Just recently, I discovered there’s a Chipotle in Latham, New York about fifteen minutes from my place on Washington Avenue, in Albany. I haven’t made a trip out there yet, but if I knew they were giving out free burritos today (11/9/09), I definitely would have.

I was introduced to Chipotle about three years ago, while visiting family in Los Angeles. I had never heard of Chipotle before this, and my cousin told me I needed to try it. I still remember ordering a veggie burrito, and falling in love after my first few bites.

Everything at Chipotle is fresh and tastes great. I know that may sound like an advertisement, but trust me; Chipotle hasn’t given me any money to promote their product, even though I’d do it for free food!

Free food is exactly what the Chipotle in Latham did today, and I have a suggestion for the restaurant; find a way to make sure I know about the promotion next time! Oh wait, I guess it’s my fault I didn’t know about it.

Oh well, there’s always next year!

            That still couldn’t protect it 100% from the economic recession. While there are still are teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic, who will spend any amount of money to keep themselves in contention for a championship, there are teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, who need to save as much money as possible.

            The Bucks and the Pacers are feeling the effects of being a lower-tier team in the NBA, over the past couple of years. Their records are among the worst in the NBA over the past two seasons.

           Mix the low records with record-low ticket sales for the league, and it’s easy to see why these teams have been dumping solid contributors like Charlie Villanueva, and Marquis Daniels.

            The future doesn’t look optimistic to return to the days where guys like Erik Dampier (A career 5.3 points per game scorer) can make $12 million a year. With the league reducing the salary cap a whole million dollars, there’s less money for big time free agents now, and in the future like in 2010 when players like Lebron James and Dwayne Wade will be looking for new contracts.

            It’ll be interesting to see how the NBA fights the recession, tries to keep the lower-tier teams from economic collapse, and still markets itself heavily in the world.

 This photo is from the New York Times photo gallery titled: “Nepotism in Indian Politics”. It shows Rajendra Shekhawat, the son of Indian President Pratibha Patil, campaigning for his own seat in government. This gallery is special because it highlights on how having family ties in Indian politics helps in the election process. This gallery also acknowledged there are those in India angry at the advantages having political family members can bring.

 USA Today Photo Gallery, http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/The-week-in-pictures/G1014

This photo is from the “Week in Pictures” section from the USA Today for the week of October 4^th to October 10^th. This gallery is special because it puts out pictures linked to major news events that occurred in the past week. This picture is of a woman who observed the damage of the earthquake-devastated Ambacang Hotel in Padang, Indonesia.

SI.com Photo Gallery, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0910/cfb.top25.week6/content.1.html

This photo is from the “College Football Top 25 Review” gallery, from si.com. This gallery is special for fans of college football who want to review the previous week with pictures from the most notable games. The gallery does a good job of finding action shots to show true emotion from the football field. This is a picture displaying University of Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow running for yards, during the matchup of his nationally top-ranked Gators, versus the then-fourth ranked LSU Tigers.

Today (10/05/09) hospitals began recieving the first doses of vaccines. The Le Bonheur Hospital in Memphis, and Wishard Health Services in Indiana, were a part of those hospitals. They used the vaccines primarily on staffers who will have the highest level of patient involvement/handling.

Giving out shots seemed to go smoothly, considering no non-peaceful actions or violence were reported. NPR reported many more vaccines are scheduled to arrive at hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices very soon. 

So now that vaccines are out, hopefully panic levels surrounding swine flu will die down. There’s been many times this year when somebody in the room is sick, someone will mention swine flu.

Im tired of hearing; “Eww you coughed!? Get away from me! Swine Flu!” I’d like to give a special thank you to the FDA for approving the new vaccine.

This was the first time Gaddafi addressed the U.N. since 1969, the same year he gained power in Libya. He commented on various events, according to the Daily Telegraph: “He called for a UN inquiry into the investigation of John F Kennedy’s assassination, castigated the organisation for failing to stop 65 wars since 1945 and suggested the Security Council be renamed the “terror council”.”

Much of his speech was rambled and seemed un-organized, as he was reading from hand-written notes. After the first hour of his chattering, he complained about jet lag. Another half-an-hour later, his Arabic translator became too tired to finish interpreting and had someone else fill in.

