Do You Try to Live a Green College Life?

Do you try to live a green college life?  Check out these great tips on how to start a green life in college!  Recycling, reusing, and re purposing are all part of the plan to live a greener life style.  Check out these tips from thought catalog, and you can add your own in the comment section!

1. Wait until your hamper is full. Not only does this save how much water and energy you use, but also your detergent, which is expensive!
2. No lollygagging in the shower. Each second you’re in there wastes more water. Do what you need to do and get out into the real world!
3. Notes aren’t trash. The end of the semester is upon us, and there’s a few things you can do with your old notebooks: save them for future reference, let them sit around never to be looked at again, or recycle them! That’s a lot of paper. Also, make sure if you didn’t fill up the entire notebook, use it again next semester!
4. A textbook is a terrible thing to waste. Again, if you’re going to read it again, hang onto it, but in most cases, you aren’t. Sell them back, put them online, or lend them to a friend.  Someone else will appreciate it.
5. Use public transportation. It’s free! The local buses run all day, and have a ton of convenient routes.
6. Or just walk/bike/skateboard. Spring has sprung and most colleges are pedestrian-friendly. Get some fresh air!
7. Clean your plate. Why are entire burgers and sandwiches going down the conveyor belt in the dinning hall? Think about what you’re taking, and make sure you’ve got room for it!
8. Reusable bags are your friend. And there are constantly companies tabling on college campuses giving them away as freebies. They come in handy when you’re moving out of your dorm at the end of the year.
9. Take a lesson from Macklemore. Check out that thrift shop have may have always skeeved you out. You’ll be amazed at the fashionable finds you discover!
10. Less paper, less problems. Ask your professor if that 10 page final paper can be submitted by email. If they are opposed to this, suggest printing on both sides of the paper.

Best Barbecue in Memphis

What is the best barbecue in Memphis?  Check out this article for your answer.  Rendezvous Barbecue is the epicenter of the Memphis barbecue scene.  It is also one of the most famous restaurants in Memphis.  Check out Memphis Travel for more information.
It’s not often that the passing of a barbecue restaurant owner receives national attention. But that’s what happened on March 30, 2010, when John T. Edge, director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and evangelist of all things Southern, penned a poignant obituary in The New York Times of our very own Charlie Vergos.
Founder of Rendezvous barbecue restaurant in downtown Memphis, Vergos established the city’s dry-rub style, making it world famous in 1985 by offering to ship his ribs overnight through a now well-known toll-free number: 800-HOGS-FLY. Thank you, FedEx. From that point on, Rendezvous became the epicenter of the Memphis barbecue scene. With its dry-rub ribs, wall-to-wall flair that would make even the most diehard TGIF enthusiast proud and family atmosphere (the employees are lifers), Rendezvous is the essential first stop for every barbecue lover that visits Memphis. The front door of this hole in the wall is in an alley about a block away from the Peabody Hotel and AutoZone Park, home to our Triple-A Redbirds. We could use this space to give you more specific directions, but trust us when we say all you need is your nose.

If Charlie Vergos is the godfather of Memphis barbecue, then the Neelys are its first family. Jim Neely got the family business going over 20 years ago when he opened up Interstate Barbecue on South 3rd Street, not far from I-55. As skilled as any Mid-South pitmaster in the art of smoke, Neely’s actually known for his sauce, which he took two years to perfect before opening shop. And that sauce is used on just about everything, including pasta. That’s not a typo, people. Memphis loves it some barbecue spaghetti, a just-right mix of noodles and chopped pork smothered in sweet barbecue sauce. Jim, thankfully, was kind enough to pass on some of his secrets to his nephew, Patrick who, along with his brothers Tony, Gaelin and Mark, built the Neely Barbecue Empire. With two restaurants in Memphis and one in Nashville, the Neelys have become a household name in large part to Patrick’s wife, Gina. Specifically her charm, wit and total control over the kitchen on the couple’s Food Network TV show "Down Home With The Neelys."

The Memphis barbecue scene isn’t limited to the semi-famous. In fact, two small shops in the Midtown neighborhood have been winning awards for years with their unique spin on some familiar ingredients: The Bar-B-Q Shop’s famous Dancing Pigs sauce is the backbone for pork, or beef barbecue sandwiches and ribs, both wet or dry. Available in mild, hot, and dry, the sauce at Bar-B-Q Shop is a balance of fire and sweetness and goes perfect with the pulled pork sandwich sided with a piece of Texas toast.

