#ryms

By Rising Young MindS Editorial Board — November 8, 2016

“I Voted” sticker courtesy of Flickr user yaquina

Good Morning!

Today’s the day! We have heard from our families, friends, co-workers, the media and the candidates themselves why you should — or shouldn’t — vote for them. We have endured over a year of ads, primaries, polls and debates. We have seen the best of our fellow Americans, and we have seen the worst of them, too.

But now it’s time to put all that aside and focus on what you really want out of the next four years of your life. Forget the scandals. Forget the rhetoric. Focus on what you truly believe in. It’s time to vote your conscience.

Before you step into the polls, here’s one final look at the candidates:

Democratic: HILLARY CLINTON and TIM KAINE Green: JILL STEIN and AJAMU BARAKA Libertarian: GARY JOHNSON and BILL WELD Republican: DONALD J. TRUMP and MICHAEL PENCE

Don’t forget your local elections! Regardless of your views, make sure you exercise your right to vote!

By Chris Walker

As we enter the quarterfinals of Euro 2016, calling the tournament interesting is expected. Of course it’s interesting—it’s unpredictable. Every second, there is intrigue and action around every corner. Who would have predicted Wales and Iceland in the Elite 8? There have been many last second finishes, tricks a plenty, and supporters left to cry for days as they go home.

With that said, let’s look back and take account of some of the recent happenings before the start of the next round.

Spain's Golden Generation is Done--And it died to a rising Italy, 2-0. Honestly, this isn't surprising. The men of La Roja looked like deer caught in headlights during the match, whereas Italy raced around and blitz the defense, with the brilliant David De Gea keeping Spain safe. Now, they retool or more realistically, keep integrating their youth. They've already had Fernando Torres and Xavi make way for Alvaro Morata and Thiago. The takeaway is that this team will definitely be completely re-vamped by the 2018 World Cup, but their status as contenders is a question for later.

Everyone, We Need to Talk About Ricardo Quaresma—The best way to describe him is as kind of a prodigy, kind of a fuck-up; when he's on, he’s on. See the below goal, for a sign of his soccer intelligence and awareness against Croatia.

The 31 year old is the cautionary tale of a soccer wunderkind; a Sporting Lisbon prince, sold for the right price to a major European club as a teen, but he never found a fit. Over the years, he’s been in and out of the national side, as he bounced from team to team, struggling for playing time, and at one point landing in Dubai. Nonetheless, he’s still a magician with the ball. His ability is unquestioned and his temperament is on point right now. Usually Portugal is easy to write off as a one man team, and thanks to barely making the knockout round, that makes sense. Yet, with the experienced Quaresma, Cristiano Ronaldo just existing and young ones like Renato Sanches and Raphaël Guerreiro, they have a shot for the title.

Can France Win It All?—Maybe. Even though they finished top of their group, Les Bleus still had to come from behind to beat Ireland, 2-1. The team hasn’t been convincing in victory all tournament, but that could just be the weight of expectations getting to them. When you host and are a real contender, the suns shines a little harder on you. In accord, the team is balanced well with young talents like Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba alongside more experienced players Yohan Cabaye and Patrice Evra. The rest of their way to the final will be harder, as they have to get past new dark horse Iceland, whose victory over England is the kind of the jolt that inspires a team to overachieve. After that, it’s either Germany or Italy. Beating either side will take some luck.

—Now for some quick hitters—

—No one should be that surprised by England getting knocked out because they barely beat Wales. Wayne Rooney disappeared, Roy Hodgson quit, and the best part of the Iceland game was Marcus Rashford running around for 7 minutes. Lord knows where they go from here.

—Good for Iceland rising to dark horse candidate. That's a road that has to go through France and if they get past them, either Germany or Italy, but it's a road that could lead to gold. Also, the fans are dope.

—Germany hasn't been scored on and is the youngest side left. That's a scary sight.

Written by Chris Walker

A massive document leak has put many of the world’s most prominent political and financial figures on high alert, as the general public is getting closer to finding out their fiscal secrets. Dubbed the “Panama Papers”, the data began making its way to people from reports by The Guardian and International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on Sunday and quietly exploded on to the internet over time.

The papers detail financial dealings, mainly focused on offshore bank accounts. The leak is traced to Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm with more than 40 offices worldwide. The firm is considered a world leader in establishing offshore businesses and wealth management, according to different reports.

