College OTR

What You Could Buy with a BCS National Championship Crystal Football Trophy

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:49:29 EDT

I really can’t get over the fact that the BCS National Championship crystal football trophy is worth $30,000. I mean, isn’t winning the silly thing enough? That’s someone’s annual salary. And are there even any fun things to do with a BCS National Championship trophy? Wait don’t answer that.

Seriously though, in a time when people are getting laid off left and right, when unemployment is at 6.7%, and when graduating seniors don’t have much in the way of job opportunities, let’s consider What You Could Buy with a BCS National Championship Crystal Football Trophy.

1,500 Wilson NCAA Official Composite Footballs

833 Oklahoma Sooner Jerseys

500 Florida Gator Jerseys

50,847 Bags of Doritos

24,000 Beer Openers

2,705 Solo Cups

1,250 PBR Trucker Hats

90,000 Ping Pong Balls

Burger King Wants You To Unfriend Your Facebook Friends, Will Give You a Whopper in Return

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:48:37 EDT

What’s more important: friends or Whoppers? If you answered Whoppers, boy does Burger King have a Facebook application for you. Welcome to the Whopper Sacrifice.

This new app invites you to “sacrifice” (aka unfriend) 10 people from your friend list in order to score a coupon for a free Whopper. The dramatic application description reads:

What would you do for a free WHOPPER®? Would you insult an elected official? Would you do a naked handstand? Would you go so far as to turn your back on friendship? Install WHOPPER® Sacrifice on your Facebook profile and we'll reward you with a free flame-broiled WHOPPER® Sandwich when you sacrifice 10 of your friends*.

Easy enough right? I’m sure most people have plenty of fat to cut (ironic considering the reward) from their friends list. That random hook-up from freshmen year? Gone. That middle school friend who insisted on adding you? See ya. Your TA that gave you a C anyway? Hasta la vista.

But there’s a catch.

When you unfriend someone, Facebook actually tells that person that you’ve sacrificed them for a burger. And that hurts.

What was Burger King thinking destroying potentially lifelong (internet) relationships in the name of selling a little more beef?

They must’ve still been high off the smell of their new burger-scented Flame Body Spray.

New York Times Recommends Going Back to School as Unemployment Rises

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:10:16 EDT

It may be time to go back to college, even if you’ve already got a degree. With the unemployment rate currently at 6.7% and 10.3 million Americans unemployed, many are wondering if the job market is too hostile to even bother with trying to poke around for a job.

Then there are also the sweet memories of keg stands, Undie Runs, and football games. They don’t hurt either.

New York Times contributor Eileen Zimmerman writes:

If a graduate degree makes sense generally for your career, this period of unemployment could be seen as a window of opportunity, said Jeffrey A. Heath, a managing director of the Landstone Group in Manhattan, an affiliate of the recruitment firm MRINetwork.
“Let’s say you’ve spent 10 years in finance and you want to stay in this career,” Mr. Heath said. “In a couple of years the market will be healthier and you will have your master’s degree,” he said…
You will need contacts in any new profession, and graduate programs can help connect you with alumni working in that field, said Eileen Kohan, executive director of the career planning and placement center at the University of Southern California.

Seriously, it may be better to go learn how to do what you do better than to have closer relationships with Craigslist and Monster.com than your girlfriend. But it’s pretty expensive, so if you’re going to get distracted by the lifestyle of Grateful Dead tapestries and Solo cups, grad school might not be as beneficial as say, revamping your resume.

Vacation: Relish it While You Can

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:08:29 EDT

As winter break drifts to a close, we are all much too aware that in a week or so classes will be in full swing and we will be back in Van Pelt with text books and calculators. Ugh. So as a farewell to LaLa Land, and a "welcome back to reality" gesture, here's a final look at the gloriousness that is vacation. Soak it up, because it's almost gone. Sigh.

The Top 5 Reasons Why Winter Semester Sucks

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:05:40 EDT

Same girl, different season...

I'm probably not the only one in a slump getting into the Winter semester so I thought I'd express the top 5 reasons why the winter semester sucks. Feel free to add your own suggestions if you have any.

