I will be the first to say that I think the movie Mean Girls is fantastic: great humor, perfect actor casting and, of course, I (like many) know girls like The Plastics. There was definitely a Regina George in my high school, and even a Blaire from Gossip Girl, and, sadly, there are still a few of them in my life today.

While there are the inevitable “mean girls” in your life, I can’t help but wonder: did these girls exist before shows like Gossip Girl, 90210 or the movie Mean Girls?

Maybe.

Do I think these caddy, petty, deceptive females existed before Hollywood decided to bank on this character flaw? Yes. Do I think they were as idolized, accepted and vicious? No.

I do believe Hollywood has aided in the level of meanness that some females like to inflict on others. Would a bunch of girls from a neighboring high school have vandalized a girl from my high school’s house before vixen Valerie from 90210 inflicted evil on Kelly and Donna? Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Read More »

Some call shopping a sport. And I agree. I mean, think about it. In order to get the job done right, one needs skill, technique, timing, and so much more. The only equipment you really need is a good, comfortable pair of shoes and a nice big purse (preferably with a fully-stuffed wallet and possibly a granola bar for some nourishment), and now there’s a new piece of equipment that’s going to make shopping a whole lot easier.

To get this new piece of shopping equipment, all you have to do is pull out your cell phone! No, not so you can chat it up with your friends as you bargain hunt, but so you can find the best deals on everything you’re shopping for. A new service called Pongr automatically tells you where you can get the best price on almost any item. Um, amazing?

According to the Pongr website, all you have to do is take a camera phone picture of the item you want (if it’s a book, CD, DVD, or video game) or type the UPC code or product description into a text message (if it’s clothing, shoes, electronics, or purses) and either e-mail your query to ping@pongr.com or text it to SHOPP. You’ll automatically get a text message back telling you where you can get the item for cheapest. If it’s online, you can purchase the item right from your phone and if it’s a brick and mortar store, Pongr will give you directions to the store. Read More »

Who needs good grades when you can impress your friends and family by quoting movies instead? Not me, that’s for sure. Throwing those textbooks out the window does present a sticky situation, though… so many movies, so little time. Luckily, I’m here to break it down for you by presenting the best 5 movies to watch instead of studying.

5. When Harry Met Sally.
Seriously, who doesn’t love this movie? I bet it was a super-smash hit when it first came out, but it’s now a super-smash source of entertainment that’s run on cable all the time. As we all know, free movies are better than costly movies, so record this one and pop it in anytime you feel kinda sorta like NOT doing that physics assignment.

4. 10 Things I Hate About You.
A Heath Ledger tribute is always justified, and this movie is a great excuse to do one right. It’s also a good party movie because almost everyone likes it, and even some guys can be coerced into watching it. Read More »

The Democratic National Convention kicked off last night (which you may not have watched because, you know, The Hills was also on…)

Michael Phelps claims to be “too busy” for a girlfriend.

Vote for the hottest nun!

The 10 Most Shameless Product Placements in movie history.

Our gal pal, Jennifer Hudson, will be doin’ her thang for Barack Obama.

Fall TV is coming back! But who can remember where we left off?

Hate latex? Try the spray-on condom.

Dolly Parton is alive…in case you thought otherwise.

6 places where men go to meet women.

Finally, my chance to take down Spencer and Heidi…with my fists.

Looks like TV Musicals aren’t just for the tweens (and really embarassed twenty-somethings) anymore: the geniuses behind the High School Musical awesomeness have said TTFN (that’s, Ta Ta For Now, for those of you not in the know) to middle school and moved on up to MTV.

Get ready because next Monday, August 11th, MTV will be premeiring their latest hit, The American Mall.

I just watched the trailer and I. Can’t. Wait. Yes, I said it. And once you watch this badboy (below), you will agree.

I mean, honestly, how can anyone NOT be excited for this:
Singing
Dancing
Drama set to singing and dancing
Crazy Taylor from The O.C.
The fact that it is on MTV and, therefore, not nearly as embarassing as watching HSM (6 times….)
A free movie!

