NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 40, No. 5
wednesday, february 1, 2012
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Online retailer transforms how to shop
New Yorkers ranked as rudest
By Ayden Rosenberg Founded in July 2011 by model and former investment banker Olga Vidisheva, shoptiques. com is a new online retailer that marries the originality of privately owned boutiques with the affordability and accessibility of mass-produced brands. Vidisheva, a recent graduate of Harvard Business School, came up with the idea for Shoptiques after she fell madly in love with a pair of pumps at a trendy Parisian boutique. “If she wasn’t there, on that day at that time in that country, she never would have even known they existed,” said Chelsea Sun, NYU graduate and vice president of Shoptiques. “And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that you shouldn’t have to get on a plane to find a distinctive piece. So she decided to do something about it.”
R SHOPTIQUES continued on PG. 4
By Claire Zajdel
James Kelleher/WSN
Girl Scouts of the USA executive leaders hosted a panel yesterday announcing the launch of a new cause campaign dedicated to girls’ leadership.
Travel + Leisure magazine released the results of its annual online survey last week, and New York City won the title of rudest city in America. Each year, the magazine allows online readers to rank large cities throughout America in categories including Cleanliness, Safety, Ethnic Dining and Architecture. In the most recent America’s Favorite Cities survey, New York City received the lowest score by non-residents in the Friendly category. Whether or not New Yorkers truly have a bad attitude or it just appears that way to outsiders has yet to be determined. NYU sociology professor Dalton Conley said it may be the diversity and pace of the city that gives people this impression. “First, New York City is fastpaced, so we don’t reserve a lot
R RUDE continued on PG. 3
Udacity makes online education available to all By Jessica Schultz David Evans taught his first computer science class to nine students 10 years ago. But Evans, an associate professor at the University of Virginia, will teach at a different kind of school this spring — an online university called Udacity. Founded by three roboticists, Udacity offers an alternative medium for education to students who do not have enough money or time to attend a traditional university. Registration for the courses began last Saturday, and thousands have already signed up. Co-founder Sebastian Thrun hopes 500,000 will have enrolled by the start of classes later this month. “The vast majority of the world’s population cannot afford the costs of traditional higher education, cannot spend four years
devoting all their time to it and doesn’t live nearby an elite university,” Evans said. “High-quality online higher education has the opportunity to serve these students in ways that traditional universities cannot.” Starting Feb. 20, the site will offer two courses: Programming a Robotic Car and Building a Search Engine. Each course will run for seven weeks, and students will receive a certificate signed by the professors upon completion of the course. Last fall, Udacity offered its first course, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. Evans, who will teach Building a Search Engine and contributed to the development of Udacity, said the university has plans to expand in the future. In 2012, the university hopes to add eight more courses and expand
to a more comprehensive computer science program. Catharine Stimpson, professor at the Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy, said she is interested to see how the site will develop over the next few months. “Online education is promising, but it’s the question of quality,” she said. “How much are people really learning and what can they do with it after the course is over?” Evans said though his course may not offer the one-on-one attention a normal university course may provide, he hopes to keep the class engaged through interactive quizzes, during lectures and with weekly homework assignments. Steinhardt freshman Haley Kim said the site could help to change education in the future. “I think it really is the beginning of a whole new era of education,”
via udacity.com
Udacity will offer two new courses this spring. she said. “It’s a much simpler way, and obviously with two professors from top-tier universities you’re going to get the same information that you would here at NYU.”
Jessica Schultz is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at jschultz@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | wednesday, february 1, 2012 | nyunews.com
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Wish Wednesday
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Amy zhang
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james lanning
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5 p.m. | Silver Center, Jurow Hall 100 Washington Sq. E.
3:30 to 4:30 p.m. | NYU Student Health Center 726 Broadway, 3rd floor
CAS Scholars Lecture Series: Arang Keshavarzian Associate professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies Arang Keshavarzian will speak about socio-political issues of the Middle East.
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Free Back rubs
Stressbusters will give out free 5- to 7-minute back rubs.
