Why does Forbes get everything that it wants?
I mean, I realize that this is kind of a really huge generalization, but I mean, Forbes has one of the largest endowments of the colleges, so it has a ton of money to throw parties for their college. (ie Great Gatsby party)
It's close to the Wa.
And I know I'm being really petty, but Forbes brunch also has candy!! Which, I mean, I know I can buy, but still. I would really appreciate candy in dining halls.
And sure, it's kind of far, but now the shuttle is providing rides.
I mean, is Forbes really that far? I always feel more tired when walking to Rocky/Mathey than to Forbes...
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
I Wish I Lived in Forbes
Facebook Instant Messenger -- Will class ever be the same?
As reported by CNN, Facebook launched an instant messenger chat application today, which looks to be a massively popular addition to their burgeoning social network. Students spend a good deal of time on Facebook during classes or as a distraction from JP's and Theses even without a substitute for AIM; I can hazard a guess that this new feature will exponentially increase Facebook's appeal and the distraction it provides. Thoughts from Facebook addicts or professors who want to ban laptops in class are welcome below...
Carlos Jiménez Cahua: A Senior Re-discovers his Roots through Photography
Carlos Jiménez Cahua, a senior Chemistry major receiving a certificate in Visual Arts, considers himself Peruvian although he was raised in America. He was born in Perú, and there he discovered the foundation of his senior thesis. His thesis not for Chemistry, but for Photography. Carlos’s interest in art began after taking an introductory class in black and white photo with Accra Sherp during his second year. Art, unlike Chemistry, has allowed Carlos to unleash his creative impulses. He explains, “science is so rigorous, but in art there are no right or wrong answers.” Carlos’s inclination toward photography motivated him to complete his junior independent work early, enabling him to study abroad in Florence, Italy, at the Studio Arts Center International. This past summer, after being awarded the Lucas Summer Fellowship by the University, Carlos returned to Lima where he photographed its distinctive landscapes.
A statement from the artist: Whereas the people of developed nations affect the form and therefore identity of the land, the people of Lima quite literally merely scratch the surface – their relationship to the land is not one of dominance but of acquiescence. It is only in two dimensions that they can affect the land. They conform to the surface.
An exhibition of his artwork will be held at 185 Nassau Street beginning today, April 8th, until the 11th alongside the artwork of his classmate, Roxanne Martinez.
I’m interested in man’s development on the earth – the way he shapes and sculpts the landscape. He must have a relationship with the land in order to alter it, and I feel that connection is more intimate than usual in a place like Lima. The people quite literally live atop the raw earth.
See Jennifer Greenstein Altmann’s February 11th article: http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S20/11/02C56/index.xml.
Or check out a video of Carlos’s work: http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/multimedia/player.xml?videopath=/main/news/archive/S20/19/01M78/index.xml&auto_play=true§ion=mm-featured.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Are Conservatives Happier?
Yes, according to economist Arthur Brooks. The Economist reports that on average, 44% of "very conservative" and "conservative" Americans report to be happy compared to a paltry 25% of their "very liberal" and "liberal" counterparts.
The number one reason for this difference according to Brooks is children. Conservatives have more kids, which lead to long term fulfillment.
Finally, a legitimate reason for Anscombe to ban condoms?
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Freshman Formals
Freshman Formals were at Quad on Saturday and everyone dragged themselves away from their Problems Sets and Essays to dress up and head on over. Outfits ranged from Vintage to BCBG (a popular choice). But by far the most common response that evening was "I don't know who designed my dress..." Oh well, they managed to look good anyways!
Here are some of the people who made an appearance.
Alex Scheeter'11 and Isabel Pike'11
Jaewon Monica Choi'11 and Jin Chuang'11
Qingzhen Wang'11 in a homemade gown and Nithiya'11
(from left) So Yeon Kim'11, Elizabeth Deir'11, Meredith Stafford'11, Elinor Willis'11, and Sarah Simons'11 in Jessica McClintock
Khameer Kidia'11 and Phoenix Gonzalez'11 in Vintage
Shannon Togava Mener'11 in BCBGand Zvi Smith'09
Sydney Egan'11 in Banana Republic and Janice Tiao'11
John Zacharias and Emily Reynolds'11
Hannah Valdez'11 in Vintage
Brooks Yang'11 in Hemline
Justine Dremon'11
Kay Zhang'11 and Adam Tanaka'11
The examined life of philosophy majors
"In a New Generation of College Students, Many Opt for the Life Examined," proclaims that more and more college students are majoring in philosophy. While The Times attributes the growth in these departments to a concerted effort to be more introspective, the Princeton trends suggest otherwise.
