No…but really. He’s seriously just not that into you.

Most of us have seen this year’s “box office hit” He’s Just Not That Into You, and some of us, in a desperate attempt to figure out the opposite sex, have read the famous book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo. However, in light of recent events, I have gained first-hand knowledge after seeing several of my friends battle the off and on again so-called relationships of college. It physically pains me to see girls work so hard for something so unattainable. So I’d like to share a few things I’ve come to discover through the experiences of myself and my friends and also just random conversations I’ve overheard while studying at Common Grounds (well, not studying, but listening to music on my laptop).

First off ladies, if a guy wants to date you, he will date you. There’s really no other way to say it. Don’t try to figure out what you’re doing wrong or if he’s secretly just trying to play hard to get. He’s not. And there’s no use in waiting around for someone who may or may not eventually decide he likes you enough to date you, because I guarantee there are about ten other guys out there who do want to date you and then it’s your choice if you’re just that into them or not.

Secondly, don’t read into the text message or phone call fiasco. We all feel sorry for “that girl” who sits around and waits for a guy to text her or call her wanting to hang out, yet somehow we all put ourselves in such a miserably vulnerable position at some point or another. And for what reason? If a guy wants to hang out with you or talk to you, he will call you or text you. If he doesn’t, he won’t. Too often girls want to think that it’s just how a guy is, he’s just not a “texter.” Ok, well maybe he is like that…. with you. But I guarantee you he’s not going to be like that with the girl he ends up dating.

Third of all, if a guy just stops talking to you, he doesn’t want to talk to you anymore. It happens all too often in this college world we live in. Guys… or boys… have no real concept of how to end things with a girl, so in a panicked attempt to gain their so-called single life back, they will just stop talking to someone they’ve spent a significant amount of time in recent weeks or months talking to. This can only mean one thing. MOVE ON. Why do you want to stay interested in someone who is clearly not reciprocating that interest? And don’t waste your time mourning this loss as though it were significant, because I guarantee whoever it is that stopped talking to you is not feeling a loss or they would still be talking to you.

Now, I am specifically talking about the noncommittal relationship in this blog, not to be mistaken with an actual relationship, more commonly referred to as facebook official, where both parties are concentually involved. Serious relationships are to be taken care of in a completely separate manner that is not covered in this rant of wisdom. It is my hope that with this, I have shed light on some weary girls who are struggling to decipher their current relationship status and are too afraid to have a DTR (defining of the relationship). And remember, you have so much to offer someone, so don’t let someone else waste your time.

Megan Duron

Copy Editor

Austin Film Festival: Day II

After making the trip from Waco to Austin yesterday, I was excited to finally get into my seat at the “Serious Moonlight” premiere. The film was fantastic, and Stephen Jablonski (our Multimedia editor) and I were able to get a one-on-one interview with Cheryl Hines.

Day two, while just as exciting as day one, wasn’t as eventful. Everyone was doing their own thing inside, which was a little strange considering of how beautiful of a day it was. There were so many panels and workshops doing on during the day that it was difficult to realize that anything was going on. The streets weren’t any more crowed than they usually are on a typical day in Austin.

The crowd really picked up in the evening. Before the premiere of “The Donner Party,” staring Crispin Glover, the herds of people were gathered outside of the Alamo Drafthouse in order to get a decent seat. It beginning to get very chilly, so some people had to leave their place in line to go get their coats!

As far as the film went, I was very torn. Inspired by the infamous event of the same name (a group of settlers stranded in the mountains resorted to canibalism when they began to die off), “The Donner Party” was a very insightful look into the minds of those involved. I can’t say that all of the performances were stellar, but it was good to see Crispin Glover take a bite out of a more dramatic role.

Get it? Bite? Har har.

But seriously, folks, the film festival is really shaping up to be something special. Tomorrow’s events are even more exciting, but you’ll have to keep reading in order to find out how they go.

– Ash Anderson, Entertainment Editor

Texas Weather

(Note – this was written last week, when the weather was awful and it was raining every day. I was putting my finishing touches to it over the weekend. Now, it’s sunny and fantastic)

The weather’s got me down.

There’s something about this weather that makes it impossible to work. It’s not even just homework, it’s everything. Even as I sit and write this, there are about a hundred other things I need to do, the most important of which is to get my car inspection done before my mom comes into town for Homecoming.

But it’s like I can’t bring myself to do it. I can’t grab enough energy out of the grey sky, constant rain and chilly wind to convince my body to do what needs to get done.

