Thursday, September 29, 2016

The downtown Overland Park fall festival: a hometown treasure

Allison and her family love their hometown of Overland Park, Kansas. She loves living close enough to all the shopping centers, like the Country Club Plaza and Oak Park Mall, and the people who inhabit this “little slice of heaven” as she calls it. They is always something going on in her hometown, and this event was called the downtown Overland Park fall festival. She has never heard of this before, so she figured it would be a new and exciting activity for her and her family to do on a Saturday morning.
Although this festival sounded fun, she didn’t know what to expect. “What is a fall festival and what could be happening?” she thought. Upon arrival, there were tents housing locally grown fruits, vegetables and flowers lining the sidewalks as far as the eye could see. She picked up some fresh tomatoes and green beans that looked almost too good to eat. Her mom, Teresa, bought different shapes and sizes of pumpkins to decorate their home with, being that the fall season is finally here. Her dad, Jim, surprised Allison and her mom with bouquets of flowers, how lovely! Allison’s favorite flower was a sunflower. She loved how the flower raised and lowered as the sun rose and set. Teresa’s favorite flower was tulips. She loved their shape and elegance.
Towards the end of their day they stumbled upon a man playing a guitar in the midst of all the commotion that was the fall festival. He had such a wonderful singing voice as well as guitar playing skills, so they stayed there a while to enjoy his talent. Walking back to their car with full bellies, Allison and her family had a well day spent in their hometown treasure.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Team 5 Blog- election

      The 2016 presidential election has brought forth debates among millennials. It is a sensitive subject that often leads to hostile arguments. It seems as if this election has received more attention from millennials than most in the past. Why is this?
      Many will say that this election is overwhelmed with hatred. Those who have different political views are finding it difficult to co-exist. In past elections, the 18-24 year old age group has not been as engaged. Social media has helped changed that pattern.
      For many young adults, this is the first election that they are able to participate in, by casting their vote. It is a new experience.
      Both candidates are heavily involved in social. The millennial demographic was raised in a society that always had a social media presence. That generation utilizes social media apps as a news source. They have instant access to the dialogue and beliefs that each candidate publishes.
      Each published idea is subject to an instant response from the social media world. Without these type of sites, it is reasonable to assume that millennials would not be as interested in the election.
      Another unique feature of this election, is the extreme differences of beliefs. There is a strong presence of racial discussions. Any time there is a conversation relative to race, hostility is bound to exist. There are many claims that Donald Trump is promoting racist tendencies.
      On the other hand, Hillary Clinton has been labeled as a liar. People are disappointed by the choices they have been left with. This type of disappointment makes people bitter, and further leads to more hostile feelings. Millennials are seeking an option that will produce results, and provide a flourishing future.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

A Series of Unusual Events in an Afternoon


On September 19 the day started as normal as any other, but there were many unusual things that happened in the afternoon while I was driving. The first of these happened after a long day of classes. As I was driving home from Washburn I saw a guy jogging. It may seem normal to see a guy jogging on the side walk on a nice afternoon, in sports shorts and no t-shirt. What makes this exercise so odd you may ask, the fact that he had no shoes on. I did a double take as I drove by this guy jogging to make sure I was not mistaken. He must have tough soles.

After dinner I thought a Sonic blast sounded enjoyable, so I drove around the corner and down the street. I pulled up to the blvd. location and placed my order for a Reeses blast. When the carhop came out to deliver my order, I gave her my payment. As she collected my change, something hit me. Something physically hit me, I though she tried to hand me my change and dropped some coins. This was not the case. I was attacked by a grasshopper at Sonic. I told the carhop what I had thought happened and she replied “Oh I would never do that”. Of course I didn’t think she would have done it on purpose, but she went back to work and I started for home.

