Make Those Extra 24 Hours Count-Leap Year 2012

Here's a Look at Google's Take on the Day 

February 29th (the pesky day that throws off the song "525,600 Minutes") is officially here.  It only graces our calendars once every for years, so how are you going to make your extra day count?  Here's a few suggestions if your mind is drawing a blank:

Take A Chance!  Use this day to do something a little out of character.  Now,  I'm not advising you get yourself arrested but maybe take a different route home or try a new restaurant.  Sure, it's nice the lady at Starbucks automatically knows my order.  But, today I learned that I can buy a large coffee and a blueberry muffin from a street cart for the same price as a small latte.

Register to Vote!  Like Leap Year, the Presidential Election only come once every four years.  I wasn't old enough to vote in '08, so this November will be the first chance I have to show my opinions matter.

Watch a Cheesy Rom-Com!  You may have seen Valentines Day or New Years, but did you know there's a sappy chick flick for Leap Year as well?  Starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, Leap Year's plot may not be too thought provoking, but the adorable Irish accents will keep you glued to the screen.


Or, if you want to get really crazy...Propose!  Irish folklore says if a woman ask a man to marry her on Leap Year, he has to say yes.  Or, if you don't want to go to that extreme, maybe just ask that cute guy you've had your eye on for a date.  Who knows?  He may have secretly had a crush on you too, but he's just to shy to make a move.

NYU's All University Games

I don't know why, but for the past few days I've felt like I'm reliving high school.  

It all started when I discovered Friday Night Lights on Netflix Instant Watch.  I remember seeing a few episodes when it first came out, but I never really got into it.  Well, I may be a little late, but I'm certainly on the bandwagon now.  Every free second I've had has been spent watching Season One.  I love all the sports talk.  But let's be honest; there's no way those actors look like high schoolers (regardless of how cute they may be). 

Then there was Friday night.  NYU isn't known for their sports teams, but once a year all 17 schools compete for the title of All University Champ.  I'm doing a package for NYU Tonight, so I spend six hours in sweaty Coles Sports Complex filming.  I know most colleges actually have school spirit.  There, students aren't afraid to wear gear from the bookstore or cheer on players, but at NYU it just seems so foreign.  Don't get me wrong.  I loved covering the event; it's just a little out of character for any New York City reporter.  

But anywho...here's the final version of my piece that will air this Tuesday.  Take a look if you'd like! 

My Week in Leggings

I Must Resist!  

Happy Fat Tuesday...oh wait, that was two days ago.  But have no fear, for the season of Lent is here.  Yesterday, you probably saw people with black crosses on their foreheads.  Or like me, you may already be contemplating if you can really go 40 days without eating sweets.  Why is it that whenever I make my way to a vending machine my favorite candy (Reese's) are there?  The delicious duo of chocolate and peanut butter can usually never be found, but the moment I decide to take a hiatus, there they sit.

If she can rock it, why can't I? 

Well, at least I still have coffee.  With midterms underway, my daily number of cups has practically doubled.  All these verb conjugations and conditional phrases are making my head spin.  Again, I ask NYU why the language requirement?

Literally, I'm counting down the minutes until 9:15 tomorrow morning.  Once I turn in my exam, I'll finally put on real pants again.  Most of my Southern Facebook friends post "when will girls realize leggings aren't pants," but to them I say don't knock it until you try it.  When you're scrunched up on a too tiny armchair with all your notes, the only thing on your mind is comfort.  And I'm sorry, but no jeans (not even pajama jeans or jeggings) can top the stretchy fabric of leggings.

News From 2/19/12

I’m excited to say today was my first shot at reporting for WNYU, the college radio station.  For the rest of the semester, I’ll be giving a two-minute newscast each Sunday afternoon.  My writeup consists of one world story, two national articles, and one local piece.  After looking through Reuters, The New York Times, and ABC News, here’s what I think is most relevant news of 2/19/12.  

