Tuesday, September 30, 2008

If Batman went to Princeton, why isn't it called Wayne College?

One of the things that comes with being a Princeton student is becoming a Princeton alum and being asked for money by the University every year of the rest of your natural life. Below I imagine what a TigerCall conversation with Bruce Wayne/Batman might be like.

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Monday, September 29, 2008

Runway to Street



Image provided by Style.com






Though I am normally not a big DKNY fan, I adore her funky Fall Collection this season. Thick, chunky sweaters contrast beautifully with delicate lace and bright tights. Don't forget a hat when recreating this style; it pulls the whole look together and gives it a distinctly Fall-like quality.
1) Cocktail Apron, heavenlyhosstess.com: $120
2)Orange Zest Top, alight.com: $29
3)Red Silk Mary Janes, natashascafe.com:$21
4) Cable Knit Hooded Sweater, wetseal.com:$26.50
5)Berkshire Opaque Tights, amazon.com: $8.95
6) Washed-Wool Newsboy Cap, jcrew.com:$50

Blog video: train from Princeton to New York

Prince columnist and photographer Michael Collins '11 produced this video, audio, and photo essay on commuters on New Jersey Transit riding from Princeton to New York:


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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Let's take this new webmail for a test drive...

Yesterday, the USG announced a sorely-needed improvement to our antediluvian webmail system. Bless you, OIT! You guys are so cute. And so late. If this new development is rain in the desert, then it's falling on empty villages. We are 21st century students, here! We do not just sit around hoping that our webmail interface will improve on its own. Most of us nomads have already moved on to greener pastures, to extend an already tenuous metaphor, and we are not likely to return.

Despite my unwavering loyalty to Gmail, however, curiosity got the best of me. The new mail system is available to test until its release on the 14th, so I decided to check it out. Screenshots after the jump.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Yee Haw!

Welcome to the first "real" post for SATS this year! Thanks to those who've sent their questions in, and keep them coming! Now, let's get down to business....

Can we see some photos please?

Of me? Well, the picture to the left is me, but as for more photos, that’ll have to be a negative. Isn’t everything sexier with a little mystery? ;)

My bf wants me to get on top during sex, but I feel awkward “up there”. Any tips?

Surprisingly, many women feel this kind of “performance anxiety” while in the Cowgirl or Reverse Cowgirl positions. Unlike the Missionary position, you have to take a more active, dominant role and for some, that can be intimidating. In my experience, pretty much all men love it when a woman just crawls on top and takes charge of the situation, and I’d say that it’s pretty difficult to fuck it up (no pun intended). Remember, your boyfriend wants you to do this, so you’re already halfway there. Just relax and get in a sexy mindset. Embrace the amount of control you’ve been given, and look at him as though you’re about to give him the ride of his life. Chances are, he finds you very attractive and quite sexy, so let go of any insecurities you have about what you look like from that angle and just give it to him! Start off with a gentle back and forth motion with your hips, and use your hands to explore his chest or play with his nipples if he likes that. Don’t jump up and down like a frog, it’s one of those things from porn that looks better than it actually feels. When you’re more comfortable, try sinking down and rolling your hips in circles to give him a different sensation. Most importantly, have fun with yourself. Play with your breasts, or rub your clit…give him a show to watch! Just take a chance. If something feels uncomfortable for him or turns him off, he’ll likely let you know, but 99% of the time, if you’re enjoying yourself up there, so will he.


I’ve been dating this girl for about 3 months, and we’ve been having sex for about 2 months pretty regularly. I like her, but she’s a bit of a “dead fish” in bed. At first I thought that it was just because things were new and she wasn’t totally comfortable yet, but now it looks like there’s no sign of change. It makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong, and sometimes it’s hard to even stay aroused because she’s so unenthusiastic. What, if anything, can I do?

The heartless bitch inside of me wants to say “dump her”, but I know that that is probably not the answer you were looking for. Honestly though, sexual incompatibility is a big deal. If you are unsatisfied with your sexual relationship, over time the resentment and frustration can eat away at the other parts of the relationship, and that’s never good. That being said, no one goes into a relationship knowing exactly what the other person wants or needs sexually, so don’t expect her to be able to read your mind. It’s important for couples to be able to tell each other what they want in an honest but pressure free manner.

