The votes are in! We have a winning design and color- Wanna check it out and/or request one for under $5 (It's looking like it will be around $1-2 right now)? Check it out here: tinyurl.com/cwitshirt2011 Please request on before Thursday 11/17!

Take a break from studying for a few hours and join in on some fun. We've organized a trip to Shadowland THIS FRIDAY at 8:30pm and subsidized the cost- so it will only be about $7.50 for 2 games!

If you are able to carpool, please fill out the form here: http://goo.gl/8UJfN

If you need someone to drive you, see the form results here: http://goo.gl/wTx93

Our next restaurant night will be at Ledo's! More details to come soon!

Three movies are opening in theaters this weekend–a political drama, a super stylized action, and a sorry excuse for a comedy!

Immortals

This movie is a combination of the look of 300 with 3D depicting a huge mythological battle. The director Tarsem Singh had this to say about the film: “It’s turning into, basically, Caravaggio meets Fight Club. It’s a really hardcore action film done in Renaissance painting style.” Pretty nuts, huh? I guess it’s still up in the air whether this will be a fun, action flick about the gods (Thor) or just another  effects-ed up, stylized, 3D wannabe blockbusters (The Three Musketeers).

Jack & Jill

Can we all agree this looks terrible? This movie must be proof that Adam Sandler is taking bets from his friends about whether he can make money off of the worst ideas they can think of after a few beers.

J. Edgar

This biopic follows J. Edgar Hoover, the first Director of the FBI, in both the political and personal world where he was rumored to be a closeted homosexual. The reviews for this seem to be mixed, with performances being mostly praised while the script seeming lackluster. This surprised me, since the screenwriter, Dustin Lance Diamond, also wrote Milk, winning his the Oscar for original screenplay. With a running time that goes way overboard, this may be one to skip.

Opening at The Charles

Like Crazy

We caught a screener of this last week. If you’re into slowburning romance stories with a bit of cutesy and handheld camera work, you’re in luck! Anton Yelchin and a brilliant Felicity Jones star as two college students who fall for each other until Jones overstays her student visa and is stuck in Britain. All of the difficulties that come with a long-distance relationship are explored, but if you’ve ever been in any sort of serious relationship you’ll most likely connect with this story. It doesn’t necessarily conquer any new ground, but it is a romantic dramedy that’s far removed from Katherine Heigl.

See anything at the movies lately? Let us know what you thought about any of these movies or anything else out right now!

Image from NPR

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last week, you’ve probably heard about the Penn State sex abuse scandal.

But just in case you haven’t, you can check out this HuffPost timeline, this update from the NYT, and this statement from President Obama.

But just in case you don’t have time to click through all these links, here’s how we at USDemocrazy understand it:

In the 1990s, assistant Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was sexually abusing young boys that he was working with through a non-profit organization called The Second Mile.

On one occasion, a graduate assistant walked in on Sandusky assaulting a young boy.  He reported the incident to Joe Paterno, long-time, highly respected and lauded Penn State football coach.  Paterno then reported a version of the account to his higher-up who reported it to his higher-up.  But Paterno (or anyone else) never reported the incident to the police or child protective services.  And Sandusky was left free to continue abusing other students.

The news came out when a grand jury report was released last weekend, Sandusky was arrested, and Paterno and the Penn State President were fired.  And that’s left a whole lot of Penn State students all fired up.

On Wednesday night, Penn State students started rioting to show their disapproval of Paterno’s firing.  Cars were flipped.  Pepper was sprayed.  Rocks were thrown.  Eventually the crowd was dispersed.

But rioting to protest the dismissal of Paterno hasn’t gone over well in the press outside of State College, who are more immune to the Nittany Lion fever.

But some students are speaking out against sexual abuse and the bystander effect.  A few did so during the riots.  And even more are planning a “blue out” for the next Penn State football came to raise money and awareness for sexual abuse victims.

What do you think of the student response to the Penn State scandal?  Would you be rioting?  Or protesting the riots?

Image from the Hindustan Times

What’s that climbing up the poll?  Is it a gecko?  A salamander?  No, it’s a Newt!

Well, that’s one way to get good press.

Where were you on 11/11/11?

Making jokes about Anita Hill might not be the best move for Herman Cain…