Fun things to do on Halloween.

1. dress up as a burrito and get a free burrito @ Chipotle. (Their standards as to what qualifies as a burrito costume are pretty low, i.e. scotch tape and some tinfoil should do the trick).  

2. watch "The Exorcist" @ Gaston Hall. There's a 6pm and 9pm showing. Prior to the 6pm showing, Groove Theory will be performing their Thriller dance, and before the 9pm showing, a costume contest will be held, with a top prize of a 4-month subscription to Netflix.

3. trick-or-treat @ the embassies in Dupont. 

The Friday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• GUSA President to Dissolve Unity Board
  
• Norovirus Report Inconclusive
  
• In Case of An Outbreak, A Containment Policy
  
• Editorial: Clubs Shouldn't Coast on Just Flyers and E-mails
  
• Editorial: 'Trick or Treat' Can Also Apply to Halloween Costumes
  

This Week's Voice: Women's Soccer and Wu-Tang

There are all kinds of reasons to read this week's Voice, including our new website:

• Our feature is about the winning women's soccer team
• The news section reports on GUSA efforts to make SAC more transparent
• And in Voices, Sean Quigley confirms that white boys can't jump, but they can listen to Ghostface.
  

FREE Ben & Jerry's on Election Day?

According to this facebook event, Ben and Jerry's will be giving away free scoops of ice cream from 5:00-8:00pm on November 4th at participating scoop shops.

No word on whether the Ben & Jerry's on M st. will be participating or not.

Juice, the Whole Juice and Nothing but the Juice

The Washington Post reports on Juicy Campus CEO Matt Ivester's visit to campus the other evening:

"The Georgetown University students had some questions for gossip Web site founder Matt Ivester. Such as, why can't you prevent people's reputations from being smeared on your site? Why don't you take down the racist comments? Do you know some students are so distraught about the things said about them that they might drop out of school?

And, how do you sleep at night?

It was the first time that Ivester had taken questions from students anywhere about JuicyCampus.com, the fast-growing gossip Web site he created that is igniting controversies on campuses across the country. It encourages people to post gossip anonymously. And so they do, naming names and spreading detailed rumors about sex, drugs, college life and sex. Well, mostly about sex.

Ivester told the students that a Google search would not dig up JuicyCampus posts; the site is coded to block search engines, he said.

But with many Georgetown students considering jobs in the U.S. Foreign Service or another government post for which they would undergo intensive background checks, the moderator said, couldn't this, in fact, jeopardize some people's chances?

"I think they're going to have to start developing a sense of humor," said Ivester, who is JuicyCampus's chief executive. "It's not going to work if they start taking unsubstantiated, ridiculous gossip as the truth."

Be Careful How You Act if You Refuse to be Searched in Metro

The dcist reports on metro's new bag searches:

"The most ominous portion of yesterday's live washingtonpost.com chat with Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn:

Washington, D.C.: I am opposed to these searches and plan on refusing any Metro officer's request to go through my bags. Because I'll be allowed to refuse search and turn around without being detained, I will simply enter the Metro through another escalator or elevator. How do you plan on addressing this loophole?

Michael Taborn: You may choose not to be searched and leave the station with your bags or other items. We do have a plan to address suspicious behavior.

So it's a consent-based search, but if you refuse to be searched, leave, and then try to get on your way to your destination by another entrance, that's suspicious behavior? We almost can't wait for these searches to begin so we can find out."

Panel Predicts Election Winner, But Race Not Over

Blue & Gray reports:

"More than a week before Election Day a group of journalists joined CNN anchor and host Wolf Blitzer at the Georgetown University Law Center on Oct. 22 to share thoughts on the 2008 presidential election. And whether liberal or conservative, those daring to make outright predictions at the start of the evening believed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would most likely be living in the White House come January.

“The mathematics of this look as if it’s almost impossible for this race to go the other way, in the absence of an act of God,” Pulitzer-Prize-winning conservative columnist for The Washington Post Charles Krauthammer said when asked by Blitzer if he thought the race was over. “It looks as if at least this year, God is a Democrat.”

How Long Will We Keep Paying the Taxicab Gas Surcharge?

The dcist reports:

"FOX 5's Matt Ackland had the smart idea to ask D.C. Taxicab Commission Chairman Leon Swain whether falling gas prices will mean an end to the $1 gas surcharge we've all been paying for such a long time now.

Swain told FOX 5 that he still wants to wait and see what happens to gas prices, but that he could theoretically reconvene the Taxicab Commission to vote to remove the gas surcharge as early as next week. A couple of cab drivers interviewed for the story predictably argued that they still need the gas surcharge.

When the $1 gas surcharge we're paying right now first began in late 2007 (there was a previous incarnation in 2005), average gas prices were around $3.13 per gallon. Average prices in the city today stand at $2.68, down significantly from prices over the summer that were well over $4. Barring a major refinery disaster, prices are expected to continue to drop over the next month."

[VIDEO] Synchronized Presidential Debating

23/6 Video asks the following:

"Did watching the 2nd and 3rd debates give you a feeling of déjà vu? This montage of synced-up footage from all three presidential debates confirms our deep-seated belief that every debate was exactly the same."

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Word of the Week: Vinolent

Vinolent

a. Given to wine; drunken; intemperate.

[L. vinolentus, fr. vinum wine.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, In

If you went to the 7 p.m. Saturday showing of "Body of Lies" you had famous (infamous?) company

From the Washington Post:

"Maybe freshly convicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) should have gone to see a different movie Saturday night. The one he chose turned out to be a bad omen.

Less than 48 hours before he was convicted of lying on his financial disclosure forms about gifts, Stevens went to see -- of all the films out there -- "Body of Lies," the movie based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius's spy novel.

A tipster spotted Stevens out at the 7 p.m. Saturday showing of "Body of Lies" at the AMC Loews in Georgetown. The 84-year-old senator got there on the early side and saved the seat next to him for a woman who appeared to be one of his daughters while she fetched goodies from the concession stand.

Stevens was convicted on all seven counts of concealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts he received from an oil company executive. He now faces prison time as well as reelection defeat."

Studios Are Pushing Box Office Winners as Oscar Contenders

Of all these "pop" films it would seem The Dark Knight (co-written by Georgetown's own Jonathan Nolan, COL '99) has the best chance. Wall-E? Really? The New York Times reports:

"LOS ANGELES — Walt Disney is in. This week the studio will break new ground by starting a campaign that boldly offers its “Wall-E” as a contender for the best picture Oscar, an honor never yet won by an animated film.

Paramount is expected to mount an awards push for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” starring Brad Pitt (in wheelchair).

Warner Brothers is in, too. That studio recently telegraphed plans for a multifront Oscar campaign for its Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight” by sending awards voters a query about their preferred format for promotional DVDs.

Not to be outdone, Paramount may join the party. Along with Marvel Enterprises, it is weighing an Oscar push for “Iron Man” and its lead actor, Robert Downey Jr., even while promoting Mr. Downey as best supporting actor for his role in the DreamWorks comedy hit “Tropic Thunder.”

Welcome to the pop Oscars."

Metro to distribute free hand sanitizer to help fight flu

From the WMATA:

"Metro officials, alongside local public health department volunteers, will be distributing free bottles of waterless hand sanitizer to Metrorail and Metrobus riders this week to raise awareness of easy ways to reduce the chances of passing germs as the fall flu season begins. Health officials say an average of 5 to 20 percent of the population in the United States gets the seasonal flu every year.

Health information and the free handouts are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on the following days and locations:
· Tuesday, October 28, at Eastern Market and Farragut North Metrorail stations
· Wednesday, October 29, at Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road Metrorail stations
· Thursday, October 30, at Forest Glen and New Carrollton Metrorail stations."

Comic Tuesday: Storytime

NB: Click on the comic to enlarge it.

Comic by Chris Harding.

The Tuesday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• Students from Swing States Favor Obama, UWire Study Reports
  
• Openings in Job Market Decline
  
• Elizabeth Edwards Rallies for Improved Healthcare
  
• Editorial: Student Services Should Match Student Hours
  
• Editorial: Know Your Rights: Keep the Police from Crashing Your Party
  

PE Jr. Released

The Sports Network is reporting:

"The New York Knicks announced Monday that they have waived forward Patrick Ewing, Jr.

The 24-year-old Ewing was originally drafted by Sacramento in the 2008 NBA Draft as the 43rd overall selection. He was then traded to Houston on August 14 as part of a multi-player deal. The Rockets dealt Ewing to the Knicks for the draft rights to center Frederic Weis.

Ewing is the eldest child of Knicks legend, Patrick Ewing, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year. Ewing played for New York from 1985 through 2000 and is the franchise's all-time leader in virtually every category, including points (23,665), rebounds (10,759), blocked shots (2,758) and games played (1,039)."

Metro Transit Police to begin bag inspection program

From the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority:

"The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) will begin a bag inspection program and look into passengers’ bags prior to them entering the Metro system in an ongoing effort to protect Metro riders, employees and facilities. Officers will be inspecting bags for explosive devices."

You know you live in DC when...

Light shone down from above...and it hurt!

This was just too crazy not to link to. Vox Populi is reporting that a light fell on a student's head during Charles King's Comparative Political Systems lecture.

Not sure how Mr. Sommer found out about this only 20 minutes after it happened, but nice reporting.

GW Loses its only number 1 ranking

Everybody at Georgetown knows all about the George Washington jokes and the friendly but heavily Georgetown-favored competition with the Colonials. And in the spirit of good fun, as one poster at the dcist.com commented, GW has lost its only number one ranking.

What category are we talking about? George Washington University is no longer the most expensive college in the country. GW's tuition is a whopping $50,312 (unfortunately not that much more expensive than ours), but Sarah Lawrence College, a small, writing based liberal arts school in New York, takes the cake at $53,166. Maybe it's so expensive because they don't accept SAT scores!

Georgetown ranks 4th.

