Things I Think I Thought A Lot About: Vol. 4

Today I was a minor celebrity. After a hectic day yesterday of camping out for the (HEARTBREAKING, by the way) basketball game for over 12 hours, I was at it again. Up early to go to the Apple Cup - for those of you that don't know, that is the in-state football rivalry between my Washington State Cougars and the evil Washington Huskies - and painted from waist to forehead as the representative letter "S" in "GO COUGS!"

It's no Red Sox/Yankees or Duke/North Carolina, but the Apple Cup is a pretty damn big deal. Especially up here. Despite a 2-9 record, the Cougars were looking for the upset, and even sweeter, to knock the Huskies out of bowl contention. To paraphrase the disappointing result, Washington pulled it out on the road 35-28. But that's not the point...

Let me remind anyone who's reading that it was averaging around 23 degrees here today, with some icy wind and light snow. And I was shirtless. For almost 5 hours. It's a miracle I'm alive, but my friends and I received more than enough attention! We had multiple pictures taken of us, were on the big screen at least five times, and were on live TV a few times as well. We made friends with the security guards and the crowd management staff, my roommate (the "space" between "GO" and "COUGS") made out with a girl who claimed she "just had to make out with one of the people they saw on the screen," and even got a passing Husky fan to stop flipping off our fans and hold his hands up in respect at the sight of us. Not to mention, I think my hands (wrapped in 2 pairs of gloves, including heavy snowboarding gloves) are bruised from the literally hundreds of high fives I received from the Cougar faithful passing by who were admiring our bravery, dedication, and no doubt our beautifully-sculpted male bodies.

Despite the loss and the awful weather, it was one of the most fun times I've ever had at sporting event. While it killed me to watch Washington celebrate on our field, I had a great time being "one of those guys" that the entire city surely saw during the game. And I have never been more excited to leave the stadium...I still can't feel my nipples...

Things I Think I Thought A Lot About: Vol. 3

Hey, there we go! Back on track with this whole blogging thing. Today: we discuss my thoughts on why pulling an all-nighter to get in line for my school's basketball game is NOT the work of a crazy person. First of all, the background...I have an Anthropology test at 2:00 this afternoon. I am studying for it right now. I am studying for it outside of Beasley Coliseum, where the Washington State Cougars will attempt to knock off the top-5 Kansas State Wildcats in men's basketball at 8:00 tonight. It is freezing cold out here. I slept in a 2-foot long nook with a worthless pad, sleeping bag and pillow. I look like an eskimo. I will stay in this line until they let us into the game around 6:00 tonight (other than when I'm taking my test). I'm sure people reading this are shaking their heads and muttering about me being a crazy dude. In fact, I'm sure of it, because even some of my friends at school have told me this to my face!

But, there is no offense taken, don't worry. In fact, I take pride in this craziness. IN FACT, I wish they hadn't instituted a "no camping" policy so that I could have staked my claim in line days ago! Seriously. Anyway, let's get to the point here: I am a Coug. I love Coug sports (yes, even the football team...). I especially love Coug sports that have potential for postseason play. Hence, why I put so much effort into going to the basketball games, frostbite be damned. There is nothing better than sitting front row, getting on TV with fellow ZZU CRU members, and (hopefully, hopefully, hopefully) storming the court after a huge upset! Been there, done that? Rushed the field two years ago in the Apple Cup after the double-overtime win? Rushed the court two years ago when Taylor Rochestie hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer against Arizona State? Well, I did. And let me tell you that never gets old.

I'll be realistic for a second here; Kansas State is a REALLY good basketball team. They are far better than Washington State. But, until the final buzzer sounds, we are in it. And that's enough for some crazy fans like me to risk life and limb, hike through treacherous tundra, and...okay sorry. Overly dramatic. But really, win or lose, if we play well, it will be worth the 12 and a half hours I sit here. And Kansas State? Well, I hope they don't get too cocky...they haven't had to deal with the ZZU CRU lately. They haven't had to deal with an improved, older Klay Thompson. Or Reggie Moore. DeAngelo Casto. Faisal Aden. I'm not going to be bold and predict an upset, but the way these guys are shooting lights out right now, it's possible.

So, call me crazy, but the Cougs have a big game tonight. The biggest of the year, no doubt. And there is no way I let something stupid like sleep or schoolwork get in my way. I'm going to this game, and I'm going all out.

