As this tragic week for college students comes to a close, I have been pondering one large question over and over again: Should NBC have aired the footage of Cho that he mailed to them after killing two students and before massacring 30 more?

I am a journalism student at a large school of communications, and issues like this one are highly debated in our classrooms. We are constantly given situations in class that a news director or journalist might run into and asked to figure them out ethically. I understand that NBC receiving this footage was a ratings jackpot and it would be hard to keep it contained…But I have come to the conclusion that NBC betrayed fundamental journalistic principles.

Was it wrong for NBC to air Cho Seung Hui’s Video?

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Oh. Dear. God.

WE television network has come up with the most groundbreaking, revolutionary and genius show in the history of broadcasting: AMERICA’S CUTEST PUPPIES.

Connoisseur of Cute Allen Haff is traveling to ten major cities across the United States to meet with thousands of hopeful puppies (and their humans). Much in the vein of every other reality show, puppies stand in line waiting for the opportunity to yap, shake, and roll over for a panel of judges.

After deliberation, the judges select the ten Top Puppies to continue onto the Play Round, where the puppies must select a toy with which to rollick. The five most playful puppies selected then compete in the Friendly Round where the young dogs interact directly with the judges (including AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluators, Pet Photographers, and Dolphin Trainers, depending on the city). Read More »

Periods suck. The cramping, the bleeding, the bloating…We all know the deal. Nothing is worse than getting your period on the day of your sorority formal where you plan on wearing a white dress. Many college girls feel that birth control pills are a good way to regulate your period so that you can control when you get it each month and to reduce pain.

Now, makers of a new birth control pill awaiting FDA approval called Lybrel, are touting the fact that it entirely eliminates your period while on it. No, not just limited periods, like Seasonale or Seasonique, where the crimson tide shows up only four times a year. But, totally and completely NO periods while on Lybrel. Sounds enticing, huh?

Is this something you would do? 

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The word ‘sexy’ makes me think of sex. Ya know, hot nakedness. How could it not? It’s got sex written all over it.

But then I remember, it’s more than just a killer body that makes someone totally attractive. Yes, personality, mystery and a sense of humor are the obvious qualities. But I think it’s all about the subtle things — the way someone walks, the way their hair falls in their eyes, facial expressions, respectful gestures, quirkiness and sincere kindness to strangers.

As Monica Mitro (a Victoria’s Secret spokeswoman) put it, “sexy is about how you are as a person.” And since Victoria’s Secret it pretty much the epitome of sexy, they’ve compiled a list of sexy celebrities, “What is Sexy.”

Justin Timberlake obviously was voted Hottest Male Musician. Usually I’d be all about this, but after hearing a few a-hole-ish words come from his lips in recent interviews, I’m kind of off him. Check out the list below and see if you agree with their picks. Read More »

Getting a debit card might be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me; compiled with the internet, the two opened Pandora’s Box, rowed me across the River Styx and into Dante’s Inferno.

My parents were always adamant about me not having a credit card and I actually agreed with them. It would just be too dangerous. But the debit card still enables me (and I wouldn’t hesitate to say it encourages me) to online shop unabashedly. Or at least until the honey pot runs dry.

In today’s New York Times, there was an interesting article about unintentionally buying/signing up for things online and then being charged for them for months, even years, without noticing. While this specifc problem might be contained to a specific generation (cough, your parents, cough), online shopping can be a different kind of issue when you’re just too good at the internet, like me.

Or so I thought. Ebay, I have found, is the greatest evil on the internet. I find one million things I want, usually designer and usually from China, and somehow I can justify paying ridiculous sums of money for them because they are still cheaper than they would be off-the-rack. Read More »

You’ve heard it, right? Alec Baldwin’s criz-azy message to his 11-year-old daughter? You know, the message where he swears at her and calls her a pig?

According to this website, the illustrious phone message may have been leaked to the press by Baldwin’s ex, Kim Basinger. Apparently, the two movie stars—who seem to be fighting for more years than they were married—hate each other so badly that they’ve decided to use their young daughter as weapon. According to reports, Baldwin claims that Basinger is trying to turn his daughter against him, while Basinger claims that Baldwin has “anger issues” and was an abusive father. Awesome. So cool that these two adults are turning their only child into collateral during their messy divorce. I’m sure she’s going to grow up to be perfectly normal with no developmental or emotional problems. Totally.

Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin, you two are doing an amazing job as parents! You’re completely normal and mature, and I salute your unselfish behavior during this tumultuous time in your life! Hopefully, more and more couples in the process of separation will look to you two for advice because man, you’ve got it all figured out!

Support VTech, today’s “Orange and Maroon Effect Day.”

Fashion Find: Washed Drawstring Tote.

Poll: Your thoughts on the partial-birth abortion ban?

Will Ferrell video: Give me my money, bitch!

Cheeky Must Have: Stila All Over Glow in Peachy Keen.

Screw YouTube, check out ScrewTube.

Another cool new accessory for your iPod.

Mental health issues: Pretty common on college campuses.

Whenever I happen to look up from the piles and stacks of work on my desk, flip through (mostly) bad TV, or go out with friends to a bar where I usually can’t afford more than an ice cold Pabst, the same realization dawns on me time and time again. Everyone is pairing off! …or at least, trying to.

Today’s gimmie gimmie NOW society doesn’t have much patience when it comes to finding a significant other. Casual hook-ups are becoming more and more acceptable, and internet dating is allowing us to meet tons of people in insanely quick succession. With all the opportunities swarming around us, almost every movie or television show we watch featuring a love story, and bestsellers like He’s Just Not That Into You and 365 Proven Ways to Find Love in Less Than a Year giving any and all advice you could ever desire in the area of dating (though my girl Abigail rightly points out such “advice” isn’t always right…or even close to it), it’s hard to imagine a life that doesn’t include a partner. Read More »

EL-P: “Smitherines” (Stop Cryin’)

From the album I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead. Buy it here.

Whip out your bongs, or get your rolling papers ready cause today is the official holiday for pot smokers across the country. 420 has long been code for pot friendly people of the world to light up, and today’s date obviously has special significance. So if you see people walking around looking a little out of sorts today… they’ve probably been smoking since they woke up this morning.

Legend holds that the term 420 originated in San Rafael, California. Apparantly, a group of high school kids known as the Waldos would meet everyday after school at 4:20 PM at a statue of Louis Pasteur. When they wanted to smoke, to ask if anyone had pot, or to ask if they looked stoned the members would say “420 Louis.” The phrase stuck, and because of traveling groups like the Grateful Dead, the term spread far beyond the borders of California.

Today, if you indulge in such illicit activities, there are sure to be parties around. But if you’re close to Marin Country, CA you can participate in the annual 420 Hemp Fest, in Ann Arbor you can attend the Hash Bash, or if you’re in our lovely nation’s capital you can go to the first party leading up to the July 4th Smoke In.

If you’re a smoker—have fun. If not, hold your breath because otherwise you’re sure to get a contact high!