5. No Football. Let’s face it, this is the University of Michigan. A lot of people probably wished the season had ended sooner, but no football means no pre-games. It also forces conversation about the other sports such as basketball, hockey and baseball, which far fewer people care about. At least basketball is in NCAA tournament contention this season.

4. No Welcome Week/ Rush. For winter semester, you just show up and class is the next day. There is no weeklong party to get hyped up for the school year. You don’t see anyone you hadn’t seen more than a month ago. Winter rush brings nothing special for anyone not rushing.

3. Everyone else went abroad. This goes out to my fellow Juniors still in AA. For whatever reason, academic, financial, etc. we are still here and it seems that everyone else is living it up in Australia or Spain.

2. The Weather. Walking to class at 9 in the morning can be fatal. Cabs can wear on your wallet. You can’t wander around hoping to find someplace to drop in on-- you either know where you’re going or staying home. Don’t even try a block party (Greenwood).

1. Sweatshirts. Only true beauties can pull it off, so I give credit where it is due when one manages to look attractive in a sweatshirt. Every guy has to wait all winter long for that one random day in February where the temperature hits 65 and all the tank tops pop out of the closet-- it’s practically a national holiday. But then it snows for another 2 months and the sweatshirts come back.

Class is Almost Back in Session! Yay or Nay?

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:29:32 EDT

Class is almost back in session for a majority of college students after what seemed to be an unbelievably fast winter break. The psychiatrist in me is wondering how that makes you feel. Is this a good thing -Yeah! Beer, party, friends, bad decision, yeaaaah! - or bad -class... I have no friends... I'm taking 21 credits, so I can complain about it in the future... no one will feel bad for me, though, because I don't have friends..-?

Let thy voice be heard!

USC Alumni Get Down

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:31:44 EDT

Who says that you have to grow up just because you graduate?

Who Wouldn't Hire Him?

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:09:57 EDT

Were you this professional when you were five?

This Week's Reasons to Party

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:23:20 EDT

Even though being in college itself seems like a good enough reason to party, with the amount of ridiculous holidays out there it is easy to find additional reasons to go out and have a good time. Here are the "holidays" to celebrate this week:

Jan. 7: I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore Day--Sick of something? Celebrate the fact that you are going to remove it from your life.
Jan. 10: Peculiar People Day--This can be celebrated from a few different angles: celebrate all of the people who you secretly wonder about behind their backs or throw a theme party where everyone has to dress like a specific peculiar person.
Jan. 11: Step In a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day--OK, so maybe this isn't a reason to party, but it definitely sounds like fun and therefore should be observed.

How to Save Money on Penn's Campus

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:41:32 EDT

Despite all the recession-induced sales going on at the moment (some as much as 90% off), there’s no way to ignore the effects of our currently crippled economy. It’s gotten to the point where sometimes just grabbing lunch can set-off a flood of financial guilt (i.e. how could I spend $15 on a salad?).

However, there are many easy ways to be frugal, even on a campus (such as Penn’s) where you are seduced by American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, and the not-so-cheap Cosi all within a block of your dorm. Here are some ways to save a few bucks without needing to grow your own vegetables on a rooftop garden in Philly.

1.) Eat Cheap
An avid, diehard fan of Gia Pronto, even I will admit that the aforementioned expensive salads may be unnecessary in times of economic need. So take advantage of the amazingly cheap food carts scattered around campus and you’ll find yourself paying a mere $2.00 for a sandwich.

2.) Along Those Lines, Stick To Your Meal Plan
Meal plans are only required for freshmen, and yes they are a pain in the ass – don’t underestimate the stamina required to scavenge around Commons or Hill looking for a decent meal. However, seeing as the plans are pre-paid, try to use them as much as possible rather than shelling out extra cash for food.

3.) Don’t Take Cabs
Though cabs are enticingly convenient, they can also get annoyingly pricey. So try walking, biking, or SEPTA-ing your way downtown.

4.) Find Ways to Drink For Less
Not every club charges $12 for a watered-down vodka soda, though it sometimes seems that way. Plenty of bars (including those on campus) offer awesome drink specials that will get you nice and buzzed for a quarter of the cost.