Now to ponder, what’s with the Dead Fish Syndrome? Well, there are a couple of possibilities that come to mind: 1) she was brought up to think of sex as a dirty or shameful act, and is uncomfortable with the fact that she’s even having sex at all, 2) she is insecure about her body or her abilities to please you, so she just opts out and lets you do all the work, or 3) she really isn’t enjoying it, so she’s just letting you get yours. I’m hoping it’s either #2 or 3 for your sake, because #1 cannot be fixed by anyone but her (and perhaps a therapist). If you are at all serious about continuing in this relationship, I encourage you to have an honest conversation with her. Don’t talk during or directly after a sexual encounter; pick a time and place where you two can be relaxed and away from nosy ears. At first, approach the situation as if the problem is #3. Ask her if she is satisfied with your sex life and if there is anything else that you can do in order to better please her. If she offers you suggestions, take them! Odds are though, she’ll say no, to which you can reply, “Ok, that’s good. But I’ve noticed that while we’re having sex, you don’t seem very into it, and it makes it hard for me to enjoy myself when it looks as though you’re indifferent to what’s going on.” Hopefully, that will produce some useful dialogue, but if she appears to be shutting down, don’t pressure her and just let it go for the moment. If you think it’s more likely that she is insecure about herself or her abilities, make an effort to help her feel as beautiful an wonderful as you think she is. Assuring her that she’s attractive and sexy to you or otherwise giving her genuine compliments before, during, and after sex may boost her confidence enough to make her feel better about taking a more active role. However, as I said earlier, if things don’t seem like they will be making a change for the better, have an honest conversation with yourself about whether you can handle this lack of sexual satisfaction or not.


If you have a question to ask me about sex and/or relationships, send me an email at SexandtheStreet@gmail.com or leave a comment (anonymous, if you wish!). All questions will be kept strictly confidential so don't be shy!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

VIDEO: Citadel fans boo, chant slurs at PU band



Several videos have emerged from last Sunday's confrontation between the Princeton University Band and cadets at The Citadel, reported in the Prince and a column in the Charleston Post and Courier.

This video shows several fans at the football game chanting "faggots" repeatedly during the band's halftime performance, between the 3:00-3:07 minute mark. The overwhelming majority of the fans greeted the performance with hearty and sustained boos throughout the band's eight minute long show, but refrained from slurs of this kind that I can make out in the video. As someone who took a bus to the Yale game two years ago, this crowd does not seem that much louder.

The sound is especially loud because the video seems to be recorded right in the middle of the student section. Another Youtube video of the game from across the stadium records the boos as less loud so that the band's instruments and announcement can be heard.

NJ: Neurotic and Unconscientious



This Wall Street Journal study analyzes the 50 US states (+ DC) by personality. There's even a nice interactive graph tab if you don't feel like reading.

How to find New Jersey? That's easy - just sort by Neuroticism and look at the top, or click on Conscientiousness... and scroll to the bottom.

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Monday, September 22, 2008

Charleston take on PU Band altercation at Citadel

Just to get the information out there for everyone following this story, Charleston Post and Courier columnist Ken Burger writes a column critical of the Princeton band that, like the Prince's news story, already has a heated debate through more than 50 comments on the article this morning. Not having been there or spoken to anyone involved, I'll just read the stories and pass on the links...

Update: Having scanned around other comments on this story, The Underside of Paradise has a negative reaction to Burger's Column.

No more I-Banks

"The Federal Reserve, in an attempt to prevent the crisis on Wall Street from infecting its two premier institutions, took the extraordinary measure on Sunday night of agreeing to convert investment banks Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Inc. into traditional bank holding companies." - The Wall Street Journal

Now What?

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear It

The number one word heard at this year’s New York Fashion week was “optimism”. Literally looking into the future, designers were oft quoted saying they took their inspiration from the presidential election (see Michael Kors’ collection) and all the hope that it inspires.

Whatever happened to living in the moment? Fashion, by its very nature, is constantly looking ahead, making us dream big dreams of wearing bathing suits when we are packing them away in September, and fur lined hats when the only suitable accessory is a bottle of suntan lotion. After all, the present is bleak, and it is much more interesting to idealize the future, with fashion being the perfect means for doing so. Indeed, looking at Carolina Herrera’s luxurious reds and elegant cocktail gowns, who could really believe we are in a recession?

This season, more than ever, such blind idealism was magnified on a tremendous scale, as dazzling colors dominated even more than they usually do, and the future was not only bright, it threw the present day into oblivion.

Although some of these collections were complete flops- one Elie Tahari dress actually looked as if a wave had thrust her skirt into her underwear- there were still some well-done collections that managed to go beyond the clichéd message of a promising spring, and create something worthwhile.