Seriously, invite the girls (and me!) over, make some popcorn (and Sangria) and turn this on.

Watch the trailer after the jump! Read More »

5. Put YouTube terminals in the voting booths
You wanna know something? Us college kids are really just big magnets. If you open a dumb video of an overweight thirteen year-old kid singing a pop song from the Falkland Islands, every single student within a mile will be chuckling over your shoulder within fifteen seconds.

If our presidential candidates really want to get the 18-24 crowd out and voting, they should start making films of themselves running drunk and naked across the interstate. Right now, candidates are mostly remembered for being a bunch of lumpy old guys who still haven’t lowered the drinking age. They can do so much better: the McCain/Romney version of “Daft Bodies”, for example, would totally steal the election. I’d vote for them.

4. “Reframe the debate”
This year, the American people are concerned with economic something and whatever with foreclosure blah blah drilling offshore and climate change, very important to something Iraq timetable mumble mumble. Man! The issues are tiring! I need a nap!

So it’s not surprising that college students don’t get out to rep their favorite pols. All they talk about is boring crap that sucks! You know what college kids like? Movies. It’s what we care about. “Iraq” is far away and hard to pronounce properly. All those cutthroat late-night debates need to be centered around the real questions — the tough questions, the ones that will get students waving big posters and burning their underwear.

“I understand that Christian Bale’s a great Batman, Senator Obama, but what’s up with that police run-in? In light of his creepy bevhavior, have you reconsidered your recent “pro-shirtless Bale” position?” “Senator McCain, what’s your stance on Pierce Brosnan singing ABBA? Awful enough to be funny, or just awful enough to suck?” “If elected, what measures do the candidates plan to take to ensure that George Lucas doesn’t ruin another franchise, ever?” Read More »

Summer is not coming to a close! Do not listen to your television blaring “back to school” commercials at you! Keep on loving the sun and living the summertime life. Here are my five favorite things about summer - the good, the bad and the sweaty.

1. Venti Starbucks Iced Passion Tea Lemonade (with two pumps of melon):
If you haven’t tried this drink, walk… no, RUN, to your nearest Starbucks. Don’t worry; if you live in America it will probably be no further than a block away. This drink is the greatest non alcoholic summer beverage I’ve consumed. I’ve even attempted to make it the greatest alcoholic beverage I’ve consumed. Do not mix with vodka! Not good. Anyway, it’s sweet, tangy, caffeine free and most importantly, it’s pink.

The bad?: Friends mock you for embarrassingly long and girly drink order and local Starbucks staff start knowing you as “Two Pump Melon Girl.”

2. Rainbow flip flops
Obvious summertime staple! These go with everything and flip flops are the only shoe of choice for the summer. I have a beach pair, which are completely destroyed and a nice pair, which are on their way to being completely destroyed. Can wear these to class, bars and the gym. But only to the gym if you plan on just walking around observing, in lieu of legit exercise. My kind of gym shoes! Read More »

College is kind of a weird place, isn’t it? You’re pretty much dumped in an environment where you’re told to think and act like an adult, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything more childish than some of the crazy stuff my fellow school buddies come up with.

Now, I’m not complaining; nothing helps paper stress like just sitting around and watching a Disney movie. I won’t disclose how many kids movies I watch on a weekly basis at school, but…well, it happens a lot.

Some time last semester, when I had so much work to do that I felt it was more productive to do nothing, I hunkered down with my girlfriend to watch some good ol’ Disney. And I was utterly horrified. This was a movie I adored as a kid, and now I could barely go a few minutes without hearing or seeing something I knew must’ve gone over my head. And the more I thought about it, the more I wondered…

Why did my mom let me watch this stuff?!

Honorable Mention: The “Night on Bald Mountain” short from Fantasia. I still have problems watching this.

5. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Really, contextually, there’s nothing bad about this movie. Certainly an evil madman who wants to melt all the cartoons into nothingness isn’t that bad, and no one questions why a rabbit who’s weird even by cartoon standards is married to a chick who’s hot even by human standards. At least, I never thought anything of it. It’s a damn good movie, don’t get me wrong! It’s just…weird. Read More »