Maybe it’s my lack of creativity in buying Christmas presents, but in my opinion, something has got to change this year.

The usual cliché gifts of clothes, nail polish, jewelry and techie toys can easily be averted, thanks to the fact that we go to school in Cleveland.

The city is a haven for vintage stores and other retro shops that will make Christmas shopping not only easier for you, but also enjoyable! In addition to finding a gift different from the usual retail store, you’ll be supporting local businesses during the holiday season. Below is a listing of the various unique shops I’ve found to be ideal for your Christmas shopping experience.

Flower Child: This vintage shop seems almost endless with its multiple rooms of men and women’s vintage clothing, shoes, records, furniture, jewelry and collectibles. It’s a bit overwhelming at first, but when you see pieces dating as far back as the “flapper-girl” era, pins from JFK’s presidential campaign along with Boho sofas and earrings, you’ll realize you’ve died and gone to vintage Heaven.

The Rag Refinery: I can’t say enough good things about this new vintage store in Ohio City. The owner handpicks men and women’s vintage clothing from around the U.S., and has only six clothing racks. It’s a small amount, but the picks are as good as the prices – you can spend anywhere from $20-$40 and walk out with two or three items. Vintage designer pieces are a rare find at “Refinery,” but they’re something to keep an eye out for. The ‘90s Karl Lagerfeld purse that caught my eye was certainly something any vintage lover would love to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Salty not Sweet: If the person on your wish list is a lover of all things sarcastic, this is the place for your wallet. The owner and partner – both artists themselves – sell only items from local and U.S. crafters. Baby onezies that say “freshly squeezed” or “locally grown” are top sellers, along with handmade cabernet scented candles in broken and recycled wine bottles.

Room Service: The perfect little gift shop that gives Urban Outfitters a run for its money. The “Keep Calm and Carry On” trend may be over and done with, but who could turn down the “Keep Calm” Band Aids, nonetheless the mini record coasters? If you’re playing Santa Claus for the eclectic individual, this place is key for finding a creative gift this holiday.

The Dredger’s Union: Owned by the same woman as Room Service, the new store on East Fourth Street is a little more on the expensive side, yet is a ideal for gifts. Antique bronze Eiffel Tower bottle openers, “216” pillows and one-of-a-kind apparel make up the large space in downtown Cleveland. Finish off your successful shopping day with a lunch and drinks at one of the many stylish restaurants on East Fourth!

Only kidding.

The much-anticipated bra and panties runway show premieres on Tuesday Nov. 28, and needless to say, it’s going to have me thinking twice about grabbing that extra helping of stuffing next Thursday at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

Unfortunately, I am one of those girls who has watched the fashion show every year, incredibly envious of those super long legs, curly hair and—who could leave out—those obnoxiously beautiful angel wings. While I’m embarrassed to admit that for the past two years I’ve watched the show while running on a treadmill in the Corbo Room, because of the workout I always felt a little better about myself after the last angel had walked down the runway. Sad? Yes. I’m completely aware of that. This is why I am making a drastic change in the way in which I watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this year.

No treadmill, no celery stick, and certainly no outwardly expressions of envy. Instead, it will be me, a large spoon and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. I’m forgoing the complaining attitude this year, and opting for something that’s really going to allow me to enjoy the fashion show and my night. There’s always room for regret the next morning.

It’s obvious that there’s no point in agonizing over the stick-thin figures, with top halves looking as if their “cup runneth over.”

It’s a quixotic figure for the average person, and there’s no sense in getting nitpicky about your own figure upon seeing theirs. Last year’s performer Katy Perry had no problem showing off her curves as a nice contrast to the tiny-framed figures of Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio and Candice Swanepoel.

Unfortunately, no curvy women will be performing at the show this year (I was really pulling for Beyoncé). In fact, there will be no women performers at all. Cee Lo Green, Maroon 5 and Kanye West will take on the runway as the night’s musical guests. The famous “Fantasy Treasure Bra” will debut on supermodel (and new mommy!) Miranda Kerr. Covered in Swarovski Elements crystals, its price—a whopping $2.5 million—is going to give viewers a run for their money. I’m expecting an “Occupy Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” protest to occur with the embellished lingerie’s presence.

As the many Kate Moss look-alikes strut their heel-cladded feet down the catwalk, feathered wings in tow, I’ll be more mesmerized by their ability to walk in four-inch heels than their six-packs. I’ll be happy upon the show’s conclusion and my last bite of ice cream, because there’s always time for working out the next day, but only one occasion each year to watch half-naked supermodels while indulging in ice cream and feeling 100 percent confident in your own skin.

For Ferri, the central focus of the international business with languages and cultures major is problem solving in an international context.

“In a time when ‘globalization’ is the key word, I believe that an employer would be very happy to consider someone with a background including a variety of courses in international business, a fluency in a foreign language, an advanced knowledge of the culture of another country and a direct exposure to that market from both sides, here and abroad,” said Ferri.

Last weekend, JCU faculty and administration traveled to Milan, Italy to formalize an agreement with The Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the Italian institution where students will study during their spring semester of their third year. The agreement was signed after the meeting with the rector, professor Lorenzo Ornaghi and John Carroll Provost/Academic Vice President John Day.

The major requires five categories of courses: language, country-specific culture, the business core, international business courses, and international business electives. These electives, with the 302-level of the language of choice, are taken during the student’s time abroad.

Senior Steve Borowy is the University’s first student to go through the program’s process. Borowy studied at The Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, which was minutes from the Duomo, Milan’s breathtaking 14th century cathedral. At this university, Borowy took three international business courses along with courses in Italian language. Following the spring semester, he interned with SMC Italia S.P.A., an Italian manufacturer of pneumatic automation products.

“Working at an international company in a foreign market is one of the most unique and exciting aspects of this new program,” said Borowy. “My internship [with SMC Italia] lasted eight weeks in which I conducted market research for the pneumatics sector of the Italian market, along with working alongside top managers in each of SMC’s department.”

