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Watsi: Funding Hope Through Healthcare

Shay Davis — December 3, 2012 — Leave a comment

Non-profit organization Watsi has only been up and running for three months and has made a big impact in a small amount of time. So far, 34 people’s lives have been changed in developing countries because of the medical treatments they have received through Watsi donors. Watsi seeks to not only leave a lasting impression on the patients who receive treatment but also on the people who donate and spread the word to others looking to save precious lives. I spoke with Howard Glenn, Watsi co-founder responsible for finances, about the success of Watsi and how they plan to fund more treatments and positively influence more lives.

Shay Davis: If you were to describe Watsi in a few words what would they be?

Howard Glenn: Personal, direct and tangible

SD: If you wanted people to know one thing about Watsi what would it be?

HG: Watsi is the first online peer- to- peer fundraising platform that allows donors to fund life changing medical treatments to people in need.

SD: Have you personally encountered the people that Watsi has funded medical care for?

HG: Personally, no. I have had direct contact with the executive directors of the clinics that we work with but the patients individually, no.

SD: What makes Watsi different from other non- profit organizations who help people in need?

HG: I would say the most obvious thing about Watsi is its direct impact that you can feel. I don’t feel there is another organization out there right now that does this with the healthcare space, which is as direct, tangible and personal as donating on Watsi is.

SD: What makes Watsi so personal?

HG: I like going back to something that we’ve referenced numerous times and it’s called the collusive action. Numerous studies have shown that if a person can easily and quickly understand the impact of their donation, then they’re more likely to donate. So what we’re trying to create with Watsi is fostering that compassion on a global scale.

SD: Why not use Watsi to help people in the US instead of in developing countries?

HG: That’s a really good question. While I do feel like there are a lot of problems in the US with our healthcare. I do feel that there is more potential for growth and scalability internationally for Watsi.

SD: What has been the biggest benefit so far from Watsi?

HG: Funding 34 life changing medical treatments to date.

SD: Has your life changed at all since co-founding Watsi?

HG: Yeah, I had already planned to go to business school here at SC for Watsi and started working on it. Since starting working with Watsi the amount of work doing school and Watsi at the same time has grown exponentially. With the growth of Watsi, I’ve had to pick up responsibilities and duties and things like that so at times my head is on a little bit on a swivel and life gets a little hectic. But it’s worth it to make sure that the whole thing keeps going and running and getting funding to that we can keep going.

SD: If someone was unsure about donating to Watsi how you would convince them to donate?

HG: Just go to the site. I feel that the stories and the pictures and just the usability of the site speak for itself.

SD: What’s next for Watsi?

HG: Right now, we’ve kind of done our proven concept phase so we launched it back is late August. We wanted to get a few months of user interaction of donations and kind of go through the whole process to make sure it works before we go out to organizations and individuals to donate money to scale and grow. So right now it’s all fundraising getting “x” number of dollars so that we can hire “x” number of people etc. But once we do get that funding number one goal would be to add features to the site to make it more of a community feel and ramp things up. We have some ideas for ambassadorship, which is the first person who donates to a profile would be the ambassador and it would be their responsibility to make sure that it gets funded. For example, we did a private pilot for our first 3 patients and we only used our personal friends and family of the people that worked at Watsi. It was a great reception and everybody donated and all of the profiles were funded pretty quickly and that’s because each one of us was an ambassadors for those 3 profiles. We went out to our individual networks and made sure that they at least looked at the profile and then decided rather or not they wanted to donate. So if we can get that so that every person that comes on and donates is the first person to donate is the ambassador and deals the ownership of that person getting funded, then we feel like profiles could fly off the site.

SD: How have you guys gotten this fair with funding and getting the word out?

HG: Word of mouth has been the biggest thing. We’ve had some success with our facebook page and twitter, more so with Facebook. I think we have around 1800 likes or so, which is pretty good for an organization only 3 months in. We’ve won some contests and we’ve raised some money but nothing significant so far.

