Hey all!  This week I am studying Christianity in religion (where I have an extra credit opportunity to do a paper on Mithra), preparing for final projects in Data Warehousing (for which I had to write a three-page paper) and IT Project Management, do some reading for Survey of Mass Communications, and read and write for Writing & Computers (in which I have an optional reflection essay, other extra credit opportunities with wikis, and a final presentation on user-generated content). 

I also got the chance to see a few good friends this past weekend.  My friends Paul and Trey were here on Sunday from the Clemson area (Paul studies business/finance at Clemson while Trey runs a business with his friends Chris, Dallas, and Adam called ADynamic and works at the local Jittery Joe's coffeehouse).  I spent time with Paul and our good friend Gary at Fuji, and then Gary, Paul, and I went to Barnes & Noble where we ran into Trey.  I also saw my Project Management professor out enjoying himself.  Another friend of Trey's, Robbie, was also there.  Then on Monday I tried to go to the free yoga class, but it was cancelled.  Later that evening I spent time with my friends William and Mitchell dining at the delicious Hickory Tavern ($5 wings on Mondays).  William had trouble finding the Hickory Tavern, so I had to explain to him quite a few times how to get there (it is on the East side of Spartanburg).  Obviously we weren't in school this past Tuesday, so I slept late, voted, and got my free doughnut and coffee (courtesy of Krispy Kreme and Pine Street Starbucks).  I spent some more time with William at Starbucks and we both headed over to IHoP and met his friend Jennifer.  Later that evening, change arose.  On Wednesday and Friday we discussed some interesting things in Comparative Religions.

http://tlphillipsjr.blogspot.com/ (Trey's blog)

Finally, I attended USC Upstate's first Media Day on Saturday.  Many people working in the media came to speak and share with us their experiences in their fields, including people from right here at USC Upstate (shout outs to Mr. Nick Catto, the web developer who has some responsibility for my being a student blogger, Ms. Natalie Brown, Mr. Catto's partner-in-crime, and Professor/Journalist Mitch Weiss who teaches two journalism classes here-Investigative Reporting and Media Management), The Spartanburg Herald-Journal, The Greenville News, Fox Carolina (another shout out to Mr. Jeff Moreau who not only anchors the 6:30 news and THE Ten O'Clock News, but also taught Speech for Radio and TV for a semester), Spartanburg Magazine, BMW, and 107.3 JAMZ radio.  Many students alike were in attendance for the event, whether they are in high school or in college, and whether they are communications majors or not.  After the speeches and introductions, the different media specialists had separate rooms reserved for questions on their specialties (Radio/TV, Print, New Media).  Afterward, Pizza Hut pizza was served.  Thanks to Professors Jimm Cox, Chioma Ugochukwu, and Gary Mattingly for putting this event together for all of us. 

http://www.mrcatto.com/ (Mr. Nick Catto's Web Design business)

http://www.uscupstate.edu/press/article.aspx?id=21814 

Finally this week if you watch the Midnight Madness video that was made for USC Upstate, you will find me in the clip for a few seconds (at 1:44 to 1:47).  Talk about shameless self-promotion!