The “Papers” start in the 1970s and continue until 2015, which is when an anonymous source offered German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung the documents. Upon accepting, they were inundated with about 11.5 million documents in the time frame of a year. The German paper gave the data to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), who distributed it to over 100 media organizations in more than 80 countries, and only recently has the world been keyed in on this data.

Nonetheless, this is only a drop in the bucket. The 11.5 million documents equates to 2.6 terabytes. A standard iPhone is 16 gigabytes, which means this data leak is about 125 iPhones. Now, imagine each iPhone is completely full of music, and every song is unique and different across each device —this is what we’re dealing with. Journalists world-over are sifting through these documents for names and information on the legitimacy, legality, and newsworthiness of the people and the money involved.

In accord, having an offshore bank account isn't a new occurrence and companies and people have been taking advantage of tax breaks in places like the Zug, Switzerland, and the British Virgin Islands for a variety of reasons. Foreign bank accounts sit in a grey area; it looks illegal, smells illegal, but isn’t illegal until you evade taxes or use it to launder money.

The Papers have so far named five current heads of state, leading to the resignation of Iceland Prime Minister Iceland Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, after it was discovered he set up a company in 2007 in the British Virgin Islands with his now-wife, for investing millions of dollars in inherited money, and sold his half of the company to her for $1 in 2009, before he entered the Icelandic parliament.

As well, the associates and family members of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, United Kingdom PM David Cameron, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been named; a FIFA ethics committee member has been added to the list; and international soccer star Lionel Messi, who has seen tax troubles over the years, has had to deny any wrongdoing in connection with the Papers, after a shell company was discovered to be in his name.

For now, we’re going into a research and report game. The Papers are 2 TB. Remember Wikileaks? The infamous Julian Assange journalistic organization known for its classified information leaks in 2010? That was initially only 1.7 GB, a little easier to get through.

The Panama Papers is a big story and will take time to report. It’s not a straightforward story to understand--not everything is illegal or a big story within this but there are real gems to be found, and more major decisions will be coming out of this as the world continues to learn from the documents.

Written by Timothy Lewis

The government of the United States is not particularly simple. Rather, it boasts many caveats that cause confusion come election time. Currently, we are in the heat of the primaries, where the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees are seeking to represent their party in the general election. The purpose of this article is to clarify some of the details that present themselves constantly in our newspapers, computers, and televisions, but are rarely given sufficient explanation.

The elections that determine presidential nominees are typically referred to as “the primaries,” but that is a bit of an oversimplification. While the primary is the most common election method among states, some organize caucuses instead- We’ll touch on those in a bit. Though hosting primaries is more popular, not all are conducted exactly the same. Both open and closed primaries exist, in which states determine who is allowed to participate in each party’s election. In an open primary, a registered voter can vote for whomever they choose; Republicans can vote for a Democratic candidate, Democrats can vote for a Republican candidate, and registered Independents can vote as they please. All voters are still restricted to a single vote, however. In a closed primary, voters may only vote for the party they are registered under, be it Republican or Democrat, with registered Independents not allowed to vote for either. In both open and closed primaries, votes are casted by way of secret ballot, just as is done in the general presidential election.

  Caucuses are a different way of handling the elective process. They are a closed voting system in which one must register as either a Republican or a Democrat to vote for their respective nominees. The caucus is arranged for a certain location and time, with those involved openly allowed to support their candidates. The rules for party registration vary by the state in which the caucus is being held, with some requiring registration before the caucus and others allowing registration the day/night of. Provided they meet the state’s criteria, anyone who is 18 years of age and registered is allowed to participate. The process is intended to encourage discussion of the strengths, weaknesses, and overall merit of each potential nominee for president of the United States. As opposed to the secret ballots used in the primaries, caucus goers vote by methods such as raising their hands or gathering into groups based on the candidate they align with.

  The delegate vs superdelegate conversation is one that exists in the Democratic Party alone. A candidate must win at least 2,383 of the total delegates to earn nomination for the general presidential election. A minimum of 15% of the vote is required for a candidate to receive any of a state’s delegates. Delegates allocated by a state’s vote are known as pledged delegates. These pledged delegates go on to represent their candidate at their party’s national convention and are the core representatives of the popular vote.