Now back at JCU, Borowy is completing his major and is set to begin his internship in January at a domestic company that does business in Italy.

While Borowy’s focus of language study within the international business major is Italian, Ferri explained that Italian is the pilot language for the IBLC major, yet the idea is to extend the program to as many languages as possible of those taught at John Carroll. However, for each language interested, a network with the specific country must be created, including a university that can teach courses of international business in English and companies willing to offer internships to JCU students.

So far, he said, the numbers are looking good.

“We have several students who have expressed an interest in the IBLC major, mainly in combination with Spanish and Italian, but also French and German,” he said. “Some agreements have been finalized with universities in Italy and Spain, but contacts are available for any country a student may choose.”

For Borowy, the program has not only allowed his network to grow, but also it has instilled confidence in the senior that there will be great job opportunities post-graduation in May.

“Having the international work experience is something that really catches the eye of a potential employer,” he said. “The wonderful thing about this program is that I have to opportunity to ask myself, ‘Do I want to work in the USA or in Europe?’ I don’t know how many other programs can offer you that sort of opportunity.”

This reaction comes after a week of Cain attacking the press for repeatedly asking questions about the allegations, all while refusing to answer questions himself. The manner in which Cain and his campaign manager, Mark Block, have acted in relation to the allegations is indicative of anything but grace under pressure. In reality, it shows the weakness of a thin-skinned man who would rather ignorantly throw the book [of ethics] at a journalist than handle the question with dignity.

His reactions are diminishing his credibility as a leader because one would think a man who has reached this point in the campaign (and as a former CEO) would understand how the media works. Yes, the media is accepted by both sides of the fence to be more liberal-leaning, therefore it’s accepted that Cain may be harshly targeted by the press when it comes to sexual harassment allegations. But at this point in the race, Cain should know the reporters are not going to stop asking these questions, even if he and his staff believe the media is beating a dead horse.

Still, at the heart of this issue is the fact that Cain should have thought before attacking the reporter’s ethics. Those who bother to read the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics will easily see that there is nothing unethical about a reporter asking Cain to respond to the question about the allegations. The allegations aren’t going to be fatal to his campaign, but the way he has handled it could lead to the death of his chance at winning the ticket for the GOP in the 2012 presidential race. I want a president who can respond to questions of the press with poise, someone who can handle the pressure of politics and someone who will be able to take the heat from many critics, not only the press. Mr. Cain has a lot of work to do in those three areas.

Until then I could never see him as my commander in chief.

For Penn State University junior Kristina Helfer, a Daily Collegian reporter and weekly staff columnist, the latter definition is the focus of her column, “Mounting Nittany.” The column goes beyond basic copulation chatter; more so, it chronicles Helfer’s “sexcapades” at Penn State in an attempt to be this generation’s “Sex and the City” column.

However, Helfer is no Carrie Bradshaw.

“Though I am only 20 …” Helfer writes, “I feel like I am finally beginning to figure out human physiology and maybe even relationships. You could say I’ve been around the block a few times, but I’m still experiencing new things every day, especially in Happy Valley on the weekends.”

Her sexual banter, in fact, is far from anything Sarah Jessica Parker’s character would ever write; the editors of the fictional New York Star would have looked at Helfer’s writing, laughed, and torn it up as a disgrace to student journalism.

Unfortunately for the “Mounting Nittany” columnist, the reactions of most employers will be synonymous after reading about Helfer faking an orgasm or having sex under a “crabapple tree.”

This column is certainly no resume booster; instead, it’s boosting a bad reputation for the columnist. One student at Penn State summed up the majority of the comments posted on the column’s site: “Sounds like Kristina just wants a pat on the back for having a lot of sex … well, congrats … now stop writing in my school paper.”

Whereas Bradshaw’s columns always posed a question and concluded with an amicable and moral lesson, Helfer’s attempt lacks the wit and the lesson. She asks questions about faking orgasms, such as “Do we just want to get it over with because the guy or girl is a dead fish?” Here’s a better question: Where is Helfner’s class? It seems like it was lost somewhere between the sheets.

The quality of her writing is sub-par, hardly journalism by any standard. But most importantly, besides the fact that it’s a sex column failure, it’s above all, a disgrace to her college newspaper; one that has created successful writers who have gone on to work at nationally ranked publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

We don’t need someone chronicling his or her sex life on a weekly basis in a publication that claims to have prestige. The poor quality writing that is “Mounting Nittany” would be better suited floating around the Internet in the form of a blog.

Hopefully The Daily Collegian realizes this and looses Helfner’s byline before the poor girl looses every chance of ever getting a job.

Jobs, in a way, was the great inventor of the modern era. So, besides the iPhone 4S, it has become a question of what is next for the world of Apple. Tim Cook, the new company CEO since Aug. 24, must be pressed to start charting his creative course, for now he has the world’s attention. Apple is in his hands, but without Jobs’ creative mind, have Cook and his team bit off more than they can chew?

According to the Bloomberg Review, Cook transformed inventory management to enable Apple to ship the iMac in a rainbow of colors, deviating from the typical beige box that sat upon desk tops. Years later, he orchestrated the speedy delivery of iPods, iPads and iPhones – often within 48 hours – to help build the army of Apple devotees.

The prestigous resume is there, but there needs to be something soon from Cook that’s going to make him a standout. Otherwise, nothing will set him apart from the rest of the 50,000 employees in Cupertino, Calif. and abroad. When Jobs stepped down in August, he left large shoes to fill for Cook. The world is going to look for the same “perfectionist” quality in Cook that they saw in Jobs, the co-founder’s sole characteristic that gave us these technology-defying devices.

A portion of the job is going to include rallying these employees effectively and with a creativity level as insurmountable as that of the late Jobs. The problem is, Cook and Apple’s competition is mounting. For example, Google’s Android mobile phone has become the biggest smart-phone operating system.

