Magazine

As an outsider in another country it can sometimes feel like you’re in the ring of a circus being watched or critiqued because your cultural differences are not only noticeable, but amusing to native peoples. So if you’re looking to travel or study abroad for the first time, keep reading.

The wind tugged at my hair as I swished through the air on the Cloud Swing, a high-flying circus act. I pushed my toes upwards, visualizing kicking straight through the roof of the big top.

From begging our mothers to let us get our ears pierced in elementary school to the rite of passage that is the 18th birthday tattoo, body modification is engrained in many human cultures, including American society. Body modification has lasted the tests of time and developed independently in societies around the world, and while some look down on it for its bad connotations, many others embrace it as a means of expression, community and spirituality.

Two days after 28-year-old parolee Evan Spencer Ebel was killed in a shootout with police, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper went on TV and said, “I felt like I was caught in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. All these things were happening to people that I loved. And they didn’t seem to be connected in any way.”

Rand Paul’s rare 13-hour “talking” filibuster last Wednesday on the Senate floor protesting the nomination of John Brennan for CIA director reinvigorated the the debate over US drone policy internationally — and now domestically—for policy makers and informed citizens alike.

Buzzsaw takes a sip of Ithaca’s margaritas

We are three days into the SAC-D (Steroid Anonymous Chairman Decathlon) and the race is heating up. With current chairman, Mark McGwire retiring in July, Lance Armstrong has taken a lead over current second place racer Barry Bonds in an event designed to decide who gets the top spot of Chairman of the Steroid Anonymous. Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun are in third and forth respectively. Armstrong pulled ahead during the 30 mile Bike Race, an event Armstrong scoffed off as “child’s play.” The notorious biker finished the race in 36 minutes.

I write you a hundred words to tell you I love you

Yesterday’s “Diabetes Run for the Cure” charity run was marred for many by the competitiveness of one participant. Greg Sanders, a local history teacher arrived to the starting line, located in Ithaca’s scenic Cass Park, a full hour early. He then proceeded to warm up for 40 minutes, eat a Gatorade fuel gel, listen to “Eye of the Tiger” on his Zune Player four times, eat another Gatorade fuel gel and yell, “Whose house is this?!” to no one in particular.

Goldfish are fickle beasts.
At the slightest upset they leave this world for
wherever the souls of little carnival prizes go.