The Republican presidential debate this Wednesday featured all the candidates, but somehow it became a two person throw-down: former frontrunner Mitt Romney versus new guy Rick Perry.  Mitt Romney was a well-acknowledged favorite for the Republican nomination until about a month ago, when Texas Governor Rick Perry came charging into the race. At the debate, Romney talked about his plan to boost jobs, and Perry attacked Social Security, calling it a “monstrous lie” and a Ponzi scheme. A third, unlikely, leader also emerged during the debate: the former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman, who acted calm, cool and collected throughout. Of course, you can’t put sparring politicians in a room without at least one dramatic event. On Wednesday, this came during a commercial break, when Perry approached Rep. Ron Paul and got all up in his grill: Paul’s supporters are saying Perry assaulted their guy, but Paul says no such thing happened. Bummer.

Twitter announced it has hit the 100-million member mark. I’ve got a Twitter (and trust me, I held out a loonnggg time), College Candy’s got a Twitter, College Candy’s intern’s got a Twitter, even the whale at the Museum of Natural History has got a Twitter! The point is, the site, which was recently valued at over $8 billion, won’t stop growing. 75% of NBA players, 82% of Congress (which no longer includes the penis-pic tweeting Anthony Weiner), and 87% of the Billboard Top 100 Musicians tweet actively, and those numbers will surely get closer and closer to 100% as the site continues to grow.

President Obama addressed Congress Thursday night, urging them to pass his $447 billion to boost jobs and the economy. The legislation, called the American Jobs Act, would include tax cuts, extension of unemployment benefits, infrastructure spending (on things like roads and expanding Wi-Fi access) and other measures to help the economy, because it clearly still needs help. Even though Obama emphasized over and over that every facet of his bill had bipartisan support and would not increase the federal deficit, Republicans didn’t even merit the thing with an official response. Many commentators loved the speech, however, because of Obama’s serious, get-it-done ‘tude. “After months of being a negotiator, Obama finally looked like a president,” said E.J. Dionne, Jr. of The Washington Post. A good thing, if he has any hopes of winning that second term.

The media tracked down a UCLA undergraduate who’s spending his summer not at an internship, or playing video games, or taking classes… but fighting as a rebel in the Libyan revolution. Chris Jeon, 21, is a math major, and yes I already tried to find him on Facebook and failed, but by all means…maybe your stalking skills are better than mine. “I just… see what happens,” he told reporters from the Christian Science Monitor. “At spring break I told my friends a sick vacation would be to come here and fight with the rebels.” What do his parents think? Well, they didn’t even know he was there (although they probably do now, boy has he got it coming). He’s planning on returning to the U.S. the day before classes start at the end of September.

Texas was officially declared a disaster area this week as wildfires spread across the drought-stricken state. It seems like not even a few days can go by without a devastating, natural disaster making headlines: over 190 wildfires destroyed over 1,500 homes. Near Austin, the fires took out 34,000 acres of land. So far, 17 people are unaccounted for, although they (fingers crossed) could just be out of town. The fires are fortunately largely over, and residents will slowly be making their way back to their homes to survey the damage.

Pic o’ the Week:

President Barack Obama, along with first lady Michelle and former president George W. Bush, took a moment of silence at the just-opened 9/11 memorial on the tragic event’s tenth anniversary yesterday. The memorial features twin reflecting pools surrounded by the names of the deceased inscribed in bronze where the Twin Towers once stood.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo News (REUTERS/Timothy A. Clary/Pool)

This week we hit up the West Coast as we examine the two hottest schools in Los Angeles- the University of Southern California and the University of California- Los Angeles. Amidst the beautiful SoCal climate and a city rife with movie sets and superstars, private USC and public UCLA compete to find out which is most elite in the City of Angels.

1. Superior Sport

USC – The Trojans are known as “the football school” and have been awarded the NCAA national title in football eleven times, including back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004.  They are perennially ranked in the Top 10 football programs in the BCS by ESPN, USA Today, and other publications. And Trojans have taken home the Heisman Trophy seven times.
UCLA - Meanwhile, the Bruins are known as powerhouses in basketball–also earning eleven NCAA titles. Seven of these championships were won consecutively, from 1967-1973.  UCLA is also the all-time leader in total NCAA national titles across all sports.

