It Only Takes A Spark...

Hannah Montana Goes on Tour-Dates Announced!

2007-08-10T11:00:00.001-06:00

According to sources such as Billboard.biz and businesswire.com, Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana has announced her tour dates for this fall 2007! Fans may be seeing double when they attend the "Best of Both Worlds" tour. The 14-year-old singer/actress will perform songs from her two hit albums, "Hannah Montana" and "Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus." The release of the latter album in June sold over 900,000 copies and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, topping former American Idol star Kelly Clarkson and "My December."

The tour will hit 54 cities starting Oct. 18. 2007 in St. Louis and wraps up Jan. 9, 2008 in Albany, N.Y. Tickets go on sale to the public on Aug. 18 and range in price from $26-$66. A dollar from every ticket sale will be donated to the medical research and treatment center City of Hope. Hannah Montana tickets can be purchased here! Hannah Montana tickets will sell fast, so get your tickets today!

According to the site, the concert will open with Hollywood labelmates the Jonas Brothers, followed by Hannah Montana herself and closing with songs from "Meet Miley Cyrus." You want tickets? You got them! Get your Hannah Montana concert tickets here!
Don't miss out on seeing the "best of both worlds" with superstar Hannah Montana!

DAY	DATE	CITY	VENUE	TICKET SALE DATE
THU	18-Oct	St. Louis, MO	Scottrade Center	Sat, Aug 18 10am
SAT	20-Oct	Moline, IL	I wireless Center	Sat, Aug 18 10am
SUN	21-Oct	Minneapolis, MN	Target Center	Sat, Sept 8 Noon
TUE	23-Oct	Omaha, NE	Qwest Center	Sat, Aug 18 10am
THU	25-Oct	Denver, CO	Pepsi Center	Sat, Aug 18 10am
SAT	27-Oct	Salt Lake City, UT	Energy Solutions Arena	Sat, Aug 18 10am
MON	29-Oct	Seattle, WA	Key Arena	Sat, Aug 18 10am
TUE	30-Oct	Portland, OR	Rose Garden	Sat, Aug 18 10am
THU	1-Nov	Oakland, CA	Oracle Arena	Sat, Aug 18 10am
SAT	3-Nov	Anaheim, CA	Honda Center	Sun, Aug 26 Noon
SUN	4-Nov	San Jose, CA	HP Pavilion at San Jose	Sat, Aug 18 10am
MON	5-Nov	Fresno, CA	SaveMart Center	Sat, Aug 18 10am
WED	7-Nov	Los Angeles, CA	Staples Center	Sun, Aug 26 Noon
THU	8-Nov	San Diego, CA	San Diego Sports Arena	Sat, Aug 25 10am
FRI	9-Nov	Glendale, AZ	jobing.com Arena	Sat, Aug 25 Noon
SUN	11-Nov	Houston, TX	Toyota Center	Sat, Sept 15 10am
MON	12-Nov	San Antonio, TX	AT&T Center	Sat, Sept 15 Noon
WED	14-Nov	Ft. Worth, TX	Ft. Worth Convention Center	Sat, Sept 15 10am
THU	15-Nov	Bossier City, LA	CenturyTel Center	Sat, Sept 15 10am
FRI	16-Nov	TBD
MON	19-Nov	Tampa, FL	St. Pete Times Forum	Sat, Sept 15 10am
TUE	20-Nov	Sunrise, FL	BankAtlantic Center	Sat, Sept 15 10am
FRI	23-Nov	Nashville, TN	Sommet Center	Sat, Aug 25 10am
SAT	24-Nov	Knoxville, TN	Thompson-Boling Arena	Sat, Aug 25 9am
SUN	25-Nov	Greensboro, NC	Greensboro Coliseum	Sat, Sept 15 10am
TUE	27-Nov	Charlotte, NC	Charlotte Bobcats Arena	Sat, Sept 15 Noon
WED	28-Nov	Duluth, GA	Arena at the Gwinnett Center	Sat, Sept 15 10am
THU	29-Nov	Memphis, TN	FedExForum	Sat, Sept 15 10am
SAT	1-Dec	N. Little Rock, AR	ALLTEL Arena	Sat, Sept 15 10am
SUN	2-Dec	Oklahoma City, OK	Ford Center	Sat, Aug 25 10am
MON	3-Dec	Kansas City, MO	Sprint Center	Sat, Sept 15 10am
WED	5-Dec	Auburn Hills, MI	Palace at Auburn Hills	Sat, Sept 29 10am
THU	6-Dec	Grand Rapids, MI	Van Andel Arena	Sat, Sept 29 10am
SAT	8-Dec	Rosemont, IL	Allstate Arena	Sat, Sept 15 10am
SUN	9-Dec	Indianapolis, IN	Conseco Fieldhouse	Sat, Sept 15 10am
TUE	11-Dec	Columbus, OH	Nationwide Arena	Sat, Sept 15 10am
WED	12-Dec	Lexington,KY	Rupp Arena	Sat, Sept 15 10am
THU	13-Dec	Cincinnati, OH	US Bank Arena	Sat, Sept 15 10am
SAT	15-Dec	Toronto, ON	Air Canada Centre	Sat, Sept 29 10am
SUN	16-Dec	Rochester, NY	BlueCross Arena	Sat, Sept 29 10am
MON	17-Dec	Philadelphia, PA	Wachovia Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am
WED	19-Dec	Hartford, CT	Hartford Civic Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am
THU	20-Dec	Providence, RI	Dunkin Donuts Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am
FRI	21-Dec	Worcester, MA	DCU Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am
SAT	22-Dec	Worcester, MA	DCU Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am
THU	27-Dec	Long Island, NY	Nassau Coliseum	Sat, Sept 29 10am
FRI	28-Dec	Long Island, NY	Nassau Coliseum	Sat, Sept 29 10am
SAT	29-Dec	Newark, NJ	Prudential Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am
SUN	30-Dec	Newark, NJ	Prudential Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am
THU	3-Jan	Cleveland, OH	Quickens Loan Arena	Sat, Sept 29 10am
FRI	4-Jan	Pittsburgh, PA	Mellon Arena	Sat, Sept 29 10am
SAT	5-Jan	Atlantic City, NJ	Boardwalk Hall	Sat, Sept 29 10am
MON	7-Jan	Washington DC	Verizon Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am
TUE	8-Jan	Baltimore, MD	1st Mariner Arena	Sat, Sept 29 10am
WED	9-Jan	Albany, NY	Times Union Center	Sat, Sept 29 10am