For Cook to continue Apple’s legacy in the technology world, he’s going to have to maintain Jobs’ continuous streak of innovations. Individuals are watching Cook a little closer than they did Jobs, and it’s up to him to now officially take the reigns and prove why Jobs chose him.

It was John Carroll alum, the late Tim Russert who wrote, “Some people, without ever realizing it, spend their wholes lives preparing for a single moment.”

For Tim Cook, this moment has come.

“Troy Davis,” “NO EVIDENCE” and “Letter to Georgia” were all trending topics throughout last Wednesday night. The minute Davis was executed, you didn’t even have to be tuned into a television, you just needed to be logged in to your Twitter account.

When asked where they were upon finding out about Osama Bin Laden’s death, many people from my generation will say, “I was on Twitter.”

News about the Al Qaeda leader’s death exploded on the website, as topics such as “House Intelligence,” “Osama Bin Laden” and “USA” quickly dominated the site’s top trending topics around the world.

Twitter was even credited with being the first social media outlet to break the news about Bin Laden’s death, with one tweet by Keith Urbahn, the chief of staff for former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld: “So I’m told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden. Hot damn.” Urbahn added, “Don’t know if it’s true, but let’s pray it is.”

The most wanted man in the world was dead, and we found out about it while tweeting to our followers about the homework we didn’t want to begin working on that night.

Have we become too lazy to pick up a newspaper and read about it, or is finding news from trending topics on Twitter just our generation’s way of multitasking? We’ve grown accustomed to needing news at our fingertips, literally. We can search what we want to know, and we’ll never have to flip through the pages of a printed publication if there’s a computer or smart phone nearby. What we want to know is available to us on several websites, with one click.

In a way, it’s made us narrow-minded; we’re only searching for what we want to know, and we’re only using one source to tell us the news. Social media brings us our news in a few fleeting minutes, and then it’s gone. But it’s left its mark on us, because the next time we want that information, all we have to do is log in.

As the semester began, Student Union was without a vice president for communications after junior Trenton Oczypok transferred from John Carroll. Junior Will Butler, the VP for judicial affairs, left after obtaining multiple job opportunities, according to SU President Rita Rochford.

In addition to the executive board losses, two senators had class conflicts, Rochford noted.

“We all enjoy having a small school but [at the same time], there are not multiple sections of classes offered,” she said. “So if there’s something important to their major and this is the only time to take it, they have to take it when the class comes.”

For some senators, such as juniors Rebecca Magyar and Megan Carrig, and senior Meghan Everett, scheduling conflicts lead to their resignation. Magyar had to step down after scheduling a class needed for her minor.

As a result, she had to give up her position as chairwoman of Student Union’s Committee on Residence Life.

“Getting involved on campus is important to me, but academics come first,” she said.

For Everett, it was an opportunity off campus that led her to the decision to leave as senator.

“I stepped down because I was given a great opportunity to work for the Sherwin Williams Foundation, which is a very prestigious yet demanding opportunity,” she said.  “I feel as a senior I need to prepare myself for the future and this opportunity took precedent. It was a hard decision, however I feel I made the right choice.”

According to Rochford, Everett, who has been very dedicated to the organization in the past, is still open to being very involved with Student Union, such as working on the senior project.

Senior Michael Fox, a now-former senator, also stepped down this semester after finding the purpose of Student Union’s agenda different from his view of what it should be. Fox noted that, in his opinion, the organization is one that is seeking to validate its authority and existence by constant attempts for drastic overhauls of internal procedure that lack perspective.

“Student Union truly is a puppet organization that is seen more as a formality to faculty and administrators than as a decision making body,” he said. “I simply don’t have time to try and fit that into my notions of what leadership truly is.”

Fox said that the decision to step down as a senator was a difficult one, because he has been involved with Student Union since his freshman year and has served in many different capacities.

Rochford stressed that while she wishes all of the students could have stayed in their positions, she’d rather see these losses as a positive, in that now there are opportunities to engage more students and get them into leadership roles.

“It’s a relative question,” she said. “One person could see this as a huge loss from a number standpoint, but another person who may have come to the meetings may have realized that some of the people who left weren’t the most vocal or active, so this is an opportunity to replace them with someone who might be more enthusiastic about the position.”

Thus far, several of the positions that were empty at the start of the semester have already been filled. Oczypok’s position has been filled by senior Dana Hartung, who will now serve as the VP for communications. The two senator seats left open to the junior class by Magyar and Carrig’s departures were filled by Bill Cook and Ryan Zubal. Currently, senior Constance DiBacco is serving as the vice chair for the VP for judicial affairs, appointed by Butler before he stepped down. Everett, Fox and junior Megan France’s positions on SU have yet to be filled.

Rochford said that applications for the remaining positions will be distributed this week and will be due on Oct. 3 so that the spots can be filled relatively soon.

To avoid instances like this in the future, Rochford indicated the need for students to understand the commitment they are making when they decide to run for senate or an executive board position.

“I am going to do everything in my power to stress how long-term this commitment is so that when people are deciding to run for senate or for the exec-board, they understand they have to put this first when they’re scheduling things around it,” she said.

After reading, had I listened to the editors of Vogue, my wallet would have crashed and burned. Hard. I’d envisioned basics; the editors went with runway. Sorry, but iconic white fur coats and traditional forties tea dresses with exotic prints are not items I would ever wish to invest my “hard-earned” babysitting money in. If you’re still wondering what pieces to invest in for this fall season and many more to come, read on!

1. A jean jacket: Many women believe the classic jacket that Gap ads made a staple was meant solely for children and tweens, but the piece has always been under the radar as a effortlessly fashionable look. Choosing a darker wash allows you to dress it up or down so that you get the most wear.