To learn more information about Watsi and to donate, visit their website. Currently there are five people, four of them are children, on the Watsi website who need life-saving medical treatments. Be the one person who donates and tells another person about the importance of Watsi and their mission.

In Informative, Inspiring, Interview, Random But Awesome

Meet the President: An Interview with Harris Pastides

Kiante Chapman — November 16, 2012 — Leave a comment

When Harris Pastides first became president of the University of South Carolina, he did so with the goal of increasing student engagement and providing opportunities for leadership.

That was four years ago and that goal is stronger now than ever. Pastides, USC’s 28th president, maintains his vision for the university through initiatives like Palmetto College, Back to Carolina and Gamecock Gateway. And with the success of the University’s Honors College and business school, I’d say he’s not far off. This week, I sat down with our president to discuss USC’s future and how he motivates students.

Jumping right in…

Kiante Chapman: Describe your presidency in one word.

Harris Pastides: One word? I would use the word privileged. I was going to use challenging as my word but I thought it might give a negative connotation, a more fearful or frustrated tone. It is challenging, that’s a good word, but I like the challenge. So if I say to you, how’s your calculus course and you say challenging, I would think that you’re struggling with a C. By saying privileged it gives a different tone. I said privileged but challenging is a good word too.

KC: So challenging in a good way?

HP: Yes! Challenging in a good way, correct.

KC: When you and your wife first came to USC, did you guys have a specific vision or is there something in particular that you wanted to have happen or to do?

HP: We wanted to make an impact on students mainly and on the university community and we wanted to work together. We’ve never worked together in our lives. We’ve worked separately and we wanted to work together as a team.

KC: Do you believe that that has happened? Have you guys been able to do that?

HP: Definitely. We work together as a team. We do things separately but with one common purpose, which is to advance the university.

KC: So do you guys brainstorm on issues then branch apart? How does that work?

HP: No, we don’t brainstorm together. If I’m having a challenge I may consult with her like President Obama would with Michelle. And if she is confronted with a challenge, I consult with her. We don’t have to do that very often, though, because there are very few issues that she and I are co-leading.

Evolution

KC: How do you hope that the university will continue to evolve?

HP: I hope that it will evolve both as an accessible and affordable place for working class families to send their students but also continue to evolve as one of America’s top academic universities with the Honors College and the Moore School of Business and journalism and so many other top programs. So both, evolve to be increasingly accessible and increasingly academically superior.

KC: Is there a particular aspect of the university that you believe draws people here?

HP: The culture. We have a positive culture at USC so while we are large and public and growing, we have not lost that small college charm and feel and the culture of saying hello to each other, greeting each other, supporting each other. Marcus Lattimore is a good example of that. We came out as a family to support him in his time of need. So the culture, I think, is what is a special characteristic.

Downtime

KC: What do you in your spare time, if you ever have spare time?

HP: I read the New York Times for a longer period of time. I work out for a longer period of time. I read books, which I don’t get a chance to do very much. I read a lot but not necessarily books. If I had a lot of time, I would travel, certainly. Get to see some interesting places more than I get the opportunity to do.

KC: So is that how you see yourself spending your time once your presidential duties are completely fulfilled?

HP: Yes. I would take more trips to visit my granddaughter in California and my son and daughter, travel a little more leisurely, spend more time abroad, but otherwise wake up and do the same things that I do now, probably.

Word to the Wise

KC: What is the best piece of advice that you have been given?

HP: Be yourself.

KC: Why does that stick out? Is there someone who told you that and that made it special?

HP: Many people have told me that. I wouldn’t give credit to any one person. When you become a president, well, I read a lot of books about leadership and successful people but you really can’t follow anyone else’s footsteps. I’m going to be myself. I’m going to be the president but I’m going to be my own person. And if you try to be someone else people will sniff it out right away. They’ll know you’re somewhat of a fake.

KC: What would you tell someone who aspired to be in higher education or become the president of a university?

