Acai - The New Superfood

Watch out blueberries, there is a new fruit in town! Açaí (ah-sigh-ee), a berry harvested in the Amazon is proving to be better tasting and more nutritious than the once before favored blueberry. Although blueberries are rich in Vitamin A, C, and E, potassium and anti-oxidants, the açaí berry is named the new superfood by most nutritionists.

With over 40 stores in Florida alone, Planet Smoothie is the leading seller of the superfood. Planet Smoothie locations serve the fruit in either a smoothie, blended with bananas and strawberries, or in an açaí bowl, blended with bananas until thick and topped with granola and bananas on top.

Jaxsonville’s Planet Smoothie owner, Sharon Colligan, said, ”acai is loaded with anti-oxidants and omegas, 3, 6, and 9. It is not only the most nutritious fruit out there, it tastes good, like chocolate.”

Indeed, the berry is a blend of a sweet fruit and a chocolaty taste. Behind the vibrant purple color, is a list that makes the fruit so unique. It has more anti-oxidants than a blueberry, amino acids, fatty acids, omegas and natural energy.
“The amount of anti-oxidants in the berry have proven to lower risk of heart disease and cancer. The omega fatty acids are suggested to promote cardiovascular and digestive track health,” said Colligan.

In 2008 a study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry showed the effects of açaí on the bloodstream. The study concluded that drinking açaí pulp improved the amount of antioxidants found in the bloodstream. The University of Florida conducted a study that suggested that açaí berries “contain antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells in a test tube”.

“I have never tasted anything like it. When I leave the state for vacation the first thing I miss is my açaí bowl,” said Planet Smoothie regular Janet Whooley.

What more could woman want? Açaí is a healthy and nutritious fruit and satisfies that middle of the night craving for chocolate.

Check out my video for more info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_Tggi5U2sc

How To Get Your Man to Pop the Question

Are you ready to be engaged, but not sure your man knows? Don’t worry, there are many gentle – and not so gentle – ways to coax your man into taking the plunge. Relationship counselor Glenn Goldberg says, “Start with subtle hints, gradually taking it to the next level and see how he responds.” Wondering what kind of hints? Well, here are some examples:

1. When you are on your computer at home, leave the web browser open to a page with the ring you imagine on your finger. This will give your man the idea that you are looking at engagement rings and will also show him an image of the ring he ought to choose when it’s time.
The strategy worked for Danielle, a woman from Long Island, N.Y. She said, “One day, I left our home computer on all day saved to a page of this gorgeous looking ring. Now my ring looks pretty close to one I had on my computer screen.”

2. When you both are watching TV, flip through the channels and stop at any wedding-related show. Comment on what you like and don’t like about the program. This will let your boyfriend know you are thinking about your own wedding and it may get him thinking.


3. If you have a social networking site, take a quiz on “what date will you get married” or “what will your wedding dress look like” and post it to your page. This will make it public that you have only one thing on your mind.
Angela, from Ocala, Fla., says that’s how she got her boyfriend to start talking about marriage. She said: “I took a ‘when will you get married’ quiz on Facebook and posted it on my page. Soon enough, I got lots of comments telling my boyfriend that he needs to hurry up. He starting talking to me about getting married the day after.’”

4. Comment on the wedding announcements in your local Sunday paper. This will give your boyfriend some food for thought.
“I actually cut out the wedding announcements so he would have to ask me what was so important that I had to cut out of the middle of an article he wanted to read. I simply replied, ‘Wedding announcements,’” says Caroline from Vera Beach, Calif.

5. While you are both waiting in line at the grocery, store pick up a copy of I DO (or any wedding magazine) and read it aloud. This tells your man that with all that’s going on in the pop culture world, you are interested in weddings.

6. Go to the mall and conveniently pass by a jewelry store and take your man in just to poke around. Believe it or not, he wants to know what you want and may be waiting to buy the ring because he doesn’t want to get the wrong one.

7. If there is a wedding or an engagement in your family, make it a big deal and offer to help out with the party or planning. You can show your boyfriend how exciting you can get over engagements and love stories.

These tips ought to help your boyfriend understand you are ready for marriage. If he is not ready, he’s not ready. The last thing you want to do is seem obsessive with the whole idea. And if he is ready, it may take him time to pick the perfect ring. Buying the ring is a big deal. This is a piece of rock you will be wearing for the rest of your life. If it is true love, it doesn’t matter when you set the date because you already know you will spend the rest of eternity with each other. Be patient and enjoy the love you have for other. Your day will come soon enough.

Comedian teases celebrities, Obama on campus

Comedian, actor, rapper and entertainer Cory “ZooMan” Miller hit the Flagler Campus last Thursday, Feb. 25 with an outrageous stand-up routine.

Miller has been blowing up the comedic scene since his television debut on HBO’s series Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam and has since been featured on BET’s Comic View and NBC’s Friday Night Videos. “I am a fan of comedy and making people laugh,” Miller said.

On Thursday night, students were thrilled and even shocked at the former class clown’s performance. Miller warmed up the audience with routine jokes about Kanye West and his mishap with country star Taylor Swift. Then, Miller dropped in cracks about Tiger Woods and his 18 mistresses and more risqué routines.

“He was extremely funny and you could tell at the end he knew more of his boundaries and what he could say to get a laugh,” said Flagler student Arianne Myles.

Among the most memorable seemed to be his almost perfect President Obama impersonation. Sounding just like Obama, Miller poked fun at the first black President and held a press conference while answering the most bizarre questions from students.

“I though he was smart funny and I had an awesome time. The people that didn’t come missed out,” said Flagler student Ashley Bowman.

Miller enjoyed the student’s reaction so much that he stayed an extra hour pumping out his jokes.

“I like colleges more than night clubs because there is a certain level of fun with it and I don’t leave smelling like smoke,” said Miller.

With high dreams and aspirations Miller is climbing the ladder by doing what he loves.

“I love making people laugh, but really I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t serious and didn’t dream,” said Miller. “Don’t stop dreaming, that is the worst thing adults can do.”

Students, clubs ramp up Haiti-relief efforts

Phi Alpha Omega President Ashley Devany is doing everything she can to reach out to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

“I think it’s important to help Haiti now because in all honesty they need it most,” she said. Phi Alpha Omega is raising money for the Haiti Relief Fund through the American Red Cross at this year’s Bachelor Bid. The bachelors of Flagler College will go to the highest bidder and all the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

“We have the potential of really giving to Haiti and we want everyone to put their energy into this big project so we can send as much as possible,” Devany said.

Another Haiti-relief-focused event, “Bands on the Lawn,” brought students together on the West Lawn for a free concert to fuel donations. Emily Ward and Josh Santos started the festivities followed by local bands Waiting On Brian and General Southern.

“After seeing the devastation in Haiti, it makes you want to do anything to help,” said General Southern drummer Brady Baxter. “When we were asked to do this, we all agreed we’d be happy to play some songs so that people might donate to the Haiti fund. It’s very sad to see people in such a bad state, and I think it’s important for everyone to donate or help, even in small ways like we did.”

Kristin Nelson, Director of Student Activities, is taking this opportunity to guide students around campus to make an impact. Nelson said the most rewarding has been the response of students and staff who have knocked on her door with new ideas to help. She feels this is one of the most important times for people to come out to all these events that she is helping planning and show some support.

“It is just a mass devastation that occurred down there,” Nelson said. “It’s a natural cause and it could have happened to us to and it would be nice if people helped us too. I think your heart just goes out to them. You see all this devastation and you know they already live in poverty and you just want to help. A lot of our hearts just go to helping so it’s kind of a natural instinct.”

SGA will also be selling carnations to help the cause. Flagler students can send a carnation to someone special over Valentine’s Day. Half the proceeds will be donated to help those in Haiti.

“As they lost almost everything and it will take years to build everything back up, even though we are a small school, every little bit can help,” said Stephanie Hyland, SGA’s Community Service Committee First Chair. “They need it the most right now.”

“We have incredibly high hopes for this years Bachelor Bid because it is going to a charity that is kind of on everyone’s heart at the moment,” Devany said.

Also, Flagler placed several donation boxes around campus for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. Anyone can donate to the American Red Cross in $10 increments by texting “Haiti” to 90999. Unicef and the Clinton Bush Foundation can also be contacted to make donations.

CD REVIEW: On and On by Jordan Maroko

A cool rush of calmness and relaxation with a hint of motivation is exactly what I felt when I listened to Jordan Maroko’s songs off his EP On and On. This five song EP is filled with lyrics from the heart and made with music that is meant to inspire. Maroko is a college graduate looking for a way to get his story and music out there. On and On is his first EP created with high hopes of recording a full album this January, but his dream wasn’t always to make music. After his friends told him how much they liked his music and how relatable it was, it dawned on him, he could touch people around the world with his music. Turns out writing music since you are 10 years old can actually get you somewhere.

With inspiration coming from bands he listened to growing up, his music is reminiscent of John Mayer or Dave Matthews Band. The pop/rock/alternative EP is something I can play in my room, in the car, or listen to on my iPod in-between classes, The versatility of the light but motivated music is what I like most about it. As Maroko said, “Its got heart and soul.”

On and on has the ability to make any situation I am in more relaxed with Maroko’s style of music. With a mature voice, talent for writing music and all instruments played by Maroko, this EP is sure to go places. I recommend checking out the EP. If you are on the college kid budget go to myspace.com/JordanMarokoto check out his cool and collective music.

New Moon Movie Review

Team Jacob fans are howling for New Moon, the second installment of Stephenie Meyer’s series Twilight.

For those of you who aren’t quite up to speed on the Twilight series, hardcore fans affiliate themselves with either Team Jacob or Team Edward, as Jacob Black and Edward Cullen are the two love interests in the Twilight Series. In New Moon, Bella Swan, a human, must choose between the two supernatural characters, Jacob being a werewolf, while Edward is a vampire.

New Moon progresses the story line between the mortal and supernatural world of vampires and werewolves. As Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, turns 18, she is reminded of her age and wants nothing more than to leave Forks, be turned into a vampire and live forever with her star crossed lover, Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson.

After a dangerous situation with a paper cut, Edward decides Bella would be better off without the supernatural world and leaves her. Bella is devastated and turns to her best friend Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner.

Ironically, Jacob discovers that as a member of the Quileute tribe, he is prone to turning into an exceptionally large wolf at a moment’s notice, a wolf whose main objective in life is to protect humans from vampires.

The movie is focused on Bella and Jacob’s newfound love for each other, while the love triangle gets more complicated.

For fans, this movie is everything they expected and more. With 30-pound heavier Lautner and fierce Pattinson, this movie has every girl crushing.

But when it comes down to it, the fans should not only happy with the cast, but the new direction New Moon has taken. In place of Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, the filmmaker who disappointed a lot of Twilight fans and made a joke out of the series, New Moon has taken better direction with Chris Weitz.

As opposed to Hardwicke’s use of dark and vague colors while trying to portray Fork’s mood, Weitz uses more gold, red, and bright colors that make the scenes pop. Weitz’s vision is to keep the movie as close to the book as possible. Thus, small details were changed from the first movie, the vampire’s eyes had a fuller gold or red color and the vampire Victoria, has fiery red hair as opposed to strawberry blonde.

The overall quality of the movie was professional and visually pleasing. Staying true to the book, the most heart throbbing quotes were used, allowing the audience to feel for the characters. The wardrobe was more fitting for the time period and the characters. Although the acting was an improvement from Twilight, Stewart still has that horrible screech of a “scream”, awkward screen presence, and lack of talent to pull off a Hollywood box office film. The CGI of the werewolves could have been better with the budget the movie had, and the movie ran long for those who do not want to see every last detail of the book.

There is a scene that over emphasizes the feminine characteristics of Edward as a vampire, as he frolics in a forest, which gives critics something else to talk about.

This movie is not a supernatural movie with a hint of romance; it’s quite the opposite. With quotes such as “You are my whole world now” and “I Promise this is the last time you will see me” draws me into the story line and makes me feel for the characters. It is a modern day Romeo and Juliet.

For those who do not like romantic love stories, this is not the movie for you. For those who can get caught up in a fairytale, be prepared to be on the edge of your seat.

Warehouse 31 v. Halloween Horror Nights: Which one’s better?

The Gargoyle’s Arts and Entertainment co-Editors went to Warehouse 31 and Halloween Horror Nights to see which spook is worth the scratch. Which one gives you goosebumps?

By Emily Hoover |ehoover@flagler.edu	By Kaitlyn Teabo | kteabo@flagler.edu
Scare Factor It brings no nightmares, except, perhaps, to young children. It will not frighten horror movie buffs, yet I witnessed screams uttered by adult men. It is not for the faint of heart. For college students reluctant to empty their bank accounts for a trip to Orlando, Warehouse 31 is an accessible thrill for anyone needing a fix from a haunted attraction. What to Expect St. Augustine denizens can experience a 30-min. walk through an 18,000-square ft. warehouse converted into a miniature, and not to mention cheaper, Halloween Horror Nights. It looks like a place in which workers manufacture goods. Only it is not. It is a gateway to terror and it houses a multitude of rooms and twisted hallways. Rooms feature sadistic doctors, crazy clowns, ghastly ghouls and Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface, wielding his infamous chainsaw. Expect blood, gore and magic tricks as well as fire breathers and belly dancers on selected evenings. Those who shriek from gruesome autopsy rooms, experience claustrophobia and loathe the sight of insects, beware! To avoid crowds, show up early and plan to go on a slower weeknight. Price: $16 for the event, $3 for compact parking. Affordable food and drink sold by local vendors. When: Sundown to 11 p.m. on Sundays-Thursdays, sundown to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Event ends on Oct. 31 Where: 225 W Davis Industrial Drive, St. Augustine	Scare Factor If you are looking for a fun filled night with a group of friends laughing and screaming together, this is a great chance to experience a fun Halloween filled night without having nightmares. If you have a few extra dollars to spend on yourself for a night out with your friends and have transportation to Orlando, this is the place to be. What to Expect The most anticipated haunted house, Saw, was brilliantly created with various replicated scenes from the movie series. It was gory and gruesome, but there was nothing scary to it, you simply walk through the scenes. The Wolfman haunted house was creatively constructed as it was not just a series of twists and turns as someone pops out of every corner, but the small room was set up with trees surrounding you in a forest. The only indication of a path are the people leading you and werewolves have the opportunity to jump out in every direction, not just behind corners, but behind every tree. The six scare zones that stretch about a block long, are thrilling and exciting with mutated humans, Nazi zombies and cannibals roaming the dark smoke filled streets following you and getting as up close and personal with you as they can to evoke a scream or two. Price: Florida residents (with Coke-Zero discount)- Sunday through Thursday: $40 , Friday: $50, Saturday: $60, Non-Residents-$70, Express Pass (to skip all the lines): $40 to $75 depending on date When:Friday and Saturday: 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: 6:30 p.m. to midnight. Where:Universal Studios Theme Park in Orlando