5.) Don’t Forget About the Sales
If your heart truly aches to shop, like mine does most of the time, don’t forget that sales are quite conducive to making smart purchases. Yes, spending no money is better than dropping $50 on a sweater – but if that sweater happens to be cashmere, and marked 75% off, I say go for it.

Joe the Plumber Becomes War Correspondent...What?

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:28:24 EDT

Apparently, getting into journalism isn't quite as hard as we thought.

Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher, the ubiquitous caricature of "the Average Joe" used by the McCain campaign, is heading off to war. Not to fight, though (wouldn't that be an ironic turn of events), but to be a war correspondent.

...What?

Yes, that's right. Conservative website PJTV has hired Joe the Plumber to be a war correspondent, MSNBC and the International Herald Tribune report. Joe is being sent to cover the stories of "Average Joes" in Israel. He's heading into the currently chaotic Middle East to cover the Israel/Palestine conflict taking place, and try and explain why their is such conflict.

Besides the obvious lack of credentials here (because, honestly, what insight is a plumber from Middle America going to have about an incredibly delicate and complex situation?), there is also the fact that Joe won't even be taking the time to really research the story. He won't be spending months in the field getting research like many of his journalistic "peers." Joe, won't even be spending a half-month there. He'll only be in the area for 10 days.

Mad props to PJTV for giving me something to laugh at. I guess I should also give kudos to Joe the Plumber: in a terrible economy, he was able to find a job.

Hot Pic of the Day: Why Can't All Kegs Be Attached to Boobs?

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:14:52 EDT

Now presenting... the keg tap of the future! Remember when pumping a keg used to be a hassle?

Ann Coulter Still Talking, But Are People Listening?

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:28:09 EDT

The answer would seem to simply be no.

On January 6th, Coulter's new book Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America was released, seemingly known only to her base, which seems to consist only of people willing to label any problem in the world as a result of liberalism. She apparently likes to use the word liberal, too. This seems to be her fourth book with the word liberal in the title, this time accusing them of assaulting America. A year and a half ago it was Godless, now they're assaulting. Keep that in mind, liberals. When asked if you've done anything wrong, it's assaulting America, you're looking for, not Godlessness anymore.

The once famous hot right-winger, who at one point called for the forced conversion of Muslims to Christianity (because Christianity has the most peaceful history), has now felt the need to tackle the important issues, like... Michelle Obama's attire? That's right! She has attacked the soon-to-be first lady for trying too hard to imitate former first lady, Jackie Kennedy. She would go on to praise Cindy McCain for not waking up each and every morning, thinking of which first lady she'd try to imitate. If you're thinking... Who Cares?... then you're most assuredly not alone!

The facts? Hah! I don't need facts! media woman goes on in her book to voice her dissatisfaction over the media apparently wanting to have sex with President-Elect Obama. Yeah, because Fox News was in the bag for Obama, which is what her base would watch anyway. She should look into that whole media-Obama monage e twa, though, because if it turned out to be true, she could nail him for trying to imitate President Kennedy, too.

I shall now leave you with an article of alleged falsehoods within Miss Coulter's new book. Take it for what it's worth. I'm sure some out there will see that it's from Media Matters and simply scream "liberal! liberal!" and hide under your desk like an old fashion nuclear attack drill.

Below is one of my favorite Coulter moments. It doesn't show so much the crazy of Coulter, but it definitely gives the essence of her journalistic style.

Twas the Night Before the BCS Championship

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:38:51 EDT

‘Twas the night before gameday when all through the ‘ville,
Not a creature was sober, not even a lil.

The poles on the Avenue were all greased with care,
Knowing that drunk people would soon try to climb there.

The players were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of winning danced in their heads.

And I, like everyone else in the Gator Nation,
Was prepping myself for complete annihilation.

Because if we win it’ll be the best night, I swear,
And if we lose, we’ll simply be too drunk to care.

We were out at the bar having a pitcher,
Hoping that soon, we’d be another title richer.

When out by the Swamp there arose such a clatter,
We looked up from our beer to see what’s the matter.

When what to our wondering eyes should appear,
But a bunch of loud students in the middle of a cheer.