HP: I would suggest that they do a lot of volunteer work. Always say yes to challenges that are presented to them, opportunities to take on more and be a leader. It may be more work, may be more money or not more money. Start moving up where ever you are. And then, of course, read. The Chronicle of Higher Education, it’s a newspaper that comes out everyday. Become more familiar with the challenges that are in higher ed.

photos from sc.edu

In Informative, Interview, Random But Awesome

What’s next for the re-elect?

dashia — November 7, 2012 — Leave a comment

The race for the White House is over with President Barack Obama taking office for his second term. The President raced past the 270 electoral votes to 303, claiming a victory against Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

“Tonight, in this election, you the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come,” the president stated in his victory speech.

With the race over, American citizens are now questioning many issues and challenges that still exist in the nation. Most importantly for us, what does it mean for college students?

ECONOMY

With a better future promised by both candidates, the top pounding issue for students is employment after graduation. With the national unemployment rate at 7.9 percent for October, reality in finding a job that compliments the degree is scarce. President Obama plans to continue his journey for job growth with the American Jobs Act and working towards successful initiatives to add to the 2009 automobile bailout. The bipartisan plan to create jobs while modernizing America includes the following.

Reforms and tax cuts to help small businesses grow.
Veterans receive tax credits to help provide employment.
Renovating 35,000 public schools to prevent laying off 280,000 teachers.
Improving roads, railroads, airports, and other modes of transportation while creating jobs and rebuilding homes, businesses, and communities.
Extending tax cuts for families making less than $250,000.

The POTUS plans to fulfill these and other economic growing initiatives through funding by the ‘Long Term Deficit Reduction Plan’–reducing America’s spending. With the stimulus plan taking more than four years to show its effects, hopefully, college students will see Obama’s plan take action during his second term and provide careers for college students.

What about the deficit and ‘fisical cliff’ that has Americans worried? With the House of Representatives being held by Republicans and the Democrats taking the Senate, President Obama must work to create bipartisan agreements. With the Democrats and POTUS fighting for an increased tax for the wealthy, it is unclear how both parties will move forward to cut spending. Tax reform will affect job creation for small businesses and individuals.

HEALTHCARE

One of the main issues that President Obama has prided himself over in his term is ensuring that citizens have healthcare without tactics from the insurance industry. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” strives to make healthcare more affordable and securing health insurance for those preexisting conditions.

The bright side for college students is that they may stay on their parent’s insurance until the age of 25. For students seeking medical degrees, it could mean less take home pay in the future because of new regulations.

One catch to healthcare reform is funding. The President has said that the money will come from a new tax on the wealthy and cuts from Medicare. There will be a tax increase of 3% for individuals who make $200,000 or more a year and on families who make a combined $250,000 or more a year. Although individuals will have healthcare, it could come at a cost.

Here are a few parts of Obamacare have already gone into effect:

Children are allowed to stay on their parent’s insurance until they are 26
Children can no longer be turned away from insurance companies because of preexisting conditions
Sick uninsured people can buy coverage in high-risk pools set up by the government
Allows The Food and Drug Administration to approve more generic drugs

Opposition comes from the individual mandate that will begin in 2014 that requires individuals to have healthcare or be required to pay a tax. Opponents of Obamacare make the point that the government should not regulate a service that is up to consumers and their insurance companies.

EDUCATION

What affects students most within the next four years is the cost and quality of education. The POTUS plans to double pell grants, help college students manage their debt after graduation with the ‘Pay as You Earn’ plan, and keeping student loan rates low. However, after working with Congress to extend the current interest rate, it is highly likely that the rate will increase in 2013.

In regards to public education, Obama’s ‘Race to the Top’ allows schools to compete for grants based on reform plans, standards, and assessments, giving students quality public schooling through additional funding.

IMMIGRATION

In June, President Obama declared a directive that placed provisions of the DREAM ACT into effect. The POTUS has allowed immigrants who came to the states illegally to stay under certain conditions including pursing an education or serving in the military. The directive also allows immigrants to gain legal documentation. With Obama being reelected, the directive stands. Although the provisions do not answer every question in regards to immigration, it shows that the issue is being tackled.

