Service Line

Shifting to wordpress

2010-06-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

From this point forward my blog posts will be made to my wordpress blog — http://cwhitehurst.wordpress.com/. I appreciate your continued readership and support.

French Open: Underdogs with a fighting chance

2010-05-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

Alexandr Dolgopolov
This long-haired Ukrainian already has proven he is capable of hanging tough with his 5-set win (3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3) over veteran Frenchman Arnaud Clement. The 21-year-old Dolgopolov currently is ranked 56 in the world, but has a long career ahead of him. His patented drop shot is sure to throw off even the greatest clay-courter ("The King of Clay," Rafael Nadal included.) Look for Dolgopolov to make more waves during the next rounds of the French Open.

Robby Ginepri
Though not as well known as the likes of Americans Andy Roddick, John Isner, Mardy Fish or Sam Querry, this 27-year-old American could make a noticeable impact on the field at Roland Garros. In 2008 Ginepri made it all the way to the fourth round before losing to Fernando Gonzalez (7-6, 6-3, 6-1.) And although he currently is ranked 98 in the world, expect Ginepri to perform comparable to a top 20 player in this year's French Open. He will need to perform to that level to stand a chance at beating fellow countryman Querry (ranked 22) in the first round Tuesday, May 25.

Justine Henin
After announcing her retirement May 14 2008, the then-World No. 1 probably would not have expected returning to tennis just 15 months later. The story of 27-year-old Henin's comeback is a remarkable one and the Belgium player attempts to improve upon it at this year's French Open. Henin is ranked 22 coming into the tournament, but make no mistake about it, this 4-time French Open champion will play as if she is number 1. She will face Tsvetana Pironkova Tuesday, May 25 in first-round competition.

Old rivalry flares in fundraiser

2010-03-12T22:00:00.000-08:00

Tonight's BNP Paribas Open "Hit for Haiti" fundraiser event proved a big "hit." Oracle donated a check for $1 million and fans were treated to a couple of hours of memorable tennis.

The event featured some legends of women's tennis including Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Lindsay Davenport and Justine Henin. The fundraiser also featured some past and present champions of men's tennis including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

The women took to the court first, admist some lighthearted conversation and funny banterings. Navratilova made the most use of the microphones and also proved she could still compete at age 53. She seemed entirely confident on the court. This confidence proved too much for Davenport and Graf to handle; Navratilova and Henin handily defeated the duo 8-6.

After the women swung it out, the men stepped onto the court.

There may have been less talk between points, but on court the men seemed to be quite chatty with the exception of Nadal, who resigned himself to grinning as the other men verbally battled it out—all in good fun, of course.

Agassi was notably the most talkative of the bunch. He and Federer poked fun at eachother saying things like "Is that the best you've got?" and "You aren't that intimidating!" Agassi took a jab at his own partner Nadal saying, "You are much faster on TV!"

An awkward moment did come when Agassi and Sampras started to duke it out. Sampras performed an imitation of Agassi, mimicking his egg-shell method of walking around the court. Agassi responded by pulling his pockets out alluding to the fact the Sampras was a poor tipper. Sampras seemed visibly upset by the insinuation that he was a bad tipper and the next point only made things more tense. Sampras wound up a rocket serve and blasted it toward Agassi, who barely managed to duck away from the bullet.

During this exchange, Nadal and Federer remained noticeably quiet and the contrast between the pairs of rivals became even more pronounced. Sampras and Agassi appeared the hot tempered aggressive rivals, while Federer and Nadal remained collected and respectful.

Despite the tension, the pairs were able to finish the charity match with Federer and Sampras claiming the victory 8-6.

But the real victory of the night came when tournament owner Larry Ellison presented the fundraising coordinators and players with a check for $1 million to go toward those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Philanthropy alive, well in tennis players

2010-03-02T14:08:00.000-08:00

Oftentimes professional tennis players are associated with being wealthy elites concerned more about themselves than others. Unfortunately, it takes tragic events to put these stereotypical views to rest.

Following an example set by the Australian Open's "Hit for Haiti" fundraiser, the BNP Paribas Open will host a "Hit for Haiti" exhibition March 12 that will feature tennis players and greats Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. Event coordinators aim to raise at least $1 million for the earthquake victims in Haiti. The March 12 fundraiser will be broadcasted live on the Tennis Channel at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time.