Netflix finally brings 'Watch Instantly' to Macs via Silverlight

Engadget reports:

"In a move that seemed like it would never, ever, ever happen, Netflix has finally managed to bring its streaming video technology (and decent library) to Macs everywhere, thanks to Microsoft's Flash-esque also-ran, Silverlight. It seems that the software will allow the rental house to safely DRM its content where ever it goes via Redmond's Play Ready, thus leaping the hurdle that has kept some 12,000 movies and TV shows off of non-PC systems. Netflix claims that the new implementaiton in Sliverlight provides "breakthrough navigation for fast-forward and rewind," though fails to indicate exactly when this is all being rolled out (we assume immediately)."

We hope Jack represents

From the DC Inside Out blog:

"Come one, come all dogs and humans to the Dogtoberfest/ Halloween party for dogs and their human partners Tuesday October 28 6:00 to 8:00 at Nick's Riverside Grille, 3050 K St, NW (Georgetown waterfront). This event is hosted by Jane and her Dog Shop on Wisconsin Ave to benefit the K-9 Lifesavers Dog Rescue. There will be a raffle and dog costume, with judging and prizes at 7:15 p.m."

Marine corps Marathon to close several Georgetown streets today

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Marine Corps Marathon will run through Washington on Sunday, closing some major streets.

Authorities will shut down Key Bridge and several streets in Georgetown, including stretches of Canal Road, Reservoir Road, M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Roads elsewhere in the city also will close, such as Memorial Bridge, Independence Avenue and Constitution Avenue. [link]

Late-Night Power Outage in West Georgetown

At right around midnight, many off-campus Georgetown students reported a power outage. The brief blackout lasted for about 10 minutes. Apparently, students were yelling "let's loot!" (possibly in drunken excitement?), but the lights weren't out long enough for any action to take place.

I hope no one is afraid of the dark...

Like father like son: Patrick Ewing Jr. might make New York Knicks

Hoopsvibe reports:

"Once upon a time, New York cheered the dad. Last night, New York cheered the son. In a pure throwback moment, a nostalgic Madison Square Garden celebrated Patrick Ewing Jr. getting minutes against New Jersey by chanting ‘Pat-rick Ewing’.

The chant was partially a salute to his father, a famous post with the Knicks during the nineties. But it was also a salute to the offspring, who energized the crowd with two dunks and a three-pointer in limited minutes."

Survey: college students struggling for loans

Businessweek reports:

"The credit crunch has officially arrived on campus.

In a new survey, private colleges report their students are finding it significantly harder to secure the private loans they need to pay tuition bills. More alarmingly, nearly half of colleges say some students have been forced to take time off or go part-time as a result.

The survey, released Tuesday by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, confirms anecdotal evidence that the federal financial aid system has held up reasonably well during the financial meltdown.

But it paints a more troubling picture for students who need private loans to supplement their federal ones.

"We had not expected to find incidences of students already stopping and dropping out," said Sarah Flanagan, vice president for government relations at NAICU. "There are certainly a concerning number of students who have had to change their educational plans because of a lack of credit."

Three-quarters of the 504 schools surveyed reported more requests for institutional aid this year, and despite the largest cohort of 18-year-olds since the Baby Boom, one in five colleges reported a smaller incoming class than expected."

Half of Doctors Routinely Prescribe Placebos

The New York Times reports:

"Half of all American doctors responding to a nationwide survey say they regularly prescribe placebos to patients. The results trouble medical ethicists, who say more research is needed to determine whether doctors must deceive patients in order for placebos to work.

The study involved 679 internists and rheumatologists chosen randomly from a national list of such doctors. In response to three questions included as part of the larger survey, about half reported recommending placebos regularly. Surveys in Denmark, Israel, Britain, Sweden and New Zealand have found similar results.

The most common placebos the American doctors reported using were headache pills and vitamins, but a significant number also reported prescribing antibiotics and sedatives. Although these drugs, contrary to the usual definition of placebos, are not inert, doctors reported using them for their effect on patients’ psyches, not their bodies."

Georgetown to get (access) to Supercomputers

The Washington Business Journal reports:

"Georgetown University Medical Center and Oak Ridge National Laboratories have signed a research agreement to help researchers better understand large quantities of collected information and data.

The Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based lab, the federal government’s largest science and energy laboratory, will offer up its supercomputing capabilities to Georgetown University.
Oak Ridge National Laboratories “brings to the table the tools that will allow us to analyze, manage, and visualize the complex molecular data that is collected at Georgetown,” said Howard Federoff, executive vice president for health sciences at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Collecting and analyzing that molecular and clinical data can lead to a better understanding of how to target and treat diseases such as cancer, he said."

The Friday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• Graduate Student Commits Suicide in Apartment
  
• Fire Destroys Local Restaurant; None Injured
  
• Blitzer Leads Election Forum
  
• Editorial: On Election Day, Voting and Volunteering Beat Going to Class
  
• Editorial: Parents' Weekend Shouldn't Conflict With Midnight Madness
  

EVENT: Showing of "Tropic Thunder"

• What: Tropic Thunder
• Where: ICC Auditorium
• When: October 24, 25 & 26 @ 7:30PM and 10:00PM
• Cost: Free
  

McCain Vs. Obama Dance-Off

New Blog: "Georgetown's Vanity Fair"

A new blog has recently entitled George the Third, which claims to be Georgetown's version of Vanity Fair. Recent post have criticized two aspects of Jane Hoya style: wearing tights as pants and rocking the Longchamps purses. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Georgetown Picked Seventh in Big East: Connecticut Is the Preseason Favorite

The Washington Post reports:

"NEW YORK, Oct. 22 -- On the heels of back-to-back regular season Big East championships and a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the Georgetown Hoyas were picked Wednesday to finish a humble seventh in the annual preseason coaches' poll.

Georgetown's veterans on hand, senior guard Jessie Sapp and junior forward DaJuan Summers, took the prediction in stride, as did Coach John Thompson III.

"Whoever is ranked 1, 2, 3 -- if they end up 7, 8 and 9, I don't think that would surprise anyone at all," Thompson said. "Nor would it surprise anyone if the teams ranked 7, 8 and 9 end up 1, 2, 3. The beauty of it is, it's a meritocracy. And we're gonna go out and play for it."

Reminder: Tomorrow is last day to purchase basketball season tickets

To order student season tickets:
• Visit the McDonough Arena Box Office, Today or Friday, 1:00-5:30 p.m.
• Stop by a Hoya Blue table today outside Leo’s from 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Student season tickets are $125 (cash or check only) and include admission to all home men’s and women’s basketball games. The package also includes this year’s official “We Are Georgetown” student section t-shirt.

The Lecture Fund Presents: JuicyCampus.com Creator Matt Ivester

According to this facebook event, the man behind the website everyone loves to hate will come to campus to discuss his website and answer your questions.

• What: JuicyCampus CEO Matt Ivester will discuss the origins, challenges, and controversies surrounding his website.
• Where: ICC Auditorium
• When: October 28, 2008, 8:30pm - 9:30pm

We did WHAT WHAT WHAT?

Boston.com reports:

"Ever feel like that alumni fund-raising letter you received was just full of "blah, blah, blah?"

It actually was for 6,000 graduates of Framingham State College. But the irreverent mailing rubbed some people the wrong way, and now college officials have apologized.

The letters sent on Sept. 5 mixed the usual earnest pitch for donations with long sections of "blahs."

"Today, the fact of the matter is that deserving students need help to finance their education. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah," one section said.

The 312-word letter used the word "blah" 137 times.

After the letter drew flak, college officials wrote again on Oct. 3 to apologize.

"Our decision to send you a letter containing the words 'blah, blah' was a misguided and embarrassing attempt to connect with alumni in a different way," Christopher Hendry, vice president of college advancement, said in the apology. "A few of you thought the letter amusing; others were offended, and for that I sincerely apologize. The last thing we want to be is disrespectful to you as a valued member of the Framingham State College alumni community."

"I hope you will forgive our error and continue to be proud of Framingham State College," the letter said.

Hendry said he was responsible for the original letter, which was part of a routine mailing under the name of the alumni association president. Hendry said the letter went to graduates from the past decade who had not donated any money. Other institutions, including Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., have tried similar approaches, he said."

The Purell Defense: Can hand sanitizers really affect your blood-alcohol level?

In light of the norovirus hysteria and the new hand-sanitizing "checkpoints" around campus, we bring you this from Slate.

"Rep. Vito Fossella of New York was convicted in a Virginia court on Friday on charges of drunken driving. A second hearing will be held to determine whether Fossella's blood-alcohol content at the time of his arrest was above 0.15, which would require a five-day jail term. A defense expert claimed that Fossella had used Purell several times on the day he was arrested and that the ethanol in the hand sanitizer affected his blood-alcohol reading later that night. Can hand sanitizer applied to the skin really affect a breath alcohol test?"

Find out the answer here.

Since y'all love gmail. "40 brilliant Gmail hints, hacks and secrets"

"Brilliant" is a bit of a stretch, but "useful" for sure. Highlights include:

• 20. You can exclude words from your search in the exact same way you exclude words from all Google searches, using the - symbol. For example to search for apples but not oranges, enter apples -oranges as your search query.
• 32. Gspace at turns any Gmail account into 3GB or more of free online storage.
• 37. Gmail ignores periods in email addresses too. So, if you signed up as bob.spod@Gmail.com - you can send mail to bobspod@Gmail.com or even b.o.b.s.p.o.d.g.o.d@Gmail.com and it will still go to the same address.

From Techradar.

Comic Wednesday? Oops

By Steve Kelley, Times-Picayune
From the Cartoonist Group.

Word of the Week: Welkin

welkin |ˈwelkin|
noun poetic/literary
the sky.
• heaven.

PHRASES
make the welkin ring make a very loud sound : the crew made the welkin ring with its hurrahs.
ORIGIN Old English wolcen [cloud, sky] ; related to Dutch wolk and German Wolke.

Experts Predict Big US Turnout of Young Voters

VOA News reports:

"Political experts are predicting a record turnout of young voters in the November 4th U.S. presidential election. Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican John McCain have made major efforts to reach the more than forty million Americans between the ages of eighteen and thirty. Only about 20 million voted in 2004, when the youth vote was largely ignored. VOA's Ravi Khanna spoke to officials of both parties and to students about the get-out-the-vote drive.