So what?

With President Obama serving as his second term, he hopes to finish the job that he started in 2008 by continuing to exercise his plans to rebuild America. As students and citizens in general, we can only hope that these initiatives bring quality education, a lower unemployment rate, careers that support the degree earned, and affordable healthcare. Stay informed!

Check out more of what’s expected for the POTUS and a campaign recap

CNN.com: Obama takes key battlegrounds to re-election

HuffPo: Election Results

Contributor: Shay Davis

College Conversion is a feature of The Garnet Report that informs college students of the successes, challenges, and issues of our community and campus. We hope to present news and analyze reports to highlight valuable information to help students learn and engage in their campus, communities, and country.

In Informative, Random But Awesome

Star Wars 7 is coming in 2015…

Stephen Bateman — October 30, 2012 — Leave a comment

Well, LucasFilm is selling out, literally.

Disney just announced that they are acquiring George Lucas’ company for roughly $4.05 billion in cash and stock. In addition to acquiring the company, they announced a seventh Star Wars movie.

(At this point, if you’re not a fan of Star Wars, this story is over for you. It gets SUPER nerdy, consider yourself warned.) Continue Reading…

In Informative, Inspiring, Random But Awesome

How to Whiten your teeth (for Cheap!)

Stephen Bateman — October 16, 2012 — Leave a comment

A few days ago, I realized that my love for coffee was quickly having some unintended consequences: coffee teeth. There are a few things that I committed to never let happen in my life:

I will never buy a Nickelback CD
I will never watch the second Twilight
Coffee teeth are unacceptable.

I brush my teeth twice/day, but coffee often comes after brushing so I was fighting a losing battle. After my crisis, it was time for some investigation. My budget was $1. What I discovered were two very simple options for whitening your teeth cheaply:

In Informative, Inspiring, Random But Awesome

Are you wearing pants? Yes. Here’s why

Stephen Bateman — October 8, 2012 — Leave a comment

Chances are good you’re wearing pants right now, yes? Unless you’ve just returned from a swanky restaurant or are reading in bed, there’s a pretty good chance you’re in pants. Or if not, at least shorts.

But probably not a skirt.

Especially if you’re a dude.

Turns out, we didn’t always wear pants. The Japanese used to wear Kimono’s full time, and the Scottish really dig a good kilt. And have you ever seen an American Indian from the 1700′s walking around in a pair of Levi’s? Doubt it.

horse-riding

The Atlantic has an interesting explanation for how pants came to be: the horse. Here’s what they had to say: Continue Reading…

In Fashion, Funny, Informative, Random But Awesome

App Review: Pair for Couples

Stephen Bateman — October 1, 2012 — 4 Comments

This morning, I put out a tweet asking for iPhone app recommendations. It’s fun to hear what people enjoy using.

One tweet from @Coard caught my attention. He recommended the “Pair” app for couples, particularly those in a long-distance relationship. Naturally I was curious, so I downloaded it to give it a try. Unfortunately, you can’t use the app without adding a “partner.”

Pair’s main features are private chat, live sketching, and thumb kissing, as well as some light calendaring.

Private Chat is text messaging (or probably more like a facebook message thread). You already had that. live sketching is kind of cool, if you like sketching. They recommended playing tic-tac-toe, which isn’t a particularly enthralling date. Unless your date is a nine year-old. Finally, thumb kissing…

Thumb kissing works by showing you where your someone-special is touching the screen. When your thumbs align, the phone vibrates and turns red. This thumb kissing idea sure breaks down the barriers of time and space. Just kidding.

To me, it’s awkward…”Hey, want to thumbkiss?” “Excuse me, what?” How is that conversation going to go well?!

Time Magazine’s Techland wrote an article about the app, and said:

Beyond the main timeline, Pair offers more features, including a to-do list that both partners can edit. There’s room for expansion here; I’m wishing for the ability to share calendar appointments, add time- or location-based reminders like the kind built into the iPhone and show more key dates beyond anniversaries and birthdays.

