Trivia Tuesday No. 1

TOPH TUCKER ‘08

Adjacent pendulum clocks synchronize with each other. This phenomenon is called “odd sympathy.”

Although these things are hard to judge, Star Wars is probably the #2 best-selling book series of all time. Harry Potter is #3. #1 is a German sci-fi series called Perry Rhodan.

There are about 100 lightning flashes every second on Earth.

In Sweden, tic-tac-toe is known as hobo’s chess.

The Rotokas language uses the smallest alphabet still in use today. It is a mere 12 letters: A E G I K O P R S T U V.

To be answered next week:
Who is the world’s largest tire producer, by number of tires produced per year?
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Links: Intro, YouTube, Mesh, etc.

Welcome to the Beaver Reader link blog. Every Wednesday, we'll offer up some interesting finds from around the web.

YouTube

You've probably seen these, but they're more or less required viewing, so here goes:
Dramatic Chipmunk
Obama Baby #1
Obama Baby #2

Discovery Channel "I Love the World" ad
Elephant Painting
Garbage Day

This one does a nice job of describing a lot of the things this whole newspaper is about.
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Casio Exilim EX-F1: Tomato Violence at 300, 600 and 1200fps
Enterprising youngster gets himself stuck in a claw machine
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And, in actual news, this is pretty interesting if you're interested in such thing: Live Mesh; more here.

Meanwhile, Facebook Chat (which we first told you about back in March, not to rub it in ;)) seems to have completed its rollout. Also check out Facebook Lexicon to track what gets the most talk on Walls.

And see here the regularly-updated Beaver Class of '08 college map. (GMaps version; GeoRSS)
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Clash of the Titans: Potential Yahoo! deal brings industry behemoths head-to-head

TOPH TUCKER ?08

Microsoft. Google. Time Warner. News Corp. Four of the biggest names in business; combined market cap of half a trillion dollars. And they?re all getting involved in the battle over troubled Internet giant Yahoo.

It started on February 1, when Microsoft announced an unsolicited $44.6 billion takeover bid for Yahoo. Since then, Yahoo has looked for every possible way out of the deal, but analysts agreed it was a waiting game. No white knight emerged, and Microsoft is now threatening to turn the bid hostile if Yahoo doesn?t accept quickly. They have refused to raise their bid, instead countering that, if anything, it would only go down.

By Wednesday, though, things seemed to be heating up. Yahoo entered into a limited trial run of a Google ad partnership, and late that night, the news broke that other deals may be looming. Specifically, Time Warner was mulling a deal that would combine AOL and Yahoo, while News Corp. was considering a joint bid with Microsoft. The latter coalition would potentially combine Yahoo, MSN, and MySpace into a single entity.

Whichever way the deal goes, it stands to dramatically shake up the Internet landscape. The fate of search, email, portal and instant messaging monopolies hangs in the balance. Yet any merger would be messy. Aside from the simple stuff?where employees go, which services are discontinued?each of these companies controls a huge amount of backend infrastructure that would have to be consolidated.

Everyone knew this was going to be fun; so far, it hasn?t disappointed. What remains to be seen is the quantitative effect on the marketplace.

Further reading:
MSNBC: Yahoo takeover battle takes dramatic twist
WSJ Article
Reuters Article
Marketwatch Article
Wikipedia Entry
Site Statistics
More coverage
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“You’re a True-oo-oo-oo Friend”

JESSICA PENZIAS '08

Ed. note: for your own good, we have not embedded the videos in question. They may be found after the break.

I have recently discovered a hidden gem on the internet. No, I didn’t find secret stock tips, or discover who shot JFK. Instead, I found something so much better: Miley and Mandy on Youtube. Many of you (if not all of you) are (or should be) familiar with 15-year-old, Pop star, singing sensation Miley Cyrus. Not only does she have a hit show on the Disney Channel, multiple number one CDs, a 3-D movie, an alter-ego named Hannah Montana and an unbelievably popular concert tour, she also has a new series of videos on Youtube with her “BFF” Mandy.

Mandy, a 20-year-old dancer on Miley’s current tour, has become Miley’s new best friend, replacing Leslie who was immortalized in Miley’s hit song “See You Again.” (In the song Miley references her former BFF Leslie in the chorus). Leslie unfortunately moved back to Tennessee and is probably kicking herself at this very moment. While Mandy (who Miley refers to as “Shmandy” or “Shmand”), like all best friends, gives Miley support and advice, Miley, gives Mandy national fame. In fact, Miley even hooked Mandy up with producers and executives, and sure enough, Mandy is now a member of the girl-group “Beach Girls” (who will begin a tour shortly after the “Meet Miley Cyrus” tour ends). Reportedly, Miley also wrote a song on the Beach Girls upcoming album.