As the race for the White House enters its final phase, experts say the campaigns have fired up the younger generation.

More than 40 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible to vote. Republican John McCain and Democrat Barrack Obama are trying to win those voters. And the young are responding with fervor.

At Georgetown University, student Jason Starr says young people are frustrated and want to change things, "Not just change the policy, but change the system by which the policy is made. I think that is very powerful for young people," Starr said."

The World's Largest Flip Cup Tournament

Sports Illustrated reports:

"In a Manhattan bar jam-packed with hundreds of gyrating, shouting and singing 20-somethings, Oren Shapiro stood perfectly still. Perched on the edge of a stage in the front of the cavernous space, he stared down at 12 men and women in particular, scouting his competition.

It was the second semifinal match of an event dubbed "The World's Largest Flip Cup Tournament," and Shapiro's team would face the winner for the championship. Knotted at three-games apiece in the best-of-seven match, the two six-person teams stood on opposite sides of a long rectangular table, red plastic cups of beer in front of them. They were more rowdy than nervous.

Spawned on college campuses and perfected in fraternity houses, flip cup is a drinking game testing dexterity, timing and, especially in later rounds, endurance. One at a time, each player drinks the contents of his cup, places the cup on the table's edge, and flips it so it lands upside down. The first team to finish wins."

The Tuesday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• Obama, McCain Advisers Hit GU in Election Crunch
  
• SFS-Q Boasts Increasingly Global Student Body
  
• GWU Medical School Placed on Probation
  
• Editorial: Wi-Fi Should Encompass University Apartments
  
• Editorial: Dems Need Full SAC Support
  

Leo's worker involved in house fire

Last year, Leo's employee Altagracia's home was tragically burnt to the ground. Unfortunately this year the same thing has just happened to Leo's worker Leslie Tang. An email from Georgetown Solidarity says:

"She was cooking rice in her kitchen, left the room to do laundry, and the electrical unit in her stove exploded and her house went up in flames. Her husband was severely burned in the fire. She lost everything: food, cooking utensils, clothes, everything, she told me. Anything that wasn't burned, for example her sewing machines she needs for her job as a seamstress, was looted by burglars a few days later. She has two teenage children, and her daughter has special needs. Her husband had a stroke last year and has been unable to work since, therefore she is the only income earner. Leslie is burning the candle at both ends. She has four jobs right now - working Leo's night shift until 1:30am (cleaning afterwards for extra money), delivering newspapers in the early morning, school bus driving during the day, and she also works as a seemstress in whatever hours she has - she gets an average of two hours of sleep a night. Leslie told me she is scared she will not be able to feed h er kids - her savings account is being depleted, as she has to pay incredibly high medical bills for her husband' blood pressure medicine from his stroke and has to pay $50 daily as she takes him to the hospital to dress his burn wounds. Her family and she have been sleeping in different hotels every few nights for the past three weeks, which she has had to pay for out of her pocket.
Please join us in pulling together as a supportive community - every little bit of support makes a huge difference!
How can you help?

Georgetown Solidarity has a PayPal account - Named "Georgetown Solidarity Committee" - through which we will be gathering funds. Contribute via PayPal at www.georgetownsolidarity.org, find icon by clicking on article entitled "Leo's worker in need of immediate help.""

Fire at Ristorante Piccolo

NBC4 reports:

"WASHINGTON -- Commuters who travel into or out of the city by way of Georgetown will want to leave early on Monday morning.Part of the area has been closed to traffic after a two-alarm fire broke out at at the Ristorante Piccolo restaurant just before 5:30 a.m. Monday in the 1000 block of 31st Street. Firefighters arrived at the scene and found fire coming from the basement of the building. No one was injured.The cause of the fire is still being investigated.The following streets are closed to traffic: 31st Street at N Street, Wisconsin Avenue at L Street, M Street between 30th and 31st streets in Northwest."

Where are these houses?

The Canton Daily Ledger reports:

"Washington, D.C., may be one of the most haunted places in the United States. Stories of specters, both famous and unknown, are common, particularly in the Georgetown area.

At one of these houses near Georgetown University, residents hurried to the bedroom of a man who had screamed that someone was there with him. Investigation revealed an old, decayed Civil War era medal that had not been there when the man went to bed. In another Georgetown residence, a young woman was home sick in bed when she noticed a small woman coming up the stairs. She walked up to the girl, patted her feet, spoke what seemed to be comforting words in a language resembling German, then walked across the room and disappeared near the window.

Moments later the phone rang. The caller was trying to locate the girl's mother about an aunt who had just died. The aunt's physical appearance matched the description of the woman the girl had just seen."

Metro considers expanding express routes

The dcexaminer reports:

"Metro planners have created a tentative schedule for creating six new express bus routes over the next three years, part of a long-term proposal to dramatically increase the number of such routes in the region.

A new limited-stop service on the S Line, which runs down 16th Street NW, would be running by the end of next year, according to the schedule.

The S1, S2 and S4 lines together average 16,000 passengers per weekday, making the route the third most popular in the system.
In 2010, limited-stop service would be available on the Q2 Line, which runs along Veirs Mill Road in Montgomery County, and on the 28 Line along Leesburg Pike in Northern Virginia."

In Case You Missed it: Governor Sarah Palin does SNL

The Largest and Most Comprehensive College Dating and Sex Survey

MarketWatch reports:

"OkCupid.com polled 10,000 college students from across the country to discover their attitudes and behavior on topics ranging from infidelity and promiscuity to pregnancy tests and abortion -
This survey, taken by 10,000 college students just released by OkCupid.com, takes a revealing look at what students are up to when not hitting the books and most likely are not telling their parents.

Among the Findings:

• "Redheads are having the most fun in college and are the most sexually adventurous of all the hair types"
• "Students with tattoos are two times more likely to have a STD"
• "Vegans enjoy oral sex more than carnivores"

Better beer: college team creating anticancer brew

Science blog reports:

"College students often spend their free time thinking about beer, but a group of Rice University students are taking it to the next level. They're using genetic engineering to create beer that contains resveratrol, a chemical in wine that's been shown to reduce cancer and heart disease in lab animals.

Rice's "BioBeer" will be entered in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition Nov. 8-9 in Cambridge, Mass. It's the world's largest synthetic biology competition, a contest where teams use a standard toolkit of DNA building blocks -- think genetic LEGO blocks -- to create living organisms that do odd things.

So why would someone want to make beer with resveratrol in the first place? It's a naturally occurring compound that some studies have found to have anti-inflammatory, anticancer and cardiovascular benefits for mice and other animals. While it's still unclear if humans enjoy the same benefits, resveratrol is already sold as a health supplement, and some believe it could play a role in the "French paradox," the seemingly contradictory observation that the French suffer from relatively low rates of heart disease despite having a diet that's rich in saturated fats."

Top 10 worst college mascots

Don't worry, we're not on the list. Syracuse, however, comes in at a respectable third, behind Tulsa & Stanford. From FoxSports:

"Syracuse: Otto the Orange

When your athletics department's web site describes Otto as "beloved especially by the under-six crowd," there's a street-cred issue here -- Barney the purple dinosaur is beloved too, but no one wants him as a team mascot. Thank goodness the school had the good sense to pick "Otto" over the other choice, "Opie."

On Midnight Madness

The Washington Post reports:

"While no meaningful work gets accomplished at Midnight Madness, and the teams can hit the court as early as 7 p.m., Georgetown guard Jessie Sapp sees a purpose amid all the frivolity.

"It gets the jitters out," said Sapp, the lone senior in the Hoyas' starting five. "And it's fun. Georgetown is our family; the community is our family. So to be able to have the party with your family before the season starts, it's a good thing. And it helps the freshmen, too, to get ready for the big games where the environment is going to be crazy."

But at George Washington, officials scrapped Midnight Madness in 2006 and have since held a spirit rally later in the season. In the view of Athletic Director Jack Kvancz, that gives players a chance to use time designated for practice to work on honing their skills. Then, a bit later, the campus hosts a "Colonial Invasion" rally that's tacked on at the end of a practice.

Georgetown stages its Midnight Madness at McDonough Arena, which holds less than 3,000, to cultivate spirit on campus even though it could likely draw much more to Verizon Center."

[VIDEO] Georgetown Freshman Education Series: I Know How to Eat!

The Georgetown Heckler recently published this video. Look for a big cameo at the 2/3rd-ish mark.

Gay victim recalls attack in Georgetown

The Washington Blade reports:

"The night David went out clubbing two weeks ago was supposed to be a celebration.

But the 28-year-old gay man who was attacked along the canal in Georgetown Oct. 3 — hours after learning his cancer research paper would be published — had his celebration cut short.

David, a Georgetown University medical student who spoke to the Blade on condition that his full name not be published, said he and a friend left a nightclub sometime around 2 a.m. to find a place to talk.

“So we wound up leaving and looking for somewhere quiet, to just kind of go and talk and hang out,” he said. “And so we went to Georgetown, which is where I live.”

The pair walked along M Street, David said, and then down 34th Street to the canal, where they found a place to sit down.

“And there were two people that were a couple hundred feet away and down a flight of stairs that were also hanging out,” he said. “And I could see that they were drinking out of a bottle of Grey Goose vodka, and, you know, I saw that they were smoking something. I don’t know if it was marijuana, but they were smoking something out of a bowl.”

Neither he nor his friend initially felt threatened by the two men, David said. But shortly after David and his friend sat down, the other two men began walking toward them, then stopped to ask for cigarettes. David, who doesn’t smoke, told them that he didn’t have any.

“And the one guy turned to the other guy and was like, ‘I think they’re gay,’” he said. “The one guy was like, ‘You guys are gay, aren’t you?’”

David replied, “Yeah.”

Looking back, David said he’s not sure why either man would have assumed he and his friend were gay.

“I had a pretty tight T-shirt on,” he said. “And the friend that I was with, he’s a cute guy. But we weren’t … even holding hands. We were sitting a few feet apart, looking in the water.”

David said he has wondered how things might have gone differently if he had denied being gay."