Meanwhile, the Lexus Gauntlet is an annual all-sports competition between the two schools sponsored by Lexus. Points are awarded for every victory (particularly in head-to-head match ups)  in NCAA-sanctioned competitions, with the school with the most points declared as the winner. (There is also a separate Lexus Gauntlet awarded to the winner of the Stanford-Berkeley rivalry.)  In the eight years of Lexus Gauntlet tradition, USC has walked away with five titles.

Three credits to: TIE.  The two schools pulled a draw in NCAA titles in their respective predominant sport.  On the one hand, the Lexus Gauntlet record gives the Trojans the edge, but UCLA also has the most NCAA titles of any school. Too close to call!!

2. Terrific Traditions

USC – Trojans can’t withhold their affections for Traveler, the magnificent white horse ridden by a student in full Greek armor at every football game, and Tommy Trojan, the iconic statue of the school’s mascot found on campus. But Songfest, an annual talent show in which frats & sororities compete against one another to benefit the charity TroyCamp, is a highlight of the social calendar. When it comes to hatin’ on their crosstown rivals, some USC students once set loose thousands of crickets on the UCLA campus.
UCLA - Like the Trojans, UCLA also has its own child-oriented charity called UniCamp.  Students donning blue and gold love exhibiting card stunts (flashing the university logo, for instance) at basketball games and occasionally dousing Tommy Trojan with UCLA-colored paint.

Three Credits to: USC, for the campus-rockin Songfest.

3. Hottest (LA) Hood

USC - Located in University Park, USC is adjacent to the Los Angeles Coliseum and sits on Figueroa Street, which connects the school to the Staples Center and historic Chinatown.
UCLA - The Bruins are located in the Westwood Village section of Los Angeles, a wealthy and scenic section of town that is home to several vintage movie theaters and stretches of beautiful homes.  Oh, and the Playboy Mansion is just a hop, skip, and jump away!

Three credits to:  UCLA - who doesn’t want to party with Hef?

4. Ass-kicking Alumni

USC –  Neil Armstrong, Will Ferrell, Whitney Port
UCLA – Lo Bosworth, Francis Ford Coppola, James Franco

Three credits to: Let’s see…Whitney is SO much cooler than Lo on The Hills, and while Will Ferrell can make me pee my pants, I’d rather have James Franco in them. It’s another close one, but I’m going to have to go with UCLA because others have walked on the moon, but only FFC could have directed the masterpiece The Godfather with such genius.

5. Acceptance Rate Agony

USC- 22% of over 35,000 applicants were accepted for the class of 2012.
UCLA-  22.7% for the university with the largest number of applicants in the United States (over 55,000!)

Three credits to:  USC…by a nose!!

And the diploma goes to: …its a TIE! Seriously, its too close to call who wins this rivalry. Both schools boast terrific academics, athletics, and high-profile alumni–how can you choose? For all of you Angelenos out there, what do you think?

Amy Sedaris teaches women how to clean downtown.

Albino animals are so cute!

We need this dress. Now.

Eminem is a really good actor!

Worried about your teeth? Worry no more…

We’re back with another edition of G.W.W.E. (Guys We Wanna Eff)!  This week, kick back and relax with a big cup of  Kal Penn.

Not many men can put a gun to their heads one day and accept a highly prestigious federal job the next, but leave it to Kal Penn to pull it off. Earlier this week, the scrumptious House star had fans in a tizzy when they tuned in to discover his character, Dr. Lawrence Kutner, had committed suicide. Turns out, Penn had his character on the popular show killed off so that he could accept a job as President Obama’s Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison! With the economy being what it is, for anyone to make a career leap at this time is impressive, but the (literally) show-stopping switch by Kal is infinitely effable.

Who would have ever thought the guy-next-door cutie we saw in National Lampoon’s  Van Wilder or Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle would one day be swapping notes with the President? Turns out he’s been stacking his resume not only with starring roles but academic and political scores, as well. Having attended UCLA for college, Kal has served as guest lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania and as a surrogate during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. What a catch!

This week, there’s only one man on my mind, and that’s Kal Penn. Not only is his career move from acting to public service inspirational, he’s certainly shocked us all. Who knows what kind of wildcard stunts he’ll pull in the bedroom? Kal, if you’re looking for a congratulatory eff, you can park it right here.

