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Theme Park Vacations No Longer Just For Kids

By Abby Albright / Sports Editor | October 22

Universal Studios is probably one of the most under-rated places ever.It's not its fault Disney World is as attention hogging as its princesses, and people tend to forget about good old Universal Studios.This past weekend I ventured to Orlando to visit Universal Studios and Disney World.I never made it to Disney because I refused to be torn away from Universal and all it had to offer.First of all, I highly recommend seeing the Blue Man Group.

Backstreet's Back With 'This is Us'

By Callie Garrett / Assistant Intrigue Editor | October 22

Backstreet's back with a new genre of pop music with its newly released album, "This is Us," after working with legendary producers such as T-Pain, Max Martin, RedOne and Ryan Tedder.Working with various artists, Backstreet Boys are moving back to their original roots, a pop genre.Many people have been skeptical of their seventh album released because of the genre change, but I believe they did it right this time.

Our View:City's New Web App Helps, Informs, Delights

By Editorial Staff | October 22

We heard the city of Auburn had taken the initiative in creating a Web application in order to help people better find their way around the city.Our first question: Our Auburn?Are you sure it wasn't some other Auburn?

iPod Nano Offers New Built-in Video Camera

By Callie Garrett / Assistant Intrigue Editor | October 22

The new iPod Nano, introduced Sept. 9, offers a new built-in video camera and mic allowing music lovers to shoot video wherever they may be.The iPod Nano is available in nine vibrant colors, with a 2.2-inch screen allowing users to view their videos more clearly.It also includes a live FM radio, voice recorder, voice over--which speaks the names of the songs and artists, the Nike pedometer to count every step you take and many other advanced features.The most impressive thing to me is the video camera built into this extremely slender piece of technology.

Our View: Organic Sexual Lubricant Raises Interest

By Editorial Staff | October 22

Aloe Cadabra: a mildly amusing name for what is a very serious product.(Yes, we're actually writing an editorial about lube this week.)A sexual lubricant that is made from 95 percent organic materials is an interesting breakthrough in an industry largely dominated by petrochemicals.Yes, the same fossil fuels that make up the gasoline in your cars also make up oil-based personal lubricants.

We All Need to Stay Behind Todd

By Patrick Dever / Assistant Sports Editor | October 22

Senior quarterback Chris Todd has been catching some flak the past two weeks for his less than stellar play against the University of Arkansas and the University of Kentucky.It's almost like the first five games of the season, when he blew up the stat book, don't even matter anymore.He has thrown 12 touchdowns compared to his two interceptions.Seven games with only two interceptions is amazing, especially in a conference and division that prides itself with good defense.There is a resemblance to the former No.

Celebrate Joy of Self-Caused Smiles

By Olivia Martin / Associate Intrigue Editor | October 22

Our appearances are a reflection of how we would like to be perceived. Carefully crafted to look as cool or sexy as possible, we spend a lot of time trying to create a certain look.Yesterday, I decided to dye random strands of my hair pink.

Reel Review: ''Pandorum Monsters are monstrosity'

By Andrew Sims / ONLINE EDITOR | October 22

When I think of awful movies, I start at the top and work my way down. From now on, however, I will start and end with Pandorum.This movie, if I had any control, would be renamed and marketed as PanBorum.I am ashamed to admit it, but I still lay awake at night wondering what exactly happened in that movie.Granted I missed the first 20 minutes because I was in the lobby attempting to accurately figure out the best popcorn-to-seasoning salt ratio. In the end it honest to god did not even matter.

Premature Prize for the President

By Samuel Solomon/ Associate News Editor | October 15

President Barack Obama, winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace prize, was awarded for the things he might one day accomplish.He might find a peaceful solution in Afghanistan; he might successfully halt Iran's uranium enrichment program; he might reverse global climate change (since apparently that is criteria as Al Gore was co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize).I am sickened the committee would give the award in anticipation of what he might accomplish.

Small Investments a Key to Bigger Successes

By Michelle Wilder / ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR | October 15

The small things in life are the most rewarding.When someone smiles on campus as I pass by, when a cashier at Chik-fil-A says "My pleasure" or when a teacher puts "Good job" at the top of an assignment, these gestures make my day.It may not seem like it, but small things can make a big difference.I hope the small things I do will make a difference later in life when I am searching for a career.Two years ago, I saw an advertisement for Teen Vogue Fashion University in New York City.The weekend-long conference would be open to anyone interested in fashion, meeting designers and learning from the magazine editors how to get a foot in the door of the fashion/magazine world.Boy, was I interested.Of course, I applied.But my first thoughts were, "Why would a magazine in New York City accept someone from Podunk, Ala., (actually Holly Pond, but just as bad) who will probably never have a chance in the fashion world?""Will the proper, up-scale designers and editors laugh my Southern accent back home?"These doubts made me try even harder.Much to my surprise, I was accepted, Southern accent and all.The next month I boarded a plane for the first time in my life and was on my way to arguably the greatest city in the world.I would soon stand in the presence of figures in fashion that I have only been able to see on the glossy pages of the magazine, much less ask questions and be in the same room with.While in New York, I attended seminars by Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Tim Gunn, Redken hairstylists, Maybelline New York make-up artists and all of the editors at Teen Vogue, and then saw all the sights and shopped till I dropped.It was jaw dropping being surrounded by so many people at one time and looking up and not being able to see the tops of buildings.Where I live, I can drive to the top of the tallest building (a parking deck).Standing on top of the Empire State Building, overlooking the buildings probably four times taller than the lowly parking deck I am used to, was life changing.In two weeks I get to go back to the Big Apple for the fourth annual Fashion University.

