Leaving Aggression On The Field

In the world's most popular sport on the world's biggest stage, the pressure to win is paramount. For German soccer forward Birgit Prinz, she had the biggest burden to carry. As the longtime face of her country's national team, they were hosts of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup and looking to win an unprecedented third consecutive title. Had they reached the championship game in Frankfurt, it would've been held in Prinz's hometown where she also played professionally for 1. FFC Frankfurt. It couldn't have been scripted any better, but more questions than answers were raised by her performance, or lack thereof.

After failing to score in close one goal victories in Germany's first two opening round games, commentators close to the German team urged for head coach Silvia Neid to pull Prinz out of the starting line-up. At the time, Prinz was 33 years old and arguably the most prolific scorer in the history of women's soccer. She was to Germany what Abby Wambach is to the United States. But unlike Wambach, Prinz was eventually benched for the final game in group play against France. She was also benched for the quarterfinals, where Germany was stunned by eventual champion Japan in the final minutes of extra time. She played a total of 109 minutes and had zero goals in the tournament.

It's difficult to play down the role of an aging superstar, like Prinz, without a media backlash. After 128 goals in 214 apperances for the German national team, one would think that Prinz would be given the benefit of the doubt, especially in her home country. But with the emergence of a few up-and-coming German soccer players, coupled with a right ankle injury she suffered weeks before the Women's World Cup, Prinz became an easy target. Though she later admitted her poor play warranted a benching, she referred to the media criticism as a "witch-hunt."

What she went through was unique due to her skills and circumstances, but the way she dealt with the negative criticism can be applicable to just about any athlete. When it comes to leaving aggression on the field, it's ultimately best not to take any criticism too personal. Whether one plays an individual or team sport, the overall record one shares means nothing to critics. They will find fault with practically anything one does, so it's wise to avoid giving them additional reasons to overanalyze one's game. It's equally important not to let emotions, positive or negative, get the best of one's attitude. Discouraging comments can bring unnecessary attention, but statements made after an important win can prove troublesome, too. Finally, understand that the game is just a game. Sports certainly play an entertaining role, but life is more than just scoring goals or winning championships. However, the life lessons learned in sports are invaluable. By appropriately dealing with criticism now, one won't be intimidated by the pressures of life later.

Want To Get Noticed? Go Bare

(The following is a short piece I wrote for my brief stint on a freelance site, only for it to be rejected and rewritten. I understand it reeks of a sales pitch. Just take a few seconds of your time to read my shameless advert, and be thankful I'm not doing this for a living. You're welcome.)

When wearing cologne, keep the scent to a minimum. Not only can too much prove overpowering, it's a sign of insecurity that anyone can pick up on, males and females alike. To achieve that brisk, desirable smell, keep the can or bottle six to eight inches away when applying your fragrance. Allow each spray to gently waft over your desired area before you get dressed because your skin can absorb and retain the scent longer than your clothes. For best results, aim for your chest, neck, forearms and undersides of your wrists with only one spray each.

How To Have A Successful Yard Sale

So, you've got a lot of crap... er, I mean, secondhand goods that you would like to get rid of, for one reason or another. Well, you can trash them, burn them, bury them, donate them to a thrift store to get a tax refund, or sell them for pennies on the dollar. Which sounds most appeasing to you?

If you picked the last choice, then you took the first step in clearing out excess junk and making some extra money on the side. Good for you! If not, did you even look at the title of this blog post?

Regardless, yard sales are the literal representation of the old adage, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." They're a conglomerate of strangers who come face-to-face to accomplish one common goal: move old stuff out for a nominal fee.

Perhaps you've been to several yourself, and you feel it's time to give it a go. Or maybe you've held some in the past, but have been discouraged with the results. Either way, I present to you a pick six of tips, "Do's" and "Don'ts" if you will, that will prepare you to have a successful yard sale. Buona fortuna.

