Airport Fun

Tomorrow I am flying home for the weekend. I really enjoy flying. That’s probably kinda weird, I know, but it’s relaxing to me.  The idea of going somewhere different and new is exciting, even if it’s home.

From the start, when I go through security and pass the annoying TSA security checker its like a new world; a world where everyone is rushing, to be early, because they’re late, or because they’re so busy. 

I like people watching at airports. I buy a coffee if its morning, or a beer or cocktail if it’s the evening, and sit at the bar facing the concourse and watch the people pass by. People at airports dress in extremes; they either dress really badly or to the nines. I like watching the people dressed poorly the most. If they’re American, they are probably wearing white New Balance sneakers, badly fitting jeans, and a T-shirt that says something like “I survived the Grand Caynon” or “The Florida Keys: A small fishing village with a big drinking problem.” Bad shirts like that. If they’re foreign, they’re most likely wearing a velvet sweatsuit or Ed Hardy like clothes.

Besides people watching I like being at the airport because it gives me time to think. When I travel alone, I have plenty of time to sit and reflect on where I’m going and where I’m coming from, both figuratively and quite literally. It’s an interesting perspective. There are most likely positives and negatives to where you’re going and where you’re coming from. 

This weekend when I’m traveling, I’ll have plenty of time to people watch and think. I recommend that next time you fly, which might be over Christmas break, that you take the time to try to enjoy the experience at the airport. Watch people, reflect, and most of all, where ever your’re going, DON’T BUY A TACKY T-SHIRT!


-Calvin Lescault 

An Alternative Thanksgiving Break

Over Thanksgiving break most people go home to see their families. It’s a time of relaxation, food, family, friends, et cetra. This thanksgiving however, I decided to do something different. I went to New Orleans with Queens on a service project.

There were seventeen other Queens students who decided to experience this alternative Thanksgiving break. Some students were international, and couldn’t have gone home even if they didn’t go on the trip. Others had been every year they had been at Queens. For me, and most of the other students, this was our first Thanksgiving away from home.

It turned out to be one of the best Thanksgivings for all of us. The service trip works with a group in New Orleans called the St. Bernard Project. They rebuild houses that were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina seven years ago. Yeah, there are still families that haven’t moved back home since 2004. That was eye opening to us too.

We were split in to groups at different work sites. At my worksite, we put drywall up in almost every room of the families house. It was a very rewarding feeling. We accomplished so much the week we were there, that the worksite supervisor now felt that the family would be able to move back in by Christmas.

Besides the work we did, we cooked dinner every night and ate together, family style. The group that I went down with really did become family. We bonded together so well, the group couldn’t have been better picked. We hung out every night in the living room, playing cards, or talking, just sharing life with each other. 

By the time the week was over, and we were packing back up the van, no one wanted to go back to Charlotte (no offense Queens friends). The trip was so great, we really did leave a part of ourselves in NOLA. We all want to back and help some more. It was a great way to spend Thanksgiving break and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. 

-Calvin Lescault

The Travel Bug

The travel bug. You know that feeling you get when you’ve been in one place too long and are ready to go somewhere new? Yeah, me too, cause I’ve got it.

Last fall, my junior year, I did an independent semester abroad and lived in Florence, Italy. While I was there I only had class Monday through Thursday, so every three day weekend I would travel. Over my semester I traveled extensively throughout Italy, to Slovenia, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain twice, and to the Vatican.

I was constantly in a new place, whether that was exploring Florence, or literally hopping off a train in a new city and wandering for a weekend, I was traveling!

Then, last May, I went on JBIP with Queens.  My trip was originally supposed to go to Israel, but as the trip got closer, Queens felt that it was too dangerous to send students there. Instead we went to Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Croatia. I had no expectations for this trip because it was thrown together and I wasn’t familiar with those countries. But I was traveling! That’s all I wanted to be doing.

We arrived and in the cities we visited were beautiful and different. It was a Muslim based culture, and not a Christian. It was great to experience new cultural diversity. It was also tragic, as Bosnia had not yet recovered from a terrible war in the 1990’s.

After JBIP, a friend and I extended our travels to Germany (again), Austria (again), and Switzerland. All the new cities we visited were wonderful. We couch surfed in Zurich, Switzerland, which meant we emailed a local resident and asked if we could sleep on his couch for free. It’s a great social media site and we still keep in touch with our host today.