By Obidiah D. Ginóbili 

Winding up, he hurled his Medal into the Ohio River.

As the story goes, Muhammad Ali won the 1960 Olympic Light-Heavyweight Gold Medal, proudly representing his country, and was later denied entry into an American restaurant because of its “whites-only” designation. Prior to that point, the 18 year old Ali wore the medallion every second of the day, even in his sleep. However, injustices like this one would set the tone for the ongoing battle he was to face against a racially oppressive establishment - one that sought his breathtaking performances inside the ring, but prefered he didn’t breathe outside of it.

Whether it was this instance, or any other color based conflicts that he encountered, in many ways, Ali’s path was chosen for him. He was an intelligent, out-spoken, trash-talking, and often times arrogant, black man-turned-Muslim in the 1960’s. Never had such an identity been expressed on the public platform. The verbal combat with which he rattled his boxing opponents was captivating, but put in perspective by the powerful principle he used to sting the sociopolitical white establishment.  

“No Vietcong ever called me n*****!”

Possibly the most shocking line from one of the most powerful stances ever taken by an athlete. Drafted into the Vietnam War during the prime of his career, Ali was directly in the scope of a familiar enemy. He rejected the draft, citing his religious beliefs as his reason for dodging. What it really came down to was Ali’s moral principle. Even before joining the Nation of Islam, before Elijah Muhammad reached out to him, and before he had relinquished the name Cassius Clay, Ali faced an internal struggle - one of his own identity and his place in the world. For he never found issue in expressing himself, never minced words in articulating his thoughts. He said what he wanted to say, when he wanted to say it, with unapologetic authenticity. It was apparent when he so directly claimed “I am the greatest,” when he so poetically described how he “floats like a butterfly” and “stings like a bee,” and when he so accurately summarized his own psyche, saying, “I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want.”

The last quote, while not as circulated as the previous two, may give the most insight to Ali’s character. He always had purpose. He relished the realization that his mind could never be caged, and that he had a unique position to use it. Muhammad Ali wasn’t another tough guy, another statistic, or just an athlete. Muhammad Ali was one of the most powerful, influential icons ever to live. He is an example for embracing oneself and loving one’s own ingenuity.

The fiercest king is not he who commands his soldiers to war, but he who leads the charge into battle. Ali placed himself at the front lines, not for an illegitimate war, but for an unrepresented people in a time of incredible racial strife. He voiced the realities of life in the black community and exposed the hypocrisy of the American dream. He ignored his personal legacy as a fighter, losing three years in the prime of his career, to be a link in the chain of social progression. Ali’s actions set an example of what it means to take advantage of a platform. He showed that we aren’t limited to one thing, that no human is a gimmick confined to an art or a sport or an occupation. Rather, Ali embodied the intersection of challenge and opportunity, of realizing personal potential to transcend the limitations of entertainment... To embrace bringing light and truth to the realities of this world. We could all use a little Ali in us.

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”

Written by Timothy Lewis and Chris Walker

Alright folks, March is around the corner, and you know what that means! It is officially time to start evaluating college basketball talent headed for the 2016 NBA draft. While NBA scouts and general managers have been vetting prospects since high school, it is nonetheless valuable to have a casual breakdown for the fan that also has a career.

This year offers an interesting and divisive crop of players, fitting of a wacky season that has seen Duke fall out the top 25 for the first time in nearly a decade, and the distinct possibility of the nations #1 college player not reaching the NCAA tournament. Even Kentucky stinks! Here we will detail who I (Obi-G) believe to be the top five prospects in the draft this year, accompanied by Chris Walker’s under-the-radar sleepers, along with the candidate he would have liked to see most in the NCAA. Here we go!

Top Prospect:

Ben Simmons, LSU (19 YO, 6’10, Point-Forward) (Freshman)

Player Comparison: LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Blake Griffin

Current Stats: 19.4 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 5 APG, 1.9 STL/PG, 1.0 BLK/PG, 3.1 TOs

No surprise here, with the Australian-born Simmons going first overall. It is hard to imagine a comparison to two of the top ten greatest players of all time being drafted anywhere outside of the first pick. His strengths include his 6’10”, 240 lb. frame, accompanied by a 7’0” wingspan. Much like his player comparisons, he is the size of a big man with the body proportion, coordination, speed, and agility of a guard. He is a high-grade athlete in terms of explosiveness, although likely not in the league of King James. His ball handling and court vision are top notch, allowing him to operate in transition, from the perimeter, or in the post. His rebounding makes him a one-man fast break. Simmons will be a dynamic two-way NBA player. Expect an instant contributor and a nightly triple-double threat.

