In January, my favorite news anchor, Brian Williams, reported that “Federal Regulators (the FCC) approved the purchase by Comcast of a majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric. This merger will create a $30 billion media company with cable, broadcast, internet, motion picture and theme park components.” Now I’ve never been savvy in the business world, so I didn’t particularly care who Comcast chose to buy or sell, just as long as I could continue paying them $40.95 a month to watch all my TV on Hulu instead.

But while I was circumventing Comcast’s cable prices watching Hulu this week, I saw something that disturbed me, something I had to use this week’s column to rationalize.

To begin, it seems that taking advantage of one another has become the defining characteristic of the relationship between cable providers and their customers. They charge us unreasonable rates for internet, cable and phone lines that are only affordable in bundles because they’ve bought all of their competition; we in turn purchase as few of their services as we can because we use their internet to steal the services we refuse to pay for, like cable (Hulu) or phone (Skype). Or porn (HuluPorn? Did I just make my million?).

We college kids are smart. We beat the system – good for us. We’ve stopped caring about whether Comcast will make enough money to send its employees’ children to college one day because we have to operate on financial self-preservation. We’ve learned to navigate the waters of corporate greed at an unprecedented early age. For me, this is why the acquisition of NBC by Comcast was little more than an explanation for the Cabletown plot on “30 Rock.”

However, just because we college kids might not care doesn’t mean this merger is unimportant to the average consumer.

Josh Silver, former president and CEO of Free Press, a nonprofit organization working to reform the media, testified before the FCC that “The merger would dramatically increase Comcast’s incentive and ability to raise prices, block competitive entry, force bundles on other cable systems and discriminate in carriage of competing programming. For consumers, this would spell even higher prices…”

Well, fuck. If Comcast can do all of this sketchy stuff by buying NBC for $13.75 billion, who’s to say Hulu or Skype (or SkypePorn) aren’t next? Then we’d have to pay Comcast’s unreasonable prices for all our services! What kind of federal regulator would allow such an insidious plot against the consumers they’re appointed to protect?

FCC Commissioner Atwell Baker. Under her leadership, the FCC is allowing Comcast to take one giant leap toward monopolization (which is illegal only in the completely useless sense of the word), as long as they agree not to do the predatory things a monopoly might, like making programming unavailable to emerging online companies like Hulu or Netflix (or, for the love of god, NetflixPorn). The agreement also forces Comcast to “continue offering an affordable, standalone broadband option for customers who want internet access but not cable TV service.” This way, college kids like you and me can continue feeling as if we beat the system for another decade or so.

Unfortunately, I haven’t even explored the most controversial aspect of this story yet, the tidbit that got me ruminating in the first place. According to Free Press, “Less than four months after Commissioner Atwell Baker voted to approve Comcast’s takeover of NBC Universal, she’s reportedly departing the FCC to lobby for Comcast-NBC. This is just the latest – though perhaps most blatant – example of a so-called public servant cashing in at a company she is supposed to be regulating.”

Now if you’re a college kid accustomed to “beating the system” and taking advantage of your cable provider in your own little way, you might be tempted to say, “Atwell Baker is smart. She beat the system, good for her.” But if you’re an American who recognizes that regulatory agencies like the FCC are only useful – nay, constitutional – if they protect the best interests of the consumer, then you may be inclined to feel otherwise.

We will never know whether Comcast’s takeover of NBC Universal will be good or bad for consumers until it’s too late, because the commissioner of the FCC got paid for her vote.

At some point, we smart college kids will have to examine our own behavior in taking advantage of our cable company and ask ourselves if Atwell Baker’s is the type of corruption we’re capable of. Does our media system breed more Atwell Bakers? If the answer is yes, then the problem is larger than one opportunistic and sociopathic FCC commissioner.

If you support HuluPorn too, then go to act2.freepress.net/sign/baker_comcast and join JOSH ROTTMAN on Free Press’s petition of the Comcast-FCC merger. Then reach him at jjrottman@ucdavis.edu.

Andy is so fickle, Madeline is such a big slut and you’re so curious. Just who are Andy and Madeline? It doesn’t matter, but you probably want to know anyways. It seems that discussions like this drive our society – talk about other people, gossip. People love hearing about other people. Take a look at the landscape of television; it’s littered with reality shows. Hell, look at Facebook! ‘Nuff said.

We just love, love, love hearing and talking about other people. An article by NY Daily News highlighted a study that found 80 percent of our conversations are made up of gossip. Didn’t think you gossiped that much now did you?