Needless to say, my last calendar year has been full of traveling. Now I am 6 months removed from my last trip and I am restless and ready to move again. I would appreciate if anyone would consider donating to the Calvin Travel fund (haha only kidding), or recommend a new place to visit!







-Calvin Lescault

A State of Trance

 

     Music. It’s the first thing I turn on in the mornings, it’s the first thing I turn on in my car, it’s even on right now as I type this. However, my preference in music might be a little different than most people. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate on any other style of music; it’s expression and everyone should have that. I’ve been listening to trance, progressive, vocal trance, drum & bass, electronic, etc. All of these sub-genres would fall under Electronic Dance Music, EDM. No, I don’t listen to dubstep. Please don’t mistake dubstep for any of the genres previously listed. I’m not hating on dubstep, I just don’t like how a lot of people mistake it for some other genre - as they all have their own style. Some of the artists I admire are: Above & Beyond, Armin Van Buuren, Super8 & Tab, ATB, Gareth Emery, Sander Van Doorn, Markus Schulz, Mat Zo, and the list could go on including record labels such as: Anjunabeats, which is owned by Above & Beyond, they tend to sign some truly talented artists, Armada, owned by Armin Van Buuren, he also signs some truly amazing artists, also Adrian Raz Recordings, Kontor Records, Euphonic Records, etc.

     Now this passion for EDM music has recently got me into DJ’ing. I thought to myself, if I have a passion for the music I should learn how to DJ. Starting early this year I went all out. I bought Virtual DJ PRO for my mac; virtual DJ in my opinion is one of the better interfaces to use to DJ with. I also started with a small mixer by Numark DJ2GO but recently upgraded since I started to get better to Numark Mixtrack PRO with a built in sound card, enabling me to plug my speakers and headphones into it. I also purchased monitors (speakers) recently; I went with a brand called KRK. From them I purchased two six-inch powered 2-way monitors. It would have been nice to purchase larger ones but I’ve already received some noise complaints at my apartment. Which is okay because I generally play at a few of my friend’s houses. I had headphones at one point in time, they weren’t the best but I’m saving my cash to purchase headphones by Sennheiser. I didn’t really realize how expensive some of this equipment could cost, especially some of the high-end turntables, those are outrageous - maybe one day but for now I’ll settle for the amazing equipment I already have. It feels great to DJ because how how I can create sets to play, knowing what sounds good, challenging myself to get better is always fun too. There is almost a science behind knowing how to mix and what sounds good together, mix-matching tracks running with the same ‘minor’ and then not with the same ‘minor’. All-in-all I love to play the music I have had a passion for ever since I could even remember listening to music!

Look for a video soon...!!!

Krisztian Martin 

When car shopping...

Welcome back and thank you for minding us, even though we’ve explicitly told you not to in the title of this page.  I’ve recently found myself browsing the Internet, sifting through thousands of listings of automobiles up for sale.  One thing you will not find a shortage of when shopping for cars is options.  This however, can be a good and bad thing.  I’ve decided to share with you a few of my personal tricks to narrowing down the abundance of listings.

First, you should have an idea of what you’re looking for.  I like to think of myself as pretty well informed about most of the cars that are on the street today, so for me this might be a little easier than it is for you.  I recommend that you browse all different types of cars when you begin shopping to get a general idea for the type of vehicle you’re looking for.  Once you know whether you’re looking for a car, truck, suv, coupe or sedan you should then start narrowing down the make and models.

Second, narrow it down.  Once you can identify what style you’re interested in the process becomes a bit easier.  I personally, will never buy a coupe because I can’t stand trying to squeeze people in tiny backseats and having to readjust the driver’s seat each and every time.  By narrowing down the style you get a bit closer to that “perfect fit” for you.  Once you’ve got an idea that you’ll never get a coupe and are in the market for a sedan, then it’s time to start really researching different make and models.

            Next step, do you’re research.  The most important thing you can do when shopping for a car, is to arm yourself with knowledge before you step foot on a sales lot.  A car salesman is like a shark, and when someone steps onto their lot with no idea as to what each vehicle has to offer, they smell the blood in the water.  At this point you should have compared several comparable make and models to see which ones offer the features that you’re looking for.  You shouldn’t need to talk to that pesky salesman unless you’re asking for the keys to take it for a spin or to say “I’ll take it!” 