2. The quilted sweatshirt: The sweatshirt that reminds me of a Chanel bag. It’s a nice change for the typical crew-neck sweatshirt look, and right now J.Crew is selling them for $72.

3. The rust-colored accessory: Rusty-tones are what comes to mind for many when thinking of fall. Whether it’s leggings, flats, a headband or a scarf, adding an item of this color to your wardrobe gives it a pop of fall color.

4. Riding boots: These weren’t intended for those only taking equestrian lessons. I bought my pair last fall and wore them at least five times a week. An extra point of advice: Find a pair that has both black and brown colors. It makes the boots more versatile so you’ll really be getting your moneys worth.

5. A black blazer: The interviewee’s go-to look, however, not always for business settings. Pair it with a striking necklace, high-waisted shorts and heels for a night out.

The problems will be ameliorated by Oct. 1, according to JCU’s Information Technology Services and Associate Chief Information Officer Jim Burke.

The problems—which began not long after the transition to digital television was made in August—were twofold, and included complications with the channel numbering system as well as with audio. At the root of the problem with the audio difficulties is the lack of standards compliance by some of the television manufacturers on John Carroll’s campus.

According to Burke, the University’s cable TV equipment manufacturer, R.L. Drake, upgraded their equipment over the summer to be able to access new standards.

“Drake changed the software in their equipment and it wasn’t compatible with the televisions on campus,” he said.

Because of this issue, some students do not have audio on their televisions, but Burke said the majority of the students on campus seemed to be fine. Senior Hannah Dubyoski, who has an older television in her room, has not been able to access channels or audio on her TV.

“We haven’t been able to get any channels, not even the non-cable ones,” she said. “For some time we had TV Land and the John Carroll information channel, but we don’t have either of those now.”

The other problem, the channel numbering system, has to do with the television systems and their ability to tune in series of numbers.

“With the three-digit numbering scheme we were using, a lot of the older televisions were unable to tune in the series of numbers,” said Drake. “We didn’t realize that standard was so new, so we had to revert to the two digit dot one digit numbering scheme.”

The numbering scheme for which Burke describes identifies channels as 26.1, 26.2, etc. The previous three digit-numbering scheme used by ITS prevented some individuals on campus from selecting the channels on their televisions.  This was evident especially for those using the television sets attached to fitness equipment in the Corbo Room.

Senior Kelly Kern, who works at the desk in the Corbo Room, noted that a few people have complained to her in the past weeks about the TVs freezing.

It’s a problem she has come to notice as well.

“When I workout, the televisions pause almost every three seconds, even with standard channels like NBC and ABC,” said Kern. “I would expect it with ESPN and other cable channels, but not those.”

The software expected to be installed on the University’s campus this week will likely solve most of the problems Kern, Dubyoski, and other campus members are experiencing with cable TVs.

“Once the software is installed, we’ll be looking for reports on those so we can get out there and make sure everybody is happy,” Burke said.

Hosted by the John Carroll Conservatives, the special memorial was one of 11 memorials taking place at Ohio universities on Sunday. The Carroll Conservatives became a part of the “9/11: Never Forget Project,” after hearing of the nationwide effort by Young America’s Foundation to help young people remember the terrorist attacks on the United States.

Organized by senior and Carroll Conservatives President Nick Tribuzzo, the memorial was centralized around the nearly 3,000 flags that represented each who lost his or her life one decade ago.

“These flags do so much more than show us the number of lives lost that morning, they also tell us the story of the lives that were lost – a story that we will never forget,” said Tribuzzo in his speech.

Songs such as “America the Beautiful” were sung by a capella men’s choir Rhapsody Blue, along with “Halfway to Heaven” by Rhapsody Blue soloist sophomore Eliot Woyshner, to symbolize that those who perished in the towers were already “Halfway to Heaven.”

The Carroll Conservatives were also accepting donations to the Twin Towers Orphan Fund, whose mission is to raise funds to support those children who lost one or both of their parents in the 9/11 attacks by providing long-term higher educational assistance, along with mental and physical health care assistance. According to Tribuzzo, over $200 was raised at this event.

“9/11 defined our generation, and no event has had a greater impact,” said Tribuzzo. “We are in a unique position because we remember what it was like before [the attacks] and now we live through its significance. It’s important that our generation never forgets 9/11 because to do so would be as tragic as the attacks themselves.”

The comment only made me more embarrassed; yet as always, she knew she was right way before I could realize it. The cards now serve their purpose with each of my crazy culinary concoctions, which include graduation-themed cupcakes, zucchini fries and asparagus omelets. A friend of mine who goes to school in New York City is a self-proclaimed “Fordham Foodie” who probably spends more money than I make in a month scouring the items of markets and cultural grocery stores to find ingredients for her outlandish, yet tasty recipes.

I, on the other hand, open my fridge and imagine the damage I can do with what I have; the reason for which I call my resourceful creations “concoctions.” The best, without a doubt, is my “specialty” grilled cheese. I’d like to say it’d give Matt Fish of Melt Bar and Grilled a run for his money, but I don’t want to sound too conceited about my grilled cheese sandwich-making abilities.

The obsession began years before Fish’s restaurant and I crossed paths. Most likely the weird fascination began around the age of 10 when my friend and I pressed M&Ms into the slices of melted American cheese layering the sandwiches my Grandma had made for us (don’t knock it ‘til you try it).

This strange hobby continued in college, even with a failed attempt in the cafeteria freshman year: I tried running the sandwich open-faced through the bagel-toaster (it began smoking). The workers weren’t too happy, and I have a feeling I’m part of the reason for the Panini maker’s presence after the matter.

Mainly, it’s my obsession with cheese and the intermingling of different tastes within the layers of the sandwich that make it delicious enough to be called gourmet. My recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and salty, along with the sweet acidic flavor of the dipping sauce. It has the crispy and buttery taste of a typical grilled cheese sandwich, but the layers stacked between its slices are what evoke the many “mmmmms” you’ll hear.