6:30 p.m. | Kimmel Center, Rosenthal Pavilion, 10th Floor
African Heritage Month 2012 Opening Ceremony
Hazel Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Conference, will give the keynote speech at this ceremony. RSVP to community.affairs@nyu.edu.
opinion editor olivia gonzalez deputy opinion editors ATTICUS
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Scorpion Aliens on Venus According to Russian scientist Leonid Ksanfomaliti, life on Venus is not only possible — it actually exists. Ksanfomaliti claims that a 1982 video from a Soviet probe shows three mvoing objects, including a black patch, a disk-shaped object and an image that resembles a scorpion. Despite this assertion of evidence, NASA scientists dismissed the claim, citing the inhabitable living conditions on the planet where an excess of carbon dioxide causes temperatures to jump as high as 800 degrees Fahrenheit. They attribute the movement to a misinterpretation of what is actually occurring in the video.
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jaywon choe kelsey desiderio russell steinberg KIRSTEN CHANG francis poon terka cicelOVa
— Huffington Post
Dartmouth College
Student accuses frat of hazing violations — The Dartmouth
During the CAS trip to Florence, night falls over the Arno River from the Ponte Vecchio.
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Paul Farmer to deliver 2012 Northwestern Commencement address — The Daily Northwestern
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About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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nyunews.com | wednesday, february 1, 2012 | Washington Square news
Student supporters harvest hope for Obama in 2012
Eric Hsieh/WSN
NYU Students for Barack Obama prepares for campaigning in 2012. By Eric Benson NYU Students for Barack Obama held its first meeting of the spring semester yesterday evening, focusing on the current status of the president’s candidacy for 2012. With the goal of promoting the re-election of President Obama this November, the club will work as a grass roots movement to inspire students. CAS sophomore and NYU-SFBO media coordinator Mike Place stressed the purpose of the group lies in persuasion at the voter level. “The overall mission of NYU Students for Barack Obama is to help re-elect the president through voter outreach, education and motivation,” Place said. “Our efforts are not limited to solely this school or even the state, and we will be working to unite voices everywhere behind President Obama.” CAS sophomore Sara Moe, co-coordi-
nator of NYU-SFBO and senior fellow for the New York City chapter of the Obama for America Campaign, said the club was strong in their fall semester efforts. “We were able to compile a full leadership team, each person having a specific role, and we held several voter registration drives, phonebanks as well as trips to Philadelphia and Boston to help with other states’ efforts in the Obama 2012 campaign,” Moe said. As for this semester, NYU-SFBO has a lot in store. On Presidents’ Day in February, the club plans to travel to Philadelphia for canvassing. CAS sophomore and club member Meredith Shevitz emphasized the importance of the trip in the meeting. “We can’t win the election without support in Pennsylvania,” Shevitz said. “It is most definitely a crucial state.” The club plans to campaign throughout Hayden residence hall this Friday
evening to register student voters. “We believe that interest will grow as the GOP Primary season moves forward and we get closer and closer to the election,” Moe said. “We plan to hold a phone bank and a voter registration, cavassing effort of some kind once a week for the rest of the semester and will continue to travel to Pennsylvania to help in an important battleground state.” Place said future plans will most likely include one or more trips to Pennsylvania, a possible trip to Boston, weekly phone banking, canvassing and leading student voter registration days. Any future Days of Action, which were inspired by the Obama for America Campaign, will also be part of the club’s activities. Eric Benson is a deputy university editor. Email him at ebenson@nyunews.com.