EVENT: Midnight Madness is TONIGHT

From Hoya Blue:

Schedule of events:
-6:30pm-wristbands handed out
-8:30pm-The Madness Begins!!!! (doors to McDonough will open)

Events:
-FREE Gugs for first 300 people!
-FREE T-shirts!
-Wii/DDR/Rock Band competitions!
-ESPN make the call booth....
-And tons of other activities!!Make sure your there to experience the MADNESS!!!

The Friday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• Suspect Detained for Attempted Bike Theft
  
• Leo's Stops Offering Organic To Go
  
• Corp's Net Income Plunges 53 Percent
  
• Editorial: Gmail: Better Late Than Never
  
• Leo's Debate Epitomizes Why Students Love GU
  

EVENT: GPB presents Hancock

• What: showing of "Hancock"
• Where: ICC Auditorium
• When: 7:30PM and 10:00PM, Oct. 17-19
• Cost: Free
  

Brought to you by the Georgetown Program Board.

Georgetown Businesses Get Alerts About Violent Crimes (and you can too?)

NBC reports:

"Georgetown businesses have a new tool to stay informed of crime in the neighborhood.D.C. police launched a community crime alert program in Georgetown Wednesday.Through the program, businesses will get text messages to alert them about crimes in the area. Initially, the alerts will only be sent about violent crimes. They may be expanded to include other crimes."

We looked up the registration website, which can be accessed here. It would appear that private citizens can register for this service as well.

Wright steps in

The Washington Times reports:

"Georgetown hopes it has the Wright answer at the point for departed mainstay Jonathan Wallace.

When the Hoyas open their season Nov. 17 against Jacksonville, coach John Thompson III will look out on the floor and see an unfamiliar sight. For the first time in his tenure, Thompson's team will take the floor without the player he described as his "security blanket."

"Oh, my God. That's going to be tough," said senior guard Jessie Sapp, who spent the better part of the last three seasons opposite Wallace in the Georgetown backcourt. "Those are going to be hard shoes to fill. But Chris [Wright], that's my guy. ... We just kind of click on the court. I know he's up to the challenge."

The Independent launches a blog!

The Independent is proud to announce its new blog, The Daily Monthly.

From our description:

Thus, with our entry into Georgetown’s blogging fray, we aim to satisfy three of your basic internet desires. First, we want to update the stories you see in our print edition, so that our stories stay fresh all month. You’ll be the first to know when the feud between Hanson and the Jonas Brothers, documented in our last print issue, culminates in a furious and adorable scuffle. Second, we want to provide you with original content that will keep you coming back for more. From advice columns to reviews of movie trailers to our own devastatingly-funny Photoshop creations, a healthy smattering of random hilarity will also be par for the course. Third, we’ll cover some cool stuff that’s going on around campus and in the world. Business news? Pop culture commentary? Linguistic analysis of modern discourse? Check all around.

Several days' worth of content is already up, so check us out!

Washington to get taller buildings?

I had always heard DC's zoning laws mandating low building profiles were designed to protect the visibility of the Washington Monument. That's the stuff of urban legends, according to an AP article that looks at the specter of rising skylines in DC. From the AP:

"Contrary to popular lore, the city's low-lying skyline has nothing to do with preserving the prominence of the Washington Monument's 555-foot stone obelisk.

In fact, Congress — which has oversight over the capital — passed the Height Act of 1910 in response to residents' outrage over the 14-story Cairo apartment building erected in 1894 near Dupont Circle, towering over nearby rowhouses. Besides concerns about aesthetics, there also was a desire to prevent buildings from becoming too tall for fire engine ladders.

The law limits building heights to the width of the adjacent street plus 20 feet. There have been several exceptions to allow for construction of the National Cathedral and Georgetown University Hospital. Otherwise, the Height Act has capped most buildings at 130 feet, though heights of 160 feet are permitted on certain areas of Pennsylvania Avenue."

Bye Bye GU Mail. Finally.

Apparently, Georgetown will migrate its university email service to gmail in the Spring. Vox Populi reports:

"Georgetown’s email service is moving to from University servers to Google Apps for Education, which means a couple things for you. It’s all spelled out in an email going to out to students later this week (after the jump), but here’s what we’ll get:

• 3 gigabytes of storage.
• Access to other Google services like Reader and Docs. The idea of easier Doc collaborating alone makes this a great switch.
• Email address after graduation, although ads will start then.
• No more drunken emailing.
• Entry into the Google privacy-gobbling machine. Google’s only offering this for free because it will use harvest your data for targeted ad placement, although the service itself won’t have ads. If you don’t want that, you can get a non-Gmail email account.

What won’t change is your email address–it’ll still be netid@georgetown.edu. GW didn’t stick with their old addresses after switching to Gmail and it was a mess."

Does drinking alcohol shrink your brain?

CNN reports:

"People who drink alcohol -- even the moderate amounts that help prevent heart disease -- have a smaller brain volume than those who do not, according to a study in the Archives of Neurology.

While a certain amount of brain shrinkage is normal with age, greater amounts in some parts of the brain have been linked to dementia.

"Decline in brain volume -- estimated at 2 percent per decade -- is a natural part of aging," says Carol Ann Paul, who conducted the study when she was at the Boston University School of Public Health. She had hoped to find that alcohol might protect against such brain shrinkage.

"However, we did not find the protective effect," says Paul, who is now an instructor in the neuroscience program at Wellesley College. "In fact, any level of alcohol consumption resulted in a decline in brain volume."

Word of the Week: Cataglottism

Cataglottism /kætəˈɡlɒtɪz(ə)m/

n. Kissing using the tongue, French kissing.

One in 10 iPod users risks going deaf, experts warn

Sure, the study was done in England, but the science is sound. I can't imagine we Americans are much different in this regard. The Daily Mail reports:

"Up to 10 per cent of iPod and other MP3 users across Europe are risking deafness if they listen for more than an hour a day for at least five years. That means about 10million could end up sacrificing their hearing simply because they can't stop listening to music.

The warning comes from the EU's scientific committee on emerging health risks. It carried out a study into the soaring numbers routinely exposed to high noise volumes through personal music players. An EU safety standard already exists restricting the noise level of such players to 100 decibels.

But the scientists warn that the danger level is much lower than this. They say music pumped into the ears above 89 decibels for long periods of time is actually louder than currently allowed in factories."

Comic Tuesday: Welcome to College

From toothpastefordinner.com

2008 Georgetown NCAA Basketball Predictions & Season Preview

Betfirms.com reports:

"Georgetown basketball is back. In four years John Thompson III has gone 100-36 with the Hoyas and is coming off the first back-to-back regular season conference titles in school history. Sure he won’t have Jonathan Wallce, Roy Hibbert, or Patrick Ewing, Jr. this year, but he has built this program past the point of relying too heavily on any one player. This year’s team will definitely have a different look and feel to it, and they might not quite have enough talent to challenge the top tier Big East programs, but this team will be better than most in the conference and be right in the thick of things come March. The college basketball lines makers seem to agree with us as BetUS has Georgetown listed as a 8-to-1 favorite to win the conference title."

College Anonymous Confession Board (ACB)

College ACB is claiming to offer Georgetown an alternative to the cesspool that is Juicy Campus. They write:

"CollegeACB or College Anonymous Confession Board seeks to give students a place to vent, rant, and talk to college peers in an environment free from social constrains and about subjects that might otherwise be taboo. Topics vary from sex and sexuality, to politics, to classes and campus life. There is of course controversy over these discussions devolving into people talking trash about each other, like on JuictyCampus. JuicyCampus calls itself a "gossip site," and actually encourages students to libel other students, while CollegeACB encourages actual discussion. Sexuality, for example, is a topic that can be easier to talk about under anonymity, and does not have turn into a discussion about which specific people in a highly negative way. By simply adding a report button, a very small amount of moderation, and setting a few loose rules about libel, CollegeACB has been able to avoid the large number of libelous posts seen on a “gossip” style website. Login is not required to post, however you have the option of logging in to use some of the additional features of the site, such as private messaging, identity swapping, and marking your favorite threads to find them later."

Check out the Georgetown's College ACB page here.

JamGlue

Just wanted to call your attention to a pretty sweet music downloading site: JamGlue. Register for free (all you need is an email address) and you can download pretty much any song for free directly from the website - you don't have to install any software on your computer.

The site is a little heavy on ads but still an awesome resource.

Enjoy your day off

We'll be back tomorrow. 

A new way to pay for college

University of Missouri-Columbia student Michael Linneman has recently posted a sale on Ebay to help him pay for college. He is auctioning off the ability to kick him in the nuts as hard as you want for $150,000 (using the Buy it Now feature). The description reads:

"This auction is your opportunity to kick me in my nuts as hard as you can so that I can pay for my college. I go to the University of Missouri - Columbia, double major in Business and Economics and have a 3.88 GPA. I will come and meet you anywhere in the United States, and you can kick me in the nuts as hard as you want with your leg and video tape it. If you would like any additional information send me a message through e-bay. Happy Bidding!...and remember this is for a good cause.

Sincerely,
Michael D Linneman"

It's appropriately tagged under the "Totally Bizzare" category. Any takers?

The Corp produces record revenue for FY08

The Corp has published its annual report for FY 08. From the report:

"During FY08, the Corp’s operational successes comfortably outweighed losses on investments due to rough market conditions, producing a record $4,167,967 in revenue and a solid $64,757 in profit.

We are especially proud to announce that the Corp gave out $44,724 (yet another record) to students and student organizations in the form of scholarships, grant, and donations – that’s nearly 70% of the Corp’s annual profit given back directly to students. "

Ban on sale of single beers to cover Georgetown

The dcist reports:

"On Tuesday, the D.C. Council approved legislation that bans the sale of single beers in Ward 6, Ward 2 and part of Ward 1. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), who sponsored the measure, had this to say in a statement:

“Over the last year, I heard increasingly from neighborhood leaders and our elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners that they wanted Ward 6 added to the growing list of wards prohibiting the sale of singles,” commented Mr. Wells. Wards 4, 7 and 8 have previously enacted similar bans on single sales. The legislation passed on Tuesday adds Ward 6, Ward 2 and parts of Ward 1.