With the above description, it is hard to imagine any weaknesses. However, they do exist. Some have criticized the college freshman for lacking mamba blood, or the “killer instinct” needed to take over and close out games. His jump shot has also been rightfully questioned, as his midrange and 3-point shooting both display less than desirable consistency. Compounding on this flaw is his lack of willingness to take jumpers, something he ditches in favor of driving to the basket, even when a defender gives him room to shoot cleanly. There are some that debate if this is because of the ease of which he gets to the basket. Such a weakness only reinforces the comparison to Magic and LeBron, both of whom came into the league shooting-deficient.

Second Overall:

Brandon Ingram, Duke (18 YO, 6’9”, SG/SF) (Freshman)

Player Comparison: Kevin Durant

Current Stats: 16.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.2 STL/PG, 1.6 BLK/PG, 1.7 TOs

Some will call him number 1A, and others will say he is the one to dispute Simmons’ right to the number one overall pick. Number two overall seems most likely. It is hard not to be wowed by the strengths already being displayed by the 18 year old. Taking full advantage of his 7’3” wingspan, Ingram averages 1.3 steals along with 1.6 blocks per game, while also shooting over opponents with relative ease. He is able to score from all three levels (3-point range, midrange, at the rim), oozing potential as a go-to scoring option. When you have a young, dynamic kid like Ingram available with the number two pick, cleanly spliced from Kevin Durant’s genetic material, you take him with a smile.

While minimal, Ingram does possess a couple weaknesses. Akin to Durant, his body weight and strength have been questioned, weighing only 190 lbs. While it hasn’t proven to affect his rebounding at the collegiate level, averaging six and a half per game, he does project to struggle with the physicality present in the NBA. His incredible length can compensate in some regards, but he often has to contort his body awkwardly when clashing with more substantial bodies in the paint. Another less-pronounced and very fixable weakness lies in his ball handling. He isn’t deficient, but his handle must become tighter if he is to dominate offensively in the NBA.

Third Overall:

Jaylen Brown, Cal, (19 YO, 6’7”, SG/SF) (Freshman)

Player Comparison: Jimmy Butler

Current Stats: 15.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.7 STL/PG, 0.6 BLK/PG, 3.1 TOs

Jaylen Brown is a clear-cut top prospect. He has can’t miss strengths that will almost certainly convert to the NBA. Being the most athletic wing prospect in the draft is certain to draw scout’s attention. The guy can jump out of the gym. His speed and vertical will be elite, even amongst the top athletes at the next level. Literally a poster waiting to happen. His slashing skills are already excellent, where his agility, strength, and finishing ability are put on display. Shooting 7 free throws per game shows his natural knack for drawing contact. His ideal fit is with a team that runs in transition and utilizes an up-tempo style of play. While his defensive statistics do not match his potential, he appears to have the athleticism and tenacity to develop into a strong NBA defender.

The weaknesses are just as pronounced as the strengths for Brown at the moment. His shooting, much like his player comparison, Jimmy Butler early in his career, leaves much to be desired. His form isn’t bad, and he shoots confidently - The ball just isn’t going in the basket, shooting 26.5% from three on nearly three attempts per game, and converting on only 65% of his foul shots. For a guy that is going to make a living at the charity stripe, he needs to improve in that area. Another topic of criticism is his IQ with the ball in his hands, as he averages more turnovers (3.1) than assists (1.9). It appears that he commits to either driving or passing upon making his first move, as opposed to playing with pace and taking what the defense gives him.