In recent years, small departments like philosophy have seen up to 40% growth at Princeton. This is because Princeton's been making an effort to attract people to these departments. But maybe students themselves see that in an era where so many people are social science majors, the best way to distinguish yourself is to do something unlike everyone else.
Princeton Quidditch Update
Remember Quidditch a few weeks ago? (Yes, the goofy kids running around with brooms between their legs on Alexander Beach).
Now you can relive it.
CBS Coverage:
MTV U's Coverage:
If you want to join the Princeton Muggle Quidditch Team, check out their Facebook group.
Overheard: Privacy at Princeton
So remember the ripped magazine outside my across-the-hall neighbor's door? Turns out that wasn't a death threat after all, but a protest against the way magazines are distributed.
Not that I asked my neighbor; I merely heard him yelling about it in the hallway. "Precedence!" he was saying, "It doesn't matter if it's a good magazine or not, I still disapprove of the method of distribution!"
Which was an interesting answer to my question, attained in a rather sketchy way. I wonder if people realize that we can hear them when they speak in the hallways. These walls are not that thick.
When I had to pull nighters, before I found the love of my life (the Forbes library), I would sit out in the hallway with my work so my roommate could actually sleep. My favorite part was always listening to the different alarms go off in all the rooms down the hall - varying from beeps to chirps to melodic chimes - as I put the finishing touches on my essay or program and night faded into groggy dawn.
A semester and a half into the school year, I know the sound of my roommate's keychain, so I can tell when she's about to come in - again, sketch city, but I cherish not having to worry about getting caught with a finger up my nose.
The rooming system is so mysterious to me. Why put us in such close quarters with people we know nothing about? I'm big on privacy, and I suspect that I snore. Is it really necessary to fit us two beds to a room? It's just such an awkward situation. I visit my friends with singles approximately 80% more frequently than I do those with roommates*.
Who decided that two was the optimal number, by the way? Why aren't there more singles? Why aren't there more quads? Who came up with this system anyway?
*This is not an exact calculation nor has it been verified by experts, supported by data, or in fact calculated at all. Any important bets as to its precision should be turned down.
Two Different Princetons
Somebody left this comment to my op-ed piece last Friday:
While I understand your call to optimism, I like many other students find it discouraging that most of what I am grateful for at Princeton has been in spite of, not because of, the university and its administration. Good roommates and interesting neighbors make up for my small, un-renovated room in upperclass housing (which subsidizes your whitman room, by the way). I love my eating club, and everyone in it. Despite a cramped 12-wk academic schedule, I know I'll still always find time for my club sports team, which gets virtually no funding and plays on poorly maintained fields that are too far away. And I learn more from my discussions with fellow classmates than I do in any class, where half the time I get papers and tests back with nary a comment other than the grade. Don't dismiss legitimate complaints as mere whining. If you really care about the character and future of Princeton, tossing money at it is about the last thing that's needed.I don't think that I was "dismiss[ing] legitimate complaints as mere whining." (Cf. "Complaints and criticism have their place and are useful tools when used to try and change the system (even if we still have one-ply toilet paper in the dorms). But it's good to offer up praise when praise is due and take note of when things are good.")
But what really struck me about this comment is that the poster and I are talking about two completely different institutions. I have certainly learned more in class than from discussions with my friends (though I learn a lot from them too), and I can't say that I have any complaints with the level of feedback I've gotten on written work. I'm not a big sports person, but the activities I've been engaged in have usually been well funded.
Honestly, I have to admit that the things I really don't like about Princeton have largely been my fault. Still it makes me wonder how two people could have such different experiences.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
On Campus Architecture:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