The was the second time in as many months a Gadaffi speech to other nations had strange content. According to a Time Magazine report: “During the G-8 summit in Italy in July, Gaddafi said Switzerland “is a world mafia and not a state,” adding that the Italian-speaking part of the country should be returned to Italy, the German-speaking part to Germany and the French-speaking part to France.”

Gaddafi’s open embrace to the freeing of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, a former Libyan Intelligence officer, also drew intense criticism from the rest of the world. Al-Megrahi was convicted of blowing up Pan Am flight 103 on December 21, 1988, killing 270 people. Gaddafi is a strange man and until he is out of a position of power in Libya, the country will be represented by a rambling lunatic.

India isn’t just insanely-populated big cities though. There are plenty of mountain areas that lead up to some of the most beautiful viewpoints in the world. Beautiful towns and living areas are located throughout many of these mountains (as well as monkeys that might just ask you for food).

When it comes to weather in India, don’t go anywhere but the mountains if warm temperatures aren’t your thing. The beaches in the country are huge and are perfect to beat the summer-like heat. There are many beaches close to major cities, and (if you get the chance) the Taj Mahal isn’t too bad either.

The food in the country is top notch. There are a tremendous amount of restaraunts throughout rural and urban areas. Many places offer both South Indian (more lentil and curry based), and North Indian (more spicy and fried-food based) cuisine. There are also places seen all around the food-chain world, such as; McDonalds and Subway.

So c’mon you know you wanna go. My suggestion for the international flight would be to not fly on Jet Airways, (I got sick on the flight home, after getting used to nicely-cooked Indian food).

Kanye tried not to come across rude towards the 19-year-old Swift, after taking the mic, by saying he’d let her have her moment (even though he basically just sabatoged it). He felt singer Beyonce should have won the award for Best Female Video, he even went on to say she (Beyonce) made the best video of the decade (for her nominated video “Single Ladies”). Too bad he didn’t pick a more appropriate time to express his opinion.

Kanye has been known to do his share of crazy things. At the 2006 MTV Europe Video Music Awards, he rushed the stage to protest not winning the Best Video Award. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he appeared on a NBC special program, to help increase donations being sent for victims, and said; “George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”

At least with the incident involving Taylor Swift, he formally apologized to her. That’s something he didn’t do after the MTV Europe Awards, or George Bush situations.

Kanye grabbing the microphone from Swift. (Photo Credit: Caitlin Moran, from the Times Online)

According to a New York Times report: “Mr. West offered an apology to Ms. Swift and her mother for his behavior. He later posted that he felt “like Ben Stiller in ‘Meet the Parents’ when he messed up everything and Robert De Niro asked him to leave.” He added: “That was Taylor’s moment and I had no right in any way to take it from her. I am truly sorry.””

So while Kanye may not be the all-time craziest popular musician, (Amy Winehouse probably has him beat), he still shows he can downright just lose it with the best of them. I wonder if Taylor Swift feels the same way.

Blount, a senior running back from the University of Oregon, was clearly frustrated after a tough loss to Boise State University (in which he had carried the ball eight times for a total of negative five rushing yards). As the teams were exiting the field of play, Boise State linebacker Byron Hout sent a taunt to LeGarrette, as he walked by, and before his (Boise State) coaches could move Hout away, he was walloped by Blount’s right fist.

That punch has cost Legarrette tremendously since. According to espn.com: “Blount was suspended for all remaining games on Friday for punching Boise State defensive end Byron Hout in the jaw following the 16th-ranked Ducks’ 19-8 loss to the 14th-ranked Broncos the night before. Because he is a senior, Blount’s playing days in Eugene are over.”

Before the season, LeGarrette was on the 2009 Doak Walker Award watch list,  the award given to the nation’s top running back. He rushed for 1,002 yards last season, and set a school-record with 17 touchdowns. He was even projected by some sports analysts as a possible 2nd or 3rd round draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft. All of that has been thrown out of the window. According to ESPN’s Todd McShay: “His sucker punch at the end of Thursday’s loss at Boise State will sink out-of-shape Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount’s chances of an NFL career.”

So one moment, you’re the starting running back for an outstanding college football program (one that recieves huge benefits for being the alma mater of Nike founder Phil Knight). The next moment, you’re the talk of the sports world in a negative way, and your playing career is finished. This goes to show that acting out of anger can cause irreversible damage. Let’s hope Blount learns from this and is able to bounce back strong, so he won’t be remembered as the guy who punched away his future.