Fact is we connect to others by learning about them. And everyone has something to share (even if it a story about a particularly embarassing fall…in a dress). So to give you yet another reason to procrastinate, we started ‘The Five Questions We Ask Everyone’ (and five just for that one person) because we know whether we’re schmoozing with an A- list celeb or your local bartender, you’ll be equally entertained.

Style expert and entrepreneur Ashley Thompson, 29, enjoys a life immersed in the international fashion scene as both a forecasting fashionista as well as the owner of New York City’s well-known shopping hotspot, Owl’s Lab.  Some of those sporting her goods include industry icons such as Mary-Kate Olsen, Jessica Alba, Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey, Maggie Gyllenhaal and more.

Owl’s Lab has been featured on TLC’s “What Not To Wear” and in publications such as Vogue, Teen Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, Lucky, US Weekly, In Touch Weekly, New York Post, New York Daily News, E! Online and Daily Candy.  It also holds the title of one of the Top 100 Boutiques in New York City (Lucky Magazine, August 2007) and is listed as one of NYC’s five “Best Bets” boutiques alongside Phillip Lim and other notable women’s fashion destinations.

Ashley knows fashion, so we wanted to get to know Ashley.

5 Questions We Ask Everyone:

1.    Most hysterical/ridiculous college memory/most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

I went to UCLA and was in a sorority, so there were plenty of funny memories! I was always harnessing my obsession with fashion by dressing up in ridiculous costumes for all our theme parties. We’d go out to restaurants for dinner before the events dressed like the most outrageous things: football players, Disney characters, animals, you name it.

2.    Five things you can’t live without

La Mer cream

My Blackberry!

My Mac laptop

A bag of jewelry with me at all times

A big handbag with plenty of room

3.    What’s your motto/advice you live by?

Plan your work and work your plan. That’s my motto! You can’t go wrong if you have a solid plan. Also, I always tell people to stay positive and know they are in charge.  Don’t let anyone get into your head and tell you that you can’t do something.

4.    Your favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car/for karaoke?

I just went to Bette Midler show in Vegas and she sang “When a Man Loves a Woman.” It’s such a classic, I could sing it over and over again in the car! “Sweet Home Alabama” is my pick for best karaoke song.

5.    Ten years from now you will be….

I will have more clothing stores, a clothing line and kids!

5 Questions just for Ashley:

1.    What are some tips you have for girls who want to update their wardrobes without buying all new clothes?

The best way to update your wardrobe without going overboard with your budget is to buy cute and in-trend accessories.  You can always take a really cool new belt and a couple simple pieces and create a whole new look. Long necklaces and scarves are great for creating a fresh look.  When I want to get stylish without working too hard at it, I usually pair a tunic with leggings and combine some fantastic accessories to get my outfit just right.

2.    How did you get into the fashion business?

According to my mother (and what I can remember from my childhood), I’ve been dressing up since I could walk. I used to have a “costume closet” near our stairs where I’d store things I’d find at vintage boutiques and from my Mom’s closet. My mom bought me a sewing machine at one point because I was so into fashion. I think it has always been who I am, and I am extremely thankful that I have always had a passion that I have been able to chase.

3.    What is your go-to outfit?

In the Fall/Winter, Skinnies, a tunic, a layered knit and jacket with lots of accessories. In the summer I prefer, a long skirt with a boho style tank or a maxi dress with gladiator scandals. I have always been a bit of a hippie at heart. I like my outfits to be easy, so I usually add layers.

4.    What advice do you have for girls who want to get into the fashion business?

Follow your heart and your dreams. Get an internship and go to a school where you can learn your trade. Also, just never stop talking, writing and thinking about what you want. It’s ok to be really passionate about something to where you sometimes drive your family and friends crazy; later they will realize that it was that drive that made you successful. Don’t let anything get in your way!

5.    Which celebrity style do you covet most?

When I’m having one of those days where I can’t get dressed and I’m throwing clothing around my room, I think about what Rachel Zoe or Jennifer Aniston would wear. Rachel Zoe is uber trendy and Jennifer Aniston is overly classic, so if I harness a mix of both fashionistas, I can get a good mix.

Blink 182 is back together again!

Congratulations to new daddy, Tiger Woods.

Workout balls are dangergous.

Sure the music was great, but what about the Grammy hair?