Rising above the call of duty

Federer and Nadal previously had participated in the Australian Open's "Hit for Haiti" event that also raised money for the earthquake victims. Other participants included ATP World Tour players Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour stars Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Sam Stosur. The players raised more than $200,000 through their charity efforts.

Caring for others

On his Facebook page, Nadal commented on the recent earthquake that hit Chile Feb. 27 and supported those affected. Nadal wrote, "I also want to take the opportunity to send the Chileans a big hug and my support. There are always Chileans at every tournament making themselves heard. Big hug to all of them. We are with you!"

Another player who cleary cares for others is World No. 1 Federer. His foundation, the Roger Federer Foundation, annually contributes $1 million to supporting education in African countries. Federer recently took a trip to Ethiopia to visit one of the Foundation's projects.

When he arrived at the school, the children sang 'Roger, our Father' to him and the owner of 16 grand slam titles teared up. Also during his visit, Federer ran against the school's best athletes in a 1km (0.6214 mile) fun run. The Ethiopian children won in a landslide.

"I've always had massive respect for long distance sports," Federer told Reuters. "The terrain was so dangerous and they ran barefoot. It was impressive to say the least."

"It was touching to see the impact my foundation has had on the lives of these kids. I had a great time," Federer wrote on his Facebook page.

Read more about Federer's trip to Ethiopia here.

Saying G'day to the Australian Open

2010-01-19T21:33:00.000-08:00

The first tournament of the year featured second round action today. The Melbourne Park tournament showcased fan favorites Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal.

Roddick took to the courts first in a match against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci. The match was anything but challenging for the American, with Roddick winning in straight sets 6-3 6-4 6-4. In fact, what gave the American the most trouble in the match was a call by the chair umpire at match point. The linesman called a shot made by Bellucci out, at which point Roddick stopped going for the ball. Bellucci challenged the call and the shot spot showed that his shot had indeed clipped the line. The chair umpire ruled the point be awarded to Bellucci--much to Roddick's dismay. Roddick proceeded to banter with the umpire, arguing his case that he could have hit the ball, meaning the point would have to be replayed--not awarded to Bellucci. The chair umpire held fast to his initial ruling and Roddick proceeded to utter a stream of expletives. Despite Roddick's irritation, he was able to serve the match out, only a few points later.

Nadal's match in contrast had no drama and was even more straightforward than the American's. Nadal defeated Slovak Lukas Lacko in straight sets, winning 6-2 6-2 6-2. Following the match, Nadal remarked about how improved his game is over how it was six months ago, where Nadal certainly struggled to win matches. He won only one of ten matches against the top ten players toward the end of last season.

"I came here playing really well... I think I am [now] in the right way. The important thing [for me] is to keep in the tournament and to keep winning matches," Nadal said.

Illustration provided by Kyle Calandra

Davydenko takes World Tour finals in two sets

2009-11-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

Barclays ATP World Tour Finals featured finals action today, with Nikolay Davydenko easily defeating Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3 6-4. The two top ten players won the most matches and sets in the round robin event to reach the finals. Unfortunately for tennis fans, the final lacked excitement with Del Potro falling easily to Davydenko. Tennis fans will have to wait until Melbourne in January for more professional tennis, as December is the off season.

Not always so serious

2009-08-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

Although typically players are serious about every point in a match, during the 2009 Wimbledon semifinal between Roger Federer and Tommy Haas, Haas displayed an unusual tactic in a hilarious (yet successful) attempt to win the point. Below is a clip of the incident.

Fortunately, Federer, being the good-natured guy that he is, took it very well and even uttered a rare chuckle. It just goes to show that even at the highest level of tennis, there's still a bit of fooling around. All in good fun, of course.

It must be love

2009-08-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

With the US Open looming on the horizon, there have been a slew of television commercials featuring the "It must be love" slogan. Below are the commercials for the top five players in the mens and women's draws respectively.

The top five men

The top five women

[Elena Dementieva's commercial has not been made available]

Western & Southern Master's Final

2009-08-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's premier Cincinnati tennis tournament featured the world's number one and the world's number four, Roger Federer and Novac Djokovic, respectively. The match began with Federer in complete control. The first set ended with Federer on top 6-1. Djokovic was lucky to get on the board. Federer was on top of his game, while Djokovic seemed unable to tap into his typical level of play.