Because though the game might not be ‘til much later,
These fans know it’s always great to be a Florida Gator.

And tomorrow in the locker room will stand Urban Meyer,
With unwavering resolve, his voice getting higher:

“Now, Tebow! Now, Harvin! Now, Cooper and Spikes!
On, Ingram! On, Murphy! On Moody and Wright!

Get in the red zone. Be thorough and quick,
More importantly, make sure you block that kick!”

And just like he always does, number 15 will fly,
Under the bright orange sun and the clear blue sky.

We won against ‘Bama, so we can win this.
We can beat anyone, except for Ole Miss.

Now your nerves are all frayed and your hands are all clammy,
As we go head to head with the Sooners in Miami.

But fret not, Gator fans, for the future is bright,
Many touchdowns to all, and to all a good night.

Photos of Obama from College Go Public; Prove Our President-Elect is Most Awesome

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:33:47 EDT

When President-Elect Barack Obama was in college, he was a pretty cool guys. He played basketball. He had his friends call him 'Barry.' It appears he also had a bit of a modeling career, The Star Tribune Reports.

Photos that appeared in last month's Time for their "Person of the Year" article have now been put online. They were taken by Lisa Jack, a woman that attended Occidental College with the future-President. As a photography student in her freshman year, Jack had the courage to approach Obama and ask if he could pose for her portfolio.

The man who would later rule the free world said "Yes."

Years later, she mentioned to a friend that she had photographed Obama in 1980 when she was a freshman. The friend scoffed, and dared her to find the pictures. Fortunately, she did:

Jack said she dug up the photos in early 2008 after she mentioned to friends that she knew Obama in college. "If I hadn't been dared, I probably wouldn't have gone to look for them," she said.

Obama was brought to Jack's attention back then, she recalls, by a friend of a friend who thought she'd like to use him as a subject. The photos were taken at her apartment. She said he was somewhat uneasy at first, but he loosened up by the time she was done taking 36 shots.

The pictures show Obama posing in various parts of Jack's apartment (a thrill, Jack recalls, as he was one of the "hot guys"), as well as smoking a cigarette. They are undeniably cool. Jack says she released them in hopes of showing a different side of Obama:

"And now that 'Barry' is the president-elect, I offer them up so that others may see a side to him I have yet to observe captured in the current maelstrom of contemporary media. I believe the images reflect his spirit of fun and thoughtfulness that I hope he hasn't lost on his road to the White House. For the record, there wasn't a nicer, more sincere guy in college."

Very cool, and I'm excited to see that this guy is going to be our President.

Maybe You Two Can Talk This Out Together

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:51:15 EDT

Overheard in Cabo...

Four-year-old boy angry at his parents: I don't have time for this!

Flustered 40-something woman nearby: Me either!

(You didn't think that my nosiness would go on hold just because I was on vacation, did you?)

its time.

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:49:43 EDT

Happy 2009! i hope everyone had a very safe and enjoyable new years and holiday season.

i know i did.

but what i was slightly disappointed when I returned from vacation yesterday. I happened to go on JuicyCampus.com and saw that some one posed as me and made a post. Impersonation is wrong, but at the same time i am a little flattered. But for the future, please do not make any comments or statements on JuicyCampus pretending to be me. I would greatly appreciate it.

Anyway, I have alot of work to do!

you know you love it.

xoxo

gossipgirl

Top 10 Ways To End Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Peacefully

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:56:36 EDT

10. Arm Wrestle

9. Find a partner, grab their legs and have a wheelbarrow race!

8. Followed by a potato sack race.

7. Paintball... You all seem to like fighting so much, at least this way no one dies.

6. Have a debate with an unbiased panel. If debates can help decide elections, why not this? Just don't refer to your opponent as "that one."

5. Think of the 23413255345235236236234523463462452345243562342 better things to do than war.

4. Make a Paul Greengrass-esque docudrama about your people's plight. Whomever wins the academy award for best foreign language film wins it all!

3. Go to Deep South America and see who's discriminated against the most. Winner take all!

2. Why don't you two settle this on the runway? Walk off

1. Stay at home an pray to God/Allah asking who's side he/she is on, and stay at home praying until he/she is willing to give their answer on Meet The Press and not just inside your head.