Chicago Bears Family Fun Night!

2007-08-06T09:37:00.000-06:00

The Chicago Bears took the field last night with a vengeance at the 2007 Chicago Bears Family Fun Night! After not being back to Soldier Field since last year, seven months ago, when they won the NFC Conference game, arriving back last night brought back warm memories and feelings to the players and the fans. The night featured music, drinks, food, activities, a practice and scrimmage, as well as fireworks for the avid fans. The Bears sold out the event tickets, capping sales at a total of 40,000! The Bears' Marching Band gathered on the field to welcome back each of the players. Standing ovations and overwhelming applause was given to starters Brian Urlacher, Rex Grossman, Lance Briggs and Devin Hester. Runner-ups included Muhsin Muhammad, Peanut Tillman and Coach Lovie Smith. Fans were able to enjoy a two-hour practice and scrimmage. Moments such as Devin Hester returning a kick or Robbie Gould nailing a 50-yarder captured the crowd's attention, where they erupted into applause.
According to Devin Hester at ChicagoBears.com, "It's a great feeling. We couldn't do it without our fans. They come out each and every day and support us. The fans are the ones that motivate us the most." And as it should be. The fans are as Lovie Smith said: the 4th Phase. Without the fans, the team is lacking an integral part of the team.
The night ended with several interviews with Lovie Smith, Devin Hester and Bernard Berrian. Capping off the event was a spectacular fireworks show.
The Chicago Bears kick continue to practice at Olivet Nazarene University until the start of the season. To be up-to-date on the daily practices, check out the Training Camp blog at ChicagoBears.com/2007TrainingCamp_official.asp. The first preseason game begins this Saturday, August 11 at 7 p.m. The Bears will go up against the Houston Texans in Houston. For further dates, check out the Bears schedule at ChicagoBears.com/team/schedule.html. Download the schedule to your Outlook calendar for quick access to the team game dates or print off a pocket size one! Check out the pictures from the 2007 Bears Family Fun Night! Then check out special highlights from the Bears' run to the Super Bowl in my July 25 post!

Gwen Stefani Abides By Malaysian Rules

2007-08-03T09:52:00.000-06:00

In recent news, Gwen Stefani has agree to abide by Malaysian rules and refrain from wearing any revealing clothes at her upcoming concert on August 21 at Putra Indoor Stadium in hopes to not offend any members of the country. A conservative Muslim student group protested against Stefani's "saucy attire and bombshell image," according to Eonline.com.
According to a mobile cell phone company's general manager of media, Rozalita Abdul Rahman, "All foreign artistes [sic] need to undersatnd our culture and at hte same time, as for Malaysians, we also need to have an open mind on such matters."
The article also stated that according the the country's code of cultural ethics, "a female artist must be covered from the top of her chest to her knees; no jumping, shouting, hugging or kissing onstage; no clothing depicting offensive messages or images (such as drugs, sex, etc.); and no throwing things at the audience." In the past, a music promotor was fined for allowing the Pussycat Dolls onstage with explicit material deemed to be too "racy."

Gwen Stefani concert tickets are here! Hurry! Get your Gwen Stefani tickets today! Tickets here!

Arnold "The Terminator" Schwarzenegger Turns 60!

2007-08-03T09:20:00.000-06:00

In honor of my study abroad trip to Austria, I want to wish Austrian Arnold Schwarzenegger a very Happy Birthday!
Happy Belated Birthday to the Terminator himself! Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and Governor of California, turned the big 6-0 last week! In his honor, hometown Vienna, Austria, threw a party for him complete with homemade Austrine cuisine such as strudels, schnitzels and a gift -- the original street number from the house where he was born, Thal 145. According to an article at www.mercurynews.com, officials proclaimed the day to be " A Day for Arnold." His birthplace is technically a southern village in Thal Bei Graz. The party featured a brass band, a priest and 59 people. In an interview with a local Vienna newspaper, Schwarzeneggr said he had one simple birthday wish -- a wish from a Governor's perspective: that the United States (his now adopted country) would recover its international prestige.
He was quoted in an interview in Sacramento saying "My wish is that this great country once again gets the reputation it once had around the world."

For the full story, head over to the link at http://www.mercurynews.com/celebrities/ci_6502810

Then check out the following websites for more up-to-date information!
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com (Movies, TV, actors/actresses and more!)
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com (Self explanatory, isn't it?)
http://muzicspotlight.blogspot.com (Features a select band or artist! Request your own!)

One Tree Hill: Season Five Coming Soon!