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RUDE continued from PG. 1
NYC a habitat for hostility of time for niceties,” Conley said. “Also, it’s huge and anonymous, which means it’s not only not expected that you’d tip your hat and say ‘hi’ to someone passing you on the street,” he added. “It would in fact be downright weird. Third, we are a city with a high percentage of foreign born [residents].” Different cultures and languages represented in the city by tourists and residents from other countries lead to quick, basic communication that often appears rude, according to Dalton. Los Angeles, Boston, Miami and Washington D.C., accompanied New York City as rude cities whereas New Orleans, San Juan, P.R., and Nashville, Tenn., topped the Friendly category. Tisch freshman Carlos Perez, a San Juan native, compared the New York lifestyle with the one back home. “People are infinitely nicer back home,” Perez said. “Even just riding in an elevator, people usually say ‘good morning.’ I hardly ever see that happen here in the city.” “In San Juan, peo-
ple are generally just a lot warmer,” he added. “They take time out of their day to brighten yours.” New York residents have a different perspective of New York City’s friendliness. “From a service perspective, I don’t think it’s a very rude place,” New York resident Samantha Bullock, 31, said. “But from a ‘people-on-the-subway’ perspective, absolutely, there’s no chivalry there, either.” But resident Doris Gerdes, 21, does not think New York City is rude. “I think it’s harder for some people to survive here,” she said. Not only was New York City rated the least friendly, but it was also voted last place in the Affordability, Cleanliness and Peace and Quiet categories. Despite low scoring in the four other categories, Travel + Leisure reported that New York City ranked number one in the Theater/ performance art, Diverse, Stylish, Classical music and Luxury stores categories. Claire Zajdel is a staff writer. Email her at citystate@nyunews.com.
NYU community remembers life of Tisch professor By Bridgette Doran
Courtesy of MGM
Ray oversaw the distribution and release of the film “Bowling for Columbine.”
NYU adjunct professor Bingham Ray, 57, passed away last week after suffering two strokes at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Ray was hired last year by his friend and colleague Joe Pichirallo, undergraduate chair of the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at the Tisch School of the Arts. Before accepting the position of executive director at the San Francisco Film Society, Ray taught two film production courses from Sept. to Oct. 2011. “Bingham was larger than life. He had a distinct persona that his students liked and connected with,” Pichirallo said. “He was committed to teaching and before he left we talked about making him a permanent member of the faculty.” He added, “Bingham may
not have been a household name but he was a legend in the independent film industry.” After co-founding the independent film distribution company October Films that later became Focus Features, Ray became president of United Artists, a film studio based in Los Angeles, Calif. There, he oversaw the distribution and release of films like “Bowling for Columbine” directed by Michael Moore and “Hotel Rwanda” directed by Terry George. Pichirallo recalled numerous conversations with Ray, in which Ray spoke of his love for teaching and inspiring young students. “He always planned to find some sort of teaching job once he settled in San Francisco,” Pichirallo said. “But he never got the chance.” Gallatin sophomore Daniel Carlin, who took one of
Ray’s film classes last fall, said he was deeply saddened by Ray’s passing. “Bingham’s passion toward film was contagious,” he said. “While his lectures were delivered with fervor and a sense of intimidation, his door was always open. He was a wonderful teacher and mentor whom I am lucky to have met.” In an email sent to the Tisch faculty last Saturday, Pichirallo wrote he learned much about film business from Ray. “[I] always admired how he was fearless in championing challenging films from signature directors such as Mike Leigh, Lars von Trier, David Lynch and Michael Moore,” he wrote. “He had a passion for life, a wicked sense of humor and, most of all, truly loved films. His passing at age 57 is a big loss.”
via Facebook
Ray joined NYU in 2011. Bridgette Doran is a senior editor. Email her at bdoran@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | wednesday, february 1, 2012 | nyunews.com
Beauty and style SHOPTIQUES continued from PG. 1
E-commerce boutique offers international inventory Thus, this innovative new ecommerce business, unlike anything of its kind, was born. The site is unique because users can browse one-of-a-kind merchandise from dozens of boutiques across the country without ever leaving their homes. “Shoptiques does all the traveling for you,” Sun said. “You just need to decide what you want.” Shoptiques has been featured in Women’s Wear Daily, OK!, Shape and stylecaster.com and has a wait list of over 10,000 people. The website, however, has yet to launch officially. “We just opened an office
via shoptiques.com
in San Francisco to cover the up-and-coming West Coast boutiques, and we’re working to officially launch the website sometime in the next two months,” Sun said. “The ultimate goal, though, is for Shoptiques to be the go-to e-commerce website for one-of-a-kind pieces from all over the world.” The merchandise, which includes everything from clothing to accessories, is in a class of its own. The appearance and cost of each piece set it apart from anything you would find in a New York City storefront window. At Shoptiques the majority
Blinged-out collars
D.I.Y.