I apologize for leading your taste buds on, but I’m not going to reveal the method to my grilled-cheese madness. Find what you have in your refrigerator and make one that best serves your tastes. My recipe will remain a secret kept within the confines of my 21st birthday present.

Oh, and it did prove the old saying right.

A national public service announcement campaign entitled “I will (pay tribute)” commenced this past August, featuring relatives of 9/11 victims and survivors of the attacks.

The PSA shows celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson, Mariska Hargitay, Ali Larter, Hilary Duff and Jordin Sparks encouraging others to engage in good deeds and volunteer in honor of those who lost their lives one decade ago. Cleveland’s own Cavs point guard Baron Davis has reached out to become a part of the “I Will” campaign, along with New York Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira.

The John Carroll Conservatives have jumped on the bandwagon as well, as the organization will host a “Never Forget” memorial service this Sunday to honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks a decade ago. The event will begin at noon on the Quad. John Carroll students and community members are welcome.

At the event, donations will be put toward the Twin Towers Orphan Fund to raise money for children who lost one or both parents on 9/11 by providing long-term higher educational assistance and mental and physical health care assistance.

Celebrities participating in the “I Will (pay tribute” campaign are also sharing their good deed plans for 9/11 and urge others to join in the cause by saying “I will,” the initiative’s mission to “remember by doing.”

“I will take the kids from the Rising Stars of America Foundation to clean up the beach,” pledges Davis on the “I will” movement’s website.

Actress Ali Larter said she will donate her time with her husband and newborn son each Sept. 11 by going to a hospital and working with children.

The campaign is a part of the 9/11 Tribute Movement that has annually recognized a Day of Remembrance each year since 2002.

Since it’s creation, the Movement has been joined by over 22 leaders in the 9/11 community to help it grow, such as Alice Hoagland, mother of Flight 93 hero Mark Bingham, Mary Fetchet, co-founder of Voices of September 11, and Cindy McGinty, a 9/11 window.

For more information about the event on JCU’s campus, contact .

Ten years later, and I can still remember the exact desk I was sitting in when my principal announced the news.

A decade has passed, and perhaps the saddest fact besides the anniversary is that I cannot remember where I was when the reconstruction of the site was broadcasted.  No one can, because it has yet to happen, and will not happen for another two years.

Is this not 100 percent inconsistent with America’s capabilities? It took five years to build the Hoover Dam, eight years and two months to put a man on the moon and just 400 days to build the Empire State Building. Rome wasn’t built in a day, yet it has been 3,649 days since 9/11 and the World Trade Center site has not been completely reconstructed.

I visited the site in 2002 and again recently this past August. While the site has changed with the construction of the new towers, it is a shame there will be nothing completed to present to the public this Sunday. According to the World Trade Center website, there will be five new skyscrapers, (named 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 WTC), The National September 11 Memorial and Museum, a transportation hub, retail space and a performing arts center. What I witnessed this August was a fenced in construction area enclosing a hole in the ground and the five incomplete skyscrapers. I walked around with the thought, “How much longer?” running through my mind; a thought most likely consistent with that of many of the thousands of others viewing the same thing.

As a 12-year-old visiting the site nine years ago, the thought of it being incomplete at age 21 would have never crossed my mind. On the verge of adolescence I was hopeful of the American spirit. Now, I’m frustrated with the politicians, the Union work rules and the constant need to be politically correct. The rebuilding of Ground Zero was supposed to be the symbol of our never-ending perseverance and strength against those who threatened to destroy it. This Sunday, those who gather in lower Manhattan will look up from Ground Zero to see incomplete towers, a symbol of a fervent American spirit gone lukewarm.

What a life.

Unfortunately, the closest I think I will ever come to that lifestyle will be watching “A Little Princess” or playing the board game “Pretty Pretty Princess” and making my brother crown me as Princess Jennifer, much like I had him do when we were youngsters.  At the time, the cheap, grey plastic crown with adhesive plastic jewels was my idealistic take on being a real-life princess. Seventeen years later, I’m waking up at 4 a.m. on a Friday morning to watch all of the coverage in its entirety of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s “Royal Wedding.” And I’m pretty certain that my friend and I watching it weren’t the only two girls during those three hours wanting to switch lives with Kate. All of the coverage of the “Royal Wedding” got me thinking; if a girl could dream at age six, why not now?

While most of you reading this (especially if you’re a male) may be rolling your eyes at the impracticality of my “wishful” thinking, I can offer two pieces of empirical evidence that prove how dreaming big may just be a feasible plan.  After watching the live coverage, the coverage in re-runs on news stations, and almost every special that ran throughout the weekend of the wedding, I came to learn a lot about the newly-titled Duchess of Cambridge, Ms. Kate Middleton.  One of these was a CNN special entitled “The Women Who Would Be Queen.” In this CNN special, I learned that before Diana had married Prince Charles, she was, much like many young women at that time, infatuated with Charles and the enchanting aura that came with being a part of the royal family. Diana’s bedroom was filled with pictures of the prince and his royal family. However, Diana came from a much more prominent family than Kate, and it is evident that she had more of a chance in becoming a part of it all by marrying Charles in an arranged marriage. Middleton, a commoner, didn’t have that advantage, but oddly enough, much like Prince William’s late-mother Princess Diana, the documentary stated that Middleton would hang pictures of Prince William in her dorm room at boarding school. It was a bit of an incentive to attend Scotland’s University of St. Andrews after learning the prince was enrolling as well.

So if these two women dreamed about it and idolized the royal family, why shouldn’t we be able to as well? After groggily sitting down in my first class on Friday, a male friend laughed at the fact that I had woken up that early to watch a wedding, and he made a point to tell me I was fantasizing for nothing. “There’s still Prince Harry!” I told him, but he firmly noted that Harry “would never marry a Yank” and that even if I were to marry Prince Harry, I’d be “betraying my own country.” Still, like many other girls, I’ll keep the dream going, because who knows, I could end up meeting a guy at a prestigious graduate school who ends up being a prince. It worked for Kate Middleton, so why not?