Fourth Overall:

Kris Dunn, Providence, (22 YO, 6’4, PG) (Junior)

Player Comparison: Dwayne Wade, John Wall, Emmanuel Mudiay

Current Stats: 17 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.7 APG, 3.2 STL/PG, 0.8 BLK/PG

Ladies and Gentlemen, Kris Dunn is a beast. Widely acclaimed as the best point guard in the draft, Dunn is ready for the NBA. His Strengths are plentiful on both ends of the floor. An elite, hounding defender, Kris Dunn finds himself second in all of college basketball in steals per game. This is attributed to quick feet, active hands, and keen awareness allowing him to jump into passing lanes. His ability to disrupt the opposing team's offense leads to transition points, an area of the game where Dunn is quite comfortable. His cerebral feel for the game extends itself to the offensive end, where he finds himself 9th in assists per game. The physical profile of Dunn is perhaps his greatest strength, where his quickness, bounce, and wingspan all fall in line with desireable NBA traits. A natural slasher, the Providence product plays with pace, and is an excellent facilitator out of the pick and roll. His jump shot consistency has improved with each year, now shooting 37.5% from three on 3.5 attempts per game.

If only reading the above, one would assume Dunn is a bonafide #1 pick. I mean, a D-Wade comparison? Seriously? Yet, the weaknesses are present. Suffering back-to-back shoulder injuries erased the first two years of his college career. In an age where youth is as essential as talent in the draft, this could be cause for concern, with some belief that he has less room for development in the NBA, entering as a grown-ass man of 22 years old. Shooting is something of a concern. His midrange attack is solid and keeps the defense honest, but his shooting from the (closer) college 3 point line is uninspiring. This is a subject, outside of athleticism, where he matches with his three player comparisons. Worries also exist over his turnovers, which are quite high for a primary facilitator. His court vision, while admirable, is sometimes overly ambitious, leading him to try to squeeze passes into small windows. There are some that question his handle being loose, although it seems to be a less pronounced concern.

Fifth Overall:

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma, (22 YO, 6’4”, SG) (Senior)

Player Comparison: C.J. McCollum, James Harden, J.J. Reddick

Current Stats: 25.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 STL/PG, 0.5 BLk/PG, 2.8 TOs

The NCAA darling, Buddy Hield. Every year a guy shoots up draft boards. Earlier this season before his injury, it was Denzel Valentine. Now, it is undoubtedly Buddy Hield that has caught our imagination and our hearts. One need look no further than his statistics to know his strengths. He can score. A lot. Second in points per game in the NCAA has caught the attention of basketball pundits everywhere. His prolific shooting from three combined with his age give some flashes of JJ Reddick before he entered the NBA. While JJ has become a fine NBA player, Hield may have something more to offer. While he is finding net on a stunning 51% of his threes, taking just over eight per game, his offense seems more multifaceted than just perimeter scoring. His release is as fast as any prospect in college and the outcome has been wetter than the morning grass. He is also crafty enough with the ball to slither all the way to the hoop, dodging defenders and shot blockers along the way. In some instances the creativity of his drives are reminiscent of James Harden. He is a lock to hold value as a scorer at the next level.   

We might not like to admit it, but all of our Buddy’s have weaknesses. Hield is similar to Kris Dunn in that he is an older prospect and has the accompanying worry of how much more he will develop as a player. Additionally, some question his very average size (6’4) and athleticism at the shooting guard position. His quickness is a plus, but his straight line speed and lift are nothing to swoon over. Against NBA competition, his inventiveness will play a big part in whether he can overcome the jump in length and athleticism. Despite his gaudy scoring numbers, Buddy Hield is not producing much in the way of assists, averaging 0.4 more turnovers per game. His shot selection has been questioned, as his confidence can encourage him to embrace difficult looks at inopportune times. While the results have still been good, the situation itself is potentially problematic. His defensive chops have also been questioned, both in effort applied and physical tools available. While Hield has a high ceiling as an offensive weapon, he seems limited in many other regards.

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Sleeper City:

Kay Felder, Oakland (20 YO, 5’9”, PG) (Junior)

Player Comparison: Isaiah Thomas, Kemba Walker

Current Stats: 24.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 9.1 APG, 2 STL/PG, 0.2 BLk/PG, 3.5 TOs

The Detroit native is leading the country in assists and is third in the country in scoring, averaging 24.7 points and 8.8 assists a game, all while standing at 5’ 9”. Through his college career, he has shown improvement, with this season being his crescendo at the college level. He has impressed against big name teams, like his 37 point game in an overtime loss to Michigan State, then the #1 team in the country. Felder is now at a point where staying will just poke more holes in his game and is projected to go in the second round. With the success of Isaiah Thomas, he will probably get a real look from teams, because there’s a forerunner still breaking down the myth that shorter guys can’t hang in the league.