As I pulled into my driveway something scurried past the headlights. Turns out my neighborhood doesn’t just have fox and bunny rabbits, but we have possums too. I’ve had my fair share of possum sightings, but this one did something I’d never seen a possum do before. This creature ran over to the tree by the fence and crawled its way up the tree that nearly hangs over my house. It sat up in that tree starring at the headlights, probably planning its way into the trashcan or worse, the house. After a good minute of watching it I ran inside, thus concluding my strange day.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

L-M-N Assignment (See course schedule)

the-toast.net

Assignment: 

Create three jeopardy-style questions for each letter (total of 9 questions) and post as a comment to THIS post. 


Deadline: Sept. 22.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Topeka residents to experience Korn

American heavy metal music band Korn will be performing at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Kansas Expocentre with Breaking Benjamin, Motionless in White and Silver Snakes.

The concert is part of the “Korn & Breaking Benjamin: Nocturnal Underground Tour.” The last time the band was in the state was Aug. 10. They performed in Bonner Springs with Rob Zombie as part of the “Return of the Dreads” tour.

Tiffany Melendez, a resident of Topeka, was one of the many fans that journeyed to Bonner Springs to watch the concert.

“I love their music,” Melendez said. “I love the energy. It’s like the whole thing just builds up to an explosion when Korn takes the stage.”

Devout heavy metal fans customarily congregate to what is known as the “pit” where fans squeeze tightly as the push toward the front of the crowd to get as close to the musicians as possible.

“I was up front in the pit,” Melendez said. “That’s where all the action happens.”

The pit attracts the energetic fan and has a level of danger that adds to the experience. Fans must keep a look out for the occasional crowd surfer or the development of a mosh pit.

Korn has had a busy summer touring schedule and will be releasing a new album titled, “The Serenity Of Suffering,” which is expected to be released Oct. 21. The album will be the 13th since the band formed in 1993.

Prices for “Korn & Breaking Benjamin: Nocturnal Underground Tour” tickets at the Kansas Expocentre range from $15 for upper level seating, to $75 for the pit.

Tickets for the show are available at www.ticketmaster.com. V100 radio in Topeka is hosting a contest for extreme Korn fans to win free tickets at www.v100rocks.com.


Edited by Derek Richardson

Friday, September 9, 2016

The Ottawan cigarette man, bummer on the steps

My boyfriend Brad and I take turns spending the weekends at each others apartments - a rather new trend because until very recently, Brad has lived in the dorms at the Ottawa campus. Lately encounters with the "cigarette man" have been interesting.

Brad and his two friends moved into a three bedroom apartment in a not so nice part of Ottawa. I wouldn't say it's Topeka-scary, but it has its fair share of oddities. The neighbors, for example, aren't my favorite people in the world. 

Every evening, just like clockwork, the downstairs neighbor sits on the steps leading to Brad's apartment and smokes about three cigarettes consecutively. I have no idea what this guy's name is because when he takes a break from huffing and puffing and decides to speak, the words that come out don't quite sound like real words. Instead, they resemble a mushed-up version of the English language. 

The awkward encounters go something like this, "Hey man, what's up?" and we receive some sort of response like, "Hey-ya-it's-all-good-bro-ha." 

Sometimes, if we are really lucky, the cigarette man will ask Brad to play a game of basketball. Brad always quickly rejects the offer, but offers the chance of a future game some other time. I'm more than sure that this basketball game will not ever actually happen, but if it ever does, I sure hope I can witness it. However, tales of the cigarette man don't even touch the loveliness of the relatives of the cigarette man, also living in the downstairs apartment.

For about three nights, one of cigarette man's relatives, a teenager probably about 16-years-old, invites her friends over to do some smoking of their own on the steps. Although this time, they're not smoking cigarettes. The end of this lovely tale will be shared in the next blog post. 

Edited by Lisa Herdman

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Has pop culture kidnapped millennials

From who’s wearing what, to who’s dating who, from Kim Kardashian promoting her raunchy KIMOJI’S to Kanye West saying he made Taylor Swift Famous.  Pop culture has been infused into millennials culture. Are millennials heavily consumed by pop culture? Pop culture can be encompassed by music, fashion, food and technology.  Let’s be honest, with the release of the iPhone 7 release who is more likely to purchase it, of course millennials. Pop culture is addictive and memorizing for the egotistic tech savvy generation, and may have abducted our millennials.