2007-07-30T12:23:00.000-06:00

Good news! One Tree Hill is DEFINITELY coming back to the CW this upcoming Dec/Jan with an all new Season Five! After four successful seasons of the drama filled television series, it has been confirmed by Sophia Bush and The CW that One Tree Hill (OTH) WILL return this winter. Mark Schwahn, OTH creator, has planned for this season to go a bit differently than the rest. After the close knit group of high schoolers said their goodbyes at the River Court last season, Season Five plans to pick up after four years of the clan being separated. The season is supposely packed with details of everyone's time away: Peyton in LA, Lucas as a big brother and college, Nathan as a father and his basketball career, Haley as a mother, Brooke and her clothing line, Rachael, Mouth and more! Will Dan still be in jail? Where is Deb now? How is Karen and Lily? Whitey as a college coach? Find out soon in One Tree Hill: Season Five!!!!!

Here's a link to a sneak peak at Season Five as told by Chad Michael Murray! (website is in French, but the video is in English!)
http://montecarlo2007.blogs.allocine.fr/montecarlo2007-106490-chad_michael_murray__linterview_.htm

Can't wait until Season Five? Get your OTH fixes by purchasing Season 1-3 at your local Wal-Mart, Target or through iTunes now! Parts of Season 4 are apparently also on iTunes as well and will be fully released on DVD this coming fall/early winter! Also available are the amazing tunes from the show featuring Bethany Joy Lenz on "When The Stars Go Blue" and "Halo," as well as the ever popular hit theme song "I Don't Want To Be" by Gavin DeGraw!

Other recommended sites!
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com
http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com
http://muzicspotlight.blogspot.com

Chicago Bears 2007 Updates!

2007-07-25T08:08:00.000-06:00

1) Charles "Peanut" Tillman was recently signed to a six-year contract extension with the Chicago Bears. This event solidifies the cornerback in the already dominate defense of the team and will keep him until 2013. Tillman picked off five interceptions last season for a career total of 14 thus far. According to ChicagoBears.com, "I'm glad to remain in Chicago," Tillman said. "I like playing for coach [Lovie] Smith. I like my teammates. I love the organization and I like the city, so it feels good."

Duing the summer, three other players, Olin Kreutz, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Nathan Vasher, agreed to long-term contracts as well.

2) Unlike Peanut Tillman, linebacker Lance Briggs has stood his ground pertaining to contract terms. As of July 25, 2007, Briggs has made significant, positive progress toward an agreement to play for the Chicago Bears. According to espn.com, "there were strong indications the two sides were coming close to an agreement that would end a messy contract dispute and land Briggs in training camp on time." The Bears also offered to remove the franchise tag if Briggs agreed to a specific contract. Personally, I believe Briggs is pulling another Benson: holding out for more money. Bottom line, Briggs wants the same amount of money that star player lineback Brian Urlacher receives. Now, if Briggs wants the recognition and fame like Urlacher than he is going to have to PROVE himself. No team will give him tons of money just for looking pretty. Last season, he played well and was the player of the game in many instances, but nothing will come his way until he deserves it. Play for the money you earn. If he doesn't like it, the Bears should simply kick him to the curb.

**The reigning NFC Champions Chicago Bears are currently at training camp in Bourbonnais, IL for the upcoming 2007 football season. Get your Chicago Bears tickets today!

We may not have won the Super Bowl, but at least we were in it -- this season is our year to shine! Here are some quality highlights of the Chicago Bears you may want to check out! [AUGUST 11, 2007: End of off-season, beginning of preseason!!!]

Hester Returns Kickoff in Super Bowl XLI

Hester/Bears Highlights

Chicago Bears 2006 Highlights

Drew Carey -- Come On Down!

2007-07-24T09:15:00.000-06:00

It's official-- Drew Carey come on down! You're the new host on "The Price is Right!" Drew Carey is officially the winner for "The Price Is Right" new host search! Last night, Carey announced on "The Late Show with David Letterman" that it is "a done deal." By accepting this job, Carey now has very, very large shoes to fill. Bob Barker formally retired last month from hosting the famous game show that filled everyone's living rooms for 35 years. The announcement last night also put an end to the possibility that "The View's" ex-talk show host, Rosie O'Donnell would be a possible candidate for the game show host. According to ABCNews.com, a friend of Carey's told him that "As long as Bob Barker is cool with it, the fans will be cool with it." Barker apparently heard these remarks and said "I'm cool with it." But will fans be cool with it? Carey may be a familiar face on television, but the possibiilty of the show remainining a success is still up in the air. If Carey goes out there and trys to be Bob Barker, it won't happen. Fans will not take to the comedian's funny antics and imitations because he just won't be able to live up the Bob Barker's name nor his legacy. In turn, if Carey goes out there and puts on his own creative spin and doesn't seek to be somebody he's not, then it may be just the show it has always been: Everyone's favorite game show.

What do you think?

Harry Potter Sells over 11 Million Copies in First 24 Hours!

2007-07-23T13:55:00.001-06:00

My previous post last Thursday afternoon stated that the final book in the tremendously popular Harry Potter series was due for release in 36 hours. Now that every fan has had a chance to get their hands a copy, as well as crack upon the coveted book (if not finish it!) the final total has been tailed!

According to many online sources, such as BBC News, the final total of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" sold is approximately 11 million copies!!!!!! And that's only in the first 24 hours!!!!!! The U.S. accounts for 8.3 million, while the U.K. accounts for the other 2.7 million. What was the previous record set? Of course, it's Harry Potter's sixth adventure, which apparently sold 9 million in its first day.

Congratulations to J.K. Rowling for this unbelievable series she has given us, as well as for her incredible success!

For those who haven't collected the series yet, I'll be one of the many people to get the box set in a collector's item box perfect for storing your Harry Potter books!! Check them out at Amazon and Wal-mart! (Not available until 9/18/07).

Check out more current news at the following sites!
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com
http://muzicspotlight.blogspot.com
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Released in 36 Hours!

