstanding mark in the career of this band. The only real downsides to this album come from the somewhat melancholy song, “Dreams Go”, and the equally contemplative “Measure of a Man.” These two pieces are sadly out of place on an album full of great “happier” songs. They simply do not fit in with the rest of the album. On the positive side, though, the addition of guest musician, Mike Stern adds another wonderful level to the album. Far too often, guitars are used in jazz, and ruin otherwise worthwhile records. But every now and then, as in this release, a guitar’s addition to the band makes the songs complete. Stern does not try to stand out from one song to the next. Rather, he merely accompanies the band, adding his own element to the overall being of each song.

Another surprise in this record comes in “Claire’s Closet.” It is a great song. But it is not your typical jazz. It sounds more like something that belongs in a movie soundtrack about some family living out on a farm. That is thanks to the addition of both a clarinet, and a bass clarinet to the mix. Yes, the Yellowjackets have gone out and done something different on yet another album again. That is what makes this band so enjoyable, and has for so many years. The band has made an effort to reinvent itself from one record to the next, giving fans something new every time.

That reinvention is the key to what will keep the Yellowjackets among the elite of jazz musicians, and musicians in general for decades to come. Jazz, as a genre may go in different directions in the decades to come, but regardless, albums such as this new one from the Yellowjackets will remain as examples of everything that is right with jazz. Perhaps one day it will be used to teach a whole new generation of musicians the joy of music, and of jazz.

Other than tuition, the biggest cost for college are those expensive books.
Your student will spend more than a thousand dollars a semester on books alone.
So here is some information that could help:
• ConsumerWorld.Org says ditch the hard cover books in favor of electronic books.
• That can save you 50 % of the cost per book.
• Try Coursesmart.com which sells subscriptions to digital text books.
• How about textbook rentals.
• You could pay as little as a third of the price of a new book.
• Try chegg.com; bookRenter.Com; or CampusBookRental.com
Here is a website that is good for more information:
http://www.smartmoney.com/deal-of-the-day/index.cfm?story=20080804-save-on-college-textbooks

http://www.9onyoursideblogs.com/images/nct/blogs/hdr_annettenewell_small.jpg” /> WE ASK YOU TO SEND US YOUR MONEY SAVING IDEAS, AND OFTEN YOU COME UP WITH SOME GREAT ONES.
TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH IS FROM “TINA.”
SHE SAYS EVERYONE IN NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD VISIT http://WWW.SAVVYDOLLAR.ORG
IT’S A MONEY SAVING WEBSITE FOR NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS, FEATURING DEALS AND SALES IN GROCERY, DRUG AND BIG BOX STORES, ON LINE SALES AND FREEBIES, PLUS COUPON AND GIFT CARD SWAPS, AND BUSINESS RECOMMENDATIONS.
THANKS TINA, FOR THE TIP!

As we head into the middle of August it’s safe to assume many of us are gearing up for football season!!! It’s also safe to say we all will be attending at least one football party this fall and I have the perfect recipe to share with your friends. Not only is it delicious, it’s another fast and simple recipe that you probably already have the ingredients you need in your fridge. I hope you enjoy… Thanks mom for another great recipe! Go Pirates and Noles!!

Buffalo Wing Dip

1 8oz block cream cheese
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
3 cups frozen breaded chicken, cut up
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Pre heat oven to 350.

Spread room temperature cream cheese in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
Cook chicken according to package directions, then cut into small cubes and spread over cream cheese.
Drizzle over with ranch dressing then wing sauce.
Top with cheddar cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes. Serve with crackers or corn chips. Yum!!!

This summer has been one of the biggest when it comes to movies.  It has especially been a big summer for Marvel and DC Comics, and their studios.  Fresh off the heels of the Writers’ Strike that temporarily crippled the entertainment industry, Marvel and DC managed to release a trio of movies based on their comic book characters.  While Marvel struck gold with Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, DC Comics was the big winner with the long awaited sequel to Christopher Nolan’s hit, Batman Begins.  Expectations were extremely high for this movie, especially after the untimely death of Heath Ledger just before the movie finished filming.  Thanks to curiosity over Ledger’s role, and the immense build up to the film, The Dark Knight has become one of the most successful movies since Titanic.  All the hype over the movie is fully justified too, as the movie more than lived up to expectations.  And it is no doubt that when it is pulled from theaters and sent to DVD, it will set new records for sales in that arena as well.  For the time being, though, I present to everyone out there my personal thoughts on what is one of the best comic books turned movies in a long time.

Christopher Nolan has done it again.  In a summer full of not-so-blockbuster movies, Nolan, his writers, and cast have given audiences a movie that will go down in history as not only THE summer blockbuster of 2008, but as one of the greatest movies in the first decade of the 21st century.

The Dark Knight has been touted in ads, as an action movie.  It is definitely this.  But it is also a deeply psychological thriller.  Heath Ledger’s portrayal as The Joker is amazing to say the least.  Ledger took Jack Nicholson’s Joker, and stepped him up ten-fold.  Ledger made this joker one of the most sociopathic villains that any movie has ever seen.  I should note here that because of this, a lot of parents have complained about how dark the movie is.  The fact of the matter is that the MPAA puts ratings in place for a reason.  Sometimes the ratings aren’t entirely fair on movie makers.  But when a movie receives a PG-13 rating, that means it is not advisable for children under 13 years old to view it, even with a parent or guardian.  So to that extent, parents have no room to complain.  On the other hand, Hollywood and toy manufacturers are as much to blame, as they have been marketing toys to kids that are linked to the movie.  It goes without saying that such marketing strategies are intended solely to get kids to buy the toys and want to see the movie.  So to that extent, parents can complain about that connection, but not about how dark and psychological this movie is.

Now, with that sidebar out of the way, what do you say we get back to the movie itself?  The work done to create Harvey Dent’s alter ego, Two-Face, was outstanding.  At first audiences are teased, and made to wonder if his new persona would be revealed.  Much to fans’ delight, Nolan does come through and introduce what will become Two Face in the next movie in the Batman franchise.

There are more than enough twists and turns to make any fanboy happy. But the fact of the matter is that there are perhaps too many twists and turns.  There are so many that the movie tends to feel longer than its two-and-a-half hour runtime.  The runtime aside, The Dark Knight is still by far one of the best action/thriller movies to come along in a long time.  It is one that even fans of general actions movies will enjoy, even if they are not fans of the comic book universe.