Eminem Takes Daughter Hailie on Orange Key Tour

Yesterday rapper Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem, was spotted on an Orange Key tour with his daughter Hailie. "Goodness knows, they grow up so fast!" said Mathers to one of the other parents on the tour. Mathers was polite during the tour, although for a minute it looked like there might be a problem when the tour guide chose to answer another prospective student's question before Hailie's. Mathers started muttering the lyrics to "Bitch Please II" under his breath while the guide explained how she received a 2400 on her SATs. Mathers stayed after the tour to inquire about the University's financial aid policy. "I'm from Eight Mile, where kids don't have a lot. How can I afford to send my daughter to college?" The tour guide explained Princeton's grant based financial aid program before taking a moment to remind the rapper of his status as top selling artist of the decade. "It's a recession, man," said Mathers, before taking out his empty pistol and shaking it around at the ground.

Mathers is one of the candidates under consideration for an Honorary degree from the University this year for his brilliant work on his new album "Recovery." Rumor has it that he may also be the keynote speaker.

-The Blogstressed

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Airport Security Measures Across the Globe

By Aaron Applbaum '14

Traveling this winter break brought to my attention a curious yet sensical state of affairs. I am referring to the variance in transportation security precautions taken by various airports around the globe. I was, last week, in Cartagena, Colombia. Upon leaving the country I was allowed to walk through the metal detectors with shoes and carrying a bottle of water that I had procured outside of the airport. My bag was filled with various liquids, and colloids such as contact-lens solution and toothpaste. I had far exceeded the US regulations, but the security detail paid no heed. The Colombian equivalent of TSA, however, did something that a US TSA worker would never even considered doing. They poked holes in all of my suitcases.

The security official took what looked like a long pointy shish-kebab skewer, and repetitively stuck my bag and licked the end of the stick. It dawned on me later that I was being checked for cocaine possession (and smuggling), an issue far more ubiquitous for those leaving Colombia than for anywhere in the United States. The bizarre experience of having my bag made more breathable and less water-proof reminded me of other traveling experiences where I noticed the different airport-security practices than I was used to.

Last year when I was coming home from Egypt, I recalled something particularly peculiar. I had set off the metal detector altogether. Absent-mindedly I had forgotten to take my wallet out of my back pocket. I was not searched, or wanded, or questioned, but rather just sent through to my gate as if nothing had happened. In Israel, the security line is pretty painless. Hats, sweaters and shoes can be worn; the line tends to move very quickly. In Israel, however there is an added component to the security procedure—questioning. Did you pack your bags? Were they with you the whole time? Did you receive a gift? Do you realize the potential threat of a bomb? (They actually use the word bomb in the airport to make sure that everyone is on the same page!)

Different countries deal with their own security issues and therefore have different security procedures to keep people safe. I nevertheless see the huge variation in security measures as interesting and worth noting.

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'05 Alums on a Boat...Their Sex Contest E-Mails Leaked to Jezebel

Robert Huber '05, a State Department employee, Adam Wible '05, and Ian McHenry '05 have been traveling the world in a yacht and having lots of sex. Their e-mail chain, which was leaked to Jezebel, describes their competition to have sex with as many women as possible. The alums make great sacrifices just to remain competitive. For example, in an e-mail sent on Monday, Oct 11, Robert Huber explained his choice to sleep with a particular woman: "the only reason i'm even considering it is because i need to do something to keep my numbers up. sadly, not all of us can slog tiny japanese girls. ok, fine, all of us can, but you have more variety." No wonder Princeton gets a rep for being so competitive. Some may perceive the e-mail chain as racist and sexist, considering its extensive objectification of women and racial profiling. These people may be right. But the scariest issue of all is that this e-mail chain was supposedly private domain. So watch out what you write or forward to "friends" in e-mails, especially if you want to run for public office. Holding this contest via telephone would have been a much better bet.