Open since 2002, Central BBQ in Midtown Memphis continues to be a local favorite. In addition to ribs and shoulders, Central has a handfull of other delicious options including dry-rub wings, smoked sausage, seasoned homemade potato chips and an 8-inch portobello that is marinated, grilled, and topped with smoked Gouda cheese. Pair any of these choices with a Ghost River beer on the patio and you're close to heaven on earth.

There's more to Memphis barbecue than a smokey slab of rib or fall-apart pulled pork. Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizzare Foods on the Travel Channel, has declared Payne's Bar-B-Que as having the best smoked bologna sandwich in the country. A big 'ol thick slab of bologna pinned between two slices of white bread will fill the hungriest of men. Not into bologna? Try Payne's pork sandwich (pulled, chopped or sliced) with a dollop of sweet yellow slaw. There is no other way.
What is the best barbecue in Memphis?  Check out this article for your answer.  Rendezvous Barbecue is the epicenter of the Memphis barbecue scene.  It is also one of the most famous restaurants in Memphis.  Check out Memphis Travel for more information.

Eating Healthy in College!

Eating healthy in college can be a challenge.  The last few weeks of the semester can be stressful.  However, do not give up your good eating habits because of stress and a busy schedule.  Keep reading to learn ten tips to help you keep eating healthy the last few weeks of the semester.  Check out more tips at Clarke.

1. Eat a good breakfast - Studies show that skipping breakfast detracts from scholastic achievement. When there isn’t time to sit down and enjoy your morning meal, grab a bagel, piece of fruit, and some juice. Most of these items can be easily stored in your residence hall room.
2. If you must eat fast foods, choose wisely - Choose pizza with half the cheese, a regular size roast beef sandwich, baked potato, or green salad with reduced calorie dressing. Limit high fat offerings like French fries, fried chicken, or fish sandwiches and watch out for salad dressing!
3. Keep healthy snacks on hand - This way, if hunger strikes during a late night study session, you won’t be tempted by vending machine candy, chips, or ice cream. Possibilities include fresh or dried fruit, pretzels, unbuttered popcorn, rice cakes, or whole wheat crackers. If you have a refrigerator, consider raw vegetables with low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese dip.
4. Eat plenty of foods rich in calcium - People in their early twenties need to be building up stores of calcium in their bodies to prevent osteoporosis later in life. If you don’t like milk, try to include ample amounts of low-fat yogurt, low-fat cheese, and green leafy vegetables in your diet.
5. If you need to lose weight, do it sensibly - Starvation and/or diets that offer a quick fix usually backfire and are harmful. There is no truth to the theories that suggest eating foods in any particular combination will promote weight loss. The only safe way to lose weight, feel good while doing it, and keep it off, is to eat a balanced diet and exercise.
6. Limit your sugar intake - Sugar provides calories in your diet but few other nutrients, and it contributes significantly to tooth decay. Use it sparingly and consider sweetening coffee, tea, cereal, and fruit with diet sweeteners instead.
7. Visit the dining hall salad bar - The dining hall salad bar can be either an asset or a detriment to your diet depending on how you choose from it. Of course, leafy greens, raw vegetables, and fresh fruits are beneficial. But, if you choose a lot of creamy dressings, bacon bits, and mayonnaise-based salads, the calories and fat may equal or even exceed those of a burger and fries—so choose wisely!
8. Limit your alcohol intake - If you drink alcohol, keep in mind that it supplies calories but no nutritional value. A light beer, a glass of wine, or an ounce of liquor each has about 100 calories. There may also be health problems associated with drinking alcohol.
9. Drink lots of water - Your body needs at least eight glasses a day, and, if you exercise vigorously, you may need more. To remind yourself, carry a water bottle along to class and keep it handy during late night study sessions.
10. Enjoy your food - Food is a lot more than nourishment for our bodies, so take the time to enjoy and savor it!

Four Ways to De-Stress While Working

Working and studying can stress anyone out.  These are four great items to help you de-stress while you are working on that last term paper or project at work.  You can learn more great health tips on apartment therapy. 

Everyone has to deal with stress at one time or another, so having a few tools inside the desk to pull out for a stress-break can be helpful (as well as giving your eyes a break from the computer screen). These are quick, easy, and not to mention fun ways to relax yourself throughout the day.




Knock Out Desktop Punching Bag
$29.99
We're not going to judge if you're imagining a horrible boss as you punch away. It's amazing how getting a little adrenaline going and hitting something (versus someone) can feel so liberating and help reduce your stress levels. Just be careful not to get too into it and start cursing out loud for all your coworkers to hear.