ClarkandMichael.com - If You Like Superbad and Arrested Development - This Video Blog Is For You

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:29:20 EDT

Michael Cera, the scrawny, awkward, but funny kid from 'Superbad' and 'Arrested Development' teamed up with some equally nerdy, but oddly humorous kid to create a video blog, ClarkandMichael.com. Even though Michael Cera is incapable of playing a different role, his awkward teenager character filmed in 'The Office' mockumentary style creates some pretty good laughs. The episodes actually have some production value and they're free, so it's definitely worth checking out.

New Years Resolutions You're Not Going to Keep

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:01:51 EDT

Any of them.

Movie Review: Revolutionary Road

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:12:34 EDT

If you’re looking for a feel good movie this break, just stop looking now. This season’s box office includes some serious downers—dying dogs, a man aging backwards, Nazis, need I say more? It’s as if every movie I’ve ventured to see this month exists with the sole purpose of doubling the society’s suicide rate. Revolutionary Road, even with Oscar worthy performances by Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet, is no different—especially if you ever had the intentions of getting married, moving out to the suburbs and raising a family—you know, the good old American Dream.

I went in there glowing with nostalgia for the glorious reunion of Jack, Rose, and even the Unsinkable Molly Brown (Kathy Bates). Though, by the end of the film, I kind of wished they would have just left Jack frozen at the bottom of the Atlantic.

Adapted from Richard Yate’s 1961 novel, Revolutionary Road is the story of Frank and April Wheeler, a married couple who relocate from New York City to the suburbs of Connecticut in the 1950s. The entire movie depicts the dimensions of their relationship and the death of their dreams, essentially leaving the viewer with a hopeless sense of life. It’s certainly not a movie we are meant to enjoy—more so one that tells it like it is, shattering the glorified illusion that surrounds the 1950s middle class, and perhaps even the institution of family as we know it.

Also the director of American Beauty (1999), Sam Mendes takes that same cynical “ordinary” life vibe and sets it back about 50 years. It is easy to make connections between the two films, and not in a hackneyed kind of way.

The onscreen chemistry that Dicaprio and Winslet shared back on the Titanic in 1997 hasn’t faltered a bit, only enhancing their individual performances.

Bottom line: Go see this movie, if only for the Oscar buzz and Leo’s sexy scenes of rage. Just be prepared to come away with a bit more morbid outlook on life than when you went in.

My Dream Party

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:24:43 EDT

There was a massive bean out a few weeks ago and kyle and his brother rented out a house. There was this awesome babe and she was like modelling a bit, so posed for some pictures. She said she was working mainly as a waitress but had considered doing some stripping and what did we think yada yada. She then said shed made some videoas which we didn't believe. She showed us this site youstrip with loads of european babes and one from florida, which she said was a friend. She was awesome and we all partied but no one got near to getting base. I am still hot from the way she was and gotta find some babe on campus that has her attitude!! What an awesome fox!!

Nicks Headed to 2009 NFL Draft

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:38:43 EDT

UNC wide receiver Hakeem Nicks declared for the 2009 NFL draft today.

In his three years at Chapel Hill, Nicks set 14 school records, including single season receptions (74), career receptions (181), and career touchdowns (21). He is also the only player in UNC history with over 1,000 single season receiving yards.

Nicks became UNC's go-to receiver after senior wide receiver Brandon Tate ended his season early with a torn ACL and MCL. With Nicks and Tate both leaving for the NFL, it will be up to a new generation of receivers to carry the Tar Heels next season.

Good luck to Nicks and Tate in the draft and their NFL careers, they will represent the Tar Heels well in the NFL.

UCLA Warms Up In Their Undies

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:13:38 EDT

Again, UCLA students show me that they are classy, sophisticated people. With good bodies. It's a shame those boys' faces get in the way of a perfectly nice picture though...

Win a Flip Camcorder From OTR-MTV's "What the Flip?" Giveaway

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:48:30 EDT

The holiday season may be officially over, but MTV and OTR have one final gift to give: a brand-spanking new Flip camcorder.