-The Blogstress

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Guilty Pleasures Around Campus

By Morgan Jerkins '14

Since this is the time of the year where one reflects on blessings, I began to think about all the pleasant things that Princeton offers. We have the Writing Center to help us refine our papers, the McGraw Center for academic workshops, and language tables for, you guessed it---foreign language practice. But there are a few guilty pleasures about Princeton that I am more than thankful for:

1. Quesadillas w/ Chipotle Sauce at Late Meal: I know this is going to make myself look like a glutton, but the quesadillas at late meal are out of this world! I admit, I don’t really go to late meal as much as I should. But the times that I do go, I realize that late meal has some sort of inexplicable energy that I can’t find in dining halls. One evening, I wanted to try something different than the sushi or mac & cheese that I usually purchase. I ordered the chicken quesadillas. I told the chef that I wanted sour cream and salsa on the side, but instead she gave me sour cream and chipotle. I figured I’d be daring and dipped the tip of my quesadilla in the chipotle. I swear, I thought there was an explosion going on in my mouth! Even though I’ve lived in New Jersey all my life, I’ve never tried chipotle sauce. So folks, please, even if you are ever running over time on a chem lab or plugging in the hours on a paper, please go buy the quesadillas with chipotle sauce. It is good for the soul.

2. Study Breaks: Every single day there is a study break from Thai food to frozen yogurt to Korean food and much, much, more. Perhaps I am so excited because I am only a freshman but when I talk to friends from other schools, they are green with envy about this generosity. Not only can you fill your stomach but you can also mingle with people that you may not have seen all day—or all week.

3. Princeton Men—Sorry, I had to do it. Even though it has only been two months since my debut blog post, I have matured a bit since then. Patience has taught me a lesson. Now, Princeton dating may get a lot of flack because some guys are considered “cold”, “socially awkward,” “[fill-in-the-blank]”, but I made one great observation during a formal party recently: Princeton men can really work suits. In fact, they can work just about anything. College reviews underrate Princeton guys and paint a picture of homely nerds who are completely detached from reality. Regardless, I am appreciative and grateful.

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Sustainable Hypocrisy

Thank you to the Office of Sustainability, once again, for giving me something to laugh about. This time it is for taping posters made of A3 size high quality paper outside of every single person's door in Whitman and Scully who did not have the foresight to respond to an e-mail withdrawing from this otherwise automatic participation in the "Pull the Plug" campaign. Perhaps the green team just got confused and momentarily forgot that its goal is to sustain the environment rather than destroy it while invading dormitories and terrorizing students. I am not going overboard with the terror factor either. The posters threaten that any student who does not pull the plug on their refrigerators and televisions over break will have his or her name plastered on a list of shame in the entry of their dormitory. "All those who do not pull the plug in this hall will have their name listed in the entry way after recess!" Oh goody. I hope they highlight my name in pink because I have every intention of returning from break to a fridge full of cold sodas. Although I will take the time to recycle the poster.

-The Blogstress

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What Is Left to the Last Minute Only Takes A Minute

By Aaron Applbaum '14

In high school I had the nasty habit of leaving all my long-term assignments to the last possible minute. My work was pretty manageable; I could get away with procrastination and receive the grades I desired. I figured that my habit would naturally dissipate as my academic environment grew more rigorous. Surely, the positive influence of my responsible Princeton-peers would rub off on me and I too could be the diligent student I wished to be. I could not have been more mistaken.

The propensity to push assignments off is more ubiquitous here then at my high school (granted that my observations of students is from a sampling that constitutes but a fraction of the Princeton community). Just about everyone here seems to suffer from the same last-minute oriented disposition. The students of Princeton University seem to exhibit a very special blend of lethargy, ADD (often Internet induced), busy over-booked schedules and the proven ability to ultimately “pull it off.” I have spoken with students from every grade here and the overwhelming ethos seems to be that work is meant to be done as close to the deadline as is manageable. In the elegant and truthful words of my friend Lucas Baradello: “what is left to the last minute, will only take a minute.” Perhaps I should be disappointed that it may be too late to change. But then again, I suppose it is not wise to fix that which is not broken.

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Looking Out for the Little Guy

By Brandon Davis '13

In the context of No Fat Talk Week and other initiatives that tackle our society’s unrealistic expectations for female bodies, I felt it appropriate to address this self-image issue from the male perspective.