L’Wren Scott, for example, though still playing on the Grecian theme, which for me at least, is getting a tad dull, created beautifully tailored and delicate pieces that at their best seem to be floating down the runway. My favorite was a tight-fitting white dress with black lace detailing, which managed to be both delicate and businesslike at the same time.

Diane von Furstenberg certainly bought into the whole optimistic scene, with long, flowery dresses that would be appropriate for a May Day celebration (the ribbons in the model’s hair didn’t help). Yet, there is still something very interesting in her designs, which conjure up not only the sanguinity of the hippies, but the circumstances in which they were fighting. There is a rebellious spirit in her dresses that makes them more than just pretty; they are positively subversive.

But the real stand out this season would have to be Marc Jacobs, who took a truly unique approach to the wide-eyed hopefulness that seems to have captivated designers this fall. His collection is artfully layered, and thus incredibly complex; it is not easy to pick out any one aspect of his designs, because each piece is completely connected to another. Like so many things in life, there is no easy exit. His collection is, essentially, a brilliant reminder that a bright future is not as easy to achieve as zipping up a sundress. Or making a campaign promise. 00050m.jpg





Images provided by Style.com























Saturday, September 20, 2008

Why you should apply to be a 'Prince' columnist


Last week, several of the Daily Princetonian's staff columnists (and a couple ed board members) traveled to New York to enjoy a catered lunch with Gail Collins, the famous and brilliant New York Times columnist. Gail told us about everything from how she writes columns to the two-party system to Maureen Dowd's hatred for everything Clinton.
Think you missed your chance to hang out in a precept-sized group with a famous New York Times columnist? Think again. Up next, David Brooks will be stopping by for lunch with the 'Prince' columnists in October. New columnist will already be on board by then, so check out our online application center. Apps are due next Thursday!
(This shameless plug brought to you by the Opinion editor.)

Friday, September 19, 2008

The New and “Improved” U-Store(s)


Before there was one U-Store. Now there are two. I’m almost certain that at some point, the administration must have spoon fed us the idea that two U-Stores where better than one. Well, either they were wrong, or they lied. The splitting up of the U-Store has so far had no noticeable bonuses, but it has been able to give me a splitting headache.

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

The death of a Princeton culture? NYT columnist on Princeton and I-Banking


NYT columnist Roger Cohen takes direct aim at Princeton (and other Ivy League) students in an Op-Ed today, arguing that the culture of seeking fortune through jobs in finance such as investment banking is at the root of the current financial crisis. The conversation that he describes is certainly one that I've had with my friends at Princeton, both who enter the financial world and who choose not to:

When I taught a journalism course at Princeton a couple of years ago, I was captivated by the bright, curious minds in my class. But when I asked students what they wanted to do, the overwhelming answer was: “Oh, I guess I’ll end up in i-banking.”

It was not that they loved investment banking, or thought their purring brains would be best deployed on Wall Street poring over a balance sheet, it was the money and the fact everyone else was doing it.

I called one of my former students, Bianca Bosker, who graduated this summer and has taken a job with The Monitor Group, a management consultancy firm (she’s also writing a book). I asked her about the mood among her peers.

“Well, I have several friends who took summer internships at Lehman that they expected to lead to full-time job, so this is a huge issue,” she said. “You can’t believe how intensely companies like Merrill would recruit at Ivy League schools. I mean, when I was a sophomore, if you could spell your name, you were guaranteed a job.”

But why do freshmen bursting to change the world morph into investment bankers?

“I guess the bottom line is the money. You could be going to grad school and paying for it, or earning six figures. And knowing nothing about money, you get to move hundreds of millions around! No wonder we’re in this mess: turns out the best and the brightest make the biggest and the worst.”

As the crisis deepens, and the list of major investment banks shortens to Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley (who have their own falling share prices and buyout rumors), where will this year's crop of Princeton seniors find jobs after graduation, or for juniors, internships next summer?

When I have the conversation about jobs and the future with my friends, I usually disagree with Cohen and the student that he quotes. They say that Princeton students enter finance because "the bottom line is the money."

While I have no doubt that money is a factor, I've always felt personally that Princeton students enter the private sector because they feel it will satisfy their sense of drive and the need to have a "prestigious" occupation. Until this year, unlike public or non-profit sector employers, financial firms could afford to hold the type of events and run the type of recruiting that attracts students seeking prestige and a sense that their work will prepare them for a meaningful and successful career surrounded by like-minded people.