What’s more interesting than just how much gossip gets thrown around is the idea that it can even do some good for us. Wait, what? Yup, you heard right. The same article made note of how gossiping can sow the seeds for friendships and relationships, as it could build trust with whomever you’re yapping off to. This shouldn’t really be news to you; you know it and you live it. You meet someone; you talk to them and establish a connection. And a good portion of what you talked about was surely other people – don’t deny it.

“People drive stories” is a well-known mantra that is preached to death in Stephen Magagnini’s journalism class, and how true it is. I do love a good story about people finding success and overcoming adversity, but what I and just about everyone also enjoy are the stories where people are met with grief or slandered. It’s morbid, but come on. Most people would rather hear about the guy who cheated on his girlfriend than about someone being promoted at the workplace. Using gossip to “drag someone under the bus” can still build trust, I presume. When someone confides juicy info to you, you probably feel empowered and in the loop.

Me? I love talking. It’s a nice feeling to know that you’re on the same page with someone. I will take gossip over silence any day of the week when there is not much else to talk about. It sure beats being kept in the dark.

I’m no stranger to gossip or the rumor mill, but I sometimes try to take a different route, especially if it’s going to slander someone into oblivion. For pure amusement, maybe I’ll hazard a few minutes and share my two cents on some people. But really, what good does it do anyone besides building a bit of trust for me and giving me a few giggles? Trust can be built elsewhere, and negative gossip can really make you look bad.

You just have to be careful with just how much you share or forever be labeled a “loud mouth.” And that’s a tough label to shake. Who is going to want to trust you now? That’s what you get for treading too far and too deep. Gossip can be a double-edged sword; it can build relationships or destroy them.

Good or bad, gossip is an integral part of socializing, it’s everywhere and it will almost always crop up in our daily conversations. With that said, here is some food for thought: “Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things and small people talk about other people.” You may want to rethink your conversations, especially if they come at the expense of someone else’s well-being and reputation – perhaps even yours. Exercise caution, because, as Cortana once said in Halo Legends, “there is a danger in secrets, both in seeking and in knowing.”

LARRY HINH says to play nice! Have something to say about him? Tell him at lthinh@ucdavis.edu.

On Monday I found myself jamming to “Pomp and Circumstance” on repeat as I eagerly anticipated the arrival of my older sister in a queue of gown-wearing, accomplished undergraduates.

When the time came for my sister to take her monumental glide across stage, I found myself peering at my fellow last-name-sharing audience members.

My younger brother had his hand on his chin, eyes focused with incomparable intent on our graduate. I then turned my gaze to my eldest sister, sitting in the row in front of me, her eyes replaced with the lens of a camera, anticipation gleaming across her face.

Four is one of my favorite numbers. Besides being the number of eyes I have when I wear my stylish glasses, it’s the digit that has followed my siblings and me since the last of us was born.

It’s events like graduations that shine a spotlight (or multiple) on family dynamics. We believe in these expressions of fellowship, opportunities for applause and reminders of bondage. We believe in camaraderie.

I find the word “friend” to be extremely problematic. When we were kids, we had more friends than an elephant could remember. But now that I’m a full-fledged college student, I find it rather challenging to reduce all my relationships to “friend.” There are my “roommates,” “coworkers,” “friends from home,” “summer camp staff members,” “Davis friends,” “cousins,” “parents” and “siblings.”

With this complexity of bondage, I’m never sure if my siblings are just my siblings, or if they’re my friends just like my friends from camp or class. Sure, most of my “friends” are represented on Facebook, but not all of them could have understood what it meant to see my sister whip her tassel back and forth. Not all of them could feel the excitement that can erupt from a 24-hour re-enactment of summer memories. And it’s not their fault. We just appear to lack enough words to describe them.

When I met Annemarie Stone, a UC Davis sophomore English major, I immediately loved her ability to bring up her siblings in almost every conversation. Not only does Stone have four other siblings, but she also finds herself asis a middle triplet.

Stone explained that one of the most common questions she’s asked about her tripletness is if it’s “fun.” She admitted that having two other people with the exact same homework assignments as her growing up was a major bonus, but she aptly added that things could get a little less than fun at times. “You try sharing a birthday cake when you’re 2(0).”

On the subject of sibling friendship, Stone’s triplet sister, Claire, shared that “Being a triplet is hard to explain. You have a permanent understanding with two others that no other can ever comprehend. You always have a BFF.”

Stone’s relationships with her siblings are not only fun to hear about, but they also had a role to play in her arrival at our university. In a UC Davis admittance admission essay, Stone wrote: “I have never had my own room. Yet, sharing a room is way better than that one time when I shared a womb for 7 months. Talk about small spaces, am I right? And, just kidding. They weren’t just people; they were my triplet siblings.”