A girl can dream!

Luckily, that wasn’t the case, and his kindheartedness is seen in his friendships and my relationship with him, but more specifically with his good friend, Jennie.  Kevin met Jennie during the seventh grade and has remained close with her and her best friend Michelle ever since. Both Jennie and her friend Michelle have Down syndrome yet unlike others, Kevin never thought twice about the two girls being any different from anyone else.  During a time when teenager’s cruelty to one another can be seen every day in the hallways of a high school, my brother serves as the perfect example for how the students should treat one another.  He takes the time to talk and joke around with Jennie and Michelle in between classes; I think it is his goofy, lax personality that makes both Jennie and Michelle love him. However, most recently Kevin’s benevolence became evident when he found out Jennie was diagnosed with leukemia and was in the hospital.  Two of his teachers pulled him aside one day during school and told him the news, and that Jennie was asking to see him at the hospital.

Taking the time to plan out his visit to be the perfect one, Kevin decided to drive to the hospital that weekend and visit his friend.  Along with him he brought a plastic toy basketball he had gotten from our high school’s varsity basketball game the night before.  A basketball player for the team, Kevin “autographed” it and drew little smiley faces on it, in the hope that it would brighten Jennie’s day. When my brother arrived at her hospital room, he said her face lit up with a big smile when she saw him.  He spent time with her talking and coloring in the hospital before leaving and saying his goodbyes.  After leaving, he said nothing could have made him feel better than the fulfillment of what he had just experienced.  A few days later, Jennie’s mom called and said that seeing Jennie’s reaction to Kevin arriving at the hospital was synonymous to every teen girl’s reaction to seeing Justin Bieber. Kevin was Jennie’s very own Justin Bieber.

To see that my little brother has grown into becoming someone who can make this perfect, little girl feel so important is gratifying as a sister. If we all spent more time trying to make others feel important, wouldn’t we be better for it?

While it may not have been worded exactly the same way, my parents used to say something like this when I would get bad anxiety over tests in high school.

Their words were just as reassuring during those years as Patton’s quote is today for me.

I can see the truth in the quote, but sometimes today’s standards have taken a toll on its reality.

I wonder if there’s truth in its meaning today when everyone is expected to go beyond the expectations to achieve certain goals.

In our 21st century, Miley Cyrus sang “Nobody’s Perfect;” Patton encouraged troops of young men to do their best in the 1940s. The words of both are inspiring and touching for those who hear them.

The problem is, we are motivated by these words yet we do not listen to them.

It has become incredibly easy to compare ourselves with one another in many ways, so we are constantly striving to be a class of flawless people.

In our perfectionist world, do we tolerate fallibility anymore?

It is clear to many John Carroll students that juggling coursework, a job and even service hours is incredibly demanding of our time.

Not only that, but we are expected to excel in each so that our resume is sheer perfection.

This puts a grueling amount of pressure on someone who can’t balance their time or becomes overwhelmed easily.  And if they give up, they’re just not cut out for success today.

In my American Christianity class a few weeks ago, we learned about the Vatican I Council of 1870, in which the Pope was decreed infallible in regard to faith and morals.  The pope could make no mistakes in these two regards.

The lecture got me thinking about this fallibility, how it is tied to the character of an individual, and its proximity to our lifestyles today.

Sadly, we are being raised to the same standard the pope is in terms of our lifestyle. Much like the pope, we have the entire world watching and comparing us to others who may be better.

The Holy Father may have the advantage of accomplishing this characteristic, but not everybody is going to be blessed with such luck.

It’s time we acknowledge this fact, and accept fallibility as not the antonym of perfection but as a part of life.

Mr. or Mrs. Impeccable may seem flawless to you, but they are most likely struggling with their own desire to be perfect. It is this idea that should be understood.

Each person we compare ourselves to or strive to reach their level of perfection is most likely in the same exact boat; we’re just too concerned about our own perfection to know it.

In a way, it’s a reassuring idea, but it doesn’t take away from the reality that perfection is still something that is unachievable.

We won’t understand this until we actually believe in the words of Patton and accept that our best is enough.

Fox’s “sunset clause” proposed that the changes to the SOBB would be done on a temporary basis, lasting from September 2011 until Oct. 31. The SOBB modification that Fox wants to set a trial time for would be to move SOBB from the duty of the vice president for student organizations to the vice president for business affairs.

Student Union President Rita Rochford, a junior, noted that just because this modification has been proposed doesn’t mean it will be changed. “We don’t have the ‘sunset clause’ in [the bill] and we haven’t even voted on whether or not we’d accept that, because that’s kind of just a workshop,” she said. “It’s a discussion on how to improve the decisions.”

VP for Student Organizations Peter Hayden said the SOBB transfer bill has the potential to allow Student Union to increase efficiency for JCU’s student organizations by placing all of the finances into one position instead of the current two positions in which they currently reside.

“[It also] would allow the vice president for student organizations to use this time to work side-by-side with organizations that are struggling with leadership, programming and to help improve relations with the administration,” said Hayden.

While it does seem like the Student Union is at a standstill on the issue, Rochford is certain that the talks that have been held during recent meetings are making progress on the issue.

“I do think it is going somewhere because the discussions have generated a lot of positive solutions, either in addition [to] or in place of this amendment,” said Rochford. “Even though we haven’t gotten a concrete consensus yet, we’ve generated a lot of great ideas that we can further look into.”

Hayden sees the proposed clause as having the potential to be successful, if it were extended from Sept. 1, 2011 to Nov. 1, 2011 to give a “better sense in how it is being implemented.” He said the important issue is the unanimous vote by campus organizations this past March to transfer the SOBB over to the vice president for business affairs.

