I had never listened to a single song by the Lonely Island until my sophomore year at UC Berkeley — no, not even “I’m on a Boat.” My roommate Gabby was the one to open my eyes — rather, my ears — to the hilarity of the band’s music. After watching a Read More…
A popular Vampire Weekend song begins with a rather blunt question: “Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?” In the same vein, it’s been said that “nobody notices that stuff” — with “stuff” referring to punctuation, capitalization and other supposedly trivial matters. A certain former Daily Cal sports editor Read More…
Joining The Daily Californian as a copy editor involved something between slight ethical qualms and a full-scale moral dilemma. You see, I knew from the second I submitted my application that if I were accepted, I’d be breaking one of the most integral parts of my personal code. Ladies and Read More…
As the effects of the government shutdown surround us and remind us how truly frustrating American politics can be, I thought it would be a good time to bring up an error often seen in discussions of politics: the difference between “capital” and “capitol.” The oft-mistaken “capital” and “capitol” are Read More…
My friends are obsessed with “Doctor Who.” I don’t know why or how or when it happened, but at some point during the last couple of years, this strange science fiction show converted several of my close friends to its die-hard fandom. I wouldn’t mind or really take much notice Read More…
“Mean Girls” is an excellent movie in my book. And Gretchen Wieners is one smart gal. She understands that you can’t just ask people why they’re white, she knows that cousins and first cousins are the same thing and she will never forget that in girl world, you can only Read More…
I’ve always thought of “forthcoming” and “forthright” as two commonly mistaken words with two very different meanings: “Forthcoming” meaning “on the way” or “about to happen” and “forthright” meaning “frank” or “candid.” With these definitions in mind, imagine my surprise when, on a recent episode of “Mad Men,” Betty Draper Read More…
It may be the last day of instruction, but that probably just means it’s almost time to start studying for finals. In the spirit of all that — and, of course, for your entertainment — I present one of my favorite lecture slides from my perception class this semester: From Read More…
Vladimir Nabokov, a lepidopterist, composer of chess strategies, lecturer at Wellesley, professor at Cornell and Russian-American novelist, was born 114 years ago today. So imagine my disappointment when, upon receiving my copy of Nabokov’s “Lolita” in the mail, I found this: Read More…
In early December 2012, I awoke to a phone call informing me I would be working on the Washington Post’s copy desk in the summer. I was elated. I had wanted to intern for a major newspaper for years, and, with the Post’s offer, my dream appeared to finally be Read More…