The second set allowed Djokovic to redeem himself and to treat the Cincinnati crowd with a bit of the high level tennis that they had expected to see. For awhile it seemed as if the second set could be either player's to claim, but Federer's powerful shot-making abilities and dominant serve gave him the edge. He won the second set 7-5.

The tournament was Federer's first master's title since the birth of his twin daughters, Charlene Riva Federer and Myla Rose. And for Djokovic, it was the second year in a row that he made it to the finals, only to lose in straight sets. Both players will continue in their preparations for the US Open, with draws to be announced Thursday 12pm EST, live on ESPN.

Two tournaments, two champions

2009-08-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today, both the Rogers Cup and the Western and Southern Financial Group Open featured the finals for the men and women respectively.

Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro battled it out for the Rogers Cup title. While the first two sets proved entertaining, with both ending in tiebreaks, the third set was a bit of a let down, with Murray dominating Del Potro 6-1. The final match score was 6-7 7-6 6-1 with Murray coming out on top.

As Murray and Del Potro were entering into the third set, the Cincinnati crowd was welcoming Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic to center court. Right from the start it was evident who would win this match. Jankovic overpowered and outplayed Safina, who made many unforced errors throughout the match. It only took Jankovic two sets to defeat the world's number one. The final score was 6-4 6-2.

Murray, Del Potro advance to Roger's Cup final

2009-08-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

The Roger's Cup in Montreal saw semi-final action today. Andy Murray faced Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a 6-4 7-6 victory. With the win, Murray surpasses Nadal to move into the number two spot in the world, becoming the first british player to accomplish the feat.

Andy Murray was not the only Andy playing today. Andy Roddick also took to the court to play Juan Martin Del Potro. Although Andy took the first set (6-4), it was clear from the start who was playing the better tennis. Del Potro took the second set easily, winning 6-2. Roddick seemed to rally back in the third. At one point, he had a few break points on Del Potro, but Del Potro was able to defend well, and proved the better player, taking the set and match 4-6 6-2 7-5.

Murray and Del Potro will face-off tomorrow to compete for the $2,450,000 prize.

Nadal's return cut short at Montreal

2009-08-14T23:25:00.000-07:00

World number two, Rafael Nadal, returned to Montreal after taking some time off to recover from tendonitis in his knees. Nadal has been plagued with troublesome knees for a large part of his career.

Despite speculation over his readiness to play, Rafael was able to make a showing in Montreal for the Roger's Cup, where he, along with all of the top eight players, advanced to the quarterfinals.

This round pitted Nadal against Juan Martín Del Potro. Nadal had played Del Potro six times previous, with Nadal winning four out of the six. This time, however, Del Potro was victorious and walked away from the match winning 7-6 6-1 decisively. Del Potro will face Andy Roddick in the next round in the hopes of making the final on Sunday.

Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will also battle it out for a spot in the finals. If Murray defeats Tsonga, then he will take over Nadal's position as the world's number two.

Nadal will travel to Cincinnati next week to compete in the Western and Southern Financial Group's tournament, where the rankings are subject to change yet again depending on his showing.

Federer a father

2009-07-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

Fedex was not the only Fed delivering on Thursday.

Roger Federer and wife Mirka welcomed two twin girls, Charlene Riva Federer and Myla Rose Federer, into their lives Thursday. The proud father had this to say on his website, “This is the greatest day of our lives. Mirka, Myla and Charlene are all healthy and doing very well.”

Jokes with Djokovic and Roddick

2009-07-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

Novac Djokovic, ranked 4 in the world for his tennis abilities, is not only a notable tennis player, but he is also quite the jokester. While on the court, his humor may not show through in every match, but off the court he is always making people laugh. He is known for doing impressions of his fellow tennis players. I've posted one instance of these impressions below.

Not to be outdone, Andy Roddick (ranked number 5 in the world) also serves up some comedy with his impressions on the number 2 player in the world, Rafael Nadal. The video can be seen below.

Tennis star karaoke

2009-07-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

Although this is an older video from Roland Garros, I thought it would be a good addition to the site because it shows the lighter side of some of the bigger names in tennis.