By Rachel Perlman
Many people like to thrift, wash and wear. The best part about bargain shopping is transforming a piece of clothing into something unique and personal. Sure, a plain button-down blouse is a great staple, but making it into a one-of-a-kind piece is more fun. Natalie Portman and Alexa Chung have sported studded collars in the past year, proving that the studded effect is tough yet feminine. So when I stumbled upon a silk blouse in a local thrift store, I headed straight for M&J Trimmings in Midtown to purchase studded nail heads. Materials: 1. A collared shirt bought at a thrift store 2. Nail head studs with prongs (available at notions stores) 3. Scissors or butter knife
Rachel Perlman for WSN
Collars pop with studs.
Directions: 1. Lay the shirt out on a flat surface. Make sure the collar is folded properly and is even on both sides. 2. Take the first nail head and push the prongs
through the collar in the desired position. Puncturing the fabric should be fairly easy as long as the fabric is not too thick. 3. Turn the collar over so the pronged side is facing upward. Take the closed scissors or butter knife and bend the prongs inward. Do not fold the prongs down by hand — they are much sharper and harder than they look. 4. Continue placing
the nail heads along the collar. 5. Repeat on the other side of the collar. Tip: To save money and avoid wasting nail heads, stop adding studs around the shoulder line (where the top of the collar meets the shoulder seam). Rachel Perlman is a contributing writer. Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.
Midi-skirts a transitional must By Rachel Sanderson
Floor-grazing maxi skirts and leg-baring mini skirts continuously circulate the pages of magazines and runways, but the new scene-stealer is the always feminine midi-skirt. Between Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga and Rodarte, this stylish skirt can be seen everywhere. Though the calf-length style had its moment in the ’40s, it is by no means old-fashioned. This trend was heavily featured on the Fall/Winter 2011 runways, but for those daring enough to don a midi-skirt, it effortlessly transitions not only from winter to spring, but also from day to night.
Transition from season to season: A midi-skirt purchased in the fall need not be banished to the back of your closet waiting to re-emerge a year later. Skirts in light-weight fabrics like chiffon or silk can be worn just as easily in spring as in winter. One way to update this ladylike skirt for spring is to pair it with a top in a light color like white or a pastel. You can also trade in deep hues for flirty floral prints. Complete the transition by taking off the boots and trading them in for a pair of ballet flats or sandals.
via asos.com
Career woman out on the town: A pencil midi-skirt is just as appropriate for the office as it is for a night on the town. It is essential for the office-chic girl who loves to have fun. A day at work can be spent wearing this slim skirt in a solid color or vibrant print paired with a blazer, a solid-colored blouse and a neutral pump. As soon as you clock out, take off the blazer, slip on a sheer blouse and a pair of statement heels.
via asos.com
Do not fret over the thought of having to splurge on a Marc Jacobs midi-skirt; affordable versions of this refreshing trend can be found at a myriad of stores including Forever21, H&M and Urban Outfitters and on websites like Asos or Modcloth. Rachel Sanderson is a contributing writer. Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.