So Pair is text messaging, Facetime, Draw Something, and a to-do list.

Do we need this?

Is this something couples need? Are we going to be truly more connected via thumbkissing, or does it become a silly proxy for actual conversation?

Realistically, long-distance relationships have always been difficult. My parents tell stories about calling each other in the evenings back in the 80′s. They didn’t have enough money to actually talk on the phone, so my dad would “two-ring” the dorm phone at 8:30pm to let his future wife know that he was thinking about her. And that was it.

In a world of Skype, facetime, texting, Facebook chat, and 80 other communication options, I would suggest that long-distance relationships have gotten too easy. The struggle has inverted. Today, it’s about allowing separation to happen, and avoiding the temptation to text 24/7.

Pair is an interesting idea that they’ve executed well, but this isn’t an app I’ll be using. What do you think, is Pair for you?

In Informative, Random But Awesome

Chase-Mizzell.University-of-South-Carolina

Bare feet and Bow-ties: Interview with Chase Mizzell

Kiante Chapman — September 28, 2012 — Leave a comment

This week I sat down with Chase Mizzell. Though it took some time to catch up with the Student Body Vice President, talking with him was definitely a treat. Before starting, we compared our times in Charleston where he and I both went to high school, he at Fort Dorchester and I at School of the Arts. Two totally different schools but the same old Charleston. Of course, he was decked in a suit and his trademark bow tie which begged the question, how many does he own? (20, in case you were wondering)

Jumping Right In…

Kiante Chapman: This question I’m about to ask is for you to think about and we’ll get back to it later.

Chase Mizzell: Ok.

KC: You’re on a deserted island, what are three things you would want to have with you?

CM: Oh, that’s hard. Can I have like a device so I can have more than three things?

KC: That’s cheating.

CM: Ok. Well, maybe a boat or a plane.

KC: Both?

CM: No, that’s probably too many transportation things. This is hard.

KC: Well, we’ll come back to it.

CM: Ok.

KC: Typically, how long does it take you to get ready in the mornings?

CM: About 11 minutes.

KC: 11 minutes? That’s it? Well, you’re a guy so I guess that makes sense.

CM: On the way in the shower I turn on the iron and let it warm up while I’m in the shower. Take about six or seven minutes in the shower. I listen to worship music in the mornings so after about two worship songs, that means it’s time to get out. Then I iron my shirt, and putting on everything else only takes about a couple minutes.

KC: What is it about the bow ties you like so much?

CM: Uh, the simple answer is I just started wearing them and liked them. I’ve been asked a few times and when I think about it, I’m trying to think if in my subconscious there is a reason. I guess it has something to do with the fact that it’s professional but it’s still vibrant. It’s still vivacious. Most people in a suit are boring, but I think the bow tie says I can still have a little fun. I’m still friendly.

KC: What kind of bow ties do you prefer?

CM: I don’t really have a preference. You know how your aunts and uncles buy you Christmas and birthday presents and they never know what they want to get you? My family doesn’t do gift cards so you always get nonsense. Just whatever they find in the store. Well now I just tell them to get me a bow tie because, at most, they’re $20. Some people buy a $60 bow tie. I’m not about that. I’m like “let me get a bow tie on sale.”

KC: So would you say your bow tie is the most important part of your outfit?

CM: I don’t know. Guess it might be the one thing people mention the most.

KC: So if you woke up one morning and decided not to put one on, would that matter?

CM: No. I didn’t just the day before yesterday.

KC: Did you get funny looks?

CM: Yeah (laughs) I got questioned on it all day. Probably at least 10-15 people a day. They’d say: “Chase, where’s your bow tie?” (laughs) I’d say: “Maybe tomorrow.”

Sentimental Value

KC: Out of all the things you own, clothes-wise, what is your favorite thing?

