Opinion

Ilove this time of year.It’s a time for crunchy leaves,hot chocolate and rain boots,anditis generally characterized as a time to think of othersand show compassion and kindness for your fellow man.It’s hard to not get a warm,fuzzy feeling inside when you think about the season.There is no end toperfect rainy days,rest and relaxation (at least after finals are over) and most of all,family.

You can never throw an un-wadded Kleenex and still look manly.Why do foreigners have sexy English accents,but when Americans speak in a foreign language they just sound like idiots?

As the end of2008hovers,we reach the conclusion to a momentous and remarkable year.This year,events occurred and questions were asked,some left unanswered.What is undeniable,however,is their significance.This year can not be ignored.

Let me just start by saying that I love finals like a fat kid loves broccoli.I know everyone just wants them to be over with,but I want Taylor Swift’s hairstylist for Christmas and we all know that ain’t gonna happen.It’s the time of the season to whine about impending doom for sure,but since you guys got tips on surviving next week on Tuesday,I thought I‘d provide the inspiration.

The streets of San Francisco may become costly for drivers. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority recently released a study concerning the implementation of a congestion pricing plan in high-traffic areas.If put into action,the plan would charge drivers a$3fee for driving in and out of the city’s congested areas during weekday peak-hours.

After hearing the word “terrorism“ leave the mouths of presidential hopefuls exclusively and plentifully for a goodfew months,it looks like that “change“ thing inherent to our system is steering us toward a new period of terror in the headlines,atleast for the business quarter.

This column is a good-bye to Jdimytai Damour,the34-year-old temporary Wal-Mart employeewhowas trampled to death this past Friday in Long Island. Trampled to death! What the fuck! That‘s how Mufasa died! Trampled by wildebeests that didn‘t know any better.I suppose there‘s no real difference between the mindless animals inThe Lion King and the stampede of people bum rushing a Wal-Mart at five in the morning.I know times are tough but,shit,you just killed a man! All to get the latest PlayStationfor a bargain price.Picture this guy up at5a.m.to face the insanity and chaos that is middle America‘s dealing with the economic recessionand he ends up paying with his life.Hah,how ironic.

Every year retailers across the country hold sales the Friday after Thanksgiving(“Black Friday“) in order to usher in a new year of profitability. This year was much the same,except forJdimytai Damour,34,a temporary worker at a Wal-Mart in Long Island who was trampled to death by rabid,greedy consumers.

In the wake of our current financial crisis,the American public’s desire to finger the guilty party resembles a poorly played match of Milton Bradley’s “Clue.“

In2004,the Bush Administration strengthened the Cuba embargofirst put forth in1963.The2004ban was focused on higher education:Study abroad trips shorter than10weeks were declared illegal because they did not provide opportunities for genuine academic study or exchange of ideas about democracy,according to a report from the U.S.State Department.A group of academics had challenged this ban,which was recently upheld by a federal appeals court.

Breaking free of the quarter‘s strong current,nearly at the surface,your lips can almost taste the freedom‘s fresh air.But before you can even take a half-breath,you are jerked back beneath the waves. ThanksgivingBreakwas just a decoy.

One of my items under the proverbial “Things to do Before I Die” list is to get into a fight.And I mean a real good fight,maybe in a bar,with broken beer bottles,a “What the f*ck did you just call me?!”,lots of punching and hopefully a few gashes on the arm.I want my fight to basically have everything that makes a fight awesome (except hair pulling,kiddy pools filled with chocolate pudding and bikinis,those are no-nos).