            Last but definitely not least, take it for a spin.  While you should have a pretty good idea as to what car is right for you by doing your research, the only way to know which one is right for you is to drive it.  I firmly believe that you’ll know the right one before you get it off of the lot on your test-drive, you’ll know it’s the one as soon as your foot hits the gas pedal.  If you don’t feel like you’re at home when you hit that pedal, you should keep looking. 

            Cars are a huge investment, and most of us plan to keep them for quite some time.  Choosing a car isn’t a quick decision; it should take some delicate thought before you sit down to sign off on it.  Take a few test-drives, and don’t be afraid to test out a few cars that you may not even be considering purchasing just to see what’s out there, or just to see why that sticker price is so outrageously extravagant.  The most important advice I can give you is to relax, and enjoy the car buying experience.  Take you’re time, move at your own pace, and don’t settle on anything that isn’t up to your liking.

Jeremy Bugbee

Holiday Cheer on a College Budget

Being away from home leading up the holidays can be depressing. Most people would rather be at home for the entire holiday season, but there are plenty of things that you can do in your dorm to experience some Holiday Cheer. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, The birth of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or anything else, the holiday season should be the happiest of all. If nothing else, it’s just an excuse to light up entire houses at night so they look tacky and awesome.

                So, to experience holiday cheer on a college budget, head to your local Dollar Tree first. They have stockings, decorations, and even fake snow in a can! Ok, don’t get the fake snow… it’s terrible. BUT, they do have all the small stuff that you will need to make your dorm look less like the Grinch’s cave and more like the North Pole.

                Once you have all the small things, which should cost no more than $12.57, it’s time for some lights. Stringing up 400 lights in your dorm room simply makes you feel happier. It also feels good to run up Queen’s electric bill after they put in all those stupid speed bumps. For my light fixtures, I went to Big Lots. While the prices for the smaller things may be a bit more than at a dollar store, you can buy a disturbing amount of lights for $15. Also, 8 foot tall inflatable penguins and Santa Clauses are on sale for $25, so make sure you pick up one of those too.

                In my dorm, we have lights and garland on all the walls, the ceilings, and our doors. Our room is lit exclusively by holiday cheer, and it feels grand. We also moved our refrigerator into the shower room to make room for the giant Santa I talked about before. He has a pile of fake snow next to him, but as I said before, do not waste your money on that, it’s pretty pathetic. We used our extra lights on the outside of our window in South, so next time you walk by at night, look up at them and sing a carol or  do something else holiday-related (caroling is preferred). This holiday season, try some of these ideas out and DON’T BE A SCROOGE!!!!

- Eric Richard

Stream-of-Consciousness Post

So here we are, writing exactly what comes into my head as it appears. HELICOPTERS!!! Ooh, that was fun. I think I’m going to like this. This will also make my post go by a lot faster, since I am just writing every single thought that I have.

Where is my left sock? Seriously, I had two socks on when I sat down… TERRORISTS! That doesn't even make sense. Oh well. I hope people don’t think I’m weird because I just jumped to the conclusion that my missing sock was stolen by terrorists. I’m starting to rethink this stream-of-consciousness thing. Uhhhhh….. let’s see what am I thinking of now?

AH!!! COCKROACH!!!!! Great Odin’s raven that scared me! Ok, get it together Eric, people might actually be reading this soon.

Wow. I am tired.

 My feet hurt.

These walls are a really strange color. I can’t tell if they are grey, tan, or yellow. They probably just got a can of each and poured them into a blender. Why would they use a blender? Would a blender break if you put paint in it? I don’t see why it would. It’s no different than any other liquid.

Now I remember that one website where the two weird, old guys put expensive items in a blender and destroy them. Was it called, “Will it Blend? (pause) Whatever, I don’t really care. That is a gross misallocation of resources. Just put some rocks in it if you want to prove that you can blend any food imaginable; not a flippen iPad. Well, now that I think about it, I guess it is pretty good advertising, seeing as I am thinking about it right now. Well played “blender men”! Wait, I can’t even recall the name of the blender, so I guess it wasn't quite good enough? Nice try suckers!

Oh wow this is probably really uncomfortable to read. I really hope nobody gets this far. If you are still reading this, raise your right hand and sing “Amazing Grace” in French.

Baguettes!

 Eiffel Tower!

Skyfall?

(dramatic pause)

….Done.

- Eric Richard