CM: Much harder than I expected, that question. Sentimentally I have my grandfather’s military uniform. My grandfather is really important to me. I wouldn’t say that’s my favorite clothes, though. Maybe I’ll just say, outside of my Mic Man uniform, my bright pink pants.

KC: Bright pink pants? (laughs)

CM: Yeah, and I’ve got some blue ones. And I just like them because they throw people off. They’re just like “What? What are you wearing bro?” I usually wear them with flip-flops.

Crowd Pleaser

KC: Ok, since you brought up the Mic Man, How’s that uniform different from what you normally wear. Do you like that it’s so different?

CM: It’s very different because with that role, you’re really taking on a personality. You’re getting behind an idea and embodying this ridiculously passionate cheer master. With, gloves and a cane, it’s a lot different. I never wear sunglasses. I don’t own sunglasses except for the ones that I got to wear to be Mic Man. The shoes are definitely a little bit different. It’s a little more all out there. Everything’s going on at once.

KC: All out?

CM: Yea, all out. Turnt up, if you will.

Welcome to Charleston

KC: Is there one piece of clothing that you don’t have that you would like to have?

CM; I’ve never had any seersucker. That’d be cool. It’s classic.

KC: Very Charleston.

CM: Yep, I’d like to wear a blue and white seersucker jacket with my pink pants (laughs). With flip-flops of course. It’s all about the contrast. It’s a suit, but it’s a bow tie. It’s fancy, but I’ve got long hair. Kind of a juxtaposition of formality and relaxed. If I’m ever out of the normal realm of the campus, I usually don’t have shoes on. During Dance Marathon, I never wore shoes. I don’t like shoes, at all. I’m really a barefoot kind of guy.

But I’m an entrepreneur. I run a tech business on the side – mobile apps and that kind of stuff. My mind is always churning. And I was thinking man, that’s a good company name. I was thinking “barefoot bowties” or “bare feet and bowties.” That would be a heck of a blog name.

KC: I think I just found a title for this. So, back to my first question. You’re on the deserted island.

CM: Three things. Can they be abstract?

KC: Yes.

CM: Okay. One, I’ve got to have people. My passion in life is people. My success on a daily basis, for me, is judged on if I impacted someone’s life. So I need people to love on and get to know and do life with. Number two, maybe musical instruments.

KC: Do you play?

CM: I play the guitar and the djembe. I’m relearning the piano. I knew it when I was a kid. Mainly because I love to worship. I was trying to debate whether I wanted to have a Bible as one of those things. Worshipping is one of my favorite things. It gets me at peace, makes me joyful. Actually, changing the second one. It’s going to be a Bible. I can make instruments out of something on the island.

Number three, the ability to bring more people to the island. I think when people are asked this question they want to get off. I don’t understand why. For me, I love the islands. If I’ve got people and if I’ve got God and worship music, I’m good. I mean, you didn’t say it was a small island. North America is an island, technically.

KC: You found the loophole. But this island is deserted.

CM: It was deserted. Not anymore. We’ve got a party. That way everybody can forget about their jobs and just enjoy life.

In Funny, Informative, Inspiring, Interview, Random But Awesome

4 Things Europeans Love About America

Stephen Bateman — September 26, 2012 — Leave a comment

[This is part 2 of 2, see part 1: "What Europeans Hate about America"]

Ingvar and I studied together in Sweden back in 2010. I was skyping with him one day, and we were talking about what Europeans think of Americans. His perspective was interesting, so I asked him to put it into an article to publish on here. He kindly agreed and it’s published here with almost no edits to preserve authenticity.

Enter Ingvar.

What Europeans Love about America

1. Hollywood

As we are not working so much as you do, we have more free time to watch movies. And all the epic movies are coming from Hollywood. I think over 95% of the movies that run in Estonian cinemas are from Hollywood. Seriously, if some maniac would burn down the Hollywood, he would make a chaos in Europeans pass-time activities.