of inventory is under $100. The website also provides innovative search categories so members can navigate the site with ease. In addition to the classic searches by color, price and size, Shoptiques offers two new options: Shop by Style and Shop by Occasion. With choices consisting of Bohemian, Romantic and Street Edgy, Shop by Style allows members to find pieces that reflect their personality. The Shop by Occasion option features choice selections including Date Night, Office and Party Time. Members looking for inspira-
tion can check out Shoptiques’ online magazine called Couture Talk. It features quirky yet engaging segments including Daily Obsession, Boutique Spotlight and Fashion Through Film, all of which are written by members of the Shoptiques team. Readers of WSN can enter the exclusive WSN access code “NYUVIP” to get a sneak peek at the website before the general public. Ayden Rosenberg is a contributing writer. Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | wednesday, february 1, 2012 | Washington Square news
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edited by shannon loughran features@nyunews.com
Ditch designers for drugstores: cosmetics that cost less By Hilary Presley
Spring is around the corner, and makeup trends from the runways forecast bold eye shadows, metallic hues and the resurgence of the classic red lip. Look to the local drugstore to get these products for less than the boutique price so you can experiment with all the spring trends.
Foundation and Blush For everyday basics, Revlon and L’Oréal offer high-quality products in a wide range of colors. Keep coverage light with tinted moisturizers such as Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer for around $10 instead of a cakey foundation. For the college girl on a budget, CoverGirl is a good go-to brand, especially its NatureLuxe line of products enhanced with cucumber and jojoba oil. The Silk Foundation ($11) highlights natural beauty while providing smooth, even coverage. Keep the look dewy with pastel pink blush: Revlon Cream Blush in the shade Rosy Glow ($8). Spring is all about showcasing healthy skin. Eye Shadow This season, swap out muted standbys for pearly, metallic shadows as seen at the Chanel and Phillip Lim shows. Iridescent makeup in soft pastels looks fresh and feminine. Instead of splurging, hunt for shadows such as Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in the color palette Skinlights ($8), which includes four good shades to play around with. Or try Maybelline’s cream gel shadow in Too Cool ($7) that can easily be applied with a finger for an evening look. For those more daring, bold purple and orange lids were also spotted on Richard Chai’s and Miu Miu’s runways and are easy to emulate with colorful palettes from Revlon. Use just a swipe of color or layer it on, but keep it fresh and skip heavy eyeliner and mascara.
via style.com
Mascara and Eyeliner Looking for everyday eye makeup basics? CoverGirl’s NatureLuxe Mascara Mousse ($10) is worth buying. This product is light and makes lashes look naturally long and full. CoverGirl’s creamy Liquiline Blast pencil ($8) is indistinguishable from its pricier counterpart, Stila’s eyeliner. Lipstick Red lipstick, seen everywhere from Jason Wu to Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, is back and brighter than ever. For everyday wear try CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain ($8) for a long-lasting, lightweight pop of color. For a night out, amp up any look with the Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Are You Red-dy ($10) or Revlon Super Lustrous Crème Lipstick in Fire & Ice ($8). via style.com
Hilary Presley is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation The new york times crossword & daily sudoku 500 Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Roommate, informally 6 Parade honoree, perhaps 10 Brewer’s need 14 Big name in handbags 15 Withdrawn apple spray 16 James who won a posthumous Pulitzer 17 Gift to an outgoing member of Congress? 20 Hanukkah pancakes 21 Billing cycle, often 22 The University of the South, familiarly 25 Em, to Dorothy 26 Y sporter 27 Rancher’s land 30 Camera type, for short
31 Plant anew 33 Like some elephants 36 Dialect coach’s slogan? 41 Tot’s wheels 42 “The usual,” say 44 A Bush 47 Carl Sagan book 50 “Michael Collins” org. 51 Too firm, perhaps 54 Modern crime, briefly … or a hint to 17-, 36and 59-Across 56 Computer screen lineup 57 He “was here” 59 European gin mill? 64 Romain de Tirtoff’s alias 65 Hence 66 Hale who won three U.S. Opens
67 Nostradamus, e.g. 68 Small songster 69 Spoke sweet nothings