While talking to Stone about her sibling dynamics, all I could think of was “Hey, I shared a room too!” and “I’ve used sibling homework!”

Triplets, sextuplets or not, the camaraderie that exists between siblings is pretty astounding.

We can’t ignore, however, the vast population of people who grew up sibling-less. While I can’t imagine who I would be without my other three, there are plenty of people who don’t share my sentiments.

Some people who have siblings openly wish they didn’t, and some who never had any wonder what it would be like to take on the role of “big sister.” I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side of the Jack & Jill bathroom.

Needless to say, finding “friendship” in those people we consider siblings, blood related or not, can be a challenge when we are faced with conflicting labels. I’m a little tired of social distinctions that make one friend “best.” Cousins can be brothers. Daughters can be friends. Summer friends can be family. And history majors can be comrades.

Thanks to some “Pomp and Circumstance,” I’ve remembered what it means to have siblings whose importance goes far beyond the identifiers of “friends” or “relatives.” We can create camaraderie wherever we see fit. It can happen as quickly as three hours, or as long as 16 years. In any case, we can’t forget to believe in our relationships. We need them to help us carry that weight.

MAYA MAKKER is interested in rolling with the Stone siblings. Feel free to acknowledge that joke via mgmakker@ucdavis.edu.

“They want sexy,” said my friend. “You’ve been put on the list. You’re doing it.”

He was in the middle of last-minute planning for an event with a gay club in downtown Sacramento that would raise funds for our fraternity. The club needed extra go-go dancers for the night.

That’s what the list was for. I was doing it.

Now, “sexy” isn’t exactly a word I’d use to describe myself – and I can tell you two reasons why.

The first is a pair of love handles, evidence of a chubbier youth and a ton of failed attempts at getting rid of them. The other is my ass (or lack thereof). I want JLo. Sadly, I’m more of a flat-assed Kate Moss.

Needless to say, my bodily anxieties made me apprehensive to dancing shirtless in indecent undies in front of a crowd. I’ve seen the go-go dancers before; I look nothing like them, with their lean backs and plump rumps that fill their underwear nicely. Me, sexy? They must be kidding.

My friends think I shouldn’t obsess over my body. And maybe they’re right. To be honest, I am at the lowest weight, tiniest waist I’ve ever been. I generally like the way I look. But when in the mirror, I don’t always smile.

Sure, then, call me bodily hyperconscious. But realistically, I knew I wasn’t alone.

So I conducted a little survey of my own (thanks SurveyMonkey!) just to see how you honeybees (more thanks if you took the survey!) felt about body image. Turns out, I’m not the only one who isn’t completely satisfied with his or her reflection.

About 25 percent of survey takers (over 40 males and females, mostly between 19 and 22 years old) answered they felt “not so satisfied” with their bodies. No one answered body image was “not important” to them. Thirty percent chose “there are lots of things I wish I could change about my body” as an answer regarding self-perception. And every single one of them agreed to some extent that media affects how men and women feel about their bodies.

“We are constantly inundated with images of what the media portrays as beautiful and desirable,” said Ross, a male in Davis who requested to keep his age classified. (I respect that.) “Even if we overtly reject such messages, they are still present in our subconscious, whispering in our ear every morning when we look in the mirror.”

We all see the same ads, magazine covers, TV shows and movies featuring slim and toned models and stars – hot people are everywhere in media. And we, as humans, can’t help but compare.

Susan, a 22-year-old female in Davis, believes media “constantly presents certain standards normal people can’t rise up to. This makes average people perpetually feel bad about their own bodies.”

It even affects how we see each other. Paul, a 35-year-old male from Sacramento, says media representations don’t necessarily affect him, “but they do affect others’ perceptions of me. In turn, that affects me more than the portrayals themselves.”

Research shows that, more often than not, comparing oneself to an unattainable ideal could get ugly.

In a 2001 study, women felt guilty, anxious and depressed about their bodies after viewing thin models in the media. Magazines with skinny models, beauty tips and weight-loss articles support the perception that female happiness is tied to physical appearance, with thinness as the shining beacon of health, beauty and self-improvement.

But every beacon has a dark side; the “skinny is better” notion can drive anyone to disillusionment. Statistics show 85 percent of college women believe they are slightly or seriously overweight, and researchers found that underweight women were no more satisfied with their body than were overweight women.

And it gets darker: The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders states that one of every four college-aged women uses unhealthy methods of weight control, including skipping meals, excessively exercising, abusing laxatives and vomiting.)