2007-07-19T10:12:00.000-06:00

Harry Potter fans are chomping at the bit in anticipation for the seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, ofthe hit series, Harry Potter. With approximately 36 hours to go, avid fans are doing everything in their will power to prepare for the book release. Many are turning to pre-signs ups, online ordering or even camp outs just to be one of the firsts to get their hands on the book! FANS BEWARE! You have been cautioned! Be careful about where you go on the Internet now and in the next few weeks to come: several sites seek to capture your attention for Harry Potter affiliated material but in essence, end up revealing spoilers. All around the word, this Saturday will be a day of nonstop reading. True Harry Potter fans will tell you that the moment you purchase the book, you don't stop reading until the very last page has been turned. Tension rises as the days inch closer to the book release, which will tell readers whether Harry or arch-enemy and evil Voldemort will live or die. Let me know how this weekend goes: come back here and share your experience purchasing the book and how you liked it! Just don't give away the ending! :)

Colbie Caillat's "Coco" Due Out Tomorrow!

2007-07-16T13:49:00.000-06:00

Colbie Caillat's debut album Coco is on sale tomorrow! Don't miss out swaying and singing to favories like "Bubbly" (a fovorite of every fan's!), "The Little Things," "Feelings Show" and "Realize." Also, check her out on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls! Get your Goo Goo Dolls tickets here!

The 22-year-old had an amazing start to her success! Check her out in one of my Spotlight of the Day features!

http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com/2007/07/spotlight-of-day-colbie-caillat.html

Esmee Denters -- YouTube Star!

2007-07-16T13:48:00.001-06:00

Unless you've been living underneath a rock or just not a YouTube fanatic, you wouldn't have heard about YouTube's next biggest star! Esmee Denters, an 18-year-old from the Netherlands, recently signed a record deal with Justin Timberlake's record company, Tennman. Now she can currently be seen on tour with Justin Timberlake himself! (Get your Justin Timberlake tickets here!)

How did it all begin?? During the summer of 2006, Denters auditioned for the Dutch "Popstars-The Rivals" television show and found herself rejected. Still believing in her voice and innate talent, Denters found YouTube and broadcasted herself across the Internet with over 40 clips of herself singing different artists' songs. Not too much later, Denters found herself with a large support group of fans and over 20,000 subscribers on YouTube. The young girl has been featured on several talk shows to discuss her instant claim to fame, as well as to perform. Most performances and shows can be found on the YouTube website. Definitely keep your eyes peeled for this next superstar!

Get your tickets here!

Clay Aiken's Dispute in the Friendly Skies

2007-07-13T15:08:00.001-06:00

As many may have heard already, Clay Aiken was involved in a minor dispute last Saturday while on a flight to Tulsa. Apparently, Aiken's foot disrupted the female passenger in front of him. According to ETonline.com, Aiken stated "While sleeping on a plane over the weekend, my foot evidently found a home on the arm rest of the passenger seated directly in front of me. I didn't realize I was causing the woman any distress until she woke me up with a quick hit to the chest." (Personally, was that really necessary?? A shove to the foot would have sufficed or even simply calling over the flight attendant. Where are people's manners??)

The small argument led to the FBI being called in to investigate. While appearing on Enterntainment Tonight, Aiken said there are more important issues to be concerned about in the world than his foot and that while he had everyone's attention, to check out a website to help poor, underpriviledged children. (You have to admit, it was a smart move by him. Even if the foot accident was just that, an accident, what better way to get people's attention than stupid gossip like this and then giving them something to think about. Good job Clay! Way to turn something odd into something positive!) Upon further interview, Aiken said he is fine and sees no more foot wandering in the future. :)

While I have you here, make sure to check out the talented Clay Aiken as he tours!
Grab your Clay Aiken tickets here!

Also, if you don't believe me that he is awesome in concert, check out this AMAZING performance by him at the 2006 American Idol finale!

Also great sites to check out!
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://muzicspotlight.blogspot.com
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com
http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com

Hannah Montana Movie In the Works!

2007-07-13T14:35:00.000-06:00

Hannah Montana anounced earlier this week that the Hannah Montana movie is in the works! The young 14-year-old star said this is a new challenge for her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who has based his career mainly around country music. Not only will he co-star alongside Miley, but he is set to produce the film as well. Make sure to get your fill of Hannah Montana before the movie by seeing her on tour when tickets are available! According to buddytv.com, a possible storyline could include the family revisiting the Cryrus' (and Stewart's) real home back in Nashville, Tennessee. Stay tuned for more updates on Hannah Montana and Hannah Montana concerts!

Then check out these recommended sites!

http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com
http://muzicspotlight.blogspot.com
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com

Chicago Bears' Tank Johnson Cut From Team

2007-06-25T14:40:00.001-06:00

The Chicago Bears have decided to part ways with Tank Johnson. This morning he was cut from the team following another recent off-field incident. This past Friday in Arizona, Johnson was pulled over for speeding and then cited for "being impaired to the slightest degree." This past March, he served 120 days in jail for violating probation from a gun charge in 2005. Now, Johnson was already suspended for the first eight games of this upcoming regular season and possibly reduced to six if particular conditions were, but after this situation, it seemed unlikely. Thus, Johnson was cut.

Personally, I am not exactly a happy camper right now. First of all, after being released from jail for good behavior, Johnson stated that he was wrong and his experience in jail made him want to change. Second, he was a big backbone to our growing team and the eight (potentially six) game suspension was already going to hurt us. Why would he even RISK it??? To my dismay, it looks like we are one man short before summer camp even begins. If we don't get our act together, we may not be back at the Super Bowl. In the meantime, goodbye Tank. Time to think about what you really want in life.

___________

Is Google sexist?