 

Resistance Bands
$15.79
These little resistance bands are so small you can keep them in your pocket and carry them throughout the work day. We would recommend taking your hands out of your pockets while you're working out your hands, fingers, and forearms. Comes in packs of 5 color coded resistance levels.




 

Thera-Flex Therapy Putty
$6.46
Squeeze away your stress, no matter the shape and pattern. Or make a putty figurine of your boss to squish at your command. Odorless and non-sticky, make sure to keep it fresh and clean by storing it in its air tight container. Comes in multiple sizes.







 

Chinese Medicine Balls
$13.68
Harness the power of the far east with a traditional Chinese stress reliever, hand exerciser, and agility builder. Fit the two balls in your hand and rotate them around in circles. The trick is to do so without the balls ever coming into contact with each other. Practice and work your way up in ball size and rotation speed until you're the (zen) master of your workspace.

University of Memphis to Host Guitar Festival

The University of Memphis will host a guitar festival on April 5th, 6th, and 7th.  The festival will include three concerts, a competition, and master classes.  Some of the world's most famous guitarists will be there to perform and educate students and artists.  You can learn more at the University of Memphis News.

Performances by virtuoso artists Lily Afshar, David Mozqueda, and Daekun Jang will highlight the Annual Memphis International Guitar Festival at the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. The event, which will be held April 5-7 in Harris Concert Hall, 3775 Central Avenue, will include three concerts, a competition and master classes.

Artistic director of the Festival, U of M professor Afshar has been called “one of the world’s foremost classical guitarists” by Public Radio International. She was honored with the 2000 Orville H. Gibson Award for Best Female Classical Guitarist and has won the Grand Prize at the Aspen Music Festival Guitar Competition. Her collaborations have resulted in premieres of new works by many contemporary composers, and her four CDs and DVD have attracted critical acclaim.

Afshar was “Artistic Ambassador to Africa” for the United States Information Agency. She is head of the University of Memphis guitar program. She is a recipient of the U of M’s Board of Visitors Eminent Faculty Award and the Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching and Research Award.

Critics have called Daekun Jang “… one of the best guitarists of his generation who can bring life into the musical notes through his magnificent techniques and full poetic feelings." Jang has won more than 20 prizes at various guitar competitions, among them first prize at the Luys Milan International Guitar Competition, the Kukulcan International Guitar Competition, and the Zarautz International Guitar Competition.

A noted solo and chamber performer, Jang has given recitals throughout Europe and Asia. He has appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia, the Mexico City Symphony Orchestra, the Europea Mediterranea Symphony Orchestra, Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra, Millennium Symphony Orchestra, KBS Philharmonic Orchestra and Arco Diavolo Chamber Orchestra. He has published three CD’s: “Songs of the Guitar,” “Impressions of Spain” and “Azahar.”

For two years, David Mozqueda won first place in classical guitar in the “Concurso Cultural para la Niñez” in México City. From 1982 to 1987 he won first place in four international competitions organized by Fine Arts National Institute in México. In 1993 he took second prize in the “The Great Lakes Classical Guitar Competition” and in 1994 won second prize in the “Concurso Internacional de Guitarra Manuel M. Ponce.

Mozqueda has performed as soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jalisco, Orquesta Filarmónica de Michoacán, Orquesta de Cámara del Conservatorio de Las Rosas, Orquesta Filarmónica de Guanajuato and others. He has played in festivals including the Festival Chitarriztico, festivals in Rörsrat, Dortmund and Köhln, Festival Internacional de Guitarra in Cuernavaca and Kingstone Chamber Music Festival in Rhode Island.

He has recorded CD’s with the “Cuarteto Concertante,” ensemble “Ars Antiqua” and his solo CD, “MEMORIAS.” He is currently recording his second solo CD.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Concert Schedule

April 5 7:30 p.m. Lily Afshar

April 6 7:30 p.m. David Mozqueda

April 7 7:30 p.m. Daekun Jang

Master Class Schedule

April 5 1 - 6 p.m. David Mozqueda

April 6 1 - 6 p.m. Daekun Jang

April 7 1 - 6 p.m. Lily Afshar

Competition Schedule

April 5 9 a.m. First Round

April 7 9 a.m. Finals

For admission to multiple events, a 3-day pass to all events is $75, and a 1-day pass to all events that day is $30. Tickets to evening concerts only will be sold at the door; their cost is $20 for the general public, $10 for seniors and non-U of M students, and free for U of M students, faculty and staff. More information is available by calling 901-678-2541.

The Festival is sponsored by the Augustine Foundation, which sponsors the study and performance of classical guitar.