In the morning I wake up and groan every time I hear the pitter-patter of rain on my window. The other morning I heard it at six thirty because my window was open. Luckily for me, the windowsill was dry. Although knowing my cat, she probably sat there in the rain, soaking up any water that managed to make its way into my room.

I just finished reading the last Harry Potter during my off time and I can’t help but think of the Dementors. Maybe they are causing the fog, rain and my overall poor attitude. Or maybe the infamous Texas drought decided to pull a “just kidding” on all of us, mistakenly thinking it was April Fools Day. Either way, this is unacceptable.

I can’t even function, and yet it seems like I am infinitely busier with each day. This is some sick, cruel joke being played on me. If the bottoms of my pants get wet, it’s all over. If it’s anywhere below 75 degrees, there’s not a chance I’m going to be any use to anyone. It’s almost like a coma, induced by the rain.

On top of everything else, the rain seems to have knocked out communications, phone and Internet, for all the people I need to get in contact with. It’s like this batch of rain is special, corrosive and targets any wires, phone towers and the gate into the parking lot at my apartment.

Rain – I thought we had something special, but I don’t think it’s going to work out. I’m leaving you – for sunny skies and brighter days.

By Laura Remson, Staff Writer

A Halloween No-No

On Halloween, you can get away with looking as silly or ridiculous as you want. Even children don morbid bloody masks and make-up to roam the streets. This ritual of irreverent attire and strange behavior generally doesn’t bother me, but this year as I scanned Wed sites for a costume, I was completely disgusted. The hot items for this year seem to be sequined gloves and jerry-curl wigs. That’s right. This Halloween, you may see some small Michael Jacksons at your door.

I can’t even begin to describe how gross that is to me. Jackson, who passed away this summer, was definitely a controversial figure, but doesn’t it just seem bizarre to dress up in the likeness of the deceased? True, people dress up like historical figures. That actually is a little strange too now that I think about it. Regardless, I am appalled but the influx of Jackson costumes.

I will admit this summer I watch the televised funeral and followed the ridiculous amount of media coverage on Jackson’s passing. I jumped on the iTunes bandwagon and even bought some of his hits that I didn’t already have, but I would never dress up as him. There were other celebrities that passed away in the past that had as much media coverage, like John F.  Kennedy, or Princess Diana. However, I highly doubt any little kids would be running around dressed up as them. It would be considered the epitome of bad taste. Thus, I don’t understand why it is just fine to mimic the look of the late Michael Jackson.

If you read this blog, please don’t buy a Jackson red leather jacket. Don’t dress like you are from the music video “Thriller”. Thanks.

-Jessica Acklen, Assistant City Editor

Smells like a winner to me

Tonight I was watching a college football game and saw an intriguing, if not completely ridiculous product.

Fellow men, do you feel like you’re just not attracting the ladies like you want? Like no matter what you do, you couldn’t get a phone number if your life depended on it? Fear not, it only took a 30 second advertisement to show me a guaranteed method of kickstarting your love life.

Pheromones. And body wash. Together. In the Dial commercial, the attraction effect is illustrated by a guy and girl sitting on a couch, and the middle section is then removed, moving them much closer together.

What is the world coming to? Double pits to chesty (YouTube it if you’re unfamiliar) and pheromone soap? Some of these commercials are entertaining and funny, but I think most people watching them are laughing out of ridicule.

I know most of the ads are exaggerated on purpose, with dozens of females attacking a guy for his body wash scent. But the overall tone is still trying to argue that you will, in fact, get the ladies because you smell good. Smelling good is obviously better than smelling bad, but is there anyone who thinks a $5 bottle of body wash will make you irresistible?

Guys, let me know if your body wash has made a difference. Maybe my Old Spice is just defective.

-Chris Derrett, Lariat sports writer and somebody who remembers when Axe was just a tree-chopping tool

5 minutes – ethical?

Hopping online this afternoon, an article caught my eye. It was about the new Disney movie coming out, The Princess and the Frog. Turns out someone got a rough copy of the first five minutes of the film, which is set to be released Dec.11, 2009 (which incidentally, is the day after my birthday).

It took me about two and a half seconds to decide to watch the video, and another minute to find a copy that hadn’t been taken off YouTube due to “copyright infringement” by Disney. Before thinking about it, I was enjoying my little clip of the highly anticipated movie . And the fact is – it was without thinking. The clip clearly wasn’t legal and whoever posted it had no right to do so.