For the uninitiated, MTV gave away 100 Flip camcorders, a pocket-sized camera with an easy-to-use USB output, to 100 students as part of a grandiose online television experience titled “What the Flip?”

Armed only with these sleek, new Flip cams and their creative spark, students went out and recorded one-minute videos based on themes mandated by MTV [Example: If I Could Change One Thing About The World].

The result? Genius in its purest, rawest form.

Soon, one of you will join their ranks, and all it will take is one little e-mail and a bit of luck.

To enter our giveaway: e-mail us at tips@collegeotr.com with the subject line “What the Flip? Giveaway” and a brief explanation why you deserve to win included in the body. Be sure to give your full name as well.

After that, just sit and wait until we announce a winner. Done!

In the meantime, get inspired by MTV and your peers by heading over to What The Flip’s homepage and checking out what other students have come up with over the past couple of weeks.

The Best and Brightest From MTV’s “What The Flip?”

Ben Roberts – This Just Happened

Charles Pieper – Bridges, Rhinos and Chandeliers

Max Vernon – Last Dream I Remember

Jonathan Elkaim – Share a Secret

Willow Nero – If I Could Change One Thing About the World

The 5 Most Predictable New Years Resolutions

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:14:07 EDT

As 2009 lumbers off to a start, the first thing that everyone assumes they must do to start the year afresh is to come up with a list of usually unkeepable resolutions. Though I do admire the theoretic dedication and perseverance that stands behind one’s resolve to make a billion dollars and lose 10 pounds a week for all of 2009, sometimes these wishes are a bit unlikely to come true.

Even worse, they are so clichéd. Come on, people, can’t we come up with anything better than money and looks? Here are five of the most typical – and hardest to keep – new years resolutions.

1.) Losing Weight
Certainly the most common resolution of all, losing weight is a great goal if you want to improve your health. But, truly, it’s easier said than done, and many people don’t actually want to work that hard. Unfortunately, standing on a treadmill with a doughnut in hand will not make you trimmer via osmosis.

2.) Improving Your Love Life
Good luck trying to find a significant other in the college world of random hook-ups and drunken rendezvous. According to many of the, uh, encouraging articles my mother likes to email me, dating no longer exists for the 18-25 age group. Huh.

3.) Making Moolah
Another timeless resolution, of course. But with our current economy, I’m not feeling like this is a realistic year to make your first million. Let’s all focus on not losing any more money first.

4.) Being Successful in Work or School
Again, this is probably not a promising time to make your way up any professional ladders. But, hey, improving your success in school is always a positive resolution – although it can be difficult to make the library-or-watching-30-Rock decision on a Thursday night.

5.) Learning a New Skill
As much as I would love to become a five star chef, or a rock climber, or a Grandma-caliber knitter, or a sick guitarist, somehow I don’t think I’ll have time to make my way to any mountains (or kitchens, for that matter) this year. Although all of those things sound pretty awesome…maybe I’m getting sucked into the whole resolution thing after all. Watch out – here come the home-knit scarves.

Isreal to World: "Peace? Hah! Peace THIS!"

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:02:16 EDT

Okay, okay! We get it! You have a bad-ass military, but give it a rest, will ya?

The Israeli assault on Gaza continues despite world leaders pleading for a cease-fire in order to give peace a chance. When will it be okay for them to stop the assault? Apparently as soon as they secure all rocket launching sites used by Hamas. Great, in the meantime let's go solve world hunger and poverty and see if this nut has been cracked by the time we're done.

With the death toll now reaching around 500 (100 being civilians), Israel sure is doing everything to milk out all the sympathy they used to have for years of persecution and the Holocaust. The ones that used to get pushed around at recess are now the ones pushing and shoving every Palestinian in sight, without regard to whether or not they're civilians. Want a heart breaking quote? Here's one from the New York Times.

New York Times 1/5/2009

Masouda Al-Samouni, 20, said she had been preparing food for her 10-month-old son when the missile struck. “He died hungry,” she said in an interview.

Israel better start thinking of a new strategy before they become the ones looked down upon and maybe consider a cease-fire and start talking to Hamas. In the meantime, Palestinians need to locate as many militants as possible, smack them around a bit and say "Dude! You are NOT helping our cause."