Birth of a tennis toddler

2009-07-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of http://www.celebritybabyscoop.com/category/roger-federer

Next month, Roger Federer and his wife Miroslava “Mirka” Vavrinec will welcome a new addition to their household. It will be the first child for both Roger and Mirka, but with two such devoted and talented parents, the child is sure to have a nice upbringing.

Roger is currently ranked as the number one tennis player in the world and has logged countless hours on court. And his counterpart Mirka is no novice on the court. As an ex-swiss tennis player, she played in many matches, admittedly never achieving the success and fame Roger now holds. However, the expecting parents may just have the perfect genetic combination for the next big tennis star.

With Roger Federer as a father, how could the child not be a tennis sensation?

Rafael Nadal: The Road to Recovery

2009-07-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of fashionista.com

For tennis player Rafael Nadal, the past few weeks have been a struggle. After losing to Robin Soderling (6-2 6-7 6-4 7-6) while trying to defend his French Open title, he withdrew from several tournaments, including Wimbledon, citing tendinitis pain in his knees as the reason behind his decisions to withdraw.

In Nadal's absence, Roger Federer was able to win Wimbledon and regain the title as the number one tennis player in the world. Nadal was bumped to number two.

Nadal then was left off of the Davis cup roster for Spain. Many fans and media were left wondering if Nadal would be back. On his website, Nadal hoped to silence these rumors by answering a fan's question about whether or not he would be returning.

"I will play again... Sometimes people simply talk too much," Nadal stated.

People talking too much can lead to this misinformation about Nadal never returning to the sport he loves. And despite speculation on his ability to be healthy enough to play at his normal level, Nadal will resume practicing on Monday (July 20.) He is scheduled to play in Montreal where he is also the defending champion on August 8. He has also made a hotel reservation for the Cincinnati tournament, which follows the Montreal tournament. Both are hard court tournaments that are important parts to the U.S. Open Series.

The road to recovery for Rafael Nadal has been long and full of baseless conjecture on the part of many tennis fans and media alike. But don't expect this guy to run out of gas anytime soon. Expect to see him in Montreal August 8, looking no worse for wear.

Adjustments

2009-07-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

After careful consideration, I've decided that my blog, if you can call it that, should have a clear focus. I will be writing about what I love, professional tennis from this point forward.

Columbus Zoo Excursion

2009-07-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful Tuesday afternoon when we pulled into the Columbus Zoo parking lot. The sun was shining and the wind was whipping the tendrils of my hair gently across my face. It was essentially the perfect day for a trip to the zoo.
Upon parking the car in the flamingo section, we proceeded hurriedly to the ticket booth. It was 4:30 and the zoo would be closing at 6:00. After we had purchased our tickets and scanned them into the automated zoo entrance system, we practically ran to see as much as we could before the zoo closed.
I had forgotten my camera so I caved in and bought a $12 zoo gift shop disposable camera. Because of our time constraints, we had to pick and choose the animals and exhibits we visited. I was surprised at how much the zoo differed from other zoos I had been to previously. This zoo integrated amusement park-like attractions into the park to enhance the experience for guests. There was a boat ride and also a huge jungle gym playground for children. There was also face painting and caricatures.
Despite our short time in the park, we were able to see a large amount of the animals and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was a successful outing and I am glad that I purchased the overpriced camera so that I can remember this trip in the future. I would recommend this zoo to anyone and everyone who is visiting the area.

Froggers: Living among us

2009-07-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed things disappearing from your house? Things like food, clothing and tiny nick-knacks? Have you ever heard noises in your house when you were the only one home? Well then, you may have had a frogger experience.
Froggers are people that live unknown to homeowners in parts of homes that seldom see any traffic or use. Examples of such places are closets, basements, attics etc.
The existence of froggers explains the disappearance of socks from laundry and the last cookie from the cookie jar. Froggers are also behind the high water and electric bills.
There have been a number of times when I was home alone and heard noises that would be typical for a human to make. Lately, our tiny backyard garden has been the victim of mysterious human invaders. Just yesterday, we discovered some tomatoes had been cut from the garden and the remnants of the tomatoes contained human teeth marks.
So next time something goes missing or you say to yourself "I could've sworn I turned that light off," don't worry, you are probably just coexisting with a family of harmless froggers.