2007-06-19T12:37:00.000-06:00

I don't know, you tell me.

http://gigglesugar.com/258632

Recommended Sites!
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com

Nancy Grace Gets ANGRY at the Control Room!!

2007-06-19T12:19:00.000-06:00

I'm sure you've all seen Nancy Grace and her famous coverages of missing people and top celebrity news. Check out this recent video of Nancy Grace ANGRY at her colleague in the control room during a Paris Hilton jail coverage! HILARIOUS!!!!

http://gigglesugar.com/274517

Recommended Sites!
http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com

How to Get Lots of Diggs!

2007-06-19T09:24:00.001-06:00

You've written or linked countless stories and received the occasional digg or two. Maybe your highest hasn't topped 10 yet, but others get hundreds within the first five minutes. How do they do it, you ask?

There are several reasons why this may happen.

First, your story may just not be good at all. If it's boring or not relevant, no one will digg it. People usually digg it if they like what they see and it is presented in an excellent manner.

Second, it may not be in the right category. Before I became familiar with the site, I chose whatever topics I wanted, even the videos category! Doing it that way not only will confuse people, but your blog (if it's not a video) will get lost in thousands of actual videos.

Third, your story is not unique. I preached about being unique to win American Idol on my TuningIn2Music blogger, and I'm going to say it again. If your story is unique and interesting, it's going to get hits.

Fourth, I don't want to admit it but people may have friends, colleagues or groups simply digging them just for the sake of digging and increasing their numbers. Unless you follow in their footsteps, I can't help you there.

Here are some tips to hopefully get your digg talent going!

1) Continue to look for THE latest news or stories. The newer the better. People are on it 24/7 so stay attune to the news!

2) Search around the website and see what people enjoy a lot. What are getting a lot of hits? I've noticed a lot of people enjoy pictures, funny, amazing and weird!

3) Build your credibility on a specific genre or topic such as video games, movies, celebrities, etc. If people notice your interest or passion in this area, they may be more inclined to come back and check up every once in awhile, and possibly become a regular of your posts!

4) Make friends! Read their posts and if you like them, digg them and friend them. As long as the friendship stays exclusively to Digg.com, it can't hurt right? Connections will form!

5) Get your friends and family to digg it just to boost your name and credibility. Plus, it looks better than that silly 1....so sad!

Got any other tips? Give them here!

Good luck Diggers!

Top 10 Stress Relievers, Plus Videos!

2007-06-19T08:23:00.000-06:00

You usually can find me stressing out. I do it a lot. But lately, I've been able to handle it in a more productive manner, such as working out, reading or scrapbooking. It takes my mind off things. But here's a top 10 list of dealing with stress. It's pretty helpful!

http://www.stressdoc.com/top_ten.htm

Then, check out the following videos of Seinfeld on stage. Even if you're not a fan of his show, I can pretty much guarantee a smile on your face if not a laugh or two. (I find it hilarious).

Recommended sites!
http://itonlytakesasparks.blogspot.com
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com

Candy Cigarettes May Lead to Cancer

2007-06-19T07:49:00.001-06:00

Yes. Those delicious flavorful candy pieces we all bought when we were younger has now been linked to smoking (which MAY lead to cancer!). To make it short, researchers have found that by manufacturing "fake" cigarettes, it indirectly encourages youngsters to purchase the real thing later on in life. Read the rest of the article below and tell me what you think. Should candy cigarettes be taken off the market or kept on the shelves?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070618/sc_livescience/studylinkscandycigarettestosmoking;_ylt=AnmZsx83pKulqwEgAufoAEnq188F

Then come back to check out further updated information and check out these cool sites!
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com
http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com

Chicago Bears '06-'07 Highlights

2007-06-18T09:12:00.000-06:00

I've been working on this blog for a little bit now and I haven't even talked about or even mentioned my HUGE passion: the Chicago Bears. I am a DIE-HARD Chicago Bears fan. For the past several years, I've watched every single Bears game. I actually schedule things around the Bears game, not vice versa. I'd like mention that our punt returner, Devin Hester, really is ridiculous. If you don't believe me, check out this video and then try to argue.

Also, before I forget, the Chicago Bears did an amazing job this year and landed themselves in the Super Bowl. I'm not worried because we'll be right back there..... as my saying goes, it's "The Road to Heaven in '07." I believe it. Do you?

**If you like the first song, let me know! I actually interviewed the band called Big Hit Buda!

Recommended sites!
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com

Get your concert tickets today!

Standing At the Very Edge of a Mountain (Pic!)

2007-06-18T08:49:00.000-06:00

I studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria in the spring of 2006. Here I am in Bad Gastein, a small town in Austria, after spending all day climbing up the mountain....yes, that's right I'm in the Alps! Technically, if I took a few more steps, yes, I would be off the mountain. Tell me what you think! (Click on the pic for a larger view!)

Recommended sites!
(Get your cheap concert tickets here! Grab these hot tickets now!)
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com
http://itonlytakesaspark.blogspot.com

Do Not Try This At Home -- Virtual Use Only!

2007-06-15T12:41:00.000-06:00

Find out what happens when RANDOM items are placed into the microwave....DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

http://www.addictinggames.com/easymacmicromaniac.html

Then check out these other HOT links!
Get your cheap concert tickets here!
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com

You Can't Change Stupidity (Pics)

2007-06-14T13:41:00.000-06:00

Recommended Sites:
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com

Simon Cowell's View on Six-year-old's voice!

2007-06-14T08:17:00.000-06:00

Connie Talbot, a six-year-old British native, sings in front of Simon and two other judges during a Britain's Got Talent reality show. Check out the video below well!

Big Bird On Steroids!