Sharps and Flats: Pete Yorn Album Sticks

By Griffin Limerick / Associate Multimedia Editor | October 15

After spending a career opening for more well-known acts (this summer it was Coldplay), Pete Yorn doesn't enjoy much commercial popularity.His case is only further hampered by the Swedish band with a similar namesake -- Peter, Bjorn and John -- who struck melodic gold with their whistlin' hit, "Young Folks" in 2006.However, the New Jersey-born singer-songwriter is also talented in his ability to create whistle-worthy melodies.What prevents Yorn from joining the ranks of other great American singer-songwriters, like Jeff Tweedy, Conor Oberst and Ben Gibbard, is his inability to pen life-altering lyrics.While Yorn's verses are an improvement from the teenage angst drivel that personifies high school radio stations, they are only a minor improvement that could perhaps be safely dubbed a liquor-induced college whine."Back & Fourth" is Yorn's fourth studio LP and follows the melodic traditions of his other albums.

Reel Review: 'Rule #1: Cardio, Rule #2: Double tap'

By Julian Kersh / Assistant Multimedia Editor | October 15

If you're purchasing a ticket for a movie with a title like "Zombieland," you can expect a film that doesn't take itself too seriously, provides some good laughs and sprinkles in the appropriate amount of zombie violence.Well, with director Ruben Fleischer's outrageous, post-apocalyptic comedy, what you expect is what you get.For a mix of comedy and horror, it certainly isn't Shaun of the Dead (to be honest, what is?), but "Zombieland" provides laughs through subtle, witty remarks as well as physical, energetic comedy.It probably won't have you burying your head in your chest like the twins in "The Shining" will do to you, but there are enough surprise scares and buck shot exploding zombies to warrant the horror sub-genre.The flick begins following loner college kid Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) on his trek through a desolate, zombie-infested country to Columbus, Ohio.The quiet, methodical character credits surviving this long to not ever being tied down to close friends or family, but more importantly, his 31-point list of survival rules.Columbus' humorous, yet effective list includes items like "3.

Our View: So long, cement signs; hello, clarity, modernity

By Editorial Staff | October 15

As the great Sam Cooke once said, "It's been a long, long time coming, but I know a change gonna come."Yes, we're going to equate song lyrics about equality and racial harmony to illustrate how excited we are about the city of Auburn's latest move to finally change their street signs.We wish we could try to write some sort of mock ode or praise for the old cement street signs, but, quite frankly, we aren't going to miss them much at all.Their only real benefit seemed to be that they were far less likely to be stolen, but we think that's only because there are so few people who have the desire or time to try to undertake such a Herculanean task.Of course, even if some misguided soul were to try and steal one of them, they would likely have a doozy of a time trying to find the one they wanted, especially at night.We all have a fairly intimate knowledge of Auburn's main roads, but at night, the city's smaller backroads and neighborhoods become a labyrinth that makes us begin to wonder when the Minotaur was going to make an appearance.Even in the daylight, it was hard to read the squat cement posts, especially for those of us with corrective lenses.A few of us have had to pull over a few times to get our bearings.

Our View: HIV Vaccine a Much-Needed Advance

By Editorial Staff | October 15

When you hear any announcement regarding the success of a potential HIV vaccine, you can't help but feel some form of hope and joy.We all know what horrible problems HIV and AIDS cause in this world, and we all long to hear of a day when we don't have to worry about those dark spectres any more.We hope, we rejoice, but we analyze what we hear.It's the most effective vaccine to date, but it's only 30 percent effective.

The Routine of Parental Visits

By Lindsey Davidson / Editor | October 15

When the parents come to visit their young, aspiring offspring during the grueling years at college, there are always three things that happen.One: you clean.Laundry gets done for the first time in weeks.The floors are swept and vacuumed.

A Quiz a Day Keeps the Idiots Away

By Andrew Sims / ONLINE EDITOR | October 8

AIDS is still a problem. Cancer is increasing at a jogging pace. Not my jogging pace, but someone in shape, which is probably really fast.

Book Review: 'South of Broad'

By Elizabeth Mahaney / ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR | October 8

What I thought was going to be a lovely (assumed romance) novel about Charleston, soon turned into an unexpected adventure of characters' lives and experiences.Pat Conroy, author of "The Prince of Tides," surpassed any expectations I had for "South of Broad."The story involves Leopold Bloom King, named after a character in the infamous "Ulysses" by James Joyce.

Bonnaroo: 'What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been'

By Blakeley Sisk / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR | October 8

Four days, 25 shows, 16 hours of sleep, zero showers and more drugs than I have even heard of.That, my friends, is a quick snap shot of Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.Bonnaroo is a four-day and three-night music and arts festival in Coffee County, Tenn.There were 98 musical shows and an assortment of comedy, movies and art.We arrived in Tennessee on Wednesday night and slept in a parking lot so that we could get up early and get in line.After waking up at 6:30 a.m., we drove to the line and waited.Waited for four hours.Once we arrived, we drove to our spot and set up our tents.This was a little difficult in 100 degree weather so humid it felt like it was already raining.Since it was only 10 a.m., we just sat in the car, napped, met our neighbors and waited for the music to start.We packed up all our stuff in our backpacks and purses and at 5 p.m.