Good afternoon. For WNYU News, I’m Ashley-Michelle Thublin. It’s 2pm and 44 degrees in Washington Square Park and here’s what’s happening.

Earlier today, a suicide car bomber killed 19 police officers and cadets in an attack outside a crowded Baghdad police academy.  The attack breaks a short easing in pitting the Shi’ite Prime Minister against the Sunni-backed political block.  Tensions rose Thursday, after a panel of judges detailed 150 attacks they say were carried out  by death squads under the command of the Sunni Vice President. The attack is the deadliest since January 27th, when a suicide bomber set off an explosive-laden vehicle killing 31 and wounding 60. 

Space junk falling out of the sky may seem likes something out of a science fiction film, but orbital liter has fallen twice within the last year.  While the odds are tiny that anyone on Earth will actually be hit, the chances that it will interfere with working satellites are mounting.  Last week, a top Swiss university announced that they are designing a sort of vacuum cleaner for the sky in hopes of combatting the problem.  And, the US government said all new satellites will be accompanied by plans on how to safely bring them out of orbit.  

White House officials are preparing for Republicans to use consumer angst about the raising cost of oil and gas to argue President Obama’s economic policies just aren’t working.  Speaker of the  House John Boehner  instructed fellow Republicans to embrace the gas-pump anger when they return to their districts for the President’s Day recess.  Economists say the current price of oil is only a modest drag on the economy.  But Obama’s political advisers are bracing for battle  as they envision rising gas prices throughout the summer.  

New York City prosecutors are dropping criminal charges against many of the Occupy Wall Street protestors.  Last October, police arrested 686 people on the Brooklyn Bridge.  So far 174 cases have been dismissed outright, with 250 people agreeing to conditional dismissal.  Many of the prosecutions were dropped under lack of evidence.  

That’s it for news. I’m Ashley-Michelle Thublin and now back to Genna and The Sound Between.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

It's Saturday night.  And while most of New York is out on the town, I'm stuck in Lafayette as the RA on Duty.  But don't feel bad for me.  During my weekly three hour Resource Center I was shown the most adorable short film ever.  It combines a view of my favorite things:  The Wizard of Oz, books, period piece clothing, and animation.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a humorous allegory about the power of stories.  After a hurricane destroys his town, Morris is whisked away to a colorful old house filled with books.  They come alive and help him spread the love of reading throughout his community.  He remains their caretaker for years until it's time for him to pass and another book guardian takes over for him. 

If you have 15 minutes to spare definitely check it out! 

My First Week at The Times

Whew...this week has been a whirlwind of beauty products and sample sizes, for it was not only my first week at The New York Times but also Spring 2012 Fashion Week.  Basically, every day was filled with complete craziness.  While my boss was busy viewing the latest Marc Jacobs or Ralph Lauren collection, I was on the 6th floor of The Times building on 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. 

Starting Monday I'll actually get to write for their blog (or so I've been told), but this week it was all about organizing the beauty closet.  When I was first shown the closets-there's nine in total-they were literally nothing more than an endless supply of paper bags with designer logos decorating the outside.  Tissue paper wrapped the precious products, but thanks to just the shear number of bags, it would have been impossible to quickly differentiate between anti-aging cream and sparkly nail polish.  Well, three work days and 30 Rubbermaid containers later, I'm glad to say my task is complete.


One of the greatest perks of the massive cleanup was the fact that I got to keep anything that caught my eye.  I bagged two Clinique lipsticks, some Dior powder, and crazy turquoise eyeliner from MAC. 

I also got to transcribe an interview with this crazy new artist named Adel.  It's a little funny.  I come straight from my French class to work, so when I was asked if I could understand a Parisian accent, how could I not laugh?  Half of his answers were said his French.  I'm sure my professor will be happy to know I was actually able to comprehend and translate most of what he said. 

Sure, it may not be sports writing or broadcast work, but I'm thinking I can get used to this kind of work.  If only there were more hours in the day, I might actually get to have a life again.  But, at least my day's are fun  and filled with fabulous findings.