Rafael Nadal: an undeniable champion

2009-03-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching my beloved spaniard, Rafael Nadal, take on Andy Murray in a rather windy men's final at Indian Wells. He won in straight sets without dropping serve and breaking Andy a total of 4 times before it was all said and done. He won in a professional manner, as always. In contrast, Murray became aggravated during the match. This aggravation stemmed from a piece of debris that had blown out onto the court during his serve at deuce point. He ended up losing the point claiming that the debris had distracted him; he yelled at the chairman for not calling a 'let.' The chairman explained that he had not seen the debris and thus could not have called the point. Murray seemed unable to mentally recover and it was evident in his playing for the remainder of the match. Rafael Nadal was just too much for the scottsman to handle.

Some thoughts...

2009-01-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

Ever feel as if it's just you against the world? A series of events has given rise to this feeling in me. It's not bad-- it's simply real.

Everyone is constantly in his/her own bubble and rarely do people cross the threshold into one another's. Sometimes someone's bubble will pop and their whole world falls apart in an instant. Sometimes a person's bubble will expand and possibly overlap with another's bubble. Yet no one can ever be in another's bubble indefinitely.

It's just you, your bubble and the world.

George W. Bush

2008-12-08T16:26:00.000-08:00

I just learned via the completely trustworthy source (Facebook) that President Bush scored a 1281 on his SAT. It was entertaining for me to read the comments posted on the page from various Bush haters. Obviously he has a problem with public speaking, but is it really fair to criticize the president unless one has been in such a situation/position? America's problems can't be boiled down to a single person and personally I think President Bush deserves a break from all of this ridicule. Lucky for him, the break is just around the corner.

Picture from: http://neilbeynon.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/george-w-bush.jpg

Quiero un trabajo!

2008-12-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

Originally when I heard that OU's winter break lasted from November 22 until January 4 I was ecstatic. Now, after about two weeks on break, I am incredibly bored and have been unsuccessful in my seasonal employment hunting. I have applied to Target, Costco, Kohls, Blockbuster, and most recently, Wal-mart. Tomorrow I intend to deliver my Barnes and Nobles and Bath and Body Works applications. I had no idea that it would be this challenging to find a job. I have a reasonable amount of experience and have had no problems finding work in the past. The state of the economy has in all likelihood affected companies in their hiring processes; in fact, many of the employers I applied to have called saying that they are in a hiring freeze. I hope that the hiring freezes will be as temporary as the work I'm applying for or I will be SOL.

Green gas guys

2008-12-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

I have officially counted three separate television commercials for three individual gas corporations including chevron, shell, and bp that claim to be pioneering ways to conserve the earth's resources and find alternative energy sources. I applaud the companies on getting this conservation-themed message out to the public but have strong reservations on whether the businesses are truly practicing what they preach. Only time will tell, but I'm not holding my breath.

More people less resources

2008-11-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've posted on here because I've been busy with classes and The Post. Today in my final Water and Pollution class, Professor Lopez made a comment about how she believes the world is becoming overpopulated and that eventually our planet will be incapable of supporting our population. This is a scary thought and it is one that Professor Lopez feels has not been appropriately addressed because we are afraid of what may be concluded. But with the current depletion of world water supplies and the continued deforestation of our planet, it is something that should be looked into. If we procrastinate any longer, it may already be too late.

If a tree falls...