Jordon Hoy,

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Korn to be Performing at the Kansas Expocentre

On Tuesday Oct. 18, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Korn will be performing at the Kansas Expocentre with Breaking Benjamin, Motionless in White and Silver Snakes. The concert is part of the Korn & Breaking Benjamin: Nocturnal Underground Tour. 

 “I love their music. I love the energy. It’s like the whole thing just builds up to an explosion when Korn takes the stage,” said Tiffany Melendez.


Melendez, a resident of Topeka was one of the many fans that journeyed to Bonner Springs, Kansas, Aug. 10, 2016 to watch Korn co-headline with Rob Zombie as part of the Return of the Dreads Tour. The concert also featured opener, In This Moment.
“I was up front in the pit. We call it the ‘squeeze’. That’s where all the action happens,” said Melendez.
 Devout heavy metal fans customarily congregate to what is known as the “pit”. Fans squeeze tightly as they push towards the front of the crowd, trying to get as close to the musicians as possible. The pit attracts the energetic fan and has a level of danger that adds to the experience. Fans must keep a look out for the occasional crowd surfer or the development of a mosh pit.
Korn has had a busy summer touring schedule and will be releasing a new album titled, “The Serenity Of Suffering,” which is scheduled to be released Oct. 21, 2016. The album will be the 13th since the band formed in 1993. The band has developed fan base that stretches the globe.
Ticket prices for the Korn & Breaking Benjamin: Nocturnal Underground Tour stop at the Kansas Expocentre range from $15 for upper level seating, to $75 for the pit. Tickets for the show are available at www.ticketmaster.com. V100 radio in Topeka is hosting a contest for extreme Korn fans to win free tickets at www.v100rocks.com.






                                         Korn performs at the Providence Medical Center Amphitheater in Bonner Springs , Kansas.
                                                            (Photo courtesy Terry Richardson.)

Monday, September 5, 2016

My Boyfriend's New Apartment and Neighbors

My boyfriend Brad and I take turns spending the weekends at each others apartments. This is a rather new trend because until very recently, Brad has lived in the dorms at the Ottawa campus. Brad and his 2 friends moved into a 3 bedroom apartment in a not-so-nice part of Ottawa. I wouldn't say it's Topeka-scary, but it has its fair share of oddities.

 The neighbors, for example, aren't my favorite people in the world. Every evening, just like clockwork, the downstairs neighbor sits on the steps leading to Brad's apartment and smokes about 3 cigarettes back-to-back. I have no idea what this guy's name is because when he takes a break from huffing and puffing and decides to speak, the words that come out don't quite sound like real words. Instead, they resemble a mushed-up version of the English language. The awkward encounters go something like this, "Hey man, what's up?" and some sort-of response like "heyyait'salllgoodbrohah." I intentionally put those words together without spaces to describe how his sentences sound like one, very long word. 

Sometimes, if we are really lucky, the cigarette man will ask Brad to play a game of basketball. Brad always quickly rejects the offer, but offers the chance of a future game some other time. I'm more than sure that this basketball game will not ever actually happen, but if it ever does, I sure hope I can witness it. However, tales of the cigarette man don't even touch the loveliness of the relatives of the cigarette man, also living in the downstairs apartment.

For about three nights, one of cigarette man's relatives, a teenager, probably about 16-years-old, invites her friends over to do some smoking of their own on the steps. Although this time, they're not smoking cigarettes. The end of this lovely tale will be shared in the next blog post. 

- Kenzie 

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Samantha Stanley and Brenden Williams

1.  I dislike going to school dances for fear of judgement by my peers.

2.  The forces in Irauq were non-combat.

3. In his spare time, Tim enjoys running, frolicking in parks, playing with stray dogs, playing basketball, and writing kids books.

4. In his address to the board, President Farley said "The new track and field teams will bring a new demographics to the campus".

5.  The U.S.A.'s Olympic Mens' Basketball Team won the gold in 16'.

6.  He's the guy whom she desires.