2007-06-14T07:27:00.000-06:00

In Beijing, paleontologists have discovered the fossil remains of Big Bird. And I mean a BIG BIRD! The apparent speciman is about 26 feet long and weighed 3,000 pounds!! That means they were as big as meat-eating dinos like T-Rex himself!

Check out the link for yourself!
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/nationworldstory.asp?id=322930

Picture of Big Bird Here!
http://images.livescience.com/images/070613_gigantoraptor_02.jpg

Recommended Sites:
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com/
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com/

What's Your Car's Name??

2007-06-13T09:14:00.001-06:00

So, I'm sitting here at work when an annoying car alarm goes off for several minutes. Fortunately, it's not mine, but one of my colleagues did have to test his alarm to make sure! Once on the topic of cars, I asked a friend what his car's name was.

Seriously. Every car has a name. Whether you admit it or not, you have called your car something other than "my blazer," "my mustang" or "my Chevy."

My friend looked at me and finally said : "Laser." Clever. (Nice impromptu answer.)

But I want to know what other's name their car. We can make it a contest....see who has the best, original and creative name for their car. Explain if you must. :)

As for me, my car is none other than my Silver Charm.

Recommended Sites:
http://abackstageproduction.blogspot.com/
http://tuningin2music.blogspot.com/

A Home Away From Home

2006-11-20T20:50:00.000-06:00

In the past blog posts, I talked about certain landscapes in specific places that affected me in different ways. I talked about how mountains, rivers, horizons and churches affected my past and how they definitely will affect me in the future. In a way, this study abroad experience wasn't just to add stamps to my passport, but was more of a self-discovery journey. It helped me figure out who I was before coming to Europe and ultimately, who I want to become in the future. I'm so excited to continue my travels, to extend my passion of traveling to other parts of the world and to grow as the person I am. There is still so much I think I can learn from and share with others. The world has not seen the end of me!

The first picture depicts part of my walk to school. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget that path.
The rest of the pictures show Salzburg, Austria in the gorgeous spring time! It is incredible to think that Salzburg features so many buildings and structures that are thousands of years old. America has nothing even close to that! In essence, the real history lies in Europe. We could all learn so much from being there. I know I did.

The "Bad" Is Something Good

2006-11-20T20:20:00.000-06:00

During one of my last weekends traveling the different landscapes of Europe, I decided to spend it at a small town called Bad Gastein about two hours outside of Salzburg, Austria. There, some friends and I decided to climb one of the biggest mountains there, hopefully all the way to the top. I'll admit that I am not a huge hiker fan, but that day I pushed myself to the extreme. I needed to conquer the mountain as self-vindication. Everytime I wanted to give up, I told myself that I could do it and pushed on further. We spent all day climbing that mountain. In some aspect, it also gave me time to think. Since I'm always thinking, this long climb helped me put things into perspective. I was to be leaving for home in one week and I was unsure how things would be with friends and family. I was apprehensive about my magazine internship awaiting me back home. Most of all, I didn't know how I would handle leaving all of my new friends and family here in Salzburg. But instead of dwelling on that, I focused on my climb. I had to do this for myself. We finally made it to the top and the view was just incredible. Breathtaking. It was like nothing I had seen before and didn't even compare to any previous pictures of the mountains I had taken. The overwhelming feeling of joy, of accomplishment swelled inside of me. I had done it. The attached pictures show the amazing Alps that surrounded me. I also took a picture of me looking down the side of the mountain...possibly looking back at my past, but ready for my future.

A "Hungary" Desire

2006-11-20T18:23:00.000-06:00

I had to go to Budapest, Hungary. My great-grandmother was born in Mischendorf, Hungary. Though it doesn't exist in Hungary anymore, visiting her home country meant more to me than visiting any other place. I felt when I got there a certain connection that I hadn't felt anywhere else. It was as if I my great-grandmother was there with me. During my trip to Hungary, I had the chance to attend church on Easter Sunday. Though the mass was said in Hungarian, I ironically understood every part of it. I even lit a candle for my great-grandmother who passed away when I was young. I know she would have loved the fact that I went to Hungary in memory of her. I included a picture of the gorgeous church we went to for mass. I also included a picture of my feet on top of a road cap labeled Budapest. For some reason, I felt it reflected my journey across the world, into Europe and into the discovery of my past. Of my evolution. Having my feet there also depicted that I was THERE. That I stepped into the home country of my relatives and continued my great-grandmother's memory.

At the end of our Hungary excursion, a few of us took a night time walk around Buda and Pest, which are separated by glowing bridges (at night!). It was one of the best moments of my life. I remember sitting atop one of the open castles and looking out over the Seine River and the bridges. It was almost hard to believe my great-grandmother had been born in this very place. I felt a sense of pride and loyalty at that moment. It was a night I would remember for the rest of my life.

An Unforgetable Horizon

2006-11-20T18:05:00.000-06:00

Venice, Italy. At first, finding out that there were no automobiles was shocking. But after arriving there, I could see why. It took nearly an hour boat ride to get to the island of Venice, located off the mainland of Italy. There, shops, kiasks, restaurants, museums, hotels, hostels, churches and vendors lined the brickpaved road. Not a single car was in sight. In order to travel to other islands or back to the mainland, one needed take a boat ride. While in Venice, Jenelle and I enjoyed the Italian life by tasting its delicious food and experiencing its unique customs. The most memorable part was taking a gondola ride! It was so relaxing as well as informative as we took a tour around part of the city. Having no cars around provided us with the peace and quiet we needed after two weeks of non-travelling and living out of a suitcase. It also gave us time to reflect on what we were doing, experiencing countries and their lifestyles that some may never get the chance to do. We felt so thankful and tried to live our last few days of vacation to the fullest. The first picture is of the river with gondolas passing by. Another is of me in Venice and the last is of the sunset (I love sunsets as you can tell!). Looking at the Venice sunset reminded me of how grateful I was to be there. And even though our spring break was coming to an end, we still had a month left in Europe.