“More often than not, single sales of alcohol are bought so they can be consumed as soon as you walk out the door – turning alleys and backyards into public restrooms and leaving empty bottles strewn through our neighborhoods,” stated Wells"

NB: Ward 2 includes Georgetown & Burleith

Alleged Assault at Tattoo Parlor on M St.

The Washington Post reports that this past Thursday former D.C. Councilman Harold Brazil was arrested on assault charges stemming from an alleged incident at Jinx Proof Tattoo at 3285 M St. NW. From the article:

"We are just a tattoo shop," said owner Tim Corun, who would not comment on last night's incident when Brazil allegedly got into a fight with shop employees. Things got nasty allegedly after Brazil was told he could not follow one of the two women he was with into the area where she was going to get a tattoo."

In poor taste

The Daily Pennsylvanian reports on today's upcoming football game against the UPenn Quakers. We think their article title, "Hoyas' best hope: More norovirus" is in poor taste. From the article:

"If the Quakers weren't far and away the better team, they might just be worried.

But, in truth, the Hoyas (1-3, 0-1 Patriot) are not yet the kind of opponent that coaches circle on their calendar and think words like "Big Game" or "Tough Win." They have been outscored by 82 points in their three losses, and it is not hard to see why: They are too young to be very good."

Homecoming Weekend Senior Events

From the Senior Class Committee:

SATURDAY, October 11

Homecoming Tailgate Party
11am-2pm, McDonough Parking Lot
$10 for students and guests, $15 for alumni and guests, $20 at the door for all
A time-honored tradition of Homecoming Weekend that brings friends together for food and music before the Homecoming football game against the UPenn Quakers. Don't miss your chance to get a photo with Jack the Bulldog, from noon to 1 p.m.! Barbeque, Pizza, Ice Cream, beverages, and entertainment will be provided, including a performance by Groove Theory and music by The Reflex - the East Coast's premiere 80's tribute band http://www.reflexlive.com/.

Senior Class Party at Garrett's
8pm-11pm, 3003 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Join your fellow seniors for a night to celebrate our final on campus Homecoming weekend! $15 gets you 3 drink tickets and appetizers. Only a limited number of tickets are available, so buy yours in Red Square on Friday from 11-4. (If we don't sell out, tickets will be available at the door.)

SUNDAY, October 12

Homecoming Community Service Day
11am-3pm, Copley Lawn
Service for others takes on a new level as Hoyas of all ages join together to prepare food and care packages for the DC Homeless population. Register to help make sandwiches, put together care packages, or to deliver items to recipients in the DC community. Be sure to come help out!

Mr. Georgetown Tonight!

The annual Mr. Georgetown pageant will take place tonight from 8pm to 10pm in Gaston Hall.

Twelve senior men, each representing a different campus organization, will compete for the prestigious title of "Mr. Georgetown."

The event will take place in Gaston Hall and requires a ticket, which can be purchased at the door. Space is limited, however, so plan to go early if you haven't already bought a ticket.

There will also be performances by Groove Theory and the Phantoms.

Come out tonight to support your fellow Hoyas!

The Friday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• Virus Threat Believed to Have Subsided
  
• University Finances Take Minor Hit
  
• Hate Crime Suspects Arraigned, Denied Bail
  
• Editorial: Decent Econ TAs Are in Short Supply and High Demand
  
• Dean Deficit Hurts the College
  

Customized Internet Radio

For all of the Pandora fans out there, you now have a competitor.

Grooveshark, an internet radio service that operates in a similar manner to Pandora, is another free online customizable internet radio service. Both radios operate based on the Music Genome Project, an operation designed to characterize music based on different tonal elements. Consequently, songs with similar musical elements are grouped together. As you rate the songs that are played, the radio will suggest future songs that fit your preferences.

In addition to a customizable preference index, Grooveshark allows a user to immediately play any song he or she wants through its search engine. You can check it out here.

Wi-Fi, more important than beer?

Computer World reports:

"College students seems to think so. Nearly 75% of the students who took part in a recent poll said Wi-Fi access on their college campuses helps them get better grades.

In fact, college students like Wi-Fi so much that 48% said they would give up beer before giving up Wi-Fi, according to the survey, which was conducted by Wakefield Research for the Wi-Fi Alliance."

Not sure about the strength of this assessment given the survey didn't look at actual grade performance, but the bit about beer we'll take on face value for its comedic merit.

On a related note, did you know that Wi-Fi" stands for "Wireless Fidelity"?

33rd? We think not.

Sporting News has us ranked a disappointing 33rd nationally. Commenter "Bicentennial Hoya" has our back:

"I was quite disappointed by the sporting news annual and your rating of Georgetown published today. In the annual, which did not live up to the old Street and Smith, you incorrectly have Chris Braswell attending Georgetown (page 16) and you have Julian Vaughn not playing this year (page 17.) In your rating today you have corrected the Julian Vaughn inaccuracy but you haven't talked about the other Georgetown freshman recruits. You recognize in your annual that Georgetown had a top 3 recruiting class for the Big East. Henry Sims, Jason Clark and Greg Monroe are a top 10 recruiting class nationally. At a time when other magazines are talking about how strong the Big East looks this year, you seem to think the 6th to 8th teams in the big east are not in the top 25. John Thompson III is starting his 5th season at Georgetown with an average season record of his first 4 years at 25-9 (100-36 for 4 years.) This record compares favorably to every active coach in the Big East with only Jamie Dixon having a better average record. John Thompson III has succeeded without highly ranked high school players with Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert making it into the NBA while not being highly rated coming out of high school. Georgetown returns 3 starters who are joined by excellent freshman. Georgetown will not be deep enough to be the best team in the Big East. They may even end up being 7th or 8th in the Big East. While Georgetown may not be a top 10 team, not having them in the top 25 is wrong. Yes the 8th team in the Big East will be top 25. It is unfortunate for other conferences but teams that have to play the top half of the big east will have very tough games this year. Some good teams playing the bottom half of the conference will lose. It is unfortunate that you don't recognize the strength of the Big East and their coaches from top to bottom."

[VIDEO] Suspect in Georgetown Anti-Gay Beating Asks Judge to Release Him

We can't embed the video so you'll have to watch it here.

Fox News reports:

"WASHINGTON, D.C. – A pair of men charged with attacking two Georgetown University students went before a judge for the first time on Wednesday, but what happened in the courtroom came as a surprise to many.

Prosecutors say 19-year-old Saad Elorch and 19-year-old Abdulgader Ruddad targeted and taunted their victims, then assaulted one of them because they are gay. In court on Wednesday, Elorch, the alleged ring leader, jumped up and begged the judge to let him go. But the judge in the case denied his request."

I guess everyone uses gmail

Given the popularity of yesterday's post on gmail's new "mail goggles", you may want to check out makeusof.com's "5 Gmail Lab Features Everyone Should Try". I like the "Forgotten Attachment Detector", which "prompts you if you mention attaching a file in your email, but forgot to do so." Maybe I am the only person that ever has that problem.

Also, Maxium PC's 6 Ways to "hack" gmail write-up offers some interesting tips, including how to figure out if online companies are selling your email address to spammers. It's really quite simple:

"2. Filter Your Mail with Positive Thinking

The lowly plus sign gets little respect in this crazy, mixed-up world. But if you use it the right way with Gmail, it could become your new best friend. By adding a plus sign and a filter tag to your own Gmail address, you can figure out which of the sites that you’ve brazenly given your address to are turning around, stabbing you in your tender, fleshy backside, and selling it to every half-witted Pr0p3cia spammer on the net.

This little hack doesn’t require a single tweak to your Gmail settings. Instead, just use the plus/tag every time you enter your address into an online form. Our favorite method is to use the name of the site you’re visiting as the tag, so it’s easy to track later on. So if you buy some vintage kicks at Raresneakers.com, enter your email address as username+raresneakers@gmail.com.

Gmail ignores the plus sign and everything that comes after it, so messages sent to that address will still make their way to you. But if that site sells your address to its spamifying associates, you’ll know just by peeking at the To address in the header. How you choose to exact revenge is entirely up to you."

Tennessee Student Indicted for Hacking Palin E-mail

Wired reports:

"David Kernell, the 20-year-old Tennessee student who has been under suspicion for allegedly obtaining unauthorized access into Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's private Yahoo e-mail account, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Tennessee.

Kernell, who is the son of Tennessee Democratic state representative Mike Kernell, is indicted on only one felony count of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, but the indictment mentions an additional statute, the Stored Communications Act."

EVENT: 80s night @ the Tombs TONIGHT

• Where: The Tombs
• What: 80s music
• When: 10pm-1am, TONIGHT

You spin me right round, baby

Quantum of Solace worth the wait

The new Bond film bumped back it's release date by a week (November 14th), but this new trailer makes it worth the wait. A few student groups (SCC, etc.) are in the talking stages about hosting midnight showing parties.

My Roommate, the Drug Dealer

This story from College Magazine puts most roommate horror stories in perspective:

"I was fast asleep when suddenly I was awoken by a pounding on the door. This was not a knock like, “Hey, what’s up?” or even, “I really need to talk to you.” This was a knock that said, “I am going to get in there, and when I do, it’s gonna suck to be you.” The person outside the door was screaming for my roommate. I looked over to him.

"Don't open the door!"

I asked who it was.

"Just don't open the door."

I've never been so terrified in my life."

Read the rest of the story here.

EVENT: Teen Vogue Event at CUSP Georgetown Oct. 17th

From blogonthecusp:

What: Teen Vogue fashion stylist Danica Wilcox is going to be at CUSP Georgetown for the launch of the “Young Hollywood” issue.

Where: 3030 M Street, NW

When: Oct. 17th, 7-9pm 

Drunk-dialing sure, but drunk emailing?

Google just released a ridiculous new feature for gmail.

It's called "Mail Goggles" and it it will, and we quote, "check that you're really sure you want to send that late night Friday email" by "making you solve a few simple math problems".

no effing way.

Google is known for their practical jokes, but this announcement comes nowhere near April 1st. is this for real?