In the famed videos, the stars show that they are just like any other 15 or 20 year-old girl. They laugh at their own jokes, make funny faces at each other, lip-sync (granted, to their own number one hits) and make adorable comments. And, indeed, they are adored. The videos average around 1,000,000 views…EACH.

Take a look at the following videos featuring Shmandy and Shmiley.

The Miley & Mandy Show! Epis. Irrelevant
The Miley and Mandy Show! Jokes
The Miley and Mandy Show! QUESTIONS

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Ask Coop No. 1: Prom, Hannah Montana, and Valentines Day

ALI COOPER '09

Welcome to the first installment of our new advice column. Leave your questions in the comments!

Coop,

I think I am in love with my best friend, but he seems to have fallen in love with another girl: Hannah Montana. No, not Billy Cyrus' daughter, the actual television character. I find this strange, but I must win his affection.

How do I beat Hannah Montana when she has the best of both worlds? Is she unstoppable? What to do?

Help is needed,
Disney Dreamer

Dear Disney Dreamer,

Mm, I’ve seen this one before. You probably feel that, if you were a movie, he’d be the right guy. You’d be the best friend that he’d fall in love with, and in the end you’d be laughing and watching the sunset, it would fade to black, show the names, and they’d play that happy song. Maybe sometimes you walk a little faster in the school hallway just to get next to him. Some days, you might even spend a little extra time in the morning just to impress him. I don’t blame you.

Nobody’s perfect. Everybody makes mistakes, and everybody has those days. Remember that everyone has a flaw or a weakness, and maybe your friend’s downfall is his infatuation with America’s favorite Disney star. If you recognize his problem, maybe you can be the one to pull him out of it. Go right ahead and compete with Hannah Montana, you have nothing to lose!

You can be glamorous just like he sees in all the magazines. You can be cool as ice, or anything you want to be. Stay strong, and stay positive. Your friend will soon remember that Hannah Montana is only available each night from 7:00-7:30 PM Eastern. He’ll realize what he’s missing out on and say, “I can’t wait to see her again.”

Learn from Hannah! Flirt, and have some fun. Make your best friend notice and don’t squelch your feelings! If all this doesn’t work, a little imagination has been known to go a long way…grab yourself a Hannah Montana wig, a pair of knee-high boots, and something sequin-ey, and see what your friend thinks then!

Just take this situation and turn it all around. With a new attitude, everything can change, just make it how you want it to be. Life’s what you make it. You’re gonna get what you deserve, because you got nerve.

- Coop

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Dear Coop,

For Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend bought me a bunch of random presents. It was really cute and thoughtful. The next day, I found out that he bought them from Big Lots the day before Valentine’s. Is this grounds for breakup? What should I do? Help me!

From,
What-to-do

Dear What-to-do,

As I read your letter, the first thing that struck me was your original excitement about the Valentine’s Day goodies your boyfriend gave you. You felt that they were cute and thoughtful…clue in on that, baby! The fact is: it doesn’t matter how many zeroes are stuck on the end of the price tag. So the boyf was a little disorganized and didn’t have time to shop for some presents a few days before V-Day…remember that old saying, “it’s the thought that counts”?

Don’t sweat it, it’s not the price that matters, or even where it comes from. And hey, your boyfriend still managed to get you something you really liked…he didn’t screw up as bad as you think!

Good Luck!

-Coop

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Ali,

My best friend just bought a really ugly prom dress. She spent so much money on it and she can't return it but it makes her look ridiculous. What should I do?

Sincerely,
Conflicted friend

Dear Conflicted Friend,

Yikes. This is a tough situation. Good for you for wanting to be honest but in this case, go against your gut reaction…honesty probably isn’t the best policy here. In these circumstances, her feelings are really the only ones that matter. If she feels beautiful in the dress, who are you to ruin her night? Wear some dark sunglasses and enjoy prom.

If she looks…um…unfortunate…, maybe help her pick out a cute pair of shoes or make sure she gets her makeup done really well. You’ll have the freedom of buying your own rockin’ prom dress, and hey, your friend might think your dress is heinous, too!

Happy shopping!

-Coop

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Coopers,

I don't know who to take to prom. How do I decide? Does it really matter THAT much? Do I take a friend, and is that ok?

Sincerely,
Junior Jitters

Dear Junior Jitters,

Ah, prom…the defining moment of your life. The event it all comes down to. The night that will shape the rest of your high school career…

Not.

