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BREAKING: Sheikh Issa, Brother of Principle NYU Abu Dhabi Backer, Tortures Man in Video
Caution: Video contains graphic footage that may not be suitable for some readers.
This link provides access to an exclusive ABC report with video evidence of one of the 22 royal sheikhs of the United Arab Emirates, the powerful brothers who are currently funding the building and managing of NYU’s Abu Dhabi campus, taking part in torture with the help of uniformed UAE police officers. Continue…
Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:37
NYU Kicks Off Mayoral Candidate Series with Intimate, Somewhat Awkward Conversation with Tony Avella
NYU Kicks Off Mayoral Candidate Series with Intimate, Somewhat Awkward Conversation with Tony Avella
The first of four NYU’s “Meeting the Mayoral Candidates” Conversation Series opened last night with a quaint discussion with Queens Councilmember Tony Avella, an admitted long shot to succeed Mayor Bloomberg. The event, inside Gallatin’s Labowitz Theater, was eerily reminiscent of James Lipton’s Inside the Actor’s Studio: intimate and slightly uncomfortable. The NYU Office of Public Affairs was really trying to push the whole “conversation” thing – one of the first questions was “what does your mother call you?” Avella’s answer: she passed away. *crickets*
Nonetheless, the event was worthwhile: Bloomberg bashing, anecdote telling and blatant stump speeching.To a crowd of about 20, mostly older adults not even associated with NYU, Avella was humble and offered a good pitch, even though he looked and sounded just like Republican geezer Fred Thompson.
Born and raised in Queens, the Hunter College grad explained that he wasn’t the “most conscientious student” in college and was never involved in any activities, which means there is at least some hope in my future. He also proclaimed that he “loves public service, but hates politics” (he rejected a 25% Council pay raise two years ago). The reformist pledged to actively involve local communities in his policymaking as mayor. Continue…
Thursday, April 9, 2009 9:03
Economic Crisis 101
Economic Crisis 101
It is hard not to know something, if anything, about the financial crisis hitting Wall Street, U.S. politics, and your parents wallets recently. Yet, as undergraduate students trying to juggle our academic, social, and budding professional lives, it is understandable that most of us, and the American public, remain relatively uninformed on the nature of the crisis. There are, of course, different perspectives as to what caused the crisis and what should be done about it, but most, if not all, will look towards the sub-prime lending and adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) “meltdown” when discussing the recent collapse of some the world’s largest financial giants.
Continue…
LGBT Brad Pitt flexes his checkbook for the gays
Brad Pitt flexes his checkbook for the gays
Remember when Brad Pitt said that he and Angelina Jolie would “consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able”? Yeah, that was super sweet. Well, the square-jawed sex-symbol has done it again! On Wednesday Pitt announced that he would be donating $100,000 to fight Proposition 8, an option on the ballot in California in November that could ban the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Says Pitt, “Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn’t harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8.” Brad, you’re a doll. Next time you come to New York let me take you out to dinner to show how much I appreciate this. No, really. I want to.
Photo by Flickr user wvs used under a Creative Commons license.
Friday, September 19, 2008 0:00
2008 Presidential Election It’s The Economy, Stupid.
It’s The Economy, Stupid.
It sure was bad luck for the McCain campaign when the economy zoomed back into America’s focus this week. Here’s how McCain made a bad political situation much, much worse.
Thursday, September 18, 2008 17:08
2008 Presidential Election Could Someone Please Tell McCain What Spain Is?
Could Someone Please Tell McCain What Spain Is?
Okay, this just weird – apparently John McCain was interviewed on a Spanish-language news program the other day, and refused to commit to meeting with the Prime Minister of Spain.
Take a listen (starting at 2:58).
Thursday, September 18, 2008 12:17
Internet Journalism Student Told Not to Report on Journalism Class
Journalism Student Told Not to Report on Journalism Class
Last week, this post on the Journalism department by Alana Taylor caused a little bit of a buzz – you may recognize it from my post on a similar theme the next day.
In fact, Alana’s post turns out to have caused enough of a buzz that the teacher whose class she wrote about read it – and wasn’t too pleased.
Continue…
2008 Presidential Election I’m Un-Ironically Terrified at the Prospect of a Palin Administration
I’m Un-Ironically Terrified at the Prospect of a Palin Administration
I’m always a little skeptical of posts like Mike’s, which decry the horrible, elitist treatment that Sarah Palin has received. Where are these snide, condescending liberals hiding? I haven’t seen any on television, in the newspapers, or any other news outlet – nor have I seen any polling data indicating the presence of this phantom menace.
Continue…
City Gutter Punk Diaspora?
Gutter Punk Diaspora?
Has anyone else noticed that the homeless (or “homeless,” I can never tell) gutter punks, who at one time hung out solely on St. Marks Place, have not only multiplied in numbers, but spread their domain? Obviously the two events are related – St. Marks Place simply can’t hold them all anymore, and the sidewalks are always crowded as it is. I just came home to see two sitting outside my building on Second Avenue, and the other day I saw some as far away as the Walgreens in Astor Place. Many of them seem to have been able to afford huge camping backpacks at some point, but are now completely covered in dirt. Literally. So, my question is two-fold: Where are they coming from, and has anyone else noticed this gutter punk diaspora?
Or maybe they’re all just freegans?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 12:10
Technology Blackberry or Sex?
Blackberry or Sex?
A study of 6500 traveling business executives just released by Sheraton hotels says that 35 percent would choose their PDA over their spouse. Continue…
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 17:16