EDIT: it's for real. You'll find it under "Settings" then "Labs".

EVENT: "Taste of Georgetown" this SATURDAY

• What: A showcase of the spectacular cuisine of thirty of Washington, D.C.’s finest restaurants, highlighting Georgetown’s culinary personalities and featuring nearly sixty delectable dishes to sample, as well as wine pairings and the jazz talents of Blues Alley.
• When: October 11, 2008 11am-4pm
• Cost: $5: One Tasting Ticket , $20: Five Tasting Tickets. Ticket's can be purchased here.

Tickets are good for a plethora of Georgetown restaurants from 1789 to Georgetown Cupcake.

Yum.

Georgetown picks up yet another top-ranked recruit

Fox News reports:

"Georgetown just picked up a commitment from one of my favorite players and kids, St. Mark’s junior forward Nate Lubick.

The skilled 6-foot-8 Lubick has come a long way in the last couple years and was pursued by a ton of high-major schools.

Lubick ultimately chose Georgetown over Michigan despite a major bond to John Beilein. He also looked at Virginia and Stanford."

You've got to love Lubick's quote:

"Coach Thompson called it the Georgetown Matrix," Lubick said. "If you take basketball out of the equation, you've still got one of the best academic schools in the country. If you take out the academics, you've still got one of the top basketball programs. And if you take both out of the equation, you're still right in Washington, D.C. - the most powerful city in the country."

Dumb Things Tourists Say

From DCist's "Overheard in DC" weekly bit:

"A week without dumb tourists is like a day without sunshine
Around 8:30 p.m. outside the White House:

A family peers through the White House fence. The teenage boy has a disappointed look.

Teenager: "So where's the Liberty Bell at?"
Mother shrugs: "I dunno."

Word of the Week: Snollygoster

snol·ly·gos·ter (snŏl'ē-gŏs'tər)
n. Slang

One, especially a politician, who is guided by personal advantage rather than by consistent, respectable principles.

[Perhaps alteration of snallygaster, a mythical beast said to prey on poultry and children, perhaps from Pennsylvania Dutch schnelle geeschter : Middle High German snēl, quick (from Old High German) + Middle High German geist, spirit (from Old High German).]

Dixie-College Life DC Homecoming Promotion

Just heard through the grapevine that Dixie Liquor is holding a promotion with College Life DC for Homecoming Weekend.

Mention "College Life DC" to the Dixie employees and you can get a Foster's keg for $60 instead of the regular price of $120, and/or a Bacardi Handle (1.75 L) for only $20 bucks.

Awesome deal.

ESPN found out about the noro too!

Andy Katz from ESPN has a post on his blog about how norovirus has affected Georgetown Basketball. JT III said:

"We stayed out of the gym and told our guys not to come around for pickup games but we're hoping to start up again [this week]," Thompson III said. "We could have gone to the other gym on campus but if it's here it could be there also. It feels like it's everywhere. The number of new cases started to subside so hopefully it's over with."

In addition, the article talks about how early practice has been going and has some great stuff on Julian Vaughan and Greg Monroe.

EVENT: 2nd Presidential Debate Tonight

• When: Tonight, 9 pm EST
• What: 2nd Presidential debate featuring prompts on any topic from the audience and the Internet, moderated by Tom Brokaw of NBC at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, in a town hall-style format.

Hoops Report on Georgetown Potential

The Hoops Report, well, reports:

"Freeman wasn't the only Hoya with high expectations as a freshman last season. Point guard Chris Wright, who was injured for a large portion of his freshman campaign, came off the bench as a backup to Wallace. Wright never really had a breakout game, but he did reach double figures in scoring three times and had at least four assists three times. This year, Wright will have much more responsibility as he steps in as the starting point guard. Much of Georgetown's success will depend on how ready Wright is to lead this team.

Coach John Thompson III is entering his fifth season at Georgetown University with an overall record of 100-36. In 2007, he was named the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Coach of the Year. The Hoyas have appeared in postseason play every year under Coach Thompson, playing in the NCAA tournament three times and once in the NIT.

Losing two starters and a significant portion of their bench from last season will definitely be the biggest obstacle for the Hoyas this year. The recruiting class will have to play a major role in order for Georgetown to remain at the top of the Big East."

Comic Tuesday: Finish Line.

NB: Click on the comic to enlarge it.

Comic from XKCD.

We're not the only ones...

The LA Times reports that approximately 275 students at USC have been affected by what appears to be norovirus.

"The number of USC students sickened by a contagious gastrointestinal virus has risen to about 275 , but officials said today that the outbreak may have peaked.

Students with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps have been treated at on- and off-campus medical clinics for the last few days. The university has been cleaning dorms and dining halls to limit further spread of the virus, but classes and other campus functions have been kept on a normal schedule.

Dr. Lawrence Neinstein, executive director of the health center on USC's main University Park campus, said the number of students seeking medical care appeared to be declining Sunday and today after the initial reports of illness on Friday and Saturday. "The trend is good," he said, noting it was too early to say anything more definitive.

Students who suffered serious dehydration were given intravenous fluids and about 10 were briefly hospitalized, often because other medical conditions put them at risk, he said.

Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles County director of public health, noted that colleges are vulnerable to such illnesses because they include "large numbers of people in close contact." Military barracks, cruise ships and some conventions can be too, he said.

USC officials emphasized that the problem was not caused by any food contamination. Over the weekend, a campus dining facility called "Everybody's Kitchen" was closed for a few hours while Los Angeles County health inspectors examined and found no evidence of any contamination, according to campus spokesman James Grant. The facility was then reopened.

Symptoms of the virus are short-lived, lasting one to two days. However, Neinstein stressed that students still can be contagious for several days after they feel better. So officials urged ill students or those who have had contact with them to avoid socializing and recommended that everyone wash their hands frequently.

Georgetown University in Washington is experiencing a similar viral outbreak, with more than 200 students there sickened since last week, according that university.

Among the sickened students at USC was freshman David McAlpine, a broadcast journalism major from Chicago. He said he started to feel very ill with stomach cramps and vomiting early Saturday and morning and went to the campus clinic. He received intravenous fluids, slept much of the rest of the day and felt "almost back to normal" on Sunday.

The outbreak, he said, is making students less likely to greet each other with hugs or to share food. "This is promoting a more cautious feeling than before," he said."

The Tuesday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• String of Sex Assaults Believed to Be Related
• Virus Spread Slows; Origin Still Unknown
• Medical Student Assaulted in Reported Hate Crime
• Editorial: GU's Must Stop Force-Feeding Students Leo's Meal Plans
  
• Editorial: 'Dumbest Generation' Disagrees 

VIDEO: In Case you Missed it

Two Arrested in Georgetown Anti-Gay Beating

Fox News reports:

"Washington, DC -- Two men were arrested early Friday morning after police say they attacked a gay man in the canal area of Georgetown.

Police say that the suspects approached the victim and another man and asked if they were gay. The victim replied "yes" and the suspects began verbally berating him. One of the suspects also hit the victim with a glass bottle before they fled.

Police arrested the pair less than an hour later on M Street in northwest. They face charges of assault with a deadly weapon and police are considering the attack a hate crime."

Somebody's drinking the Haterade

Jason Flemming over that the Bleacher Report just put up a post entitled "Why You Won't See Georgetown in my Top 25." He starts off by giving us a slight nod, saying,

"The Hoyas are good. There's no doubt about that. John Thompson III has a nice group of very impressive of players, but also have lots of question marks and very little depth."

And then continues to say:

"The Hoyas have four players that will definitely be solid contributors. Freshman Greg Monroe should play well enough to be a factor, so that's five solid players.

After that, GU has major question marks. Henry Sims and Jason Clark should contribute, but how effective they will be is uncertain.

Georgetown is the 2009 version of the 2008 Syracuse team. Lots of talents, lots of youth, and a lack of depth. One injury or one suspension can completely sink the Hoyas season.

The 'Cuse flirted with a ranking in the beginning of 2008, but slowly slipped through the rigors of the conference schedule. Georgetown will follow Syracuse's footsteps in 2009. The Hoyas will be ranked to begin the season and fall throughout the Big East conference schedule. A team cannot compete in the Big East with just seven or eight players.

So the Hoyas will have some impresive, young talent, but in the end will lack the personal to be a top tier team in the Big East and the country."

Oh Mr. Flemming, you just wait and see.

Former Georgetown Standout Sead Dizdarevic Brings Hoya Basketball to His Hometown in Montenegro

From Georgetown's Official Athletic website:

"Washington, D.C. - In early August, former Georgetown men's basketball player Sead Dizdarevic had the chance to do something he had wanted to do for a long time. Along with several of his former teammates and one of his coaches, Dizdarevic was able to bring the Hoyas to his home country in Montenegro.

Dizdarevic - along with former teammates Ashanti Cook (C'06), Darrel Owens (C'06), Amadou Kilkenny-Diaw (C'06) and RaMell Ross and current Director of Basketball Operations Matt Henry - said that upon reflection, the trip was something that he had always envisioned.

Upon donning the Blue & Gray jersey at Georgetown in 2003, Dizdarevic had hoped he could put a trip like this together. As a youngster, he dreamed of playing basketball. At one point, he considered dropping out of school to pursue his passion, but his parents encouraged him to continue his education."

Avoid Identity Theft

Consumer Reports details 7 common mistakes that can ruin your computer or invite identity theft, including:

• Accessing an account through an e-mail link
• Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks
• Shopping online the same way you do in stores
  

Georgetown Shout Out

An article in the LA times looks at the financial behavior of oil-rich investors from the Persian Gulf "bursting with cash they're not afraid to spend". From the article:

"This is not the 1970s," said Hassan Fattah, deputy editor of the National, an English-language Abu Dhabi newspaper, referring to the high-rolling behavior of the gulf's rich during the first oil boom.

"You've got graduates from Georgetown University who are imbued with a long-term development mentality."

Bhoyrul says Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds are eyeing property in Britain as well as blue-chip companies elsewhere in Europe. There is reluctance to invest in American properties after a political uproar about port security forced Dubai Ports World, owned by the government of Dubai, one of the emirates, to sell cargo terminal operations last year at several U.S. seaports, he said."

