While finals are still looming in the immediate future, it’s not too early to start thinking about how you’re going to reward yourself for getting through the week. There's an incredible amount of movies coming out in the next week, so get your planner out and start deciding which ones you want to go to.

Iron Man 3 – May 3^rd

In the third installment of the franchise, Tony Stark is recovering from the events hat occurred in The Avengers by creating suit after new suit with more advancements in order to keep himself safe. After an attack on everything he knows by new enemy Mandarin, Tony is left to his own devices to protect all that he holds dear and to figure out whether he that makes the Iron Man suit or whether it is what makes & defines him.

The Iceman – May 3^rd

Based on the real life contract killer Richard Kuklinski, the movie tells the story of his early days when Kuklinski killed over 100 people under the payment of the mob. While on the outside he seemed like the everyday normal husband, father, and pursuer of the American Dream, his inner self was a ruthless, cold, and calculating killer whose arrest shocked everyone who knew him.

And Now a Word From Our Sponsor – May 10^th

Adan Kundle, who is a CEO of a major advertising agency, is found unconscious in front of a bank of TVs. When he wakes up in the hospital, he can only speak through advertising slogans. With nowhere else to go, he gets taken in by a friend from the past, Karen Hillridge, and through his occasionally inappropriate catchphrases, changes her relationship with her daughter. All the while, Adan’s business partner Lucas Foster is working to take over Adan’s company by blatantly attacking Adan’s mental capacity.

The Great Gatsby – May 10^th

Based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the movie tells the story of Jay Gatsby through the eyes of his new neighbor Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner just returned from war. It isn’t long before Carraway is dragged into Gatsby’s world of booze, riches, darkness, obsession, and more than a fair share of tragedy as Gatsby becomes enraptured with Daisy Buchanan, the wife of an old-money Yale graduate, who he was involved with in the past.

Star Trek: Into Darkness – May 17^th

In this installment of the rebooted Star Trek franchise, the crew of the USS Enterprise is thrown into a proverbial battle of good vs. evil after being summoned back to Earth, only to find that Starfleet has been demolished and that their planet has become a war zone. An incredibly powerful villain known as John Harrison is on a path of revenge and responsible for the outstanding amount of destruction.

The Hangover Part III – May 24^th

The third and final act in the Hangover Saga, this movie has no wedding and no bachelor party. After Alan’s father dies, the group decides to take him to get help for his mental issues but things go, as per usual, awry. Doug is kidnapped and the pack must find Mr. Chow in order to trade the man to the gangsters that have taken Doug.

Man of Steel – June 14^th

The Last Son of Kryptonite is back in a new movie that focuses on his childhood and his beginnings at The Daily Planet, as well as his burgeoning relationship with the journalist Lois Lane.  When Earth is attacked by a force we are unable to defend against, Clark Kent must become Superman and fight to protect the human race, even though some try to stop him from doing so, wary of his powers that make him seem more like the one’s attacking us.

Image Source: http://www.ticketliquidator.com/livetoast/2013/04/2013-Summer-Entertainment-Preview-Part-2-Movies.aspx

Even if you don’t like taking chemistry, you have to admit that those who are good at it are doing some pretty awesome things, especially when they directly help us out in some way.

It looks like a group of scientists have figured out a couple of ways for you to dislodge that song you have stuck in your heads.

Why do certain songs get stuck in our heads?

The chorus is usually the major part of the song that we know, which is not directly followed by a verse. This is why you can’t stop repeating the chorus in your head. Unfinished thoughts are ones that continue to return as your brain tries to puzzle out what comes next. The group of scientists hopes to use this data in order to figure out more techniques to calm or completely prevent thoughts produced by anxiety of obsessiveness.

Then, there’s a recent article about how to recognize which plastics are harmful to your health and well-being.

Yes, I’m talking about the plastic that drink you just got out of the vending machine is in. The plastic bottles that contain our soft drinks, water, sports drinks, mouthwash, peanut butter, and even that thin layer of film over your microwaveable foods. These bottles are made out of polyethylene terephthalate which contains antimony.  Antimony is considered to be safe, but after prolonged use, it can cause chronic health issues such as stomach ulcers.

The large bottles that contain milk, shampoo, detergent, and other cleaners are made out of high-density polyethylene which contain chemicals with estrogenic activity; this also is suspected to cause health problems and has been proven to alter the structure of human cells.

