Busted Borders
Mega bookstore chain Borders filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday. It plans to close 40% of its 488 superstores as the company reorganizes. This USA Today story ponders what went wrong with Borders. I suppose some readers are looking for a more sophisticated answer than the reality that most people go to Borders to flip through magazines and use the bathroom without having to ask for a key. Borders was my go-to pit stop on Michigan Ave., before that store closed earlier this year. (P.S. British retailer Top Shop is opening up there. Apparently that is huge news.) More on Borders.
Maybe this could lead to the resurgence of independent bookstores or, gasp!, libraries? For my mom’s sake, I also hope it leads to a sequel to "You’ve Got Mail." She loves that effing movie.
She Knows It When She Sees It
Connie O’Brien, a Republican congresswoman in the Kansas legislature, issued an apology on Wednesday for asserting that she could spot an undocumented student because of her olive complexion. Last week, O’Brien was offering up testimony during a hearing to discuss repealing the state’s policy of extending in-state tuition to students that are in the country illegally. O’Brien told a tale about taking her son to the financial aid department at a community college. He was not eligible for any aid. Then she talks about some girl without identification trying to claim her scholarship money. Since the girl didn’t have identification (which was very dumb of the girl, for sure) and had olive skin, O’Brien knew – SHE KNEW! – the girl was not a citizen. More.
Here is the audio of O’Brien’s testimony.
Remember Renae from yesterday? I asked her to clarify the finer points of this issue. Students without documentation are not eligible for government financial aid. They are, however, eligible for some private scholarships. The congresswoman said that the girl was trying to access her scholarship money – not her Pell grant, not her Stafford loan, so her son was just whining.
Freshmen Are Staying Sober
Speaking of college, a recent survey of 500,000 college freshman by an alcohol-prevention group says that binge drinking is down on campuses. The group, Outside the Classroom, claims that the students are drinking less because there are more dry late-night events, activities that this group helps facilitate. Hmm, aren’t we patting ourselves on the back, Outside the Classroom?
These dry late-night events include concerts, foam parties, movie nights and dances. While I am not promoting binge drinking, I pre-gamed like a mad man before all those events in college. I used those sorts of events to sober up.
But if this is true college kids, you are kind of missing the point of college. (Just don’t get so drunk you die, ok?) More.
Pujols' Self-Imposed Deadline Expires
Albert Pujols is like the best baseball player ever but is paid like a mere commoner at $16 million a year. This is his last year on his contract and he and his people gave the St. Louis Cardinals a Feb. 16 deadline to come up with a deal. Today is Feb. 16 and Pujols didn’t get a new contract.
To Pujols, the date of the deadline was not completely arbitrary; spring training is starting and he doesn’t want to distract that (cough, cough, Melo.). Pujols wants the Cardinals to pay $30 million a year for a decade. I turned to my sporty friends who said that essentially Pujols deserves more money than he is getting, but at 31 years old, a decade contract is stupid. Currently, the highest paid baseball player is Alex Rodriguez, who has a 10-year, $275 million contract with the New York Yankees. Pujols wants to snatch that top spot. More.
Fake Rahm, You Is In Danger!
Mega bookstore chain Borders filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday. It plans to close 40% of its 488 superstores as the company reorganizes. This USA Today story ponders what went wrong with Borders. I suppose some readers are looking for a more sophisticated answer than the reality that most people go to Borders to flip through magazines and use the bathroom without having to ask for a key. Borders was my go-to pit stop on Michigan Ave., before that store closed earlier this year. (P.S. British retailer Top Shop is opening up there. Apparently that is huge news.) More on Borders.
Maybe this could lead to the resurgence of independent bookstores or, gasp!, libraries? For my mom’s sake, I also hope it leads to a sequel to "You’ve Got Mail." She loves that effing movie.
She Knows It When She Sees It
Connie O’Brien, a Republican congresswoman in the Kansas legislature, issued an apology on Wednesday for asserting that she could spot an undocumented student because of her olive complexion. Last week, O’Brien was offering up testimony during a hearing to discuss repealing the state’s policy of extending in-state tuition to students that are in the country illegally. O’Brien told a tale about taking her son to the financial aid department at a community college. He was not eligible for any aid. Then she talks about some girl without identification trying to claim her scholarship money. Since the girl didn’t have identification (which was very dumb of the girl, for sure) and had olive skin, O’Brien knew – SHE KNEW! – the girl was not a citizen. More.
Here is the audio of O’Brien’s testimony.
Remember Renae from yesterday? I asked her to clarify the finer points of this issue. Students without documentation are not eligible for government financial aid. They are, however, eligible for some private scholarships. The congresswoman said that the girl was trying to access her scholarship money – not her Pell grant, not her Stafford loan, so her son was just whining.
Freshmen Are Staying Sober
Speaking of college, a recent survey of 500,000 college freshman by an alcohol-prevention group says that binge drinking is down on campuses. The group, Outside the Classroom, claims that the students are drinking less because there are more dry late-night events, activities that this group helps facilitate. Hmm, aren’t we patting ourselves on the back, Outside the Classroom?
These dry late-night events include concerts, foam parties, movie nights and dances. While I am not promoting binge drinking, I pre-gamed like a mad man before all those events in college. I used those sorts of events to sober up.
But if this is true college kids, you are kind of missing the point of college. (Just don’t get so drunk you die, ok?) More.
Pujols' Self-Imposed Deadline Expires
Albert Pujols is like the best baseball player ever but is paid like a mere commoner at $16 million a year. This is his last year on his contract and he and his people gave the St. Louis Cardinals a Feb. 16 deadline to come up with a deal. Today is Feb. 16 and Pujols didn’t get a new contract.
To Pujols, the date of the deadline was not completely arbitrary; spring training is starting and he doesn’t want to distract that (cough, cough, Melo.). Pujols wants the Cardinals to pay $30 million a year for a decade. I turned to my sporty friends who said that essentially Pujols deserves more money than he is getting, but at 31 years old, a decade contract is stupid. Currently, the highest paid baseball player is Alex Rodriguez, who has a 10-year, $275 million contract with the New York Yankees. Pujols wants to snatch that top spot. More.
Fake Rahm, You Is In Danger!
I’ve mentioned how much I love fake Twitter account for Chicago mayoral front runner Rahm Emanuel. Now Emanuel wants to know who is behind the account. He is offering to donate between $2,500 to $5,000 to the imposter’s favorite charity if he or she steps forward. Emanuel says he finds the tweets amusing, but I would be calling Henry Hill for tips on living under the radar. Rahm looks like the kind of guy that would shake your hand and give you a bro hug right before he snaps your neck in four places and dumps your body in Lake Michigan. More.
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems?
Couple spends months wondering if Biggie was right and then finally decides to take $1 million lottery prize after all. More
Side note: “5 double O. Here's my phone number your man ain't gotta to know" is one of my favorite rap lyrics of all time. I miss the 90s.
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems?
Couple spends months wondering if Biggie was right and then finally decides to take $1 million lottery prize after all. More
Side note: “5 double O. Here's my phone number your man ain't gotta to know" is one of my favorite rap lyrics of all time. I miss the 90s.
You're the next Barba Hilton. Jose Kardashian. Barba Lohan.. Ooh!!
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