Norovirus Commentary

Commentary from around the country on the Norovirus outbreak:

• Inside Higher Ed
• Washington Post
• GW Hatchet
• College OTR
• eFluxMedia
  

On-Campus Pillow Fight

Student Will Marks (C' 09), a SaxaSpeak blogger, taking cue from a facebook event in Grand Rapids, MI, has started an event advertising a Pillow Fight on Copley Lawn on October 24. The event currently boasts over 330 students RSVP'ed to show up, which would prove for quite a battle royale.

Will says the idea was spawned when a couple of his friends sent him a link to the video of the Michigan facebook pillow fight. After some conversations, he decided to start an event and see if it would catch on or not. He plans on contacting GERMS to be on stand-by at the event and sending out more detailed instructions as the date approaches.

Phase 1 of Waterfront Park Open

The website examiner.com is reporting that the US Park Service has opened Phase 1 of the Georgetown Waterfront Park Reviltalization, described as:

"Three acres along the Potomac River from Wisconsin Avenue to 34th Street in northwest Washington. There is a promenade along the shoreline; a bicycle trail connecting Rock Creek Park with the Capital Crescent Trail; and open lawns and gardens.

The second phase will extend to 31st Street and feature the park's central plaza. It's expected to open in 2010. Once that is complete, it will be the largest park created in D.C. in more than 30 years."

[Photo Credit]

Ewing Jr. out to make his name

The Times Union reports:

"Ewing Jr. loves his father, but he wants people to know him for what he can do on the basketball court. Landing a Knicks roster spot would solidify that.

"He has to get lucky," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "If he can get a spot and get experience and improve ... that's why the NBA is hard. A lot of guys make it and a lot of guys don't. You feel sorry for people, but it's not an easy business."

[....]

Now that he's in New York, the pressure comes. Well, not so fast. Ewing has had to live in his dad's enormous shadow all his life.

"It is what it is," Ewing Jr. said. "I grew up with it and I got used to it when I was little. I don't feel any pressure with the Knicks. I felt more pressure when I was at Georgetown. Those people there love him (his father). He went to three championship games in four years. That is hard to follow."

Despite Drop in Gas Prices, College Students Still Feeling Pinch

ABC news reports:

"College students are arguably the group most sensitive to swings in gasoline prices and the quickest to adjust. So how has the dorm set reacted as the price at the pump surged then declined somewhat to a $3.64 national average?

They're finding inventive ways to spend less time behind the wheel, and university administrators are finding creative ways to assist them.

Just like the rest of Americans, students are mulling whether to use public transportation. Nationwide, ridership has been on an upswing. This year, public transportation ridership soared to over 2.8 billion trips in the second quarter of 2008 – an increase of about 140 million rides compared with trips taken in 2007, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Of these riders, some 10.7 percent of public transit riders are students, according to a May 2007 study by the APTA.

But it's not always easy to make the switch."

Tech Tips for the Basic Computer User

David Pogue of the New York Times offers some tech tips in a recent blog post. Consider yourself tech savvy? Computer literate? You or may not already know the following:

• You can tap the Space bar to scroll down on a Web page one screenful. Add the Shift key to scroll back up.

• You can enlarge the text on any Web page. In Windows, press Ctrl and the plus or minus keys (for bigger or smaller fonts); on the Mac, it’s the Command key and plus or minus.

• The number of megapixels does not determine a camera’s picture quality; that’s a marketing myth. The sensor size is far more important. (Use Google to find it. For example, search for “sensor size Nikon D90.”)
  

The Independent: October 2008

Some headlines from this month's Indy:

• Cover: Talk of the (College) Town
• News Feature: Toy-a Saxa: Hoya Hilltop
• Commentary: Let's Add More Animals to the Zoo
• Point/Counterpoint: Hanson vs. Jonas Brothers
• A&E: Brave New World: Theatre on Campus and Beyond
  
• A&E: The Quest for Pumpkin Pleasures

Check out the website for more content!

Greenspan Expects Economic Rebound

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan spoke at a Georgetown University Law Center conference this past week. The Wall Street Journal reports:

"Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan took an optimistic tone on the U.S. economy Thursday, saying that while current conditions represent a rare, “wrenching” financial crisis, he expects the economy to rebound sooner rather than later.

“We are living through the type of wrenching financial crisis that comes along only once in a century,” he said at a Georgetown University Law Center conference in Washington. “Eventually, the market freeze will thaw as frightened investors take tentative steps towards reengagement with risk.”

Greenspan said the current credit crunch is due to a lack of trust in financial firms’ accounting records and to related questions about banks’ capital levels during the past year.

But that trust should resurface, he said, and investors “will dip hesitantly back into the marketplace.”

That’s when an economic revival will set in, he said, adding: “I suspect it will be sooner rather than later.”

GERMS Students Step Up During Outbreak

The Office of Communications reports:

"As a norovirus outbreak unfolded on campus this week, the student-run Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS) clocked overtime to ensure the health and well-being of the campus community.

GERMS -- a 125-member volunteer ambulance service for Georgetown University and the surrounding neighborhood -- responded to many of the more than 175 norovirus-related cases among the student body.

"Until this week, our record number of calls in a 12-hour shift was 11,” said GERMS Vice President Nathan Srinivas (F'09) on Thursday. "We tripled that the past two nights and were able to handle it admirably."

Bailout Plan Wins Approval

The New York Times reports:

"After the House reversed course and gave final approval to the $700 billion economic bailout package, President Bush quickly signed it into law on Friday, authorizing the Treasury to undertake what could become the most expensive government intervention in history."

Georgetown Med Student injured in new D.C. bias attack

The DC Blade reports:

"D.C. police arrested two men today after a gay man was attacked in Georgetown.

Acting police Lt. Brett Parson said the “aggravated assault” occurred near the neighborhood’s canal area around 3 a.m. Parson declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding the attack, but noted it was being handled as a hate crime.

Parson said that police arrested two men soon after the attack. Prosecution was being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which confirmed that both men were in custody today and would be arraigned Saturday.

Parson said the gay man who was injured in the attack was treated and released from a local hospital.

A source familiar with the case told the Blade that the injured man, a 23-year-old Georgetown medical student, was walking along the canal path with a 22-year-old man when two men approached them.

The source said the men, who he described as Muslim and being of “Middle Eastern descent,” asked the other men if they were gay. When one of the men answered yes, the source noted that the man and his companion began using “profane language.”

At one point, the source said, the two men told the gay men, “If you were to do this type of behavior back in our country, you’d be stoned,” and that “a man’s asshole is for shitting not fucking, you fucking faggots.”

The source said one of the Muslim men eventually goaded his companion, who held a glass bottle, into attacking one of the gay men. The source noted the man who wielded the bottle struck the Georgetown student’s left cheek with it. The two men then fled."

Facebook becomes the target of protest -- again

The Los Angeles Times reports:

"Two days without Facebook?

That's the plan hatched by millions of disgruntled Facebook users who are threatening to boycott the popular social networking site on Oct. 18 and 19.


The slogan of the boycott is "It's only ONE weekend, we can all do it!" And of course the organizers are using Facebook to spread the word. The Facebook protest page reads:

By 11:59 PM (in your region) on 17 October -- be sure to log off. Do not log back in no matter how tempting until 12:00 AM (in your region) 20 October.

On 20 October we all log back in and see if there has been a response of any kind. A blog, a post.... anything. If not, we repeat the process...

The protesters are unhappy about the site's new design and have gained quite a following. About 4 million or so have joined groups such as "I hate the new Facebook." (It's not clear how much overlap there is between the various groups.)

The "1,000,000 against the new Facebook layout" group, which is sponsoring the boycott, has already exceeded its own ambitions by netting more than 2.7 million members."

EVENT: Showing of WALL E

• What: Screening of Disney's WALL-E
• Where: ICC Auditorium
• When: Oct. 3 -5, Showing at 7:30PM and 10:00PM

The year is 2700. WALL•E, a robot, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover what he was meant for. From Academy Award-winning director, Andrew Stanton (FINDING NEMO), "WALL•E" is the story of one robot's comic adventures as he chases his dream across the galaxy.

The Friday Hoya

Headlines from today's Hoya:

• Sanitized, Dining Hall Reopens
  
• GUTS Bus, Van, Collide on Canal Street
  
• Reported Crime Dips 5 Percent
  
• Editorial: GU's Quick Reaction to Explosive Crisis Was a Welcome Surprise
  
• Editorial: Smoking Rules Shouldn't Be Hazy
  

The Official* Vice Presidential Debate Drinking Game!

Slander 08 gives us the following:

"For Sarah Palin:
Every time Palin mentions one of her kids by name, take the number of drinks corresponding to that child’s number in her brood (e.g. 1 drink for Track, 2 drinks for Bristol, 3 drinks for Willow, 4 drinks for Piper and 5 drinks for Trig). If she does not give a name, take 1 drink.
When Palin mentions 9/11 in a textually-relevant manner (e.g. “We need to prevent another attack like the one on 9/11″), take 1 drink. When Palin mentions 9/11 in a gratuitous, textually-irrelevant manner (e.g. “When my son Track was sent over to Iraq on 9/11…”), take 2 drinks.
If Palin uses the phrase, “hockey mom”, drink until she takes the self-satisfied smirk off her face.

For Joe Biden:
Every time Biden chuckles condescendingly at Sarah Palin, take 1 drink. Every time Biden chuckles condescendingly at moderator Gwen Ifill, take 2 drinks.
Every time Biden refers to himself in the third person, take 1 drink. If he uses his full name (e.g. “When people ask me, ‘Joe Biden, how did you become so good looking?’”), take 2 drinks.
If Biden points out that despite being less than 1/100th the size, Delaware has more people than Alaska, drink until you see the bottom of your glass.

If either candidate says:
Russia, take 1 drink. U.S.S.R., take 2 drinks. Swimming the Bering Straight, take 3 drinks.
Hillary Clinton, take 1 drink. Bill Clinton, take 2 drinks. Monica Lewinsky, take 3 drinks.
Dick Cheney, take 1 drink. Tricky Dick, take 2 drinks. Sucking dick, take 3 drinks.