Prom is supposed to be fun and crazy. To answer your question, no it does NOT matter that much! Taking a friend is 100% okay. In fact, I personally think it’s better to go with a friend (rather than a crush or whatever) because there’s much less pressure on you and your date. You’ll be with your escort for pictures and the limo ride and sit at the dinner table with ‘em, but other than that, everyone hangs out together. Everyone dances together and everyone parties together afterwards.

My advice: Go to prom with someone that you know you’ll have fun with. That’s what the whole night’s about!

See you there!

-Coop

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Dear Coop,

In middle school, I was really good at Baseball. But now I play lacrosse. All my friends are playing baseball, and I don't think I will make many friends playing lacrosse. What can I do? I am freaking out and I really need an answer!!!!!!

From,
Mike C. Jones

Dear Mike Jones, (Ha.)

If you like lacrosse better than baseball, play lacrosse! You’re gonna have at least one thing in common with the rest of the lax team- your love for the sport. (Plus, have you taken a look at who’s on the BCDS lax team? Pretty crazy dudes.) My advice is this: play out both situations. Pretend you’ve decided to play lax this spring. Are you pissed that you’re missing out at baseball practice? Then pretend you’ve decided to play baseball. Are you mad you didn’t try lacrosse instead? Think about why you wanted to play lacrosse originally, what made you stop playing baseball? My guess is: if you ask yourself those questions, the answer will be a little easier to find.

But honestly, try not to freak out, it’s only Beaver sports! And you’re only playing for, what? Less than three months? If you’re thinking you’re going have way more fun with your buddies on the baseball team, play baseball!

Inside Scoop- If you try lax and hate it, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to switch teams within the first week!

Good luck, I’m sure you’ll have a blast no matter what team you make yourself a part of.

-Coop
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A History of April Fools’ Day Pranks

TOPH TUCKER ‘08

On this day, some less-mature elements of society like to partake in something known as “April Fools’ Day.” We at The Beaver Reader are no fools, however, and scoff at their folly. Journalism, after all, is serious business.

However, given the chaos that has occasionally ensued thanks to rampant irresponsibility on April the 1st, we thought it a valuable service to our readers to review some of the most famous April Fools’ Day pranks of all time.

…never mind, we’re too lazy, but these two web sites ought to do the trick:

1. "April Fools’ Day" on Wikipedia
2. Top 100 April Fools’ Day Hoaxes of All Time

Also of note is the “Real News on April Fools’ Day” section of the Wikipedia article. An earthquake/tsunami in 1946 killed 165 people in Hawaii and Alaska, in part because news of it was dismissed as a hoax. So keep that in mind next time a boy cries wolf.
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BREAKING NEWS: DUMBLEDORE IS STRAIGHT

Early this morning, during a press release, special correspondent Rita Skeeter revealed that deceased Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, considered one of the greatest wizards of modern times, is in fact of the heterosexual orientation. Professor Dumbledore is known for his defeat of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in 1945, a man who was perceived to be his first love. He also was famous for his discovery of the twelve uses of dragon?s blood and his work on alchemy with Nicholas Flamel.

At a young age, Dumbledore befriended Godric?s Hollow neighbor Grindelwald. They were united by their mutual dreams of finding the Deathly Hallows and conquering the wizarding world for the ?greater good,? together. Following Dumbledore?s tragic death at the hands of Severus Snape, he was widely believed to be of the homosexual orientation. A year ago, Sybill Trelawny, great-great-granddaughter of the celebrated seer Cassandra Trelawney and professor of Divination, revealed that she had a ?vision? of Dumbledore?s true nature. Not long after that, Gilderoy Lockhart, author of Magical Me, published a tell-all novel of his time at Hogwarts, which mentioned his (now proven false) accusations that Dumbledore made sexual advances towards him.

?Its bloody ridiculous that this git could make such a stupid comment about Dumbledore,? complained Auror Ron Weasley, previous student of Dumbledore. ?That nutter has never spoken a true word in his entire pathetic life.?

After Harry Potter?s defeat of dark wizard Voldemort this June, Minerva McGonagall, longtime colleague of Dumbledore, was forced to take veritaserum, the ?truth? potion, in order for the ministry to determine the truth of what happened that night, and what led up to it. In the interview, when asked of her relationship with Dumbledore, she revealed the truth of his sexuality. Apparently, throughout their long time friendship, their relationship grew to be something more than ?just colleagues.? Their escapades included late night rendezvous in the Room of Requirement and secret trips to the astronomy tower to gaze at the stars.

Needless to say, this revelation brings up questions of what the other Hogwarts teachers might be doing at night. It makes us ponder the existence of illegitimate children who might be the result of this clandestine affair and heir to Dumbledore?s fortune of unique treasures and considerable wealth.

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