Scarily enough, both men and women in my survey (73 percent) admitted to skipping meals for weight loss. And some (close to 20 percent) admitted to self-induced vomiting.

I, too, have taken drastic measures to get thinner, and not eating was one of them. But it’s not worth it – it hurts your body a lot more than it helps. I learned that the hard way. So, eat honeybees! No more skipping!

I know it can be difficult to be completely happy with what you’ve got sometimes and wanting to change a few things is normal. But don’t let that get the best of you! If you’re looking to get fit or lose weight, do it responsibly and intelligently.

As for me and the go-go experience, let’s just say I worked what my momma gave me (or didn’t give me, I guess), and had a blast dancing on the bar in skimpy skivvies – flab, no ass and all! 

MARIO LUGO assumes his love handles and little butt did a good job that night – they offered him a regular dancing gig! Should he take it? Let him know what you think at mlugo@ucdavis.edu.

When’s the last time you actually won an iPod for being the one millionth visitor to a website or a free vacation to a tropical island?

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine scored an interview for an amazing job, which promised quick promotions and benefits like attending sporting events, cocktail parties, etc. I was excited for my friend, but it sounded too good to be true. When I Googled the company, the first thing that popped up was the word “scam.” I found countless warnings from former employees who had been lied to about the nature of the position. Reluctantly, I forwarded the info to my friend, hoping the news wouldn’t disappoint her too much.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Be warned that there are people out there who want to take advantage of job seekers. Employment scams can take many forms and they’re more common than you think. Some scams have reportedly involved identity theft, so exercise caution before handing over your Social Security number or any financial information. Here are some tips to identify and avoid them.

1. The source. Websites like Craigslist and Monster.com can be great resources for students and recent grads. But because anyone can use these sites, they are also available to scammers. Exercise caution when sharing your personal information. You are much less likely to be scammed on Aggie Job Link and industry/company websites, which are more carefully monitored and screened.

2. The first contact. Usually you should be approaching a potential employer first, not the other way around. Beware of opportunities that appear in your UCD e-mail if it does not specify the source of referral. Some recruitment scams contact job seekers, claiming to have wonderful opportunities for them that do not actually exist. Legitimate companies know that the talented people will come to them and will rarely engage in this type of recruiting (at least for entry level).

3. Vague qualifications. Employment schemes want to open a wide net to attract as many people as possible. The job descriptions for these positions will be very vague. Legitimate positions generally list specific qualifications such as preferred majors, previous related experience, computer skills, etc., whereas a scam may only require “an outgoing personality.”

4. Quick promotions and significant benefits. The following is quoted from a recent job ad: “First year=$47,000, second year=$78,000 and third year=$103,000,” not to mention the commission, expense accounts and full health insurance the posting boasts. For an entry-level, non-technical job, this posting is unrealistic and is littered with red flags.

5. Mention of sales or commissions. Commission-based jobs are often disguised as something else. A company might advertise a position using buzzwords with a title like “Marketing, Communication and Sales Coordinator” when it is actually based on demanding sales quotas and work hours. Legitimate commission-based jobs have a good niche for certain personalities, but they are not for everyone and have a high turnover rate.

6. Google it. It’s a simple step, but a very telling one. Read reviews posted on consumer advocacy or fraud report websites. Reviews may be mixed, but remember that the positive testimonials could easily be planted.

7. Any mention of an “application fee” or “training costs.” An employer will pay you for your talents and contributions, not the other way around. Once you hand over a check, there is no guarantee you will see that money again, no matter what the recruiter says.

8. “Just sign here …” Never sign a document before reading it. Employment scams may pressure you to sign quickly on the spot by downplaying the importance of the contract or by saying that it is essential to move you through the next steps of the hiring process. Ask if you can take home a copy to read over first.

9. If you did get caught in a scheme, don’t let it get you down. It can take six months to a year to find a job, especially in the current economic conditions. Whether you only exchanged a few emails before you realized the dishonesty of the business or you ended up working for them, know that it wasn’t your fault. There are also resources on campus that can help you in these situations.

10. Expand your job search strategies. Don’t be afraid to look outside California. Taking a job in another state will make you a more competitive candidate down the road than accepting any job that “pays the bills” in state. Moreover, a majority of jobs are never posted online. Common wisdom says that only 20 percent of your search should involve looking for jobs on the internet. In the remaining time, network with family friends and colleagues, build up your LinkedIn profile and develop yourself as a strong candidate for future positions.

JENNIFER KIM has 10 weeks to cover many topics. So I’ve posted a mini-column on the importance of cover letters at my blog at careertalkwithjen.wordpress.com. Jen can be reached at jsnkim@ucdavis.edu.