Chocolate Indulgence

2006-11-20T17:36:00.000-06:00

Visiting Brussels, Belgium (again!) was an excellent idea! Though we only had a day to make it worthwhile, our main intent was to relax and enjoy our surroundings. And of course, while in Belgium, you HAVE to take advantage of its never ending supply of delicious chocolate! There was chocolate EVERYWHERE! I can officially say, as a taste taster of hot chocolate everywhere I traveled, Belgium has the best hot chocolate; thus the first picture is of the restaurant, Aroma, which sells the best hot chocolate. Really, this should come as no surprise. I have also included a picture of my main connection with Belgium....the waffle! While in Belgium, it is a rule to try the ever famous Belgium waffle....the best I have ever had! The other picture consists of a chocolate fountain. Yum!

A Glowing Rememberance

2006-11-20T17:08:00.000-06:00

After London, Jenelle and I traveled to Dublin, Ireland. I especially was excited to visit Ireland because it is home to the celtic symbol. This is also referred to as the trinety knot, a unity of three pressed triangles connected by a circle. I was introduced to this symbol in high school and ever since then have been intrigued by its meaning of peace, love and unity. It also has stood for a simple symbol of family, or in the religious aspect of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While in Ireland, this symbol was prevelant everywhere we went. In one of the stores, I even purchased a ring of the celtic symbol which I wear everyday. Even the Dublin airport displayed these magnificent symbols as seen in the picture. I also attached a picture of the gorgeous St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin that we visited.

In Paris, I got the chance to take advantage of my new found interest in art. I loved going to several art museums and seeing what I had learned so far from my Modern Art clas, especially all of Claude Monet's work. I also was elated to FINALLY visit the Eiffel Tower....and even got to see it glowing! I attached a few pictures of the Eiffel Tower, one from a distance and one from right under its belly. So many celebrities visit this site and for me to actually have stood there was incredible. Not only that, but prior to arriving to the Eiffel Tower, we were given a brief history on the origin and creation of the tower. Definitely interesting!

Spring Break, 2006

2006-11-20T16:47:00.000-06:00

Spring Break for college students usually incorporates alcohol, parties, friends and sleepless nights. My spring break this year wasn't as such. Instead, my friend Jenelle and I planned a six country trip over the course of two weeks. These countries consisted of London, England; Dublin, Ireland; Paris, France; Brussels, Belgium; Amsterdam, Netherlands and Venice, Italy. Each city gave me a connection that was unique compared to the others. Each place was distinct in its culture, beliefs and way of life. Their differences in style and fashion contributed in setting them apart from one another. I loved everything about each country, but my favorite countries were England and Italy. England, known for its gloomy days, was beautiful during my duration there! It was sunny with a hint of warm weather! I even went down Notting Hill hoping to catch a glance of something in the movie. No such luck. One of the best parts of the trip was actually seeing things I read in history books or remembered from childhood stories. Attached are a couple pictures of the London Bridge and the Tower Bridge located in the heart of London, England. Crossing the Tower Bridge was amazing. It was huge but gorgeous!

A Thrilling Excursion

2006-11-20T16:17:00.000-06:00

One of best parts about living so close to the Alps was, of course, skiing! I hadn't skiied since I was seven-years-old, so it was relatively new to me. The first place we went skiing was at Dachstein West. It was one of the best places to go to for beginners. A few us stayed on the "bunny hill" and mastered our beginner skills. By the end of the day, I felt like I had accomplished a lot! The picture of me in my ski gear with my poles on the ground is of Dachstein West. It was a gorgeous place! The mountains enclosed us while we skiied down its sister hills. It was definitley a place to remember! Another place we went skiing at was Zell Am See. Each of these places were in Austria, except the latter was much more difficult! At Zell Am See, there was no "bunny hill." The paths where winding and at extreme heights. It was hard to believe that something so beautiful at a distance could create something so difficult! This was definitely not the place for beginners. Because of experience at Dachstein West, my friends and I mastered the paths we chose and managed not to break a leg or our necks! Despite our fears, we enjoyed an activity of precision and skill. The attached photos depict the town of Zell Am See atop the mountain and me posing after reaching the top.

Salzburg, Austria

2006-11-20T15:50:00.000-06:00

Living and socializing with new people, let alone be on a new continent was an exciting and scary idea. I didn't know what to expect from living with a host family. Liz and I chose to be roommates. Our host family was Phoebe and Ioan (pronounced Yo-Han) Kloss. They had five children, with three living on their own. The other two, 16-year-old Hieronymus and 11-year-old Enzio, lived with us. When I told friends about living with a host family, many of them said they could not fathom doing so. Yet, as apprehensive as I was, it was one of the best experiences of my life. Each and every day I woke up with the Alps in the background and adventures just waiting for me to experience them. The first picture depicts the Alps rising just beyond the house I stayed at while the second one is of the Alps during sunset. This was one of my favorite times of the day. My room was attached to a balcony where I could sit down in one of the wicker chairs and gaze at the sunset. People say that Europeans are so relazed and enjoy life more free of stress. I couldn't have felt more happy or relaxed than I was at that time. Not many people can step outside their house and enjoy such a beautiful part of nature. I was truly lucky to have been able to be a part of that opportunity.
I also included a picture of one of my favorite spots in Austria, the flamingo pond. Sometimes when I needed to just get away and be alone, I would walk past this pond and just gaze at the flamingos. It was a source of peace and serenity for me; a place where I could gather my thoughts and reflect on my life at that moment in time.