But this instantaneous gratification is just what our generation is used to. The question is – Is it right? If the video is available, am I doing anything wrong by watching it? I didn’t obtain it illegally and I didn’t spread the word about the clip. And yet, I still watched it. Just because something is available, is it right to take it?

We all know free TV and movies are out there. It seems like everything is going online. With sites like YouTube and Hulu, it’s pretty easy to find just about anything. But then there is Project Free TV, which links to seemingly untraceable Chinese servers which host full length movies the day after they premier in the theaters. It’s not my fault these are available. If I watch them though – am I in the wrong?

I’m really torn on this. I know there are all of the arguments for “it’s the little guy that gets hurt,” but the deal is that I like movies. My friends are usually busy, and while I like going to movies by myself every once in a while, it’s awkward and I feel judged (PS – the key is to go during the day and walk in at the last second).

I haven’t downloaded music illegally in years. It was a tough thing to give up. I avoid the free TV and movies when it isn’t legal, but that doesn’t mean it’s not tough when I don’t order Showtime and Weeds is a really great show. I just do the best I can.

oh my gosh.

So I was sitting in class today when the topic of everyone’s future came up. My professor started talking about how each one of us would be in a completely different place in 10 years. That’s an obvious statement. It’s what happened next that blew my mind. My professor proceeded to tell us that most likely we would all be married with children by the time we’re in our 30’s, to which three girls in my class replied, “OH my gosh, I would HOPE so. If I’m not married by the time I’m 30 I don’t know WHAT I’m going to do!” Really?

I can’t seem to understand why everyone assumes that marriage is something you have to do. It’s like the majority of girls I talk to think that if they don’t get married it’s the end of the world. I feel like a lot of girls decide things in the wrong order. Shouldn’t you find someone you actually want to spend the rest of your life with and then think about marriage? Not think about marriage and then find someone to fit that frame.

I’m not against marriage at all, I’m very for it. However, I don’t think it should be something that is looked down upon if it doesn’t happen. A lot of people really want a specific job when they get out of college, but if they don’t get that specific job I’m pretty sure, in the words of The Beatles, “life goes on.” The same goes for marriage.

I hate that so many girls find their value in the fact that they do or don’t have a boyfriend or that they will or won’t find someone to marry. That shouldn’t have any relevance to your self value. So in order to avoid this turning into a self-help, self-esteem boosting speech, I will leave it at that.

I hope to get married as much as the next girl, but trust me when I say my life will be just as great if that doesn’t happen. Maybe there are bigger things in the future for me than finding someone to marry or maybe getting married is in the cards, but I think it’s something you really have to just let happen. Do what you want and fulfill your dreams and what is meant to happen will happen.

Megan Duron

Copy Desk Editor

A peculiar sighting

It was a typical September Tuesday, except that I skipped my 9:30 a.m. class to go to an appointment across town.

After taking University Parks to Interstate 35 en route to the appointment, I turned on my iPod and began shuffling through hours of music in an attempt to brighten my mood – which was as dreary as the weather that morning. Granted, operating an iPod while driving is not the safest endeavor, but I must admit, my need for audio stimulation often takes precedence to safety.

After finally choosing a song, I switched lanes on the highway and looked up, noting a darkly-robed figure looming ahead, atop the Eighth Street bridge. I blinked a few times to make sure the haze wasn’t playing tricks with my vision, but as I neared, I couldn’t believe what I saw.

A figure dressed in black garments with a black cloth covering its face was standing on top of the bridge, holding some kind of stick and making gyrating movements as it faced southbound I-35 traffic. I stared so intently that I probably posed more of a safety hazard then, than with the aforementioned disc jockey session.

After talking to a few friends and Lariat staff members, I found that I wasn’t the only one to spot the ninja-like apparition.

I live for oddities such as this. But I’m also a curious person who needs an explanation for a ninja hanging out on I-35.

Liz Foreman

Editor in chief

An Interview with Mike Huckabee

By Laura Remson

Here’s all the goodies I couldn’t give you in the newspaper today.

-       After arriving at the Ferrell Center, Lariat photographer Jed Dean and I found our tickets and headed into the reception area. Some may know it as the room where the Bear Pit watches away games and eats pizza. We looked right and through the crowd realized that Mike Huckabee was mere feet away from us.

-       It’s always kind of surreal to see a celebrity in real life. You expect them to be larger than life or really tall. This wasn’t the case. Later, after looking through the photos, the late night staff realized that there is a chance that at 5’10” I’m taller than Huckabee. But it doesn’t matter. His personality more than makes up for it.

