Donald Trump For President?

As President Obama's first term winds down, there is much anticipation for who will run in the 2012 election. Speculations have been spinning around, but if early online surveys are any indicator, it appears that hotel mogul and reality show star, Donald Trump may be running for office.

Based on surveys by CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation, Trump and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee are among the leaders for the Republican party. What happened to Sarah Palin? Well she is in a close third behind Trump and Huckabee.

The question is, will Trump really follow through and run for President? Also, is he qualified? If you are a little skeptical about Trump being the leader of our country, not to worry. Experts believe that Trump would not run for office in the end, because candidates are required to publish in-depth financial disclosure statements.

So, what do you think? Would you vote for Donald Trump? Do you think he will actually follow through and run for President, or is this just more publicity for Trump...and his hair? Let us know what you think!

The Success of Small Businesses in America

In the latter part of American history, we have seen the power of small businesses. Many researchers have even claimed that Entrepreneurship may be the future of the American economy. The way companies advertise, create new products, and sell merchandise is completely different than it was even 25 years ago. A great example of this idea can be seen in TOMS shoes.

Blake Mycoskie has become one of the most successful entrepreneurs since founding TOMS in 2006. His ideas were considerate and his conventions were unique. He didn't found TOMS just to make money and live a prosperous life. Blake founded TOMS after competing on the reality show, The Amazing Race, and noticing that many children in Argentina didn't have shoes. He founded his company not for the good of himself, but for the good of others. And people have really taken notice. TOMS exists on the simple premise: One for One. For each pair of shoes you buy, a child in need gets a pair of shoes. Not a donation towards a pair of shoes and not a percentage of your purchase... simply a pair of shoes to call their own. 

Because of the nature of the company, TOMS does not have the budget to spend large amounts of money on elaborate ad campaigns. As a result, they have embraced the technology available to them. They have gone viral with many online video ad campaigns. They have utilized social media as their primary source of advertising to spread their message. What they're doing is working, but Blake believes that the company would not have been able to exist 10 years ago. 

So while the saying goes "technology is a blessing and a curse," in this situation it is a blessing. It not only allows many small businesses to exist, but also in the case of TOMS, allows people to do a little good.

Click here to learn about and support the TOMS movement. 

Do you think this is true? Do you think small businesses are able to thrive in the technological era?

The Harry Potter Era Begins To Come To A Close

The story that began over a decade ago is beginning to become to an end. It all began when we met Harry, Ron, and Hermione in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone in 1998.

The series has had a huge amount of success as kids around the world up grew up with the trio. We were there for every spell, curse, and battle as Harry and his friends attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now it is all coming to an end with the final installment of the series, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. The final book was so long that the accompanying movie was divided into to two parts. 

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1, which debuted in the Fall of 2010, is set to be released on DVD April 15. The film will be available for purchase on DVD, Blu-Ray, and for digital download. The DVD will included deleted scenes, behind the scenes footage, interviews with the cast, bloopers and more. It's a must have for any Harry Potter fan, Gryffindor's and Slytherin's alike. 

Although the series is preparing to come to an end, fans still have one last feature film to look forward to. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 will be in theaters July 15, 2011. Check out the trailer for the final Potter film here.  

Will you be buying Part 1 on DVD this week? Are you excited/sad about the final movie? Share your thoughts!

Update: Philadelphia's Fight For Education Continues

In March, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett revealed his plans to cut the education budget by over half a million dollars. The budget cuts are going to have a direct impact on many people. Teachers, students, and staff at everything from elementary schools through universities will be affected. 


As a result, people around Pennsylvania are standing up together, in an effort to rally against the proposed budget cuts. This week in Philadelphia, a group of protestors marched from the Philadelphia School District's headquarters to City Hall to let Corbett hear their voices. The group, Protect Public Education, consisted of students, teachers, and local community members. 


For the Philadelphia School District, the budget cuts could mean a loss of almost $300 million next year. Members of the District fear that after school activities, full-day kindergarten, and after school remedial programs may have to be cut as a result of the lack of funding. 


Stay tuned for more updates on Governor Corbett's budget cuts.


Have you seen anyone standing up and speaking out? Share your stories!

2011 Guinness World Records!

In 1951 Sir Hugh Beaver, of Guinness Brewing, began traveling around the world taking pictures of odd and quirky things that had never been done before. By 1955 the first official "Guinness Book of Records" was published. The book became extremely popular around the world and became a best seller. We've all read the unbelievable stories and seen the outrageous pictures in previous editions of the book. Well, get ready! Guinness is back with "Guinness World Records 2011."

Check out some of the highlights below!

Widest Mouth! 17cm!!

Most perfect games of Wii Bowling, 850!!

World's Largest Shoe!

What is the craziest Guinness Record you have ever seen?

Check out more of 2011's records here!

Being In A Good Mood May Affect Your Memory?

Have you ever noticed that negative experiences stick out more to you than positive experiences in your memory? Well, if so you may not be alone. A new study has found that your memory doesn't function as well when you're happy or in a good mood.

A team of researchers assessed the memory of 180 college students. The students were divided up and shown two different videos. Half of the students watched Jerry Seinfeld's comedy sketch "I'm Telling You For The Last Time" while the other half watched home improvement video, "How I Do Flooring." After watching the videos, the students who watched the Seinfeld clip were in happier moods while the others were indifferent. But, the research didn't stop there.

The students were then given a memory test. They were each told a series of repeated numbers and were asked to recite the numbers back. The students who watched Seinfeld, and were in a happier mood, had a more difficult time doing so. 

Researchers believe the memory does not function as well when you're happy because your thoughts are more scattered which makes it tough to focus on things. 

Do you think this is true? Do your thoughts scatter when you're in a good mood? Is it easier for you to recall bad memories? Let us know what you think!

Also, if you enjoy quirky news like this check out The Boddy Odd on Facebook!

Fun Facts About Phillies Opening Day

It's that time of year again! The Phillies are set to kick off the season and take on the Houston Astro's on April 1, 2011. Baseball is back!

After the long winter months without baseball, Phillies fans are excited to get back to Citizen's Bank Park to see their favorite boys of summer! Opening Day is a fun filled day for everyone. It's time to break out that red Phillies gear, fire up the grill, catch up with friends, and enjoy the game. This year's Opening Day is completely sold out, which is not a shock. What you may find surprising is the amount of food Phillies fans will consume on Opening Day.

Phillies fans will eat and drink...

6,500 bottles of water.
3,700 gallons of soda on Opening Day.
10,600 hot dogs
5,500 soft pretzels
4,200 pounds of french fries
4,000 cheesesteaks
3,100 bags of peanuts
2,500 sausage and pepper sandwiches
1,600 orders of chicken tenders
1,500 slices of pizza pie
1,000 bags of popcorn
650 hamburgers
630 bags of cotton candy
600 orders of nachos
195 gallons of ice cream, including Phillies Graham Slam!

That's a lot of food! Will you be at CBP for Opening Day? What is your favorite ballpark cuisine? Do you grab food inside the park or cook up your own food before the game? Share your favorites and your recipes!