Down 1 Radar’s rank on “M*A*S*H”: Abbr. 2 “… Mac ___ PC?” 3 Cured fare 4 Miss Quested of “A Passage to India” 5 “You shouldn’t have said that!” 6 Cyber-nuisance 7 Sommer on screen 8 Speaks ill of 9 Notable #4 on the ice 10 Grand Lodge member 11 Most majorleaguers have them 12 Campbell’s variety 13 Restrain, in a way ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 18 Sun Bowl A V E R T R I O T Y A W Stadium sch. M A C E S L I T R E E R A 19 Grounded avian B L A C K L A G O O N L A X 22 Sun. talk E U R O E N O R M A L L Y 23 Zeno’s home R E D R I V E R E G G O 24 Cheesehead’s D W I D O O R W A Y state: Abbr. B O B A N O D E E A S Y A 25 1998 Sarah O W L N E M E S E S E E N McLachlan hit S A U L T A N I T A A S K 28 Moves carefully C R E A T O R C P U 29 Mountain ___ B O O K G R E E N B A Y 32 Leaf-turning P E A S S Q U A T C R E E time: Abbr. I V Y W A T E R C O L O R S 34 Pontifical N E O A N I S E R E T I E 35 D.C.-based G N U G A P S A S H E S media giant
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46 Literary family name 48 Poet who wrote “They also serve who only stand and wait” 49 Wroclaw’s river, to Poles 52 The “I” of ICBM 53 Tire letters 55 Prefix with foil or phobia
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63 What this is, fittingly
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nyunews.com | wednesday, february 1, 2012 | Washington Square news
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OPINION
edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com
ELECTION 2012 staff editorial
Romney’s constant gaffes show inadequacy By Louis Loftus If you are a Mitt Romney supporter, you have likely said to yourself one of the following sometime in the last six months: “If only he didn’t put his foot in his mouth so often,” or “If only he didn’t commit so many gaffes.” Perhaps you wish he were better with the press or could communicate in a more human way, then he would make a great president. This is akin to saying, “If only he were better at cutting down trees, then he’d make a real fine lumber jack.” Perhaps this exaggerates the case slightly, but there is no denying that not making errors and communicating effectively with the press is an important part of being president. In fact, it is crucial. This is not immediately obvious. What is so bad about Romney saying that he likes being able to fire people who work for him, or explaining that he could not have an illegal immigrant clean his house because he was “running for office, for Pete’s sake?” How about when he let a story about his family dog’s car-roof kennel spiral out of control that it consumed an entire news
cycle? Honestly, what’s the problem? None of these examples really have anything to do with his policies or his stance on any important issues. So what if he is not exactly suave? So what if he miscalculates constantly? What’s the big deal? Well, in politics, being charming is a big part of the game and contrary to popular belief, the president should be a good politician. That does not mean that he should be a used car salesman, constantly pulling the wool over the country’s eyes. For better or for worse, the president has a very political job, and he should be good at it. He should be able to propose a piece of legislation and have it pass through Congress. He should be able to control a news cycle and use it to his advantage. He should be able to represent the nation competently to foreign heads of state and give press conferences that rally his base and garner support for a policy — anything which makes his already Herculean task of running the country easier, not harder. Of course this kind of finesse, guile, cunning and political skill needs to develop from genuinely held
beliefs and strong convictions. It does not, however, matter how noble the cause is or how pure one’s heart is. A lousy politician will be an ineffective president. This is not to say that a president can never make mistakes. Individually, any one gaffe is trivial. But as a part of a trend, such mistakes can mire a presidency in scandal and force the administration to spend more time on damage control and less on governance. This is the very definition of a waste of the president’s and the country’s time. What should concern people most about Romney’s perpetual foot-in-mouth is not any particular slip he makes (unless of course it really does bother you that he keeps his dog on the roof of his car), but that he keeps making them. It is problematic that political headlines for the next four years will not be about the issues — both good and bad — that the president has done, but rather the stupid things that the president has said.