Top 25 Videos of All-Time

My generation has produced a new phenomenon: watching videos online. YouTube is almost as much a part of our daily lives as Facebook and e-mail. I've wasted my fair share of time watching videos online, and I've collected my 25 favorites here. There is no criteria for making the list. If it was awesome, funny, stupid, or just plain interesting, it got consideration. I did try to avoid the globally known viral videos, though. So no “drinking out of cups,” no Charlie, and no double rainbows, for the sake of repetitiveness (apparently that's a word! Who knew?). And honestly, once you get to around number twelve, the order doesn't really matter either. As long as you're left in shock, inspired, or in stitches, I've accomplished my goal. Tell me what you think, and if I've made any glaring oversights!

I think most browsers will take you straight to the clip in this window, so make sure to click the "back" button afterward to get back to my countdown! Now, without further ado:

25. Soulja Boy: Girl U Stank (Take a Bath) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-xAFrL2FDU The reason this is on my list (and god forbid, starting my list), is not to drive people away. It is simply to point out how atrocious this song is. I could tell my dog to take a crap on a newspaper, and then make a song out of the words that it landed on and I guarantee it would be better than what Soulja Boy came up with here. New contest: who can make it the farthest through this clip without exiting out?

24. Carl's Jr. Commercial – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq25qD44hC0 I've always liked this commercial, since it came out when I was a kid. Such a simple concept, but so effective. It's a stupid joke you would make up with your friends at lunch, but to see your stupid idea displayed on TV gave it legitimacy. Okay, maybe that was just me.

23. Gunther music video: Ding Dong Song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbYtqAWDF2U An absolutely terrible, but hilarious song by Gunther. The close up on his face during the chorus kills me. It will leave you in shock. For more ridiculous Gunther videos, check out this other classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eyGLtT4b3o

22. Spray Paint Artists - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMbCnumPr90 Another pretty long video, but really entrancing. There are tons of these videos on the internet, and each and every one is incredible. I can't fathom the art that these street vendors make using just spray paint, tin cans, newspapers and other small tools. I'm lucky enough to live close to San Francisco so that any given weekend, I could go to the Embarcadero and see one of these performances in person. I actually bought one last time I was in the city (only $5, none were more than $20) and it's hanging on my wall right now!

21. Boneless baby – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y66UgfLZGsg Creepy? Yes. Sad? Yep. In bad taste? Sure. But there's one thing you can't argue: this is freakishly funny. This one makes me laugh really hard.

20. This is SportsCenter: Manny being Manny –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0LjnqtSPps This one might need some context. First of all, Manny Ramirez is hilarious. He's widely-hated for various reasons, but still, he's hilarious. This is a long-running SportsCenter ad campaign featuring different athletes, mascots and SportsCenter personalities claiming kooky behind-the-scenes look-ins at the ESPN offices. Anyway, “Manny being Manny” is a phrase coined to describe Ramirez for his crazy antics both on and off the field (for example, taking a break during a game to go pee inside the Green Monster). Hopefully that will make you readers realize why this commercial is so funny.

19. Top 10 soccer goals – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq5wdDJFi9Q Even non-soccer fans can appreciate these beautiful shots. For those of you, like me, who have played soccer, understand how difficult it is to put it in the back of the net. Making it look this good is why they are paid to play! I think #5 is my favorite, but #3 is definitely my favorite celebration.

18. Backflip catch on trampoline - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0rVZGL33Xg This is another video that may or may not be real. Because it looks real, I'm going to play dumb and just accept it as truth. That being said, this is amazing. Every guy dreams of making this play, but few have the balls to try it. Even fewer can actually pull it off! It may be lucky, but still takes a high degree of insanity and athleticism to make it count. I mean, come on! A backflip alone is hard enough! Also, let's take a minute to give the QB some props. That's a long, long pass, and it's right on the money.

17. College Humor: Half-court shot prank - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI7AUgp5fPI College Humor is another great viral group and this is the best prank I've seen on their website so far. How devastating. Sorry if you have to suffer through a YouTube ad before seeing it, but it's worth it! To explain, briefly, these two guys in the video are in a prank battle that has been raging for years. They put all of them online, which you can see at www.collegehumor.com.

16. Improv Everywhere: Grand Central Station - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo This is so cool. Over 23 million views on YouTube makes me think you've seen this. But enjoy anyway. Improv Everywhere is a really cool group and I hope that I run into them sometime while I'm walking around town. Very creative.

15. Christian the Lion - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btuxO-C2IzE I'm pretty sure most people have seen this by now, but that doesn't make it any less awesome. Take a few minutes to watch it! I wish I had a pet lion.

14. “World's most insane knockout” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlLGWYvcnoE I don't know what kind of fighting this is, but the knockout is incredible. Raw athleticism. I'd love to see Brock Lesnar try this in the UFC (yeah, right). (And two honorable mentions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgfgLnFrvxs and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt4LrZO9z8k)

13. Gladiator quote – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvAbGbFYAuk&feature=related Crappy quality, annoying screen size, unnecessarily long clip...worth every second. This movie (especially this part) pumps me up beyond belief! Best line from one of the best movies I've ever seen. If you're impatient, fast-forward to about the 1:15 mark. And if you don't know what's going on, or you've been living in a hole for ten years and haven't seen Gladiator? Get on that immediately. You'll thank me.

