Thursday, August 5, 2010

Back to School

It's time to go back to school! This blog entry concerns thoughts on heading back to school as well as what I think is key in making sure your return to school/college is a great and successful one. I hope my blog entry can be of great help to you. It's not so much about this blog entry you're about to read, but more importantly, the blog entries I've posted on "John's Shop Space" to help you to find the needed items to begin/continue your adventures in learning, studying, test-taking, and more.

Time to kick off this blog entry. But first, let's set the mood with a picture!

Back to School!
^ from: northcrosscdl.com - the break is over... time to rock and roll again at school!





--- The Break is Over/Ending... ---
Trust me- I LOVED when school was out. I knew I had to hit the books proper and do my absolute best with my assignments for that grind between August through May (it used to be September through June in my younger days). That Summer Break was where I wanted to enjoy every last second until school got back under way. Yeah, it stinks that the Summer Break lasts only so long before having to get back to work again.

As of the date of this blog post, the Summer Break of many students is nearing an end as school/college calls again. You just have to accept facts- you've had your Summer Break. Now, it's time to get back to the books. It's now time to reunite with old friends and meet new ones. If anything, embrace the new semester. Just like any sports team, a new season opens itself to speculation and anticipation for what a new season will bring. Every student should expect to go into each new semester and school year with renewed vision and vigor. If you go into a semester thinking you don't stand any fathomable chance of passing, then you probably won't pass when it's all said and done.

So get your hopes up. Give yourself some swagger. Give yourself hope. Head into school (and your classes) like a team reluctant to win a championship. You dig?



--- The Mission of This Blogging Project ---
This blog entry is devoted to help school-goers get supplies and other things they need for the upcoming semester. I've spent a few days trying to blog on John's Shop Space about school supplies. This blog entry is basically a commentary post along with an invitation to visit my two blog entries on John's Shop Space to shop online for items that you will need for the upcoming school year. All of which, powered entirely by content from Amazon.com. I figured that since you arrived in this blog entry, your intent is to likely read what I have typed for you while also shopping for material online if you plan on doing any. Links to my other blog will be made available to you so you can visit and find whatever you are looking for that I have found online for you. Whether shopping for yourself or for someone else, I want you to find everything (or almost everything) you are looking for in heading back to school.

That is the mission of this blog project. And just because it's about Back to School, you can visit this blog and my other at any time to find supplies you are looking for through my blogging.

The following sections include links to my secondary blog so you can seek any sort of items you need for school or college. All of which can be found on Amazon. Just use the links I provide to go seek the needed items for your journey back to school. If school/college has already started or about to end, you can always visit these blog entries any time you like to get the needed materials for school or college via Amazon. You will see links that link you to the relevant blog entries on "John's Shop Space" that corresponding sections. Please visit these links I've provided if you plan on doing some shopping for school supplies or whatever else is mentioned in the headings.



Having said this, find a section or sections that interest you in your Back to School shopping experience.



--- School Uniforms and Dress Codes ---
school uniforms
^ from: catholicsupply.com - Whether or not you like uniforms, if your school requires them, you NEED uniforms within the dress code.

Just about every school has a dress code. Some schools may require that you wear a uniform. I even debated about school uniforms in this blog entry. I am someone who believes in expressing yourself through the means of fashion any way you can. School uniforms don't allow you to express yourself openly. Since school is seen as a working environment, schools push to make uniforms as important an element of learning as doing any homework assignment or test. I was actually okay with wearing uniforms because I was going to school, and it wasn't like I had a choice with if I wanted to wear whatever I wanted to or if I wanted to risk getting into trouble by not dressing up like I'm ready to learn. So I was okay with this back in my grade school days.

This section does not apply to you if your school doesn't require you to wear uniforms. If your school requires uniforms, then click on the link at the end of this sentence to shop for school uniforms. I have included various items suitable (and a few that may NOT be suitable for school) in this blog entry in my other blog. I have found items on Amazon to help you if you will do some shopping online through Amazon. These are items for boys and girls in Elementary and Secondary schools. The items in my secondary blog include polo shirts, pants, shorts, blouses, skirts, skorts, and more. Help me help yourself by checking out what on Amazon I've found for you in helping you shop for yourself or your children.

Click on the link at the end of this sentence to begin shopping for school uniforms.



--- Textbooks ---

^ from: acornbookexchange.com - You NEED textbooks in school! How do you expect to pass when you don't have resources available to you to help you to pass like textbooks??

Textbooks are a necessity. Classes can not function and you learn nothing without having textbooks. You need the correct textbooks especially if you are a college student. I cannot begin to tell you what it is like to not have the needed textbooks right away. It feels like everyone has passed you by, and you're trying to catch up as best as you can. Grade schools usually issue textbooks to you to use in all of your studies and lessons. Make it a priority to get the needed textbooks. You want to get them as soon as you can so that you don't have to match the pace of your fellow classmates.