“When 50 plus organizations can come together to vote in favor of this idea with no one dissenting, that sends a significant message,” he said.

Hayden said he is willing to compromise to have successful reform.

Much like Hayden, Rochford stresses compromising as well as the Student Union’s ultimate goal. She hopes the discussion of the changes that might be made will figure out how to compromise and help the student body at the same time. The proposal is meant to improve the efficiency between the positions of VP for student organizations and VP for business affairs. One advantage of passing the amendment to modify SOBB is that it could make the process of requesting money and then being reimbursed more efficient, according to Rochford. Still, she is not sold on any one thing at this point.

“I’d like to continue to lead the discussion and have the senators talk to their constituents and the student organizations to come up with what they want,” she said. “My job is just to facilitate, and I would just like to support the discussion and I think there’s a lot of positive solutions that have been proposed.”

Among the various Good Samaritan acts and continuous relief efforts that have taken place in recent weeks since Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, countless fashion labels have taken the initiative to design products that benefit the country.

From T-shirts to designer bags, the list ranges from affordable to pricey, yet the theme remains the same: help the victims.

For women, designer Tory Burch has designed a T-shirt inspired by the Japanese flag, which shows seven rows of flags and hearts.

The shirt is available on the designer’s website for $29, and 100 percent of the net proceeds of each T-shirt sold through Sept. 15, 2011 will go to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts.

Designers such as Anna Sui created a T-shirt with the slogan “We’re all in this together” and Karmaloop.com created a T -shirt for both men and women that states, “The Sun will rise Again.” Both sell for $20.  For both Sui and Karmaloop, 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to The Red Cross.

Senior Kaitryn Snider believes what designers are doing can benefit many in different ways.  “This is an intelligent way [for designers] to use their great influence in the world of fashion to benefit the greater good,” she said. “They merged their passion for design with their compassion for those in desperate need in Japan and it’s a win-win-win situation for the designer, the conscientious consumer, and the needy.”

Polo Ralph Lauren has created a charity polo, available for men and women for $98.  The company paired with United Way worldwide network to create “The Japan Hope” polo shirt (which comes in either black, white or navy), and to donate 100 percent of all proceeds to the humanitarian effort in Japan through the Central Community Chest of Japan.

New England-based leather company Corter has currently raised over $30,000 for The Red Cross Japan with their “Corter for Japan” leather cuff, which is selling for $20 each. Owner of Corter Leather Eric Heins said his motivation to design an item for Japan came from his longtime admiration of Japanese leather smiths.

“Their work got me interested in the craft and I started my little company because getting the things they make over in the states was very time consuming and expensive,” he said. “When I saw the news footage, and heard that a lot of my business friends [in Japan] were being affected, and I knew I could spring to action quickly, so I made a few bracelets in 20 minutes and put them for sale online.”

Heins’ design is a leather bracelet with a hand painted red button to show support for Japan.

“The leather will tan and patina uniquely to each person as they wear it, and the paint will chip away on the button over time as well,” Heins said.

“The band is simple, no branding, and the hope is that by the time the bracelet has no red paint left on the button and is a beautiful dark, worn brown, the country will also be well on its way to healing and resuming normal life.”

Well-known designers Kate Spade and Rebecca Minkoff have used their expertise to create money bags to benefit the countries victims as well.

For $18, Kate Spade’s “Support Japan Tote” features the signature spade logo, a heart, and the red circle from the country’s flag.

Minkoff has created six red bags that range in price from $295-$495 for her Japan Relief collection.  The designer has offered to send every $100 made from the handbags to the American Red Cross.

Other big-name fashion brands such as Brooks Brothers, Coach, Alexander Wang, Forever 21 and American Eagle have contributed thousands of dollars in donations to aid in the effort.

Snider thinks each of these created items shows something about the kindness of the designers.

“This shows their concern for the global community and their own awareness of the great potential they have to make an impact in disaster relief through the use of their unique talents,” she said.

Students’ immediate reaction is usually a scratching of the head as they feel the weight of the “real world” pressing on their shoulders and the ominous realization of graduation quickly becomes the elephant in the living room.  The words “recession,” “bad economy” and “unemployment” are not encouraging ones; yet they have become the go-to thoughts for graduates.

With enough pressure to find a job, let alone one you love, there doesn’t seem to be enough positive energy concerning joining the workforce.

Enter Jim Beqaj and his informative book, “How to Hire the Perfect Employer.”

Beqaj got his start in the investment banking business and found great success at 37 years old when he became the youngest person to be named president of a global banking unit.

However, the fairytale came to a screeching halt when he was laid off in 1996 and could not find a company that wanted to hire him.

As a result, the experience allowed him to reevaluate his potential, taking himself apart and analyzing his strengths and weaknesses.

Today, he is the founder of Beqaj International Inc., a company that presents recruiting, coaching and consulting services to companies and individuals.

Much like what his company provides, “Perfect Employer” is a quick read that allows its readers to determine four key elements: What they’re good at, how they’re wired, how they prefer to resolve conflicts, and a list of companies that are a likely fit, or what Beqaj calls a Target Rich Environment (TRE).

All four elements are preparation for creating a “Personal Infomercial,” which is just a fancy way of saying you should sell the heck out of yourself when in an interview.

The text has its advantages; for one, it doesn’t bore you with details, nor does it imply that it’s Beqaj’s way or the highway.

The steps are clearly illustrated, often with charts the reader can fill out him or herself.

The conclusion of each educational chapter displays a list of “Fit Factor Tips” that summarize the important points of the chapter, along with the URL to view Beqaj’s free online videos for further information.

It’s the simplicity of the text that will attract readers to continue to the next chapter.

While the simplicity of “Perfect Employer” may bring about the Beqaj’s success, its turnoffs are in the tiny details that seem to jump at you in several instances.

