One week has passed since I landed at JFK and stepped into a much bigger world. In that week, I have started the process of becoming a New Yorker logistically. However, in attitude and in spirit I haven’t even scratched the surface.

I inspected the neighborhood stores, navigated the subway routes, and was shown around mid-town by a few new Columbia friends. Several times, I was speechless in the shadow of blocks of massive structures. I learned to walk on the right side of a walkway — and walk fast– or risk being swept away. I also had to pick up the tricks of the tip and that there is even a whole science to tipping. So, now, included in my list of stuff to bring to school, I just added a Dummies’ Guide to Tipping .

In short, I’m in awe. I’ve already been assured that in time I will become accustomed to the city and join the hoards of New Yorkers going about their lives amid the fantastic back-drop that you’d expect from the capital of the world. Coincidentally enough, it was an ad for Columbia University that made me think that these assurances had any merit. (Who would have thought that an advertisement could provoke intellectual musing instead of the usual provocations associated with billboards and obnoxious posters?!) It got me thinking … and I remember what E.B. White once said, and it gave me some hope for the future.

“ There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size and its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter — the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. […] Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness; natives give it solidity and continuity; but the settlers give it passion.” E.B. White

In four years, I expect to be one of those passionate, nouveau New Yorkers, but for now, I’m okay with being a restless up-and-coming freshman.

The University of Georgia editorial board compares graduation speaker Clarence Thomas to Ahmadinejad’s CU visit.

McDonald’s next move in the war on Starbucks? Louis Vuitton-esque uniforms.

Not much news about a certain anniversary..

Russia becomes a theocracy?

Much as I don’t want to read about this, I guess it’s another good reason to stop spending $6 on an effing cup of froyo.

The most ominous thing about a recession is that you basically know the gist of its economic reverberations before it happens. The failing economy and the Depression-esque actions the Fed has taken suggest that things have gone awry, and that the economy won’t be recovering any time soon. The other frustrating thing with such crises is that they take their toll over a long period of time. This of course means a few outstanding things for the Columbia University community.

Firstly, these new financial aid boosts. Having coincided with the biggest plunge in the economy since the 1930s is not only frightening but also makes me wonder why these boosts weren’t made in brighter times. Will Columbia need to retract their offer? Doubtful, but something to think about. Secondly, adios to a large portion of our budding investment bankers. Thirdly, Columbia will eventually have to take some cautionary steps of their own, but where will this money be taken from? Maintenance? Facilities? Or will there be a disproportionate increase in tuition?

But there is some good news. Graduates not supported by mommy and daddy’s money may find cheaper apartments as consumer spending and demand for housing investments fall. But in a recent article in the New York Times, this may lead to some serious negative feedback. After the 1987 Wall Street slump, New York City was “a far less desirable place to live.”

“Office vacancies soared. Housing prices fell, with bad loans leaving some buildings worthless. Crime surged. And tourism plunged.”

… Application numbers plunge, admission rates increase? Or not. All eyes are on The Big Bernanke.

As we all know, Gov. Spitzer resigned after the now-infamous prostitute incident, in which he allegedly purchased the services of a Kristen the Whore from the prostitution ring “The Emperor’s Club,” perhaps so aptly named after the classic tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” in which the stately king struts around town completely naked. Or maybe it’s just a guy thing. Who knows?

What is interesting, however, is the type of questions that the new Governor-in-Waiting, David Paterson, has been asked of late. “Have you ever slept with prostitutes?” a reporter asked “just so we don’t have to go through this whole resignation thing again.”

Paterson’s response? “The only whores I know are lobbyists.”

Some have speculated that the only reason he’s being sworn in on Monday is that he’s black and blind. But I disagree: he’s kinda funny, too. 

Eight ten Democratic Congressmen received images of the military recruitment center right before it was attacked, and, now, we have more details about what exactly the congressmen were sent.

Oh, and it turns out, the perps were anti-war zealots or “activists,” as the Left calls them. Who’s surprised?

The manilla envelopes contained a photo of a (now identified) man standing in front of the recruiting station — like the kind one might receive over the holidays — and it said, “Happy New Year. We did it.” The packets also contained about ten pages of anti-war rhetoric, which he signed, and some type of a booklet.

However, MSBNC says that the letters and the bombings are unrelated. How they can discount the anti-Iraq manifesto … who knows?

But this is a classic MSNBC response. I think “We did it” pretty much clinches it. Most likely, it was this guy and whoever else was with him — somebody had to take the photo. [Could these guys be making a comeback? -ed.]

In case you missed it … Obama has a huge support base on campus. One of my hall mates, Kayla (as shown here), just bought an Obama for Change tshirt from cafepress.com. 

Now, she says that she isn’t a part of Students for Obama because, apparently,  politics becomes a bit too much like “religion” or a “cult.” 

 Truth be told, I can’t say I completely disagree — politics does have a tendency to suck you in. Is this really a bad thing?

But I do see her point: going to the voting booth once a year sure beats the hell out of confessing your sins every weak to a crinkly old man in a telephone booth-sized cell. … And then there’s church!  

Personally, I love wearing fun shirts like the ones we find at cafepress. In fact, I hope to see a lot more expressive tshirts milling about campus.

I’ve found it’s a great conversation starter. “Do you really play binary sudoku?” “Do you get special cookies for being a part of the vast right wing conspiracy?”

Yes, we do.

And I promise to you, loyal readers (of which I doubtlessly have many), that I will give you a hug if seen sporting an iPoe bag.

Maybe it’s just a side-effect of the three thousand (no joke, they’re documented) hours I spent working on costumes for my high-school theatre department, but I always get a small thrill of fashion-related bliss when I walk through the Garment District. Something about the semi-sketchy narrow streets and the storefronts that explode with colorful fabrics and eye-catching trims always sends my imagination soaring off to new and unexplored heights. I honestly think that you can find anything in those somewhat plain and unassuming little shops - magenta ribbon, a prom dress, a sari, five yards of pleather. (I even spotted a store featuring nothing but spandex. Talk about specialization…did someone say “niche”?) Don’t believe me? Go see for yourself… Read the rest of this entry »

All right, folks, it’s time for a little brutal honesty. Who here is sometimes guilty of forgetting that they’re in New York City? Or rather, who’s willing to admit it?

Realize that I don’t mean forgetting completely. I’ve certainly never woken up and said “Ah, another beautiful morning in St. Paul, Minnesota,” but I’ve definitely been known to push away my awareness of the city. Sure, every once in a while I’ll still get that magical we’re-not-in-Kansas-anymore-Toto feeling while walking down Broadway, but in day-to-day life, I tend to squelch my knowledge of the surroundings. I’ll hurry down the street and ignore everything around me – different people, interesting buildings, unique businesses, all the things that make this neighborhood special – and focus on class, an event, a conversation with friends… I don’t know how I do it, but I manage to completely overlook one of the coolest things about my school – its magical location - because of school. Crazy, right? And I know you’ve all done the same thing, probably without even realizing it. Read the rest of this entry »