My blog entry is a self-serving one. I don't know what textbooks you need, and I am not going to post a bunch of random textbooks that you likely won't need. If the book(s) you are looking for are available on Amazon, type it into the Search Widget I provided in my blog entry on textbooks. Type in the name of a textbook to see if Amazon offers it. If not, or if you don't need the textbook, you may just get a textbook to help you understand certain concepts better. No matter what kind of student you are or what classes you take, find the books you need through Amazon. I can help you through my secondary blog, John's Shop Space.

Click on the link at the end of this sentence to Click on the link at the end of this sentence to begin shopping for textbooks.



--- School Supplies ---

^ from: schoolwires.com - Do you have the supplies required of you through the syllabus?

As important as textbooks and clothing are, school supplies are a necessity. How can you pass your classes if you don't have the tools required of you? The saddest feeling in school is in not having your supplies on hand. This blog topic was the topic that has been the work of a few days to find as many items as possible through Amazon to help give you or your children the edge in having needed supplies. Not having the needed supplies makes you feel unable to perform to your highest caliber. Think about it- you are doing Math problems... and you don't have a pencil and paper. You feel terrible knowing you don't have the needed supplies. One time in 1994, my entire backpack- with EVERYTHING in it, was stolen. It is absolutely tough to succeed in school if you don't have a backpack to tote around all of the needed tools for succees in school. Some have lunch in sandwich bags or paper bags. Some others, however, have creative lunch boxes and lunch bags that are both sturdy and durable.

When I blogged about school supplies, I even included items that you may not require for school, but can help you in school or college. So what are these items? I included calculators for Math and Algebra. I've found voice recorders to help you to remember things and follow missed lectures. I've found organizers and planners to help you to remember key dates. I've basically found what is needed for almost all classes for you to succeed. You can master a subject all you want, but it all means nothing if you don't have the tangible tools to help push yourself to the next level. Don't rely on using other peoples' supplies- get your own so that you don't have to rely so much on having to constantly borrow from others. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, but you at least want to have supplies for yourself so that you can be set for school and be set to pass. If you are taking on more advanced Math subjects (like Trigonometry), you will need a graphing calculator. I've provided resources from Amazon to help you in this department too.

Click on the link at the end of this sentence to Click on the link at the end of this sentence to begin shopping for school supplies.





That concludes the meat of this blog entry. I will include the three blog entries I've mentioned previously so you can remember what resources I've personally come up with to help you to seek whatever items you need for school or college. My other blog is both a blog and my own personal store. I find items that you might be interested in, and I hope the least you can do to show me your appreciation is by ordering items I've found and placed in my other blog. Here are the links to help you remember what resources I have all set up:

Shop for school uniforms.
Shop for textbooks.
shop for school supplies.

If your school doesn't require uniforms, then you are free to visit my other blog to check out all my "Apparel" blog entries on John's Shop Space. Please note that apparel also includes my blog entry on School Uniforms there.



So there you have it. Thank you very much for reading! I hope my resources and energy are to your liking in shopping online for items you need for school or college.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Car Style - The Alfa Romeo Giulietta (Type 940)

(LAST UPDATED: May 29, 2011)

The 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta is the replacement to the 147. Alfa Romeo makes some cars that are hit-and-miss design-wise. This one is GORGEOUS! Maybe the most beautiful hatchback ever made. Many people only regard Ferrari and Lamborghini as far as Italian car companies are concerned. Many others, however, disregard the likes of Alfa Romeo. This blog entry is a look at how I think the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is style-wise.





--- Car Style: The 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta ---
Say hello to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta (Type 940):

Alfo Romeo Giulietta (Type 940)
^ from: singapore-car.com - Alfa Romeo Giulietta (Type 940).

I think this car looks gorgeous. I actually thought the 147 was a nice-looking car, but this car is absolutely beautiful. This new-age Giulietta is a balancing act of gorgeous and sharp. I say "new age" because there have been other Alfa Romeos that have beared the "Giulietta" namesake. It is a front-engine/front-wheel drive family car, but it is also a feast to the eyes.


Exterior.

You can debate about the classic Alfa Romeo center grill designs all you want. On this car, it looks very nice. If eyes are a mirror of the soul (as said by the French), then this car's soul exudes elegance and grace with exotic styling as evidence by its eyes (the headlights). Almost as if it is trying to infuse style elements in more exotic cars into a simple hatchback. Small fog lights on either side on the front bumper only compliment the loveliness exhibited from the grill and the headlights. The openings in the front bumper are as lovely as the rest of the car.

The sides boast a little extra elegance. This is a five-door hatchback, but there are no door handles on the second-row seats. The wheels are styled nicely. The spiral-like wheel spokes make it seem like it is trying to suck you into its appeal like a vacuum. (NOTE: I couldn't find and quality pictures of this car's roof, so I will forego this section).

The rear of this car features some lovely tail lights, a sporty pair of mufflers, and a subtle hatchback spoiler. The tail lights feature some lovely LED tail lights. As the case is, the elegance around the outsides of this car remains intact with the lovely tail light designs. There is a mix of elegance and sportiness that I don't think any other hatchback has.