Rock On... "Subtle Serpent: New Age In The Classroom"

Title: Subtle Serpent: New Age In The Classroom
Authors: Darylann Whitemarsh & Bill Reisman
Publisher: Huntington House
Genre: Non-Fiction/Christian
Year of Publication: 1993
ISBN: 1-56384-016-2



This Book In 100 Words: Today's students are learning more than just reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. They're learning how to compromise their own values and are all but forced to accept everyone's wavering opinions on right and wrong. This is being reinforced in the school, where children and teenagers spend nearly half their waking time. As a concerned parent or citizen, you can't help but wonder why gang violence, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, and suicide rates are at an all-time high amongst the youth of the nation. The problem rests with a millennia-old philosophy repackaged for the twentieth (and twenty-first) century: New Age.

An 8 Point Plan to Curb Homelessness

If there is one thing I dread the most, more than I do failing grades, failing job expectations, and failing health, it's failing to have a stable roof over my head. Did you know that more than three-quarters of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, so any financial setback could cost them their home? I say the home above all else because it's practically the hub for everyday life. It's the place where people sleep, eat, get creative, pay bills, and be entertained. Without a home, you can't have a job nor a driver's license, two essential things to have in this day and age for there to be any forward progress. Some people don't know what this is like, either because they're financially successful or they have family nearby to shelter them when their money well dries up. But for most others, the threat of homelessness looms like a continuous black cloud over their head. It's a constant living with fear because the chances of planting a new life on hard ground are slim to none. Save a winning lottery ticket worth tens of millions of dollars, homeless people are stuck in a perpetual rut. But there is hope: you. The following are eight steps you can take to either treat or support the homeless with dignity and give them the resources they need to make something of their lives.

Wasting Food Stinks

Wasting food stinks. That's why it's important to pay attention to various food products and be smart with their value. Adhering to the following strategies can personally prevent as much food waste as possible, for its a global issue that will hurt us all in the long run if we don't take heed.

How To Avoid Getting Into Debt. For Good.

Do you struggle to keep your finances in check?

Do you dread the sight of bills and credit card statements in the mail?

Does your bank account have only three digits? And two of which are behind a period?

If any of these apply to you, read on.

Rock On... Discerning Genuine Love

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, or Single Awareness Day for some people, and it's always an interesting time of year. Couples either strengthen, or they crash and burn. Two people may commit themselves to marriage, or one (or both) may tell the other to get mentally committed. Whichever way the pointer swings, one thing is for sure: relationships make or break based on love. But what is love? It's a question asked for millennia, from philosophers to novelists to contemporary musicians. It's an even bigger kettle of fish when people mistake "love", or infatuation, for love. Almost everyone wants to be in a fulfilling, lifelong relationship, and the only way to achieve that is for both people to accept each other unconditionally as possible. But how do you know if a relationship is true or not? Below, I give you my six points defining what love is and isn't. Please use these tidbits to better yourself, your significant other, or anyone else who wants to know if your/their relationship is built upon a steady rock or shifting sand. Godspeed.

5 Things I've Learned Within 1 Month (and 1 Day) of Blogging

One month and one day ago today, I established Rock Talk, my own personal blog on various topics of interest. Over a dozen original pieces of mine have been posted, from birds dropping dead out of the sky to the attempted assassination on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to my takes on why most current relationships are flawed. And in that (short) stretch of time, I have come to realize five things about being a rookie blogger...

Rock On... Contemporary Relationships

With about 3 1/2 weeks to go until Valentine's Day, it comes that time in the year where I reflect on the importance of intimacy and the lessons I’ve learned about women from my past relationships... until I realize that I've had none (so far).

Zero. Zilch. Nada.

What few encounters I've had were DOA, either because the girl of my interest already had a boyfriend (and kept it incognito) or thought I was too much of a friend to be taken seriously.

Swing and a miss, every time. As a result, my lifetime batting average with the opposite sex is 0.000. Even Mario Mendoza thinks I've got no game.

But before you write me off as yet another male spurned by the nuances of females taking to the Internet to blow off some steam, allow me to share with y'all the method behind my madness.

In the time I have spent musing on my singleness and observing countless couples dating around my age and older, I've noticed one common thread amongst the majority that weave the fabric of contemporary relationships: they don't know what they want from each other.

You heard me right. People fall in love for all the wrong reasons nowadays and pervert the right ones, to boot. And here's the way I see it.