Wayne Selden Jr., Kansas (21 YO, 6’5”, SG) (Junior)

Player Comparison: Paul Pierce, Dwayne Wade

Current Stats: 14.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.9 STL/PG, 0.3 BLk/PG, 1.9 TOs

Selden, a junior, was considered a lottery pick when he first arrived in Lawrence, Kansas. That, however, was not in the cards, as he needed time to adjust to the speed of the college game. For his first two years, he averaged close to 9 points, hitting 41% of his shots and 35% of his threes. Then, this year happened--Selden is currently averaging over 14 points, making over 50% of his shots and 46% of his 3s. Some of this is positional, as Coach Bill Self has admitted, since the guard had to become a ball-handler since playing with the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre. He is currently projected as a late-first round, early second round pick, but there might be hope. He still has a lot of basketball to play against some top competition in the Big 12.

Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga (23 YO, 6’10”, SG) (Red Shirt Senior)

Player Comparison: Ryan Anderson, Mirza Teletović

Current Stats: 21.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.4 STL/PG, 0.8 BLk/PG, 2.3 TOs

Wiltjer is either at the bottom of most mock drafts, or not on them at all. Maybe it has to do with the fact he’ll be closer to 24 when the draft comes around this June. Regardless, the former Kentucky Wildcat & McDonald’s All-American is still a 6’ 10” combo/stretch forward in a time where that is exactly what NBA teams are looking for. Wiltjer is averaging 22 points, while hitting 44% of his 3s this year. Although Wiltjer’s not a big time rebounder for his size, with two big body rebounding options in Przemek Karnowski and Domantas Sabonis sharing the front court with him, he has still had 5 double-doubles (points and rebounds) this year.

AJ Hammons, Purdue (23 YO, 7’0”, C) (Senior)

Player Comparison: Roy Hibbert, Marc Gasol

Current Stats: 14.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1 APG, 0.3 STL/PG, 2.7 BLk/PG, 2 TOs

Here’s the thing--if you’re a seven foot, 278lb center in a draft year with not too many of those, you’ve got a chance. The Carmel, Indiana native fits the above profile and definitely has the type of game many NBA teams could use-- defense at the center position. Hammons is currently averaging 2.7 blocks and 8 rebounds a game, which translates to rim protection, a highly coveted NBA skill. There are many big men who you’d be surprised are still in the league solely for this skill, like Timofey Mozgov, so it would be no surprise if he made it onto an NBA roster.

Dream Player for NCAA

Dragan Bender, Maccabi Tel Aviv (18 YO, 7’1”, C/PF)

Player Comparison: Anthony Davis, Kristaps Porzingis

Current Stats: 5.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.6 STL/PG, 0.7 BLk/PG, 0.7 TOs

Written by Obidiah D. Ginobili

Saying:

“Yo bro, what’s up? You trying to chill?”

or,

“Hey girl, what are you doing later? Let’s hang out.”

Are amongst the most dangerous phrases in existence. First and foremost, we must recognize what “chill” and “hang out,” imply. To observe at surface value, the words themselves indicate immobility and stagnation.

We live in a world where society mandates how we spend our most valuable resource: Time. It comes in the form of work hours, classes, meetings, exercise - The list goes on. Within this article, the focus is on adolescents and young adults, for amongst all demographics, they tend to have more flexible schedules and less responsibility. So, what’s the big deal with hanging out with one’s friends during free-time?

Bingo. The overbearing assumption here is that time is free. However, such could not be more contrary to the truth. The proof is in the wording, displayed whenever we say we are “spending time” with someone. It is our existential currency.

The average person in the United States has 4,094.5 weeks to live, but we spend a third of that time sleeping. One third. Thirty-three percent. So, if death ends our time, then sleep qualifies as our god-given taxes. This translates to only 66% of our time being truly available. Properly adjusted, we have about 2,702 weeks,18,916.5 days, or 453,996 hours in our lifetime. This measurement doesn’t account for time in traffic, hygienic behaviors, being sick, or any other form of time-consumption that generally encompasses segments of the average person’s life.

On the blip of creation’s radar, this time is our totality. Just as a person can win the lottery, balloon up 300 lbs., and die of heart disease, a person can also win the lottery, invest in green energy, and forever change the direction of an entire civilization. The importance is always in how we apply our resources. By being alive, we have effectively won the lottery.