2008-10-24T15:44:00.000-07:00

Did you know that according to an article in California Newswire, every minute 75 acres of rainforest disappears? Or did you know that every second an area the size of a football field is cleared (West, 2003)? Sadly this is the truth about today’s world and the deforestation that is affecting it. Deforestation is occurring all around us, even in our state of Ohio is some form of it occurring. Dysart Woods is the only old growth woods remaining in Ohio and it is coincidentally owned by Ohio University. And each one of us needs these trees to survive; they are essential to our planet’s wellbeing.
Deforestation is a complicated process involving many steps. It is defined by businessdictionary.com as “intentional destruction or removal of trees and other vegetation for agricultural, commercial, housing, or firewood use—without replanting (reforesting) and without allowing time for the forest to regenerate itself.” D.K. Vajpeyi, author of Deforestation, Environment, and Sustainable Development: A Comparative Analysis, further explores deforestation explaining how it occurs at the most alarming rates in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The statistics for the rates of deforestation are staggering. In fact, from 1950 to 1999, the world lost approximately half of its tropical forests. And each year, an area of forest slightly larger than the area of West Virginia disappears. Deforestation, the destruction of forests, occurs at unbelievable rates, but why does it take place?
Deforestation is caused by multiple factors. And according to earthobservatory.nasa.gov, perhaps the greatest cause of deforestation is the development of agriculture (farming.) Forests are converted to cropland and pasture for sustenance; this occurs greatest in developing countries. In the Amazon forest especially, “industrial-scale cattle ranching and soybean production for world markets are increasingly important causes of deforestation.” Policies in place to spur economic development cause substantial yet unintentional deforestation as well. Ex. “Road and railway expansion projects.” Another direct cause of deforestation is wood extraction. Ex. “Logging or wood harvest for domestic fuel or charcoal.” It also occurs naturally through fires, climate shifts, and time.
Deforestation is caused by a variety of things and happens all too frequently. But what are the effects? The effects of deforestation are large and widespread. Recently Haiti was hit by a series of devastating storms, and the effects of the storms were maximized due to the fact that Haiti is almost entirely deforested. And an article published in Nation magazine stated that the absence of trees in the mountains made flash floods a problem. More than a thousand people were killed and millions were left homeless; which doesn’t include the many animals and plants that were affected as well.
Animals that live in the forests are losing their homes. According to National Geographic, 70% of the Earth’s land animals and plants reside in forests. And every 20 minutes a distinct species of plant or animal becomes extinct. Deforestation destroys trees, which create oxygen (O2). Plants indigenous to an area are being completely eradicated. To better understand the effects of deforestation I have a brief video clip from youtube.com. These points make deforestation better understood, first by its definition, second by its causes, and finally by its effects.
In conclusion, deforestation is a process with multiple causes and effects. To understand it completely one must be informed of its definition, the exact causes, and the adverse effects it has on the world. And deforestation, whether it’s because of environmental or industrial factors, does in fact have many lasting effects on ecosystems. The destruction of our world’s forests is a tragedy and if nothing is done, the results will be catastrophic. In fact, according to a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, approximately half of all current bird and mammal species will be extinct within the next 200 to 300 years. If nothing is done to stop deforestation, my only question is—how long before we become extinct?

References
Associated Press. (2008, September 30). Brazil’s loss of Amazon rain forest escalating. Toronto Star, p. A02.
Butler, Rhett. (2006). “Deforestation Stats.” Retrieved September 30, 2008 from http://rainforests.mongabay.com/defor_index.htm
Deforestation. (n.d.) In Business Dictionary Online. Retrieved September 30, 2008 from http://www.businessdictionary.com
Farmer, Paul. (2008, June 10). “Haiti’s Unnatural Disaster.” Nation, 287, 6-7.
Lindsey, Rebecca. (2007). Tropical Deforestation. Retrieved September 30, 2008 from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Deforestation/deforestation_update.html
National Geographic. (2008). Deforestation and Desertification. Retrieved September 30, 2008 from http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/deforestation/deforestation.html
University Of Texas, Austin (2002, January 10). Extinction Rate Across The Globe Reaches Historical Proportions. Science Daily. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/01/020109074801.htm
Vajpeyi, D. K. (2001). Deforestation, Environment, and Sustainable Development: A Comparative Analysis. Westport, CT: Praeger.
West, Beverly. (2003, December 2). Rainforest Vodka Helps Christmas Shoppers Save the Rain Forest. California Newswire. Retrieved from http://www.send2press.com/PRnetwire/pr_03_1202-rainforests.html