-       After speaking with his aides, Jed and I lined up for a photo with the man himself. We figured that if we don’t speak with him, at least there is photo proof that we were there. I left my phone number with his people, hoping for a call at some point that night.

-       It’s important to note here that today I had on a Buc-ee’s truck stop T-shirt. If you don’t know what that looks, it has a giant chipmunk on it. With buckteeth, and a red hat.  I didn’t know that I would be seeing Huckabee today, let alone speaking with him. And yes, the first thing he did was ask me what my shirt was. Wow – good job Laura. We got our photo and seconds later, it was over.

-       Five minutes later in the hall, my phone starts to vibrate. It’s a 254- number and I get my hopes up. “Laura, come back and we can give you five minutes.” FIVE MINUTES! OH MY GOSH, I’M GOING TO MEET MIKE HUCKABEE!!!

-       Prior to this evening, I knew very little about Huckabee. I knew that he was a very conservative candidate who ran for the Republican nomination last year, but was beat out by McCain. Aside from that, my Huckabee knowledge was limited to an SNL Weekend Update appearance where Seth Meyers reminded him that he was out of the presidential race.

-       A minute later we were ushered into a back elevator in Huckabee, a Waco Tribune Herald reporter, and three aides, including Huckabee’s personal assistant. That’s when I realized that Huckabee was talking to me.

-       After asking me about my classification, Huckabee asked me what I would do with my life. The following is what we got on tape -

“…What are you going to do? Be the editor of the morning news?” asked Huckabee.

“I don’t know. I’d love to work for a magazine, but we’ll see what happens.”

“A news magazine or feature?”

“Features”

“Like People or something like that?”

“No, no I would really love to work for National Geographic actually.”

“Really?…I’ll call all my contacts and see what we can do. I have none.”

-       That’s right. Huckabee joked that he would help me find a job. In this day and age for journalists – that would be incredible. At this point I’m still shaking. We followed him down the hall to a holding room. I was holding a microphone and nodding – just like a ‘real’ journalist. Still shaking.

-       We end up sitting down in the holding room where tables of small salads, chocolate cake and what looks like key lime pie are waiting. Also in the room was a student food service worker, Megan, who I had bowling with last semester. “Are you the salad-keeper here tonight?” Huckabee asked Megan, a student food service worker.

-       After a short interview, we got to what really mattered. Where Huckabee should eat in Waco. Names brought up included Georges, 135 Prime and a restaurant Huckabee brought up himself; Ninfas.

-       At the end of the event, Huckabee mentioned the Baylor Lariat article that was written by Megan Keyser yesterday for the event. He said that it was the reason people came to the event and the reason that he himself showed up. “It’s what made me come. She should be running the New York Times these days. She would do it some good. I assure you, she would do it some good. “

This whole event still seems very unreal. This morning, if you asked me what I would be doing this evening, this would not be it. Not even close. Regardless of political affiliation, Mike Huckabee is a great man. He is kind and friendly to everyone. He took time to speak with two students, dressed in jeans and t-shirts, one of which was scared out of her mind. He gave us the same amount of time he did the Waco Tribune, and remained courteous throughout. An hour later – still shaking. Overall, it was an incredible evening.

The Latest from the Student Life Center

August 25, 2009

Last night I went over to the SLC for the first time since school started. I figured first day – work out. What I saw surprised me. At about 8 p.m. I could hardly get into the building. There were people EVERYWHERE.  It’s probably the equivalent of a new year’s resolution in many peoples’ minds.

This surprised me a little bit, but not nearly as much as what I found in the fitness center. If you’ve been in there already this year, you know what I mean.

I’m referring to the individual TVs on each of the elliptical, treadmills and aerobic machines. I was shocked. And it’s not like these ten inch TVs are lacking. They have cable. I got up to the 40s as I did my half an hour and after that I gave up.

I’m all about amenities and I love little techie things. At the same time, I think this is excessive. I mean, do we really need individual TVs? This issue is more than just TVs though; it goes further. In doing research for another story, I found out that the new Heritage Quarters apartments downtown have granite countertops. Really? What college student needs granite counters?

I thought that the individual TVs seemed unusual, but when I searched this on the Internet, I found out that the University of New Orleans and the University of Colorado at Boulder both have similar machines.

Right or wrong, the TVs are here to stay. And all that to say….the TV made my workout go faster. And I like not having to watch Fox news because the pillars block every other TV.

Laura Remson

Staff writer