Non-profit groups like Teach for America, which focus heavily on recruiting and have a dedicated staff, are able to fill this niche of satisfying ambition and drive as well, and as far as I can tell compete with investment banks to attract Princeton students despite lower pay.

In the whirlwind of classes, jobs, and thesis, seniors seeking a prestigious job may not have the time or energy to find a calling in the public or non-profit sector without heavy recruitment.

Is Cohen right that Princeton and other Ivy students opting for i-banking is a sign of a culture of greed that is now being forced to atone, or do Princeton students aim higher than money for prestige, but cannot find it in government or a non-profit who lack the resources to recruit and make their case?


Saturday, September 13, 2008

I've Shown You Mine, Now Show Me Yours!


'Twas a hot and crazy summer, but Sex and the Street is back and this time, I'm doing things a bit differently. While I loved sharing my own stories and experiences with you, what really interests me is what's going on out there in dorm rooms and secluded taproom corners campuswide. It's hard to find a place where one can ask questions about sex, hooking up, and relationships and get answers beyond what your mom or sex ed teacher would provide. I think that the best and most useful kind of sex and relationship advice is uncensored, informal, and honest: the kind your sex-obsessed best friend would give you. Think of me as that friend. Need help picking a vibrator that's right for you? Stuck in a missionary rut with your partner? Concerned about the size of your penis? Ask me! Send your questions to SexandtheStreet@gmail.com or leave a comment here. Everything will be kept strictly confidential, so feel free to ask me the things that you would never even dream of asking your friends. I look forward to reading your questions!

- Miss SATS

Adam Tanaka's Guide to Lawnparties Bands



(Lupe Fiasco: Not Kanye, but still pretty cool.)

Well, it’s that time of year again: out come the Ray Bans, pin stripes, and flip flops. And once again, the line up really isn’t anything to write home about. But I’m gonna write home about it anyway; or at least write to the Street Blog. Here we go, club by club, a run-down of the talented and not-so-talented who will be blaring loudly across Prospect in less than 36 hours.

CHARTER: Seemingly convinced that bringing U2 to Princeton wasn’t a bad enough idea, Charter club are roping in the appallingly named cover band 2U to provide some Irish luvvin’ Sunday afternoon. Expect the usual anthems – “Vertigo,” “Beautiful Day,” hopefully a tongue-in-cheek rendition of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” – and revel in the fact that you’re watching someone who not only likes Bono, but likes him enough to dress up like him. Fingers crossed for those wrap-around shades, and maybe a look-a-like Bob Geldof if we’re lucky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omFdpnSu57U


COLONIAL: Over at Colonial we’ll have yet another cover band playing us some familiar classics, in this case a selection of the Dave Matthews Band’s back catalogue. So for those of you who like their Dave Matthews, 2pm at Colonial is the place to be. And hopefully they’ll play Dave Matthews’ early hit single “Ants Marching” as they watch the swarm of Princeton students marching on up the Street to see someone else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMBgSfQI49E


T.I.: Having spent their entire annual budget on beer, T.I. has only been able to hire alumni band “Where’s Waldo” to play on Sunday afternoon. For those deluded (or drunken) few who aren’t over at Quad cheering for Lupe Fiasco, I wish you luck. And at least it fails to beat last year’s lawnparties band “Gonzo’s Nose” for ‘WORST BAND NAME EVER IN THE WORLD’ award. This is them at Cottage last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHVh5Gf2c-4


TOWER: The main performer at Tower this year will be singer-Songwriter Eric Hutchinson, whose greatest achievement was to have his song “Rock & Roll” featured on the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” soundtrack. Now that is pretty darn cool. And surprisingly enough – considering the number of cover bands choking Prospect this year – that isn’t a cover of the Led Zeppelin song, but a breezy, reggae-tinged pop/rocker, quite pleasant but also instantly forgettable. Opening for Hutchinson at 12:30 will be Amanda Duncan, a folk-lite acoustic rocker who sounds rather a lot like Jack Johnson, if Jack Johnson was a woman. She also seems to be rather into recycling, and banjos, judging by her MySpace page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm5TZX5hz3g


IVY: Performing at Ivy are the Beach Bumz Band, whose choice of cover songs continues what seems like a deliberate trend to alliterate the letter B: the Beach Boys, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Buffet are apparently favourites. So, expect a nice mix of surfer songs, reggae classics and utter crap. Eeek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib8nH4kHjxk