Interior.

Its interior makes it look like the Guilietta should have been a sports coupe than a "family" car. Nothing looks cheap inside, but it does sport a pair of sporty seats. The dashboard and instrument panel look very exotic and sporty. Perhaps a bit too sporty for a hatchback. Its steering wheel, however, looks absolutely cheap to me. If you have such a sporty car, the least Alfa Romeo could have done is offer a sporty steering wheel to match the aggression and elegance of its interior and exterior. The center console and shifter both look wonderful. Its seats up front and in the back have that touch of sporty elegance.





I could never connect with the Alfa Romeo MiTo style-wise, but this car is absolutely elegant. Because it's so sporty, I would cringe at calling this a family car. Or look at it like this... the Alfa Romeo GTV and the Alfa Romeo GTV Spider cars were proper sporty cars with exotic style (despite its front-engine/FWD layout), but those two cars have nowhere near the elegance and beautiful appeal this Giulietta Type 940 has. The Giulietta (Type 940), then, has to be in the running for one of the most beautiful cars released this year. It may cost a lot for a "family" car, but this car is an absolute beauty. I want to imagine what this car would look like if it were a sports coupe rather than a five-door hatchback.

Alfa Romeo took a plain jane concept like a hatchback and made a beautiful car with exotic car styling cues. Alfa Romeo proved that hatchbacks don't have to be boring-looking cars with lifeless styling. It somehow seems out of place to have a hatchback with its styling touches. Does a "family car" have to have such exotic style? Regardless, this car is absolutely beautiful. Too bad a car this beautiful may not even be sold in the United States. I can only hope, though, even though there are plans for Alfa Romeo to return to the United States. Beautiful car by Alfa Romeo and a well-done job. Forza Alfa Romeo!

Thank you for reading!

Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page and subscribe this blog (and my others) via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Visit (or subscribe):
* Subscribe to John's Blog Space!
* Subscribe to John's Shop Space! (http://jbmshopspace.blogspot.com)
* Subscribe to John's Gran Turismo Space! (http://johnsgtspace.blogspot.com)

Colin McRae Rally 2.0

The Colin McRae Rally series (R.I.P., Colin McRae) represents the finest rally racing in gaming. While there isn't an FIA license, a lot of the great stages that make up some of the world's toughest rallies can be found in this game. Take part in a variety of rallies as of rally racing in 2000. You will visit a variety of countries and compete on a variety of surfaces. Take on the unpredictable Safari Rally in Kenya. Get mad air in the Finland rally. Get sideways in the snow and ice of Sweden. Take on the homogeneous mix of surfaces of the Rally Great Britain. Or if you're a REAL rally racer, try to survive the treacherous confines of the formidable Acropolis rally. You can also take on some one-on-one special stages. This even includes the one-on-one exclusive stage in Japan. You get to race some of the most recent rally cars. You can race cars such as the Ford Focus WRC, the Subaru Impreza, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, and my personal favorite- the Peugeot 206 WRC among others. However, you can also unlock some classic rally cars like the Peugeot 205.


Here is a look at the box (this blog was initially to be about the PC version only):

Colin McRae Rally 2.0 PC
^ from: - onlinegames.ucoz.com - Colin McRae Rally 2.0





CMR2: Arcade Mode.
Arcade Mode takes you in a circuit race featuring six cars to a track. Finish ahead of everybody else. Success in this mode unlocks new stages and new cars. You start off with Italy, Sweden, and Greece.

CMR2: Rally Racing.
When you race, you will go against 15 other racers. After every two stages, you have time to repair your car. Use the allotted sixty minutes more like credits to fix your car. You must finish 6th or better to compete in the next rally. You only do four stages on the easiest difficulty, eight stages on the normal difficulty, and the full ten stages on the hardest difficulty. The most important thing to remember about rally racing- pay attention to the pace notes. Try to put in a solid time for each section and each stage.





Here is a video preview of this title from YouTube:


Even though this game has released in 2001, it is still great fun to play. A lot of rally racing games have passed this game by graphically. Still, it remains a beautiful and intense rally racing experience. Do you want to play a classic racing game? Click on the graphic below to order on Amazon. This game plays just fine in XP even though it notes this game is for Win95, Win98, and Windows Me.


^ Colin McRae Rally 2.0 for PC (also available for PlayStation and Game Boy Advance)

PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
--- Minimum ---
* Windows 95/98/ME/2000
* Pentium 2 at 233 MHz
* 32MB of RAM
* 150MB of hard drive space
* 8 MB of video memory
* DirectX 7.0a or higher
* DirectX-compatible sound card
* keyboard
* mouse
* 8x CD-ROM Drive

--- Recommended ---
* Windows 95/98/ME/2000
* Direct X 7.0a or higher
* 128MB RAM
* 16-bit 100% DirectX-compatible sound card
* compatible 3D Graphics Card with 32MB RAM
* 24x CD-ROM
* 650MB hard disk space
* 56K Modem




Not only thank you for reading, but welcome to August 2010! :D