You shouldn’t be scared for your safety.   You should be aware of this information.

Just read the label: plastic designated with a 7, 3, or 6 you should avoid but ones with a 1, 2, 4, or a 5 are relatively safe in moderate exposure (see full article.)

Want more science insights that can help you directly in your daily life? Check out AsapScience on Youtube. They have a numerous amount of videos packed with information just like this.

They also have videos explaining why your brain works the way it does; one answers the question of  'which came first, the chick or the egg?'

The videos are usually less than five minutes long; that’s enough time to have your life changed for the better.

Image Source: http://www.ohiosci.org/

Baz Luhrmann has really gotten The Great Gatsby fans all balled up as of late, and dag nabbit am I ready for all of this baloney to be over.

He not only ruined Christmas by moving the release date of his Fitzgerald adaptation from December 2012 to May 2013, but Luhrmann too squashed awesome rumors that Jay-Z was working on the score for the film.

He also used MY theme song, Jay and Kanye’s Watch the Throne track “No Church in the Wild” for his teaser trailers, which was just plain rude seeing as he didn’t ask me if that was alright.

In the words of Hova’s main squeeze, no one man should have all that power.

However, after announcing that Jay does in fact have an official connection to The Great Gatsby—he’s titled as executive producer of the film’s soundtrack—and revealing that the picture will open the Cannes Film Festival on May 15^th, Luhrmann is beginning to gain back my trust.

This is great news for Leo, seeing as he asked me to the May 10^th US premiere and doesn’t want any date-director drama.

If you’re looking for a Fitzgerald fix and have already read The Great Gatsby six times like me, two relevant (and incredible) books have gotten totally lost during the hype of this movie:

The Paris Wife, historical fiction and New York Times bestseller by Paula McLain, is set in Chicago, 1920 (of course). The novel narrates the whirlwind romance between Ernest Hemingway and Hadley Richardson—the power couple in the fabled “Lost Generation” that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and last but not least, F. Scott Fitzgerald. How casual.

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald is another historical fiction by Therese Anne Fowler, this time giving its readers an insight to the romance between her and F. Scott Fitzgerald (duh). Much like McLain’s novel, Fowler narrates both stories of the Lost Generation and of the years before Fitzgerald finds fame.

Image Source: http://www.impawards.com/2013/great_gatsby_ver6_xlg.html

You are not free.

But here, I'll focus on the technological side of things. With the advent of social media and the rapidity with which information can be shared, I figured there would be a fast, widespread change in the fundamental way the world operated. And to an extent, this is true – only today would you be able to read the president's Twitter account or see an inaugural speech streamed on YouTube. It seems that times have certainly changed, but in this era of media freedom, I can't help but ask, how free are we really?

Writer Evgeny Morozov seems to think we only enjoy, or at the very least utilize, a small portion of our power through the internet. In an awesome video put up by RSA Animate, one of his many talking points is recognizing intended versus actual usage. Think of it this way: Although there is the occasional video advocating a particular religious/political/social view, how many more cat videos are there, or videos with entertainment as the main draw? Morozov takes it a step further and posits that a majority of internet users spend their time looking at porn instead of collaborating in any meaningful way, and he appears to be correct. According to OnlineMBA, around $3 million is spent on porn every second. That's right, not minutes, seconds. So how is an average internet user's time really being spent? Caught in a vortex of questionable content or something more sinister?

In any case, it's important to remember that government officials are able to access much of the same content you are, which means that your super-secret Facebook group you joined may not be so super or secret after all. But even if it is, what chance does it have of effectively creating change? Or is that even really the point? It seems that when individuals try to spread or acquire certain types of information through the net, they are thrown in jail, and, when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, may resort to killing themselves.

Aaron Swartz faced 50 years in prison for essentially downloading JSTOR articles.

The average amount of time served for statutory rape is 9 years.

WTF. Is this the cost of faux freedom?

Now I won't sit here and pretend to have a solution, but reading about laws like SOPA being shot down is encouraging. At the very least it shows that internet users do have some power in their keyboards. But with SOPA being repackaged and reintroduced as CISPA, how long will it be until the voices of those fighting for internet freedom are lost in a cavalcade of Harlem Shakes and cute cats?

If you want to know more, check out Morozov’s TED Talk segment.