Beqaj reiterates what he calls the “inadequacy” of a resume.

This will come as a major surprise to those who live and breathe by their resume as the sole path to developing a career.

Readers may have trouble setting aside the tangible proof of their achievement to focus on taking a closer look at themselves.

The exercises for readers to complete at the end of each chapter lesson may be more effective if they were eliminated or instructed solely in Beqaj’s online videos.

After the first two exercises, their existence becomes monotonous and may turn readers off.

What remains the essence of Beqaj’s success is the key component readers must grasp from his book: his self recreation.

It may be daring for some to see the good in advice from a man who had made it to the top of the employment ladder only to fall hard, but it’s that factor that makes it all the more important.

Beqaj’s passion for his career is manifested in the pages.  He has a love for his profession that is a rarity today.

As society encourages man to achieve monetary success, Beqaj preaches the opposite, the right answer: achieve happiness.

As a follow-up to 2008’s “Circus,” Spears’ new album is compiled of 12 tracks on the normal edition, and 16 on the deluxe version.

The first single, “Hold It Against Me” was released on Jan. 10, after being leaked online a few days early.  This proved to be fruitful, as many of Spears’ fans enjoyed hearing the tune ahead of time. Several other snippets of songs have been leaked as well, spurring more excitement for Spears’ fans.

“Hold it Against Me” made 411,000 sales within only one week of its iTunes release and has hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A highly anticipated track, the single garnered much discussion about being the Pop Princess’s second comeback with the album as a whole.

“As a life-long Britney fan, I am more than looking forward to the release of Femme Fatale,” said freshman Leanna Gonzalez.  “When ‘Hold It Against Me’ was released early, it was like Christmas for me.”

On “Femme Fatale,” Spears is collaborating and working with some big-time names in the music business. On the track, “Big Fat Ass,” Spears collaborates with Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, and on “(Drop Dead) Beautiful” joins forces with Sabi, a relative newcomer to the music scene.

Pop phenomenon Ke$ha also adds to the album, helping write the track “Till the World Ends.” The track, which was also leaked before its designated release date, debuted at No. 2 on the “Billboard Hot 100” chart, giving Spears two songs in the top 20 on the Billboard chart.

On her newest album release, Spears also enlists the help of some leading producers to help build an even better album.

Dr. Luke, who has worked with Katy Perry on her albums “One of the Boys” and “Teenage Dream,” 3OH!3 on their release “Streets of Gold,” and Weezer on their album “Raditude,” produces five tracks on “Femme Fatale.”

Max Martin, who has worked with Celine Dion, Bon Jovi and The Backstreet Boys lends his talents to six of Britney’s newest songs. Working with so many different producers and collaborators is sure to make “Femme Fatale” well worth the wait, which is something Britney fans can attest to.

With a long time-span between “Circus” and the album to be released at the end of the month, the anticipation is high for many fans.

When asked about the almost two and a half year gap between the release of “Circus” and “Femme Fatale,” Gonzalez proved the anticipation is high.

“When I heard that Britney was finally releasing a new album, [I became] so excited.  Her music has been a part of my life since I was young, and I can’t wait to see what her new album holds.”

Luckily for fans like Gonzalez, the wait for new Britney music is almost over.  With “Femme Fatale” being released in a few days, Britney’s fans will be  able to jam to their favorite popstar once again.

Owner Phiner Dike (pronounced feena deekay) places just as much emphasis on her customers as she does creating delicious cuisine.

The Bistro, located on Lee Road 10 minutes from John Carroll’s campus, opened in January 2011 in an effort to draw more people from the Cedar Lee Theater and surrounding venues.

It was established in 2006 in Avon, Ohio where it developed a following of loyal customers who now travel the 40 minutes to the east side for weekly visits.

The atmosphere is an intimate setting brightened by the sunshine yellow walls and snapshots of vibrant flowers on canvas.

Each item on the menu is served on lead-free formal chinaware. It’s a fitting environment for the menu designed by Dike, which she describes as “eclectic, young and fresh.”

“It’s honest food,” Dike said.  “We custom make everything, using organic meat and produce while avoiding the creation of anything breaded or deep-fried.”

Dike emphasized her desire to give customers the real taste of food.  A native Nigerian from Lagos, Nigeria, Dike’s passion for making others healthy is a direct result of her native region’s natural, nutritious diet.

The menu offers a long list of unique options that range from authentic Nigerian to other types of dishes such as Italian, French and Mediterranean. Customers won’t find sides of French fries or onion rings; each entrée comes with rice, sautéed vegetables and salad.

Meals are not enhanced with preservatives or artificial flavors, and ocean sea salt is substituted for standard white salt.

For an appetizer, try the hummus with grilled pita chips. It’s a delicious start and won’t leave you feeling too full to finish your main course. Another starter on the menu is the chicken garlic soup made from scratch, a light and flavorsome choice for a cold afternoon in Cleveland.

As for the salads, none of the dressings are cream based; each salad dressing is fruit based, made with real mangos, strawberries and other fruit selections.

Main entrées, such as the boneless chicken breast dinner come with coconut rice and peanut sauce certain to make tastebuds turn their heads from the fried and greasy side dishes they once loved.

The menu accommodates for vegetarians, and offers beans and gluten-free organic brown rice for vegans.

To finish the meal, the restaurant offers a vast variety of desserts ranging from the “Pie-Tini” to vanilla ice cream wrapped in roasted pecans and melted caramel. Each of the options go well with their freshly ground coffee and delicious almond cream.

A Phiner Bistro offers a few unique touches that set it apart from other local independent restaurants.  One of the most distinctive elements is their fresh juice menu, offering organic, anti-oxidant rich juices made from real fruits and vegetables.

Owner Dike first became popular with the publication of “Juicing for Your Soul,” a book that focuses on a simple approach to healthy eating to achieