Renowned columnist and author Thomas L. Friedman will be joining the university’s two-day conference addressing our country’s increasing problems with energy. Not only will Friedman deliver the keynote address, but also the conference, “Energizing the Future: Technology, Policy and Entrepreneurship,” will bring plenty of leaders in the business, research, academic and entrepreneurial world to provide their insights on the energy crisis and how it can be resolved.

According to the press release, the idea for this conference derived from a seminar on energy policy that Professor Jim Curran, chair of biology, taught several years ago that he is teaching again this semester.

Featured speakers include Duke Energy CEO James Rogers, Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon and Steven Burke, president of the North Carolina Biofuels Center. The conference will also feature video remarks from U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.

The conference will begin Wednesday, Feb. 10, and will continue through Thursday, Feb. 11. Friedman, a participant in the university’s “Voices of our Time” lecture series, will deliver his speech on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Wait Chapel. Check the press release and/or the conference Web site for the complete schedule of events and speakers.

Thomas L. Friedman, famed columnist and author, will be delivering the keynote address for the university's "Energizing the Future: Technology, Policy and Entrepreneurship."

From Heels under $ 15 to cosmetics and costumes amiclubwear.com is “a positive place for girls”.  I know this is a bad habit but whenever I’m bored I find myself online ‘window’ shopping with the credit card at hand just in case I come across a must have.  Promoted in Seventeen magazine, amiclubwear’s site has some good deals if you’re willing to look.  Here are some things that caught my eye. 

     Brown Beige Fringe EternityScarf 15.99

Taupe Faux Suede Slouchy Bow Flat Casual Boot ($9.99 currently out of stock)

Navy Strapless Tube Crop Pant Romper Outfit $29.99

Paste is rewarding donations with music.  You can either donate directly through Paste or another organization.  Proceeds are funneled directly to three organizations: Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, and Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.

Just a sample of the music available: Andrew Bird, The Avett Brothers, The Decemberists…more.

Donate now.

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This past Wednesday I was unfortunate enough to attend our local College Republicans’ Student Town Hall.  The entire meeting, with the exception of two panelists (BJ Lawson, Jared Fuller), was run by local Republican and conservative figures.  Unfortunately, the entire meeting was nothing but a convoluted diatribe against immigrants, seculars, gays, and peaceniks.  I was so infuriated by the absurdity of the meeting that I left early after hearing the crowd cheer for bills that would make English the official language of NC and would ban gay marriage in the state, respectively.

Here’s just a few of the misanthropic quotes that my friend Elliot Engstrom collected from the meeting:

“If I learn that I came from an animal, I’ll start acting like an animal.” (says the man who values freedom of education, apparently only as long as what is taught is what he believes to be true)

“I’m a Christian first, a conservative second, and a Republican third.”

“Someone has to draw the line somewhere. If I say a man can marry a man, what’s to stop a 26-year-old from having sex with a 7-year-old?”

“I’ll bet those Muslims countries don’t have too many murderers and thieves running around. Maybe we ought to take a lesson or two from how they govern.”

“Muslims think that everyone who disagrees with them should be killed.”

“The Founders were all Christians.”

“English is the official language of North Carolina.”

“The Constitution doesn’t say that the church and the State have to be separate, so the government is allowed to incorporate religion.”

Fortunately, a few of my libertarian friends were able to attend and spark a little debate towards the end of the meeting.  Here’s a few of their comments/questions:

“How can you claim to be pro-life when you’ve said nothing about America’s wars that are killing far more people than are being killed by abortions?”

“If you value freedom, why can’t we have freedom on social issues?”

I put this video up to show what is basically an exact replica of the mentality displayed at the meeting.  Sometimes its good for me to go to events like this just to remember how much I hate Republicans and conservatives in general.

Today is Super Bowl XLIV, and in case you don’t understand Roman Numerals that translates to funny commercials, good food and the Saints dominating Peyton Manning. Well, the last is more of a hopeful thought than a direct translation, but hey, a girl can dream. Here are just a few recipes from Food Network to try out at your football fiesta this year:

Buffalo Wings

Ingredients:

12 whole chicken wings (about 3 pounds)

3 ounces (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter

1 small clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup hot sauce

Kosher salt

Directions:

Place a 6-quart saucepan, with a steamer basket and 1 inch of water in the bottom, over high heat, cover and bring to a boil.

Remove the tips of the wings and discard or save for making stock. Use kitchen shears or a knife to separate the wings at the joint. Place the wings in the steamer basket, cover, reduce the heat to medium and steam 10 minutes. Remove the wings from the basket and carefully pat dry. Lay out the wings on a cooling rack set in a half sheet pan lined with paper towels and place in the refrigerator to dry, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the paper towels on the pan and replace with parchment paper. Roast on the middle rack of the oven, about 20 minutes. Turn the wings over and cook 20 to 30 more minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the skin is golden brown.

While the chicken is roasting, melt the butter in a small bowl with the garlic. Pour this along with the hot sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl large enough to hold all of the chicken and stir to combine. Remove the wings from the oven, transfer to the bowl and toss with the sauce. Serve warm.

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Potato Skins

Ingredients:

6 small baking potatoes

2 tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons seasoned salt

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

4 strips cooked, crumbled bacon

3/4 cup Daisy Brand Sour Cream

2 teaspoons snipped fresh chives

Directions:

Lightly grease outside of potatoes, cut small slit in top and bake at 425 degrees F for 45 minute or until soft. Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.

Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out cooked potato, leaving a very thin layer of potato. (Save cooked potato for mashed potatoes or hash browns.)

Brush outside and inside of skins with melted butter. Sprinkle inside with steak seasoning and Parmesan cheese.

Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes or until crisp and bubbly.

Fill with cheddar cheese and bacon. Bake 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of chives.

Variation: Twice Baked Potato Fingers Bake 3 large (about 5-inch) potatoes for 1 hour; cool. Cut in half lengthwise, and then lengthwise in half again, making 12 long fingers. Scoop out and proceed as above.

If all else fails, give Wingzone a call– they deliver! And tune into the game– Kickoff is at 6:25 p.m. on CBS.

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The Daily Show.

Follow up with O’Reilly.