12. Japanese baseball catch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8a33v1EQ5c Man, if I ever made a catch this amazing, this athletic, this coordinated? I'd retire after the game, because there is no way I could top it. Coolest catch of all time, made by the aptly nicknamed “Spiderman” in a professional Japanese baseball game.

11. Cal St. Fullerton slam – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjqtJptW0Bk&feature=related One of the better dunks I've seen recently. Very clean. Tell me this wouldn't pump a team up! Solid defense on the other side of the court to lead to the dunk. And that poor guy on the other team's face probably smelled like Gerard Anderson's crotch for a couple days. (Also, see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp6qJ7LZNlg and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tq9mMZQCqg. Two of my other favorite dunks.)

10. “Em-bear-assed” on 1,000 ways to die - http://www.spike.com/video/em-bear-assed/3107893 For those of you not familiar with this show, it's on SPIKE and is basically just the craziest and most random ways that people have died. I know it's bad to laugh at people for dying, but this show makes it hard not to. The reason I chose this particular “way to die” is because the re-creation of the death and the SPIKE narrator's script is worthy of this list itself. Not to mention how the guy dies. Check it out. Oh, and apparently the "fornicating furries" he runs into? Real. Yikes.

9. Home video of Juno – http://www.facebook.com/video/?of=639957370#!/video/video.php?v=319582122370&subj=639957370 This is a video that probably only people who are friends with me on Facebook can actually see. But considering almost everyone who will read this is, it shouldn't be a problem. Tell me this isn't the cutest thing you've ever seen! If only she was still this small and innocent...

8. Shaq commercial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo0ncg-2zPY It's widely-known that Shaquille O'Neal is both a dominant athlete and one of the funniest, most animated celebrities of our generation. This may not be his best video clip ever, but it's still one of my favorites.

7. 100 cheesiest movie quotes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTiAS7cdsYc This one is about 10 minutes long, but it's worth it if you have the time. A collection of the cheesiest movie quotes ever, and they are really hilarious. The best ones are quotes where you didn't realize how cheesy the quote was when you saw the movie, but in the context of this countdown, it's like a hilarious revelation. (As a bonus, I don't know if this quote is on the countdown but it's really in a class of it's own. You don't have to see this movie to appreciate how bad the line is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5eVcXhHN9U)

6. Morgan State catch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhN0OZA3aIs I don't know if this is a doctored video, but I don't care. The most athletic football play I think I've ever seen! The fact that Morgan St. wide receiver Edwin Baptiste was able to turn, dive, catch the ball one-handed at full extension, and hang on to the ball as he lands, is just unbelievable to me. You can really see on the slow-motion replay that he was literally horizontal to the ground, extended from the tip of his hand to his toes.

5. Mark Buehrle flip play - http://vimeo.com/10713200 Mark Buehrle, one of baseball's good guys, makes a play on Opening Day 2010 that can't even be described. It might have been luck, but damn, does he make lucky look good! Mercy!

4. WSU vs. ASU 2009 Senior night basketball game - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq42BbLfgDE This is at my school, Washington State University. It was the seniors' last home game, when fan-favorite point guard Taylor Rochestie downed Arizona State in overtime on this long three pointer. Great moment, and even greater that I'm one of those red-clad ZZU CRU psychos running on the floor afterward. And don't bash the music, because it makes it just that much more epic! Go Cougs!

3. Robot Chicken Gummy Bear - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0w5oGVwJ_Q Okay, I know that Cartoon Network and Adult Swim have pretty awful shows in general. But anyone who has seen Robot Chicken and claims it is not funny is a liar! My roommate and I saw this sketch on that show at three in the morning in the dorms a few years ago and it's still one of the funniest things either of us has ever seen. Who thinks of this crap?

2. Do you Believe in Miracles? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTev5pSuYLk This is one of the most inspirational sports highlights of all time. I still get chills watching this, even though I'm hardly a hockey fan (not to mention I was -9 years old when this happened). The context of the 1980 Olympics and the unbelievable, emotional call by Al Michaels is absolutely unforgettable.

Before we get to #1, here's one I added in last minute. It's also extremely funny, but I didn't want to part with any of my other top 25. So...bonus!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfym8MdKNNY

Now, back to the countdown. The "winner" is...