I’m going to be brutally honest. Hanging out is a waste of time. It is an admission of inhibition. It is the denial of reality in favor of functionless fun, the expressed desire to allocate time to that which has no purpose. Sitting with friends and Netflixing, video gaming, pot-smoking - these are all distractions for a mind that craves its own numbing. By doing so, the action is no better than setting hard earned dollars on fire. This is not to equate time and money, as the former is undeniably more valuable than the latter. It is rather to paint a picture of futility, of one receiving opportunity with no ambition other than to squander it.

Now, one might think that I am aiming attack on social behavior. Untrue. Instead, I wish to levy importance on progression. As human beings we are gifted with reason, logic, and most importantly, the inherent ability to create. This is not a burden, but a blessing. Social interaction has its importance. It comes in forms of expression, stress reduction, information gathering, and a host of other benefits. However, and as disappointing as it may strike us, there is a curse that lies within intentionally doing nothing, with the same people, repeatedly. Misery seeks company, and a person who chooses to deny time, as opposed to apply time, falls directly within that boat, for it says something profound about one’s individual disposition; that they, at a deep level, don’t believe that their time is meaningful. This, usually, is not a conscious decision, but a necessary one nonetheless when accepting stagnation in replacement of creation.

When we find ourselves in a situation like the one being described, WE must serve as inspiration and the opportunity, both for ourselves and those we wish to elevate. The people we choose to share our time with are hand-selected family. As with all choices, however, we must make them wisely. A friendship that does not improve the quality of life but merely maintains or detracts from it, is in its very essence, unproductive. The short-term gratification of hang-out mindlessness manifests itself into displeasure with other aspects of life, in turn motivating us to return to our bubble of lazily-stagnant comfort.

We must challenge ourselves, our close friends, those whose company puts us at ease, and utilize the existing chemistry to do something worthwhile; significant.

Written by Chris Walker

With the announcement of the NBA All-Star Game reserves, the head coaches of each conference rounded out the field for basketball’s mid-season classic. There were the expected options like Jimmy Butler and Chris Paul, as well as some unexpected snubs, such as Damian Lillard and Kemba Walker. The most interesting selection may be the Boston Celtics’ 5’9” point guard Isaiah Thomas, the All-Star game’s shortest player in decades.

Thomas is the Celtics spark plug, usually coming off the bench to inject the team with a kick of offense. The 5th year guard is leading the Eastern Conference’s current #3 seed in points and assists at 21.5 & 6.7 per game, respectively. Not since San Diego Rockets’ 5’ 8” point guard Calvin Murphy in the 1970s has a guard under 5’ 10” been selected as an NBA All-Star.

The 60th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft was a star at the University of Washington, where he won the Pac-12 tournament and tournament MVP twice, while averaging 16.4 points and 4 assists per game for 3 years. These achievements were not enough when he entered the NBA Draft, as teams questioned everything about him. Will his scoring translate to the pros? Can he defend? Is he tall enough for this league?

The Kings gave him a chance with the 60th pick and Thomas ran with it. He worked his way into the line-up and started a majority of the Kings’ games, earning himself two West Coast Rookie of the Month awards & a 2nd All-NBA Rookie team selection that season.

Nonetheless, in the 2013-2014 season, the guard caught fire. Thomas averaged 20.3 points and 6.4 assists that season for Sacramento, proving himself one of the more successful 2nd round draft picks in recent memory and worthy of a contract that reflected this success. However, it did not come from Sacramento, as the Phoenix Suns signed him to a four year, $28 million deal in 2014 to become a back-up guard for a team on the upswing.

The Suns started the season well with a record hovering above the .500 win percentage range, but had an overstocked backcourt, with 6 guards not receiving enough minutes. Phoenix decided to send out 3 of the guards, including Thomas, who landed in Boston at the February trade deadline.

Since the Suns slumped to a 39-43 record post trade, the Celtics were the clear winner of the trade because the guard has continued to improve. Thomas has become a better leader and player for a team that looks like it is a couple steps away from contending in the East, behind the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors. Thomas is one of a few players to be averaging under 3 turnovers a game and has a 3 to 1 assist to turnover ratio.