2. NBA and NHL

Although you like some goofy sports like baseball and American football, thanks to LeBron James, I forgive you. By the way, did you know that of the Top 5 NHL players, 2 are from Russia and 3 are from Canada? Seriously, where are your own players? And stop hating LeBron James, he is my main man in the USA.

3. Old American cars

From 1960 to 1980 you made just incredible Cadillacs, absolutely legendary. And then we didn’t had a clew that some day in the future we can become short of oil, so it was not a sin to make such cars.

4. All the iconic idols

No, I’m not talking about JFK or Ronald Reagan, no. I’m talking about characters who are immortals – Walker the Texas Ranger, Michael Knight and his KITT car, MacGyver, the A-Team, Mitch Buchannon and smoking hot C.J, Al Bundy and so on and on. And if you would ask people from ex-Soviet countries, that why do they like or dislike America, the answer would be actually the one that is used in the movie EuroTrip: “I love America! Miami Vice, number one new show.”

That’s all, folks

That’s it lads! I’ve already worked 2 months of our ‘3 months long summer’, so it’s already more than enough and I’m going to have a EuroTrip in The Balkans. Take your time for one night and watch the movie EuroTrip. Totally underrated in the IMDB.

[A Note from Stephen: Thanks Ingvar! Don't miss the first post on "What Europeans Hate about America".]

In Funny, Informative, Interview, Picture, Random But Awesome

5 Things Europeans Hate about Americans (Part One)

Stephen Bateman — September 24, 2012 — 3 Comments

From Stephen: Ingvar and I studied together in Sweden back in 2010. I was skyping with him one day, and we were talking about what Europeans think of Americans. His perspective was interesting, so I asked him to put it into an article to publish on here. He kindly agreed. It’s published here with almost no edits to preserve authenticity.

Enter Ingvar.

What Europeans hate about Americans

Although European economy might be rather weak in these days, one thing remains the same – our super ego and thinking that we are still better than anyone else. Hereby I will bring out 5 reasons in randomized order why Americans are just not as cool as we are.

1. Americans consume more than appropriate

In Europe, it’s not cool to have a car with an engine 5,7 V12 that consumes 20 liters per 100 kilometers. And you can definitely not order more food than you can eat. Americans are too wasteful.

big-mac

2. Stupid measure units

What are those things like a gallon, yard, pound, feet? I’m watching NBA and Kevin Harlan is saying “6 feet and 7 inches tall…” Say what? I always have to use Google. Oh and I guess half of you had to use Google to transfer 20 L/100km to miles per gallon. At least you drive on the right side of the road, unlike your ancestors from England.

3. ‘Soccer’

Stop saying soccer, it’s called football and it is the only football we acknowledge on the planet Earth. Period. And please learn some other football players’ names besides David Beckham because for us he has retired to ‘the retirement league called MLS’.

4. Socialism phobia

When Tea Party rebels came out to streets and parks in the USA, we were quite shocked. Obama’s healthcare program was not even as social/communistic as we have here, and they had posters of Soviet Union and Stalin. Wow, take it easy guys! It’s actually cool to know that you’ll get high-class medical help all the time, not depending on your account balance. Oh, and did you know that my university studies don’t cost me anything, actually the social-system gives me 100€ per month as a bonus? Well, now you do.

5. Americans work too much

We have a saying, that although the USA is more powerful and stronger, it’s still much better to live in Europe. You have to live like Greeks! I know it sounds a bit peculiar as their economy is so messed up that it seems that even their finance minister doesn’t have a clew what is going on exactly. But guess what – it doesn’t matter at all! Their national retirement allowances are still almost as big as average salary in the USA and all the rich countries will pay back their stupidity. I visited Portugal in 2010 and guess what grown up men were doing @ 2 PM – playing petanque and telling jokes. You have to admit, that’s cooler than to work your ass off!

Coming Up…

Coming tomorrow is “5 Things Europeans Love about Americans”. So get excited for that.

photo credit: Werner Kunz via photopin cc
photo credit: Simon Miller via photopin cc

In Funny, Informative, Inspiring, Interview, Random But Awesome