1. SNL “Great Day” short – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48BdEecEON8 Saturday Night Live is a classic. Andy Samberg is absolutely hilarious. I don't even try to figure out where they come up with this stuff, but this is definitely the funniest one I've seen. The reason for it being #1? Recently discovered. It's just plain ridiculous. Enjoy! And thanks to my good friend Abbi Olson for showing this to me!

Hope you enjoyed all these clips! See ya next time, and follow me here at http://jamblin-man.blogspot.com/ if you liked it!

Why I Want To Do Semester At Sea

I consider myself a pretty well-traveled person...at least here at home. I've lived in California and Washington state (for school...), visited Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Idaho, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Florida and Hawaii, been to Mexico a few times, even up to Canada. But one thing I've never, ever done, is cross the Atlantic, or even leave North America for that matter. I have tons of friends who have studied abroad in places like Spain, England, Greece and China. I almost took my 2nd semester of sophomore year to study in Chile and Argentina...unfortunately the credits didn't transfer and I know hardly any Spanish so it never happened. Ever since researching studying abroad, I have been interested in going to South America. Ever since talking to my friends who have been to Europe or Asia, I've been interested in going there. Ever since I can remember, my dream vacation has been New Zealand/Australia. My point is, I've had my fair share of vacations, but never to a country or culture that I consider vastly different from my own. Doing Semester at Sea this summer would give me the perfect opportunity.

The 2011 summer voyage is supposed to go to the Bahamas, Barcelona, Naples, Athens, Istanbul, Morocco, Croatia and Egypt. Wow. So many different cultures, so much history, so much to do and see over 66 days! Plus, the voyage ends in Boston, one of my all-time favorite cities, so maybe I could swing spending a couple days there as well! Anyway, my time to earn school credits while traveling is running out. I don't know if I could put myself in any better situation after this year. A huge cruise ship with hundreds and hundreds of college students with similar intentions to me, hanging out all day and then exploring Europe and parts of Africa and South America? Don't even get me started on the opportunities this trip would give me to further my cultural knowledge and therefore expand my ability to write!

Obviously, there are a couple of roadblocks...

1) COST - my god...including all the fees, airfare, personal money for expenses, textbooks, etc., I would want to budget around $15,000 for this trip. In the end, money is just paper...but it is really hard to move around without it. I'm avidly searching for a job on campus right now to start saving. I know my beautiful, wonderful, loving parents would throw a small bit of money my way, but realistically I'm looking at around $10,000 otherwise. This is where selling drugs comes in...JUST KIDDING. This is where financial aid, scholarships, work study, grants and loans come in. Luckily, Semester at Sea offers a 10-month payment plan option. So basically, starting in January (I believe...), I would pay around $1,200 to them every month to cover the basic trip fees. Along with saving up that extra $500 or so to set off to the side each month for extra expenses. I know for sure that I can get a $2,000 work-study scholarship...basically I agree to work 2 hours a day on the boat and they give me $2,000. According to a friend from University of Washington who did the trip a couple years ago, that's a really good, easy way to cut some costs. He told me that the work is simple and that it allows you free internet access on the boat (not usually free). Also, I can apply for need-based and normal financial aid. And I'm curious to see if I can keep a travel blog to promote Semester at Sea with all my experiences. That would give me practice as well as giving them free advertising? That warrants knocking off a good five or six grand, right? But in all honesty, I'm going to work my tail off to make this happen. I have a meeting with the abroad office here at WSU in a couple weeks and will be emailing my academic adviser this week with questions. Lastly, I'm in contact with the Semester at Sea "recruiter," so I should be able to ask him a few questions tomorrow over the phone.

2) CLASSES - Probably even more important than the money is, will my credits transfer? Will they have English and/or Communications courses on the ship that will transfer back into one of the 8-10 remaining courses I need for my majors? Will any of it count as English 498 "Internship" credit? (Ugh, that would be amazing, what a pain in the butt to get out of the way!) My parents are worried that even if they do transfer back, that if I still had to go back to Pullman for Fall semester 2011, it would be a lottttt of money to spend, and rightfully so. Factoring in a new house lease (current one expires August 2011), paying for more classes, etc. it may just not be worth it. That's why it all comes down to the classes. If I can get 2 courses knocked out on the ship, or 1 course and English 498 credit, that would be ideal. This is why I need to meet with so many people. I have one full semester of college left, no matter how I look at it. Classes are harder to come by in the summer, so I want to be able to plan my registration for this Spring as best as possible. But, ideally, I will take 15-16 credits at WSU in the Spring and be left with 9-10 that I can take on the boat...

Either way, the application is going out tomorrow and we'll go from there. I understand the financial and logistical constraints of this possibility, but the adventure bug is calling and I really want to answer it. Unless something goes absurdly wrong, hellooooooo Bahamas, hellooooooo Europe and helloooooooo Africa! Pencil me in for summer!