The Arrival

2006-11-20T15:20:00.000-06:00

My time in Germany was an adventure I will never forget. It helped me grow in ways I never thought I could. I made countless friends and began a new chapter in my life. It had only been a week but I was excited to start my time in Salzburg, Austria. On our way the bus made a stop at a local store. There we had the chance to grab snacks and use the restrooms. My friend Jenelle and I were too fascinated at the view of the Alps to step foot inside. I had never seen mountains before! This was such an exciting time for me. I knew they were a spectacular sight, but you don't realize just how amazing they are until you are there seeing them with your own eyes. I almost felt like I could reach out and touch them just so I would be able to remember that very moment. Instead, Jenelle and I grabbed our cameras and took pictures of what was to soon be part of our new home.

Heidelburg

2006-11-20T14:37:00.000-06:00

My favorite city in Germany was Heidelburg. Not only was it a huge city full of bustling shoppers and tourists, but it had amazing bars! It was also one of the cities where we stayed long enough to get a full idea of what it was like to live there. The only barrier we came across was conversing with the taxi drivers or bartenders. Some of the people in the group spoke German, so it was easy if they were around, but when they weren't it was a battle to understand each other. The town was gorgeous! It was filled with houses and shops capped with red-brown roofs. The town was spaced out in long rows of stores, houses and various red buildings. There was an exciting aurora given off by the atmosphere that we all felt. I included a couple pictures of the town with me. Yet, if you ask anyone about Heidelburg they will either tell you about its nightlife or how cold it got! It was so cold while we were there, we froze within 5 to 10 minutes! It was actually painful at times! Still, it was my favorite city in Germany. Looking at everything from the town, the nightlife all the way to what I wore, signifies a positive connection to the special place where lifelong friendships were made.

A Milestone High Above

2006-11-20T14:19:00.000-06:00

Before I left I took a journal with me to record each of my experiences everyday. And I was successful! One of my goals that I remember writing was to always, always, always try something new. I was to NEVER turn anything down, whether it be food, travelling or a difficult activity. While in Germany, we had a chance to climb a staircase and view the Rhine River from far above. I never done this before. Several people gave up after 150 steps or so, but Liz and I kept going. When it came to the point of passing out, we rested but kept climbing. We finally got to the top after approximately 350 stairs! Only a few days into our trip and we accomplished a milestone! I included a picture of all of the people who successfully made it to the top and another picture of the amazing view of the Rhine River. It was so incredibly breathtaking, I didn't want to leave. At time, I don't think I had ever seen a river this gorgeous before! Looking at that picture now reminds me so much of my determination as well as a foreshadowing of what was yet to come during my journey.

Trier, Germany

2006-11-20T13:57:00.000-06:00

Prior to arriving in Salzburg, Austria, everyone in the study abroad group was required to attend a week long trip around Germany. We travelled to cities such as Trier, Linz, Nurenburg, Ruttenburg and my favorite, Heidelburg. Our first stop was in Trier. It was a small town lined with houses, stores and bars. I included one of the very first pictures I took during my study abroad experience. This picture is of several friends I made while I was over there for four months. Sometimes it is weird to look at it and think how at that moment, I barely knew any of the people in the picture, and yet four months later they were my best friends. I grew a connection to Trier because it was the first place I visited, the place I stayed and the first place I was able to make memories while in Europe. To me, I don't think of Trier because of the type of landscapes there, I think of it as a place where a new beginning was made, a new chapter to my life. I've also attached a picture of the youth hostel we all stayed at for the first night. I'll never forget what it looked like and how much fun I had my first night away from America.

Departure Day, January 18, 2006

2006-11-20T13:45:00.000-06:00

Salzburg, Austria. Saying these two words didn't mean much to me last fall. I knew as I signed up to study abroad that it would indicate a huge leap of faith for me. At times, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. The days leading up to my departure, I refused to talk in depth to people about what was about to happen. I was scared, anxious and excited all at the same time. How was I supposed to leave Illinois and everything I was familiar with for the past 21 years (then)? I was afraid to leave friends and family behind. I was nervous about what I was going to see, experience and who I was going to meet. I was unable to answer my own questions of what might happen if I got into a dilemma, possibly a language situation. On January 18, 2006, I boarded a 10-hour flight to Brussels, Belgium. I recall looking out my plane window and looking at Europe with no lights on. Did Europeans only live by candlelight? How much acclimating would I go through? Would I like it? All these thoughts ran through my head. I had two flights and on my second flight over I met, Liz, the girl I eventually ended up rooming with in Austria. Meeting her that day made it that much easier to feel at ease. Once we landed, Liz and I spent time getting to know each other better. We found that we had several things in common (movie lovers, popcorn, extra salt!) and some things we didn't (she is a Green Bay Packer fan! boo!). Yet, all of these similarities and differences brought us together in a world that was so unfamiliar, so scary to us. This began my passion for Germany.

Project Proposal

2006-11-20T13:38:00.000-06:00

In our Literary Narrative class, we had to create a unique project that detailed our attachment to landscape. This landscape can be where we grew up, traveled or found interesting. It may be a place that motivated us to act, inspired us to think or persuaded us to try new experiences. Many may write about the best place they went on vacation or a particular place they spent their childhood years. I would like to reflect on my amazing experience this past spring studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria. I want to tell my story through memorable accounts of the good times and the bad. I want to tell my story through pictures, words and emotions. I also want to share with viewers my time in other countries that I had the golden opportunity to visit. In essence, I want people to feel like they were with me on this incredible journey of mine. This place changed my life. Join me as I share with you a part of me that will forever be remembered.