Image Source: http://futureblue.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/online-education-spreading-knowledge-across-the-web/

By: Caitlyn McGuire

Picture this: After a night in Five Points, you end up back at the apartment of the boy who bought you vodka cranberries all night and told you your eyes were “so pretty.” Waking up in a daze, you awkwardly accept his “Shacking Shirt,” paired with your skirt from the night before. To be courteous, he asks for your number and you trek down the stairs of his apartment barefoot, heels in hand.  Just when you thought things couldn’t get more awkward, sitting on the couch is not only his roommate, but also the kid you have been talking to in your Poli Sci class. Perfect. Does this scenario sound familiar? Being in college, most of us have either experienced or heard of a similar horror story.

One-night stands have become so common they don’t hold the same shock factor, as say, for our parents’ generation. A possible bevy of physical and emotional dangers relating to one-night stands, most students know the basic facts of sexual health. The choice is yours, but before staying the night, it is important to learn the “who’s, what’s and whys” of college one-night stands.

Who’s having them?

In college, it could be anyone. Sometimes it’s the most unsuspecting ‘nice’ boy or girl that can regale you with tales of their late night romps. Needless to say, this does not mean everyone is doing it. From speaking with students, G&B found that there are those that haven’t, those that have, and those that have had too many.

How bad are they really?

One-night stands can be harmful physically and emotionally. The cause and effects of one-night stands vary greatly among students, from harmless to devastating. When the outcome may be unpredictable, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Getting physical

Be aware of the unknown. Bringing a stranger home for one-night puts a lot of trust into them. You don’t know their personality well enough to predict their actions.  Never disregard the possibility of physical and sexual abuse, date-rape drugs, or even theft.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

We are much too old, wise and educated to pretend STDs do not exist on campus, because they do - and more readily than you’d think. Using protection is a frontline defense against STDs but it isn’t effective 100% of the time. Even though it may have been your first one-night stand it does not mean it was your partners’ first one too. Furthermore, some people who have an STD may not even realize it. In a report from the University of North Carolina, chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea and hepatitis B may not show any symptoms while affecting an individual.

Pregnancy

An accidental pregnancy is life-changing and a one-night stand is far from the support system needed at such a scary time.  As we know, a great majority of one-nighters happen after a long night of drinking. In a 2012 study conducted by the National Coalition of STD Directors, almost half of college freshmen that were under the influence did not use a condom during sex. It’s assumed after freshmen year, that the nearly 50% did not all of a sudden begin wearing condoms during intoxicated sex. Birth control is an effective method of pregnancy prevention, however nothing is 100% effective and while Plan B is an option, it’s an expensive one.

Cause and Effect

Aside from the possible physical side-effects, one-night stands can leave impressions lasting much longer than a single evening. Although touted as a carefree activity, for most, it’s hard to keep emotions separate from intimate encounters. Here are some of the common emotional aspects behind staying the night.

One-night stands can occur from simply being caught up in the excitement of a moment. When we asked, USC students, a common answer was that a person having a one-night stand was in some way expressing personal insecurities. Everyone faces their insecurities at some point, but how they deal with them can manifest in different ways. A third-year male student describes one-night stands as “instant gratification for people who aren’t satisfied with themselves.” A 2010 Kansas State University research journal suggests the more people engage in one night stands, the lower their self esteem may become. If one-night stands are used to temporarily ease self-esteem issues, the ensuing chain of effects -  avoiding problems as opposed to confronting them, can possibly lead to depression.

If the night didn’t end up being all you thought it would, ruminating on regretful decisions made from the past will only make you feel worse. It’s important to take responsibility for your own adult actions and understand the risks at hand. In college, sex happens. Whether you are engaging in it or not, be aware of it and its effects. 

By: Julia Hienz

We’ve all done it: flirtatiously made eyes with that hottie across the room secretly (or blatantly, maybe) hoping that they’re single. Although it may be impossible to know exactly what someone is thinking about you, being able to read body language can help decode some of their opinions. G&B has done the research and picked out the most important physical cues to familiarize yourself with before heading down to Five Points. Read on and let the bodies do the talking.