Halloween at Ping

2008-10-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

Last night, my "mod-mates" and I went to the Halloween festivities at Ping (the recreational building at OU.) It offered a variety of activities including a hay-ride to the ridges, Halloween-themed food, a hypnotist, a bonfire with s'mores, and pumpkin carving or decorating.
We managed to do everything except the hayride which required a ticket to ride and we couldn't figure out where to purchase/find the tickets. However, we were kept plenty busy with the remaining activities.
First, we ate some of the Halloween-inspired food. There were buckeyes made to look like eyeballs, worms in dirt (chocolate pudding with oreo crumblings and a gummi worm), apples with caramel, and apple cider. It was delicious.
After we had sufficiently stuffed our faces, we went to the hypnotist room to wait in line for the pumpkin carving. It was a long wait, but we were entertained by the rather creepy spectacle that was put on by the hypnotist and the members of the audience who had volunteered.
Finally, we were able to pick our pumpkins and I chose the metaphorical runt of the litter with a pumpkin shaped like a gourd. We painted our pumpkins and you can judge for yourself how they turned out (mine is the left one in the picture above.)
Once the pumpkins were completed we headed out to the bonfire to roast some marshmallows and make some s'mores.
On the way back to our hall, carrying our cumbersome pumpkins, we decided that it was a conspiracy by Ping to have us carry large pumpkins across campus, ultimately forcing us to work out our pitiful arm muscles.
It was well after 12 by the time we returned home and I had to be up by eight to make it to my community service project I had signed up for. So I went straight to bed, but couldn't sleep and wound up watching two hours of Cesar Milan's The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. What a great show.

Juice Pong: The Minor's Alternative

2008-09-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

Getting drunk, wasted, trashed, hammered, intoxicated, smashed, or however one would like to put it, is not my idea of an ideal time. For starters, I am 18 years old and thus it is illegal for me to consume alcohol. Secondly, I don't need alcohol to have a good time--however "uncool" that may make me. It is amazing to me the amount of underage drinking that occurs at OU. I know it's "college" and it's "supposed" to be that way, but I had no idea that it would be so hard to find people that could have a good time without drinking. Last night however, I spent my night with some people and had a great time. And the only hangover that occurred the next morning was a sugar one.
We wanted to do something that was fun and reminiscent to the games that were being played at all the frat houses, so we set up a juice pong table in our mod. And with non-alcoholic beverages, we had the best time of it. Although I wouldn't recommend playing with energy drink at 2:00 in the morning. We still had a blast, and had one sober.

Geology Club

2008-09-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

Today I was excited because I found out that Ohio University has a geology club. I am interested in what one could possibly do/accomplish in a club devoted entirely to geology, but I assume there must be some substance to it or there would not be the $5 "dues." After discovering this club, I looked up more information via the web and realized that it conflicted with one of my classes. The club meets Mondays at 6:00 (according to the website) and I have class from 5-7. Ironically enough, it is my geology class that poses the scheduling dilemma. I'll just have to wait until next quarter to become a geo club member.

Wedding Weekend

2008-09-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend I returned home for my previous co-worker and good friend Angie's wedding. I wish I had some photos to post, but unfortunately I left my camera in my dorm. The ceremony itself was short and sweet, with the bride and bridesmaids all breaking down in tears. The reception was beautiful, the tables had amazing glass centerpieces complete with flowers to match the wedding colors (purple, white, black, and silver) and clear rocks at the base. Of course the dancing was the highlight of the night, with adults and kids alike boogying until the last call was given. All in all, it was a wonderful event and I wish them all the best for their futures together as man in wife. I only hope that one day I can be so lucky.

Photographs Capture Memories

2008-09-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

I was going through my camera today and I came across pictures that I had taken at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota two years previous. Because of the quantity of pictures that I had taken, I hadn't been able to experience the beauty that was captured in this photograph until now. The percentage of wild horses left in our world is minuscule and I was fortunate enough to experience this rarity first-hand. Life is forever changing and it's important to take snapshots to catalogue and remind yourself of events from the past. Only then, can one experience and appreciate the present.

A "Treemendous" Tragedy

2008-09-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

Today I learned of a troubling statistic concerning Ohio's forests from my Geology 231 course instructor Dr. Dina Lopez. Apparently, Dysart Woods is the only remaining old growth forest in Ohio. Wikipedia describes an old growth forest as "a type of forest that has attained great age and so exhibits unique biological features." The forest is owned by Ohio University and has been declared a National Natural Landmark. Despite this designation, the Ohio Valley Coal Company (OVCC) is mining the coal beneath the forest, potentially endangering the pristine forest. It amazes me that even though Dysart Woods has been called a National Natural Landmark, it is still in danger of facing pollution that inevitably comes with the mining of coal. I also cannot fathom how OU could permit this to happen. The bottom line is that this forest is the last of its kind in Ohio and it is obvious that this fact has been disregarded by the OVCC and for that matter, OU. When did financial prosperity begin to take precedence over the environment's well-being? It disgusts me.

Sources:
http://dysartwoods.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_growth_forest