Overall, though, I think the responsibility to find a way to peace lies mostly with Israel. They were given that land by the UN while every Arab country voted it down, so obviously the Palestinians are going to be a bit perturbed. But little by little, Palestinians are willing to accept that Israel isn't going anywhere -have you seen that military? It's definitely here to stay- and people don't like being invaded or having rockets launched at them, so now is the time for a cease-fire and working out some peace.

Come on, Israel. If you weren't willing to listen to the pleas of Tony Blair and Nicholas Sarkozy, then how about an OTR blog writer?

Making the Perfect Class Schedule

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:06:28 EDT

It’s back to school time. If you’re looking to have a relaxing semester, take advantage of drop/add week and create a schedule that will make you feel like you don't even go to school. The key to the perfect schedule involves two important things:

Online classes. Any class that’s online, is a good class, even if it’s hard as hell. Because a hard class is going to suck regardless, so it might as well suck while you’re in your PJ’s eating ice cream at home.
Classes that are held once a week. Some people really don’t like the three hour blocks, and those people are wrong. Before you got to college, you had class 8 continuous hours a day every single day for your entire life. You’re telling me you can’t sit through less than half of that one day a week in exchange for a 5 day weekend? Be rational.

Now that you know what you’re looking for, the trick is to add all the online classes you can get and then try to work in the rest of your real classes into one or two days a week, preferably consecutive days.

If you like to sleep in, aim for those later classes and if you like to get school out of the way and have the rest of your day ahead of you, then have fun waking up at the crack of dawn to take notes for three hours.

The only downside to this is that no other semester will ever be as perfect.

Soulja Boy Robbed at Gunpoint in Own Home

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:29:55 EDT

According to BallerStatus.com...

"Teen rapper Soulja Boy may have been robbed at gunpoint earlier this week at his home in Atlanta. However, reports are still unconfirmed.

"Thanking God for my life," Soulja Boy's Twitter message read. "Six n****z kicked in my door and tried to kill me. Glad we alive, they had AKs and pistols and tried to kidnap my boy Jbar," another message read later that afternoon.

Ever since the shocking messages, the rumor has popped up on several gossip sites. Then on New Year's Eve, two masked men posted a viral video (via Bossip), claiming responsibility for the crime. However, the men claimed that they were the only two robbers and not six, as Soulja Boy originally said. They also said that only one pistol was used, and not AK-47s.

In the video, the two men boast of monitoring the young rapper's movements, attending his album release party, and then following him by to his home. While the video was first met with skepticism by online fans, a rep for Soulja Boy confirmed to AllHipHop that an incident did take place."

TMZ.com confirmed a similar story.

And that's why I don't pretend to be a gangsta...although being raised in the suburbs probably has something to do with it too.

80's Dance Party

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:14:39 EDT

We danced all night to DJ ernie spinning the retro beats.

A Taste Of Greek Life At University of Florida

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:14:28 EDT

"Dad's Money"... you KNOW they didn't put that on their own car.

Obamania sweeps through University of Florida

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:14:15 EDT

A photo essay of sorts taking you into the heart of Gators for Obama related events from the rallies seeing Michelle Obama speak to the cacophonous post election celebrations.

This week's Music scene at University of Florida = Free Minus the Bear show vs. Not-So-Free Panic! at the Disco with Dashboard and Plain White T's

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:14:08 EDT

Not since the *amazing* Flaming Lips show has the Rietz Union Board brought us as good of a free concert as Minus the Bear who played last weekend in the Rion Ballroom to a very enthusiastic crowd of students and FESTers (www.thefestfl.com) Two days before the election, the set was not complete with out the very politically charged and well accepted im-the-lead-singer-of-a-band-lets-bash-the-government speech, it was also the drummer's birthday so celebrations all around. The music was very good and the acoustic version of Pachuca Sunrise gets me everytime xD. Later that week the O'Connell center filled up with countless scenesters and UF students alike to see Panic! at the DIcso, Dashboard Confessional, Plain white T's and the CAB. The Show was very flashy and had "commercials" between each set selling us the new Rockband video game and even bringing up students to play the videogame on stage. The Plain White T's mollified the crowd with a heartfelt rendition of Delilah that had everyone waving their cellphones. P!ATD's set was peppered with songs from their good old fever you can sweat out which made me happy. They ended with a bang by getting everyone off their feet for the Isley Brothers' SHOUT! "a little bit louder now" was not a joke, I left the stadium wondering if id ever hear those frequencies stop buzzing in my ear.

Hip for the cause

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:13:48 EDT

Wether its eating a karma-free krishna lunch in the plaza, riding our bikes in critical mass mobs for "awareness and safety", or painting "TOMS" shoes to help a child in need; these hipsters can be scene all over campus always hip for the cause. ;)

The Oude Interview

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:42:49 EDT

This is Oude. She is an amazing French Woman. We met her friend Alexia, who spoke very good Spanish, and she invited us back to the Brassirie on monday. We then met Oude who spoke very good english and told us that the Eiffel Tower wasn't that big of a deal.

Irene and Lisa Join the Gang

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:39:50 EDT

As we enjoy our delicious French dinner, Lisa and Irene Introduce themselves to the vlog. We were very loud in there. Turns out French people don't like to be very loud when they eat.

The Dorms!

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:04:25 EDT

This is what the dorms look like. We have a killer window!

2008 Darwin Awards

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:01:44 EDT

"Named in honor of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, the Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it."

With the conclusion of 2008 it's time to honor this year's most ridiculous deaths. Based on the submissions from DarwinAwards.com, here are this year's finalists.

Runner-up: July 16, 2008, Italy) Ivece Plattner, 68, was queued at a traffic light in his Porsche Cayenne sportscar. Before one reaches the light, there is a railroad crossing. As you might imagine, given Murphy's law, a train was coming.

The man did not let the queue progress forward far enough before he crossed the railroad. The safety bars came down, leaving the Porsche trapped on the rails. It took the driver awhile to realize he was stuck, according to witnesses. Finally, he jumped from the car and started to run -- toward the oncoming train, waving his arms in an attempt to save his car!

The attempt was successful. The car received less damage than its owner. He was pushed hard enough to land 30 meters away, and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

WINNER: In homage to Larry's Chair Larry's aerial adventure, a Catholic priest recently ascended towards heaven on a host of helium party balloons. Adelir Antonio de Carli, 41, was attempting to set the world record for clustered balloon flight to publicize his plan to build a spiritual rest stop for truckers*.

The priest took numerous safety precautions, including wearing a survival suit, selecting a buoyant chair, and packing a satellite phone and a GPS. However, the late Adelir Antonio made a fatal mistake. He did not know how to use the GPS.

The winds changed, as winds do, and he was blown inexorably toward open sea. He could have parachuted to safety while over land, but chose not to. When the voyager was perilously lost at sea, he prudently phoned for help. But rescuers were unable to reach him since he could not use his GPS! He struggled with the control panel as the charge on the satellite phone dwindled.

Instead of a GPS, the priest let God be his guide, and God guided him straight to heaven. Bits of balloons began appearing on mountains and beaches. Ultimately the priest's body surfaced, confirming that he, like Elvis, had left the building.

*Also known as a strip club

My All-Time Favorite (1998, Buenos Aires): During a heated marital dispute, a 25-year-old man picked up his 20-year-old wife and threw her off their eighth-floor apartment balcony.

To his dismay, she became tangled in the power lines below. He immediately leapt from the balcony and fell towards his wife. We can only speculate as to his reasons. Was he angrily trying to finish the job, or was he remorsefully hoping to rescue her? He did not accomplish either goal. He missed the power lines completely, and plunged to his death.

The woman managed to swing over to a nearby balcony and was saved.

Way to the Vincentian House

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:08:53 EDT

We all meet up after our flights and make our way to the vincentian house. Our driver, Michelle (A man) drives us to our Paris Paradise.

I make it to France!

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:06:31 EDT

I finally make it to Paris, France. More importantly, I make it to one of my hetero-lifemates. I finally reunite with my film professor, Barry Sherman.