yeup!
I once scoffed at Rob Hochberg for getting excited about new Bud Light labels. And here I am, posting a picture of the new Natty logo on the internet. Hypocrisy? Perhaps. Overzealousness for light beer? Sure. Saturday night? Uh-huh.
On 01.30.10, In Food & Drink, By Riley
On 01.29.10, In Rants, By Riley
In the days of the Ithacan’t I offered an opinion piece on why marijuana should stay an illegal substance. That is, if it is decriminalized, what will gangs do? Most of their business is dealing drugs, but if marijuana can be bought in stores now, what will the gangs do? That’s right, be more violent.
Now let’s talk about the war. Pull troops out? End the war?
Incredible advancements in technology, medicine, weaponry, etc. have been made due to wars. Remember the Internet? Yeah, that was because of the war.
In short, end the war, end the next greatest invention the world could see.
I jest of course. But damn do I love the internet.
On 01.28.10, In Findings, By Sarah
First of all, J.D. Salinger died today. He was 91. The Times Arts Beat blog has been all over it. Also I am sure it will make front page but unsure if it will be above the fold. – - Little known fact/some trivia for you. I’ve read Shoeless Joe the book that Field of Dreams is based on. And instead of Terrance Mann (played by James Earl Jones) the real author is supposed to be Salinger and lame title The Boat Rocker in the movie is meant to be The Catcher in the Rye. Try that one on for size.
Another famous author died yesterday, Howard Zinn. I’m sure you recognize this:
It has been around since 1980 and I am almost sure that every single bookstore has at least one copy of this book. Yes, its one of those. Reading one chapter is overwhelming let alone cover to cover. It is dense, tremendously well done and in the category of the life achievement. Although he died suddenly of a heart attack at 87, he lived a fulfilling life.
After speaking about this with others I’ve given myself some time to think. It is sad that these great American minds are gone. But now it is time for new Americans of a new generation to have new ideas. You are an American. And you have ideas. Have you explored a new idea yet?
I now bring these words to you from a new world I was exposed to today (inquire within for story.) Go out and do something and make yourself a part of something completely different than you and what you are. Write something new. Write anything, compose. Tell someone something you’ve been meaning to say. And be well.
Lately I’ve been on a karma kick, trying to do good and pay it forward. I feel wonderful and I can only tell you to do the same.
Also, I am blown away by this. Yes, another free download from our friends at notdrugs (bookmark this.) Its Ithaca and its remarkable.
On 01.28.10, In Reviews, By Riley
Ithaca College has a co-op program with Cornell. It’s a bullet-point on the tour guide’s list, to mention that if you come to IC, you are able to take courses at Cornell.
My course of study has led me to take courses at the Ithaca Campus. But upon registering for my last semester, I realized, “I’ve never taken advantage of that – I should.”
So I did. I am currently enrolled in Understanding Wine and Beer – a 400 level Food Sciences course at the Ivy League institution across the hill. Aside from the professor putting up slides of complex chemical equations, the course is a breeze.
And, everyday, we’re served four wines and four beers.
w i n e
b e e r
To quote the professor; Wine is served with food, beer is food!
On 01.26.10, In Findings, By Sarah
On 01.26.10, In Findings, By Sarah
Incredible things came from that now-so-distant semester in Los Angeles. How can I even begin to list them? Many things changed and and many things were discovered during this time in our lives, like this blog, like new friends, new habits and new publications. VICE magazine is probably the strangest magazine I’ve ever come across. One day while ”interning” at Atlantic Records, the free copy of this magazine came through my cube space. Like a good intern I spent the rest of my day reading it. Ever since I’ve been fascinated by their stories, ideas, photos, unnecessary disgusting topics, overly sexual beings and simply crass nature.
There is one thing in particular that I love. A man named Hamilton Morris, whom I’ve posted about before. He writes about drugs: while on drugs, all the drugs he’s done (including his recently deceased dog’s prescription Valium), giving preferred drug-taking suggestions, contesting the idea of how uncommon (the) date rape (drug) actually is and allowing completely embarrassing photos of himself to be published. In this latest article he went to Iceland, smoked weed, went swimming in the psoriasis-ridden Blue Lagoon tourist attraction while tripping all the while chronicling Icelandic fashion week. Morris is a shameless unconventional writer whom I am considering writing to. (Actually VICE seems like the place I might just write to and ask for a job. Why not?) Check it out if you have time. This one is much shorter than the others. You can also see all his columns here. I like them all.
On 01.25.10, In Events, By Riley
Well, it’s syllabus day once again for the last time ever. The rain has caused each classroom I stepped into thus far today to be filled with mugginess. Only the North Face jackets and Uggs reassured me that it was, in fact the beginning of second semester.