Finally, if at any point Biden uses the phrase “I know Geraldine Ferraro; Geraldine Ferraro is a friend of mine. Governor, you’re no Geraldine Ferraro,” chug your beer, turn off your TV, and shoot yourself in the head."

It's norovirus.

Dr. Olson is reporting that that Department of Health has found the culprit of the sickenss to be norovirus,

"a highly contagious group of viruses that cause symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Individuals may also have low-grade fever, chills, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. People may feel very sick, but most get better within 1-2 days and have no long-term health effects. A fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control is available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-qa.htm.

Immediately, student residence halls are being cleaned with a specific focus on common areas and high contact surfaces such as bathrooms, doorknobs, and handrails. Common gathering areas including Yates Field House, McDonough Arena, the Leavey Center will also be cleaned, as well as bathrooms and high contact surfaces in academic and administrative buildings. If you are aware of specific areas that need to be cleaned please call (202) 687-3432.

Earlier today we completed the sanitizing of O’Donovan Dining Hall, which has been inspected by the Department of Health and cleared to reopen. Meals will be served there as usual, beginning with dinner this evening.

The Department of Health recommends that all individuals immediately begin taking extra precautionary steps to prevent the spread of norovirus. DOH recommends frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water and use of personal hand sanitizer."

Be careful.

EVENT: Vice Presidential Debate, TONIGHT

• What: debate between Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joe Biden
• When: 9:00pm EST.
• Where: your TV or online.
  

Predicted to be the most watched vice presidential debate in American history.

VIDEO: Don't Vote

Find voting registration information for every state here.

Georgetown Cocktail Parties, Past & Present

From the Washington Post:

"Defending his veep pick Sarah Palin Wednesday, Sen. John McCain twice made withering references to the sort of critics who hang out at "Georgetown cocktail parties."

But Georgetown cocktail parties ain't what they used to be.

"I don't want to burst anybody's bubble," said Carol Joynt, who runs the weekly "Q&A Café" television show at her Georgetown restaurant, Nathan's. "If they think we're all standing around with cigarette holders and bouffant hairdos talking down to the middle class -- that era went away in the last century."

"That was the Kennedy era," Democratic fundraiser Esther Coopersmith said. "He's showing his age."

Georgetown fixture Frida Burling, 93, reminisced a bit about those long-lost parties.

"Back in the old days, they were very elegant and people had better food and better service and better style," Burling said. Though, she added, people used to drink too much.
But we stray. Back to the central conceit of McCain's phrase. On NPR in the morning, he sought to minimize the growing chorus of Palin criticisms by pointing out how past candidates have been underestimated, presumably by out-of-touch elitists.

"I remember, in all due respect, that some people, when Ronald Reagan came out of California, said he was totally unqualified," McCain said. "I remember an obscure governor of the state of Arkansas -- that people said he was totally unqualified. This kind of thing goes on, usually in Georgetown cocktail parties."

VIDEO: WUSA 9, Georgetown University Food Poisoning Suspected

If the video doesn't load, click here.

146 Students Hosiptalized from Leo's, cause still unknown

The latest e-mail in the Leo's saga came out this morning from Dr. Olson. In he says that 50 more students were hospitalized over night, bringing the total 146 over all. He also explains:

"No definitive cause has yet been determined for these illnesses, and we await information on this from the Department of Health as their investigation continues. As a continued voluntary precaution, O'Donovan Dining Hall will remain closed, with temporary food service continuing in the Leavey Center. Please know that all food served is from new daily deliveries and there are no connections to either food or preparatory areas within O'Donovan Hall.

We will again plan to hold an information session at 3:00 p.m. today in Sellinger Lounge in the Leavey Center for members of the campus community to learn updated information and ask questions related to this matter. Updates will also be posted to the emergency preparedness website and via broadcast email as new information becomes available."

Just a couple of notes:

1. I've heard from friends in GERMS that crews have literally been doing double shifts, with some students going on around 2 hours of sleep over the past couple of nights. Remember to give them a big thanks if you see somebody in a uniform or have friends who ride, because they are doing this on top of all the other work us Hoyas have.

2. I also have several friends with food poisoning-like symptoms after eating Leo's from the other night who have decided not to go to the hospital. The number of students affected by illness from Leo's is probably substantially higher than the 146 number.

EVENT: 80s night @ the Tombs

Where: The Tombs
What: 80s music
When: 10pm-1am, TONIGHT

Sweet dreams are made of this

Leo's Update

Email from Todd Olson to the University Community:

"As of 3:30p.m. medical professionals inform us that approximately 96 students have now been treated for gastroenteritis, with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea or dehydration

Georgetown University officials are cooperating with an ongoing investigation by the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH). DOH investigators have been on site today and food safety and epidemiological investigations are underway. While no definitive cause has yet been determined for these illnesses, as a continued voluntary precaution, O'Donovan Dining Hall will remain closed through tomorrow, with temporary food service continuingin the Leavey Center."

Leo's closed until further notice

Todd Olson, VP for Student Affairs, recently stated in a press conference that Leo's will be closed until further notice, opening at the earliest tomorrow morning.

Also, the numbers of students who have been affected is much higher than previously reported. Over 80 students have been affected by the food borne illness.

Leo's Shutdown

As SaxaSpeak reported at 1 am this morning, many students were reporting food poisoning from Grab 'n Go in Leo's. This morning, a University broadcast email noted:

"O'Donovan Dining Hall (Leo's) will be closed for breakfast and lunch today, with breakfast service temporarily relocated to McShain Lounge and lunch in the Leavey Center. We are taking this step as a precaution after being notified overnight that approximately 25 students were treated at the Georgetown University Hospital for symptoms related to a possible food borne illness that may have originated in Leo's.

At approximately 12:30am doctors notified University officials that students were being treated for vomiting and diarrhea, with most reporting a common connection to eating at Leo's earlier in the day. We have been in touch with these students to provide resources and support and will remain in regular contact with them as we continue to work with local health authorities and infectious disease experts to determine the cause of these illnesses and await guidance on appropriate next steps."

Over at Vox Populi, Molly Redden is reporting that the food borne illness was not limited to Grab n' Go.

Students can go to the Center Grill in Leavey Center and fill up take out boxes with food, but the meal is deducted from your meal plans.

[Photo Credit]

Alumnus Birbiglia to debut off broadway show

Time Out Chicago reports on Georgetown's own, comedian Mike Birbiglia (COL '00):

"Stand-up comic Mike Birbiglia is attempting to explain how his new Off Broadway show Sleepwalk with Me—previewing at the Lakeshore Theater Thursday 11—is different from his Sleepwalk Across America Tour of last April. The material still follows Birbiglia’s struggle with rapid-eye-movement-behavior disorder (sleep–acting out), but he says this version is in the storytelling vein of Richard Pryor—or maybe even Spalding Gray. In fact, Birbiglia’s producer, actor Nathan Lane, has a great quote explaining just how Gray he is, Birbiglia tells us during a recent phone chat…if we don’t mind holding while he finds it. Actually, we have to hold whether we mind or not: He’s got another call.

A few minutes later, the 30-year-old New Yorker apologizes. “We’re in the middle of a lot of stuff right now”—including logistics for the show’s October opening at New York’s Bleeker Street Theatre. “It’s like Barack Obama said in one of his books,” he adds, as his celeb name-check count (Pryor, Gray, Lane) jumps to four. “Going to the Senate was like trying to take a sip of water from a fire hose. He’s excited to get the water, but it’s, like, a little bit too much water.”

Birbiglia, luckily, isn’t all that parched to begin with; he has a gift for engaging, theatrical storytelling. In Sleepwalk with Me, he doesn’t just tell his tales of personal injury and broken TiVos; he relives them. In one brief bit, Birbiglia recounts dreaming about discovering a jackal in his bedroom. While asleep, he jumped onto the bed; onstage, he hops up on a chair, one leg in the air, striking a fearsome, awkward martial-arts pose. He continues the story in that stance, even as his legs start to wobble; when his awakened girlfriend assures him there’s no jackal, Birbiglia barks back, groggy and just a bit too loud: “Are you sure?”

Check out the show's website here.

Word of the Week: katzenjammer

katz·en·jam·mer

/ˈkætsənˌdʒæmər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kat-suhn-jam-er]

–noun

1.	the discomfort and illness experienced as the aftereffects of excessive drinking; hangover.

2.	uneasiness; anguish; distress.

3.	uproar; clamor: His speech produced a public katzenjammer.

---

[Origin: 1840–50; <>Katzen (pl. of Katze cat¹) + Jammer discomfort, OHG jāmar (n. and adj.);]

Georgetown Neighborhood Library Rising from the Ashes

From the DCmud blog:

"The District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) this morning held a pre-BID conference in the gutted interior of the Georgetown Neighboordhood Library (GNL), which suffered severe fire damage in April of 2007. Full funding for the project has already been allotted by the DC government, but designs for proposed renovations and additions by architects Martinez & Johnson are still months away from completion.

In the meantime, DCPL and the construction manager for the project, Smoot Construction, are now offering contractors three different BID "packages" that can get underway in the coming weeks: hazardous material removal, historic salvage and protection, and supply of site facilities. Following final approval of the architectural designs, Smoot projects that 14-25 more packages will be advertised to facilitate a spring 2010 reopening. Library officials went on to assure the construction."

Grab 'n Go Food Poisoning?

Preliminary reports indicate as many as 20 students have been affected by Leo's Grab 'n Go meals this evening. Causes are unknown, but you might want to stay away from those pre-made goodies until things settle down.

Stolen Bull Head Returned

Will Sommer over at Vox Populi is reporting that members of the local Advisory Neighborhood Council say that the $25,000 stolen bull head has been returned. The post says that:

"Commissioner Bill Starrels said that as soon as he heard about the theft he got in touch with Georgetown’s Ray Danieli and set up a meeting between Dreyfuss, school officials, and MPD, so it looks the Bandits are students."