NYC rude for a reason
In an online survey by Travel + Leisure Magazine, New York City was ranked as the least friendly city in the U.S. by non-residents. These people are right in their assessment, and to them, we New Yorkers would like to say, “We don’t like you either.” What we lack in manners, we make up for in honesty and accomplishment. We’d rather speak the truth than be nice all the time. There’s value to truth, however appalling it may be to the sensibilities of the delicate, wilting flowers among us. That value far surpasses a fake smile at a church barbecue or an empty compliment followed by gossip. New York City is where we talk to your face. For us, judgment based on merit is not considered morally inferior to vacuous platitudes, and we like it that way. It means little when someone you’ve just met compliments your appearance out of social obligation. Because Americans expect these choreographed graces, New Yorkers are deemed rude when we simply don’t have the time to comply. We don’t live in a city where there is extra time for us to act out unnecessary clauses of an outdated social contract. Instead, we do big things — things that are ultimately more important than niceties. It’s not personal, and it’s not the end of the world. Americans love to quote the Dalai Lama in his call for more “random acts of kindness.” But pro forma compliments are not gestures of kindness at all. Such fake endearments are the sugar substitute of American society. They contribute only non-substantive sweetness and cause cultural cancer when consumed in excessive quantity. It’s not a problem that New Yorkers are often rude. Human kindness loses its meaning, loses its life, loses its humanity; when it is applied in every instance to every person without any soul or feeling. Thank those who deserve your thanks, say hello to the people you want to see, be nice to the people who deserve it. Let the souldestroying banality of the fluorescent-filtered “thank you” wither in Idaho, where it belongs.
Louis Loftus is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
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Howard and Orlando Magic bound for bitter break up
courtesy of Keith Allison
Magic’s Dwight Howard is ready for change of team. By John Axelrod After months of trade speculations, Dwight Howard, center for the Orlando Magic, has made it clear he no longer wants to play for
the franchise that drafted him out of high school in 2004. Upon a blowout loss to the inferior New Orleans Hornets on Friday, Howard criticized his teammates for not playing hard enough
and told them to stay in the locker room if they did not want to play. He has also publicly announced a list of desired destinations that includes the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks, the reigning champions. Despite a hot start to the season, the Magic have lost six of their last eight games, averaging a dismal 79.6 points per game during that stretch. Howard’s recent statements have severely undermined head coach Stan Van Gundy and have irreparably damaged whatever team chemistry was left. At this point the Magic have no choice but to trade Howard before the deadline on March 15. If they allow the franchise’s all-time leading scorer to leave in the off-season without getting anything in return, their team will be crippled for years, and the fan base will be crushed. Orlando already endured a similar situation when center Shaquille O’Neal left in 1996, and they definitely don’t want to repeat past mistakes. However, general manager Otis
Smith is reluctant to trade Howard before the All-Star game on Feb. 26, which will take place in Orlando. If Howard — who is by far the best center in the NBA — represents a different team, the weekend will be ruined for the host city. The Magic’s front office needs to get over the inevitable public backlash of such a bold, yet necessary, move. Howard must be traded as soon as possible. Every franchise wants the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year wearing its uniform. Conversely, trading Howard now could benefit the Magic in the long run. Remember the debacle surrounding the Denver Nuggets and small forward Carmelo Anthony last season? Well, the Nuggets have won 33 out of 46 games since trading Anthony to the New York Knicks and are currently in second place in the Western Conference. The Magic could experience the same result by trading their own franchise player. Unfortunately, the Magic are so dysfunctional right now that they need to do more than trade Howard.
Most of the team’s veterans, such as forward Hedo Turkoglu, have seemingly given up on the season and are also dragging down the team. Looking forward to the off-season, the Magic will also have enough cap space to sign quality free agents if they cut the $36 million left on Howard’s contract. A trade with the Lakers, who are desperate for another superstar, would be the best-case scenario for the Magic. Considering the Lakers’ failed attempt to acquire point guard Chris Paul from the Hornets and their disappointing start to the season, L.A. may be willing to pay a high price for Howard. Ideally, the Magic would acquire power forward Pau Gasol and center Andrew Bynum, two premier seven footers that together could surpass Howard’s performance. Orlando will probably add Turkoglu, his overpriced contract and promising power forward Ryan Anderson to the deal. Now is the time to make a move. John Axelrod is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.