Everybody knows college is expensive, but did you know that for a growing majority of college students — gas is trumping tuition?

According to the always lovable and informative New York Times, the numbers of students enrolling in online college courses — so they won’t have to spend all their extra dolla dolla bills driving to and from campus — has drastically increased.

“The vast majority of the nation’s 15 million college students — at least 79 percent — live off campus, and with gas prices above $4 a gallon, many are seeking to cut commuting costs by studying online” claims the article, which goes on to say that certain colleges are experiencing a 50 to 100% increase in enrollment for their online courses.

As if plunking ourselves down in front of a computer (where there’s every distraction from bad reality TV to that f*cking amazing turkey sandwich waiting for you in the fridge) in an attempt to learn wasn’t spelling enough trouble for our education, certain people (like the president of Brevard Community College, as interviewed by the NYT) fear that our sh*tty economy, combined with the price of gas, might cause certain college students to drop out of school completely. Read More »

It’s official: Peter Jackson will executive produce not one but two Hobbit films that will be shot back-to-back (echoes of LoTR), with production beginning in 2009.This is monumental news, considering the very public fallout between Jackson and New Line Cinema.

Peter Jackson, lord of lore, had this to say:

“I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a legacy we proudly share with Bob and Michael, and together, we share that legacy with millions of loyal fans all over the world. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth. I also want to thank Harry Sloan and our new friends at MGM for helping us find the common ground necessary to continue that journey.”

A director has yet to be named for the films, but speculation on that and much more can be found at the hub of all Hobbit-related information, TheOneRing.net.

You may have thought a week without Lindsay was tough, but I can’t lie. I miss my boy.

I miss Zac.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I opened the New York Post this morning and lo and behold — there he was!

Well, not him…Vanessa what’s-her-face. But his name was there, fully bolded right there on the newsprint. What for, you ask?

It looks like Zac and his super-fake girlfriend have turned down one million dollars each to star in Disney’s upcoming High School Musical movie.

You may argue it’s because Zac and Vanessa are like, totally growing up, and will be pigeoned-holed by Disney forever if they don’t leave now!

You may argue that Vanessa has an album coming out soon and she can’t be bothered by any more HSM bullshit.

But you want to know what I think is going on here? It’s happening! Zac and Vanessa are on the outs, people! Read More »