It’s been three thousand years since the time of the ancient Greeks, but our society still worships the kouros. Maybe the Greeks had the ideal male right. Maybe we really should be tall, muscular and gruff. But at five-feet, four inches and 125 pounds, I find this Brad Pitt look just as unattainable as a slightly overweight woman might find Angelina Jolie.

I wonder if I’m the only man though who glances at the covers of GQ or Men’s Fitness with hopelessness and helplessness. Men are taught how we should look just as much as women are – Disney teaches girls that they need a prince; Disney teaches boys they have to be the prince. And let’s face it: most of us are no Prince Charming.

There are, of course, plenty of advantages to being fun-sized. Just last Christmas, my nineteen-year-old self entered the MoMA for free on a ticket priced for sixteen-year-olds and under. No fake ID necessary.

Still, the little perks of being little hardly make up for a general feeling of inadequacy. It’s very hard to get any respect when you look like a seventh grader. Not to mention the actual seventh grader’s more serious self-esteem issues.

Our society makes many small prejudices that generally go unquestioned – against extra-buff athletes or tiny, blonde sorority girls in precept, for example. With the mini-controversy this No Fat Talk Week has created, I hope we can expand the debate about body issues and self-image to include the rest of us misfits as well.

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Public Safety searches for iPhone bandit

Public Safety is searching for a man who stole an iPhone from a student's room in Wright Hall Monday morning while that student was taking a shower, Public Safety officials said.

The male student left his room at about 9:30 a.m. to take a shower and returned 15 minutes later to find someone leaving his unlocked dorm room with his iPhone.

The suspect is a Hispanic or Latino man, 20-24 years old and was seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and brown pants, according to a Campus Crime Alert sent by Public Safety. The man had short hair and was 5’3” to 5’4” tall.

“Detectives are actively working it and hope to get some feedback from the community,” Public Safety Capt. Donald Reichling said in an e-mail.

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The Links Between Judaism and African Culture, a Discussion with Rabbi Eitan Webb and Dr. Cornel West

By Morgan Jerkins '14

As I sat in Frist 302, I saw Dr. Cornel West and Rabbi Webb walk in together with friendly countenances. I knew that this event was going to involve unity and cordiality. Jacob Loewenstein ’11, the Vice President of Chabad, set the tone with his quirky rules, such as calling out instead of raising hands. Dr. West and Rabbi Webb faced each other for a few seconds until Dr. West took it upon himself to start the lecture. A late-night conversation around a dinner table inspired Dr. West to fully convey how his whole being derives from the “prophetic, Judaic tradition.” Rabbi Webb, his “Jewish brother” represents the wisdom, knowledge, and connection of Judaism.

Rabbi Webb began his speech with the definition of a Hasid while Dr. Cornel West looked on, enthralled, and nodded his head with each statement that Rabbi Webb made. Their voices projected sheer enthusiasm, passion, and experience. Their gesticulations helped me to see the progression and fluidity of their dense philosophies. What kind of human being would you like to be? Dr. West looked out into the audience as he posed this inquiry. It was the only question that was not met with an astute response. When the Q & A began, the audience hesitated to ask a question; with impeccable timing, Loewenstein justified this silence by stating that the audience was overwhelmed with the wisdom of the two speakers.

Not only did I did learn about the idea of catastrophes within the works of Kafka and Shakespeare, the vicissitudes of life, and Yiddish proverbs, I felt enlightened as a human being. I do not need to reiterate how powerful Dr. West and Rabbi Webb are as speakers, but I will write this: I was not just sitting in on a lecture, I was on a journey.

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Columbia Professor Arrested for Incestuous Relationship with Daughter

By Lucy Cobbs '14

Columbia University professor David Epstein was charged with third degree incest with his daughter on Thursday, according to the Columbia Daily Spectator. The sexual relationship between 46-year-old Epstein and his 24-year-old daughter had apparently lasted for three years and was consensual. An exchange of “twisted text messages” between the two was discovered, said the New York Daily News.

Epstein, now on administrative leave, is married to another Columbia political science professor, Sharyn O’Halloran. A 2008 Spectator article about academic couples who “bring love to work” featured the pair. However, Epstein’s Facebook relationship status was recently updated to “single.”

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