TERRACE: An interesting riff on the word naysayer, New York Band Yeasayer describe their music as “Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel.” Whatever the hell that means. Anyway a brief Youtubing trip reveals a surprisingly poppy, Smiths-influenced sound, with hooky mix of high-pitched vocals and jangly guitar playing. And opening for them at 1:30 is the Philly rap group Plastic Little, whose single “Cheap Thrills” transforms MJ’s “Thriller” into a towering electro-rap anthem. Not that “Thriller” wasn’t a dance anthem already. But anyway, if you wanna rave it up, you better be there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0e70P_f2Wc


QUAD: And saving the best for last, we have this year’s main attraction, Chicago-based hip hopper Lupe Fiasco. Often referred to as the most lyrically talented rapper working in the mainstream today, Lupe deserves a big pat on the back for being able to bring nerdy hip hop back to the top of the charts. He raps about comic books, skateboards and hamburgers – among other, deeper issues – and even managed to make the line “the economic pecking order of relief distribution systems” sound good on his last album, “The Cool.” Point is, he is cool. So be there. And if you’re camping out for front row seats you’ll likely be treated to the folk-rock stylings of opener Matt Nathanson – if you recognise any of his songs, that means you’ve watched the “American Pie” movies a few too many times. According to his wiki entry, his song “Laid” has featured on two of their soundtracks. Sounds like a good song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQQbj9vmaI8


CLOISTER: Another lawnparties band, another terrible name. Performing at Cloister from 2 to 5 PM we have Fools and Horses, a four-man band who peddle a very glossy brand of anthemic rock. Seemingly intent on recreating the blandest mid-eighties hard rock – think Journey, or Foreigner – this is really nothing special. Expect some soaring choruses and crunching riffs, and a singer with the most irritating voice in the world:

http://www.myspace.com/foolsandhorses


COTTAGE: Performing at Cottage club Sunday afternoon are Sweetbriar, who seem to like drinking rather a lot, if their MySpace page is anything to go by – Jack Daniels and cocktails are featured in their profile pic, and their EP is called “The Hangover Sessions.” Well, sounds like they’ll be a perfect fit for Cottage – and with their utterly forgettable “country rock & soul” style, they’ll also fit in fine with almost every other band playing Lawnparties this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2VCX4E4ztk

Friday, September 12, 2008

I came to Princeton for a week, and all I got to eat were burgers.

The title is not quite related to the post, because I tried to write a post about how all the dining halls during the first week of school, because they're closed/holding a BBQ somewhere, but it didn't get very far.

But here is one thing I am really excited for, the new Wilson tent. I mean, sure, our white tent is no Whitman Dining Hall (but pretty buildings in Wilson are rare anyway...), but all the food is being shipped from Whitman. (And really it's what is inside that counts.) And I've heard tons of rumors about it: that we'll be having lobster and steak nights (Is it pity or Whitman's leftovers?), sliding glass doors, and air conditioning.

It's only supposed to be up for a month, though I guess that's more wishful thinking than rumor.

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Thursday, September 11, 2008

Seriously, how dumb do they think we are?


So, for the last couple of days I've been getting these rather suspicious emails. And all I can think is, "How dumb do they think we are?" After the jump, text of the email and an analysis of why these con men fail at life.

Dear User: princeton.edu
princeton.edu Engineer will be conducting a scheduled routine
maintenance To improve our services, please be informed that we are going to
upgrade our system in a couple of days from now, that may affect email
delivery
notifications on our transaction network. We would need the following
information to enable us preserve your account.

CONFIRM YOUR EMAIL IDENTITY BELOW
=================================

FULL NAME:
USER EMAIL:
USER PASSWORD:
COUNTRY:
PHONE NUMBER:

You are to forward the following informations to our helpdesk center.
We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause you.
We assure you more quality service at the end of this maintenance.

We understand that, you need to be certain, your personal information will be
secure we take safeguarding your personal information very seriously.

Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his or her account within
Four days of receiving this warning will lose his or her account
permanently.

Yours sincerely, princeton.edu Technical Support.
Thank you for using princeton.edu
Notification Code: WWP2H77JJAJ.
==============================
So the first giveaway, and the real reason this is a particularly unimpressive attempt at phishing, is that the email address isn't even from the US.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Welcome back, Point!

After a summer of server problems, Point is back online. Couldn't have started the school year without you! Time to sell my textbooks.

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