And per first day of class tradition, I took a photo-booth picture of myself donning a backpack. My mother always took pictures of me and my neighbors whom I walked to school with years ago, so I figure since she’s not around here, I’d take the picture myself.
Happy Learning, Humans!
On 01.23.10, In Events, By Riley
This just in!
Write On!
Special thanks to Lauren Fitzgerald for taking and sending this picture, via cellphone, from NYC!
On 01.23.10, In Rants, By Riley
Facebook, much like cheap beer and it being a hilly walk to get to wherever you’re going, is something I will immediately associate with being in college. I check the site daily and as regularly as I check my e-mail. I’m not an addict, nor do I accomplish much on Facebook. It’s just become a habit, I suppose.
With changes to the format and different/new/more/less applications available, Facebook has changed a lot since I first logged on in the summer of 2006. With each new wave of changes brings feedback, resistance, and retaliation; it’s an e-revolt (r~E~volt?). Perhaps the most popular new features are the option to “Like” something and the ability to comment on a post.
I admit, I “Like” stuff that I see on Facebook. It, at the very least, provides a conversation starter next time I see the person (what’s up Scott Walker?). But the “Like” feature transcends forums, leaving cyberspace and entering everyday conversation. Just as people have begun to literally say the phrase, “LOL” instead of laughing out loud, I’ve noticed people saying “if this were Facebook, I would ‘Like’ that.” Well guess, what, this isn’t Facebook – it’s real life. Leave the lingo on the laptop, and don’t tell me to STFU. It really makes me sick when people can’t sever ties from cyberspase. I love the Internet as much as the next person (unless the next person is Alex Spamponito – that kid loves the Internet), but I don’t let it affect the way I speak in person.
What’s worse is when people “Like” the wrong things: Rest in peace, Uncle Steve! – “Like.” Broke my leg, in crutches for two months – “Like.” Horrible, I know, but I’ve seen these and worse on the site. And I’ve seen aforementioned retaliation in the form of official Facebook Groups: “If this group reaches one million members, Facebook will install a “Dislike” button!” No they won’t, and you know it. Decent way to show your support, though.
And I don’t even know how to respond to wall posts. This is the cornerstone of Facebook activity, unless Status Updates have surpassed wall posts, in which case I’m even further out of the loop than I originally though. In the past, if someone wrote on my wall I’d simply go to their profile and write on theirs. But now, with the comment feature, I don’t know what to do! Some people will respond to the wall post simply by commenting. Is this the protocol? Is responding to a wall post by writing on someone’s wall old-school? Is it unacceptable? I don’t know!
I just don’t get it anymore. Soon, I’ll be graduating. Maybe then, LinkedIn will take over. I’d “Like” like that.
On 01.22.10, In Events, By Riley
Ithaca is gorges, unless it’s not summer, so for the past four months and for four months more (or until Slut Day*, whichever comes first) Ithaca will be dismal.
At least there’s some cool stuff going on around town. The Flaming Lips are coming to Cornell in April, which is the biggest deal since Built to Spill ripped apart State Theater in October.
But there’s more! The Avett Brothers, whose single, “I And Love And You” has been making girls’ panties drop people reluctant to fall in love for a few months now will be coming to the State Theater later on in February.
I&<3&U
This century’s Mark Twain will be visiting the State Theater in April. David Sedaris will speak to an audience, likely making us laugh, reflect, or eliciting a cheerful, “huh.”
April Seventh
There’ll be tons of great entertainment in Ithaca until Slut Day* arrives. Besides thacant, listen up to Aaron Terkel’s Concert Connection on WICB, everyday at 8:30, 1:30, 5:30, and 8:30 once again.
And hell, since we’re talking about public venues, stop by and donate a few cents to the Library Downtown – I mean look at this measly donation bin!
a single dollar? weak!
*What is Slut Day?
Well, lemme tell you a thing or two about Slut Day at Ithaca College. Waking up with the bright sun shining through the windows, and stepping out into the warm morning air with nothin but a t-shirt and shorts on. As you look onto the quad, it’s no longer just a patch of barren grass. Instead, on slut day, the freshly mowed grass is littered with girls dressed in scantily-clad (slutty) outfits, draped across every quad on campus. Now, this first exceptionally gorgeous day of spring, complete with the thermometers soaring above 70, every girl on campus gets the opportunity to shake off the winter rust, show off their bodies, and collect a little sun. Whether it be in a skirt on the grass, listening to music, or sprawled out in a bikini on their beach towel, just be sure you’ve got your sunglasses on today, because there’s enough eye candy laying around to make your eyes wander.
like this article? e-mail cbell1@ithaca.edu and tell him so!