Alright, this has nothing to do with anything and is probably years old, but I just discovered the Internet Anagram Server today thanks to Digg and am rather astonished that I hadn’t heard of it sooner. Did you know that “Daily Emerald” can be rearranged to spell “ideally armed” and “deadly mailer”? Or that the letters in “Commentator” also spell “rotten comma” and “coma torment”? It’s no Ron Mexico Name Generator, but it’s fun nevertheless.

A New York state senator is pushing legislation to ban the use of iPods, BlackBerrys and other mobile electronic devices by pedestrians while crossing a street.  Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) claims that the use of portable music devices and cell phones contributed to a number of fatal accidents involving walkers including the recent death of a 23-year-old iPod user who stepped into the path of a city bus.

From the CNET news article:

The bill would effectively make it illegal to use any kind of portable electronic device–a music or video player, cell phone, smart phone, gaming device, etc.–while crossing the street in cities such as New York, Albany and Buffalo. Offenders would be slapped with a $100 fine and a criminal court summons. Joggers and bicyclists would have to limit their iPod use to city parks in which no street crossing would be involved.

Of course, Sen. Kruger has no statistical studies to that show a dramatic increase in pedestrian-related accidents since the introduction of the iPod five years ago (not to mention the nearly 30 years we’ve had the Walkman), but he stands by his words.

“You can’t be fully aware of your surroundings if you’re fiddling with a BlackBerry, dialing a phone number, playing Super Mario Brothers on a Game Boy, or listening to music on an iPod,” Krueger said in a statement.

At first glance, I doubted this bill would have any chance of passing, but then again in recent years we’ve witnessed a N.Y. smoking ban and the prohibition of trans fats in restaurants.  So why does everyone want to live in New York City again?

Because it’s Reason Internship time! Every year Reason Magazine takes one young reportorial stud or studette and molds him or her into…well…into something. Anyway, if you want to apply, and you know you do, follow these simple instructions:

To apply, sense [sic] your resume, up to five writing samples (published clips preferred), and a cover letter to: Gray Internship; c/o Brian Doherty, Reason; 3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 400; Los Angeles, CA 90034.

Electronic applications can be sent to [email protected], with the subject line Gray Internship Application.

It’s the only known cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder… and it’s finally here. The Oregon Commentator’s Winter Double Issue has made it’s online debut, and will be arriving on stands later this week. It’s a Lichtenstein/Comic Art inspired pop nugget, chock full of the Commentator humor, analysis and snark that you’ve come to love. So curl up in front of the fire, with a hot, alcoholic drink of your choice, and beat the winter blahs with the best damn rag on campus.

As always, enjoy the Commentator responsibly!

The Emeralds Jill Aho has a fantastic piece in todays ODE, detailing the Incidental Fee budget, and comparing it to other Universities in the Pac-10. Without going into too much detail, the U of O has the largest student-administered budget, and the most independent student government in the conference, a fact which sheds considerable light on the ASUO’s perennial inability to control its budget. This story is must-read material for anyone who is concerned with out-of-control growth in the incidental fee. Kudos, Jill!

Yes, the Student Senate has been meeting this term. I’ve simply been too disillusioned to write about it. The doctors have kindly upped my dosage, so here goes…

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Holy smokes. If you showed this video to any group of straight male freshmen here at the University, I think you’ll see a doubling, nay tripling, of journalism and French double majors. Does the J-school coordinate any international internships with French television?