Private Eyes

As obvious as it seems, making and holding eye contact is the first clear hint that someone may be into you. This goes for both sexes, and if eye contact is followed up with a smile or they move to be in a closer proximity, chances are they feel some attraction. Additionally, if you find yourself face-to-face with someone and notice that their pupils dilate (get larger), it’s good news: this is a physiologic response that occurs when a person finds someone attractive.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Another common body language sign of both males and females is mimicking each other’s movements. It can be as subtle as uncrossing legs or taking a bite of food after the other person does. Mirroring allows one to sympathize with another without using words, and puts two people in sync. Pay attention next time you are sitting with a crush and see if they copy your moves!

Lady Lingo

Whip My Hair

Females do a variety of subconscious things to attract potential mates. One of the most telltale signs that a woman digs you is if she touches or fixes her hair when you’re around. General primping, also known as “preening” shows a woman is attempting to look their best and amp up attractiveness. If you’re spitting game to a girl and you notice she’s doing this: keep it up. She’s into you.

Kiss This

Reading lips (and I don’t mean from your buddy, mouthing the words “it’s in the bag” from across the bar) is another way to decipher a woman’s feelings about you. When a female finds someone attractive, she will do anything and everything to draw attention to her mouth. Common motions include pouting, licking, biting, and/or touching their lips.

Jitterbug

Women tend to fidget when they’re nervous. It’s a natural reaction that helps the body rid excess energy caused by anxiety. If you see a girl playing with her jewelry or steadily tracing the rim of a glass while around a certain person, she probably likes them and may have preoccupied thoughts about what she looks like or what to say.

Guy Code

Call Me Maybe

Men’s sexual body language errs on the side of primitive in comparison to women’s. One example being extremely loud laughter or talking. Bellowing chuckles allow a man to “mark his territory,” so to speak. It alerts to other males in the surrounding vicinity that the woman being spoken to is “theirs.” A subtler way that attracted men “mark territory” is by finding any opportunity to touch you, even in the slightest.

I’m Kind of a Big Deal

Another interested body language indicator is displayed when a guy sits up straighter or tries to make himself appear larger when you’re around. Attempting to be the largest shows that a man desires to be the “alpha male.” Prehistorically, the alpha male of a group was also the man most desired by women. A guy is probably REALLY interested if he also has open body language, like spread legs, uncrossed arms or is faced towards you.

Nose Knows

If you’re talking to a cutie and want to know if they think you’re cute too, look no further than the nose. This may be one of the smallest attraction hints, but flared nostrils many times indicate that a dude is turned on by your presence. A nervous, rapid heart beat requires more oxygen and flared nostrils allow for more air to enter the body. So don’t be creeped out if you see this, he’s probably just breathing heavier, not trying to get a whiff of your perfume.

Hello everyone! It’s been awhile…

Send stories my way — @whatisthex

Console Rumors

With Nintendo already offering their supposed "next-gen" console, the Wii-U, rumors about Sony's and Microsoft's new systems were soon to follow. Sony's new machine is codenamed Orbis, while Microsoft has gone with Durango, and each machine has undergone some spec leaks just in time for E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), which will most likely house an official unveiling. So far, VGLeaks claims to have the world exclusive on Durango's specs, and plans on doing the same for Orbis in the coming weeks. In the meantime, they've put up an Orbis devkit roadmap showing that development started in the middle of 2012, if not sooner. If you're completely clueless about what to expect from the new gaming consoles, Edge magazine spoke with senior analyst, Piers Harding-Rolls, about launch times, pricing, indie support and more.

Illegal Unlocks

By the time you read this, it'll already be too late. That's right, unlocking your phone for use on another carrier is now officially illegal... unless you ask your service provider first. So if your contract is over, the DMCA essentially wants you to ask for permission to use your phone on another carrier's network. That being said, you can still legally purchase an unlocked phone for a premium price or, if you're feeling lucky, unlock the phone yourself and pray that a SWAT team doesn't tear your door down.

Sadie’s Letter

A young transgender girl, Sadie, decided to write the president a letter following his inauguration speech wherein he mentioned the need to embrace the homosexual community. Wondering why transgender individuals were not included, Sadie took it upon herself to write Obama and state her position.

“The world would be a better place if everyone had the right to be themselves, including people who have a creative gender identity and expression. Transgender people are not allowed the freedom to do things everyone else does, like go to the doctor, go to school, get a job, and even make friends.”

Apparently Sadie also likes to introduce herself as a transgender and as a vegan. I'm still not sure why vegans still feel the need to tell people their vegan, but I ain't even mad.

Quick Hits

Sued for Reviews

Arguments for Windows 8

Vidya

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