2 UCLA students are on their way to the top thanks to Coca Cola.

The best lip balm ever?

An online support group for those of us with parents on Facebook.

Christian Bale takes kid to the dentist.

The Craigslist Free section is all you’ll ever need.

But maybe we should.

Last night a USC student was stabbed and killed after leaving a party on campus. Police are reporting that he got into a screaming fight with another student on the street that quickly escalated. The student, 23 year old Bryan Richard Frost, was stabbed in the chest before the suspect ran off. Frost was rushed to the hospital where he could not be saved.

It goes without saying that just because you are on a college campus, it doesn’t mean you are safe. Please think about this when you head out tonight and this weekend. Do not go home alone, remain aware of your surroundings when you are walking home with others, and do not do anything that might provoke someone to harm you.

Be safe, ladies.

Apparently this idea isn’t going over too well at Ohio State, whose Buckeye logo we won’t see slapped on the ass of any Victoria Secret product any time soon. It probably wouldn’t have been such a big had not the company been based in the same city that houses OSU, or if OSU rival Michigan wouldn’t get the Vicky Secret treatment.

So why is Ohio State going to be deprived of that rarest and proudest of honors? Well, because the CEO of Limited Brands, Leslie Wexner (who is a guy) is on the board of Trustees at OSU and feared a conflict of interest. In fact, last Spring OSU president E. Gordon Gee, (whose initials, I have to point out, spell EGG) stepped down from the board at Limited Brands for similar conflict of interest issues.

It all sort of sounds dirty and incestuous to me, made more so by the fact that some old dude is the head of Victoria Secret. In my mind, Victoria looked a lot like Dynasty-era Joan Collins.

Anyway, it is a sad day for all the Victoria Secret shoppers who go to OSU. Instead of buying over-priced underthings proudly bearing the logo of their school, they will have to buy over-priced underthings that have no logo at all. And all the money that they spend on said over priced underthings will go straight into the pocket of Wexner, the very man responsible for their misfortune. It’s a vicious cycle asking for some hard hitting investigative journalism.

But perhaps the Buckeyes should be counting their lucky stars. They could be like 52-year old Macrida Patterson, who injured herself while putting on a Victoria Secret low-rise v-string thong. Apparently there was a design flaw that caused a metallic piece of the underwear to fly up and hit Patterson in the eye, causing her permanent corneal damage.

This story inspires any number of humorous or horrifying scenarios, but here are the ones I’m most struck with, no pun intended.

1. A 52 year old wearing a low rise thong. I’m 23 and you would not catch me dead in a thong.

2. The way you would have to position your body to hit yourself in the eye while putting on underwear

3. The fact that Patterson will not allow defense attorneys to examine the offending thong.

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It was boring and hard, which meant that no matter what I tried, I constantly fell asleep next to my computer and woke up completely lost.

If only I could have taken one of these classes compiled by Mental Floss Magazine, I’m sure my GPA would have looked much better. Instead of dozing off to the lulling sound of a professor droning on about ratios, I could have been studying muppets and watching Sesame Street.

All of these, at one time, actually existed.

The Horror Film in Context – Bowdoin – Watch people get their heads smashed in and then talk about why society likes to watch people get their heads smashed in.

Simpsons and Philosophy – Cal-Berkeley – How much does this popular show reflect society? Apparently enough to warrant a semester’s worth of lectures.

Maple Syrup-The Real Thing – Alfred – Haven’t you always wanted to know the entire history of syrup?

The Science of Harry Potter – Frostburg State – Is it possible to make broomsticks fly? Let’s discuss.

Oprah Winfrey-The Tycon – U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Race, Success, Money…and dealing with crazy movie stars jumping on your couch.

Far Side Entomology – Oregon State – Comic strips and insects. Sure, why not?

History of Electronic Dance Music – UCLA – Ace of Base never sounded so smart.

The Future is Lost: TV Series as Cultural Phenomenon – Tufts – Smart kids + mind-numbingly confusing show that went nowhere = deeper meanings that never existed.

Muppet Magic: Jim Henson’s Art – UC-Santa Cruz – How have muppets change your life, Little Jimmy?

Getting Dressed – Princeton – If you are what you wear, this class is probably full of polos and boat shoes.

Biblical Model for Home and Family –Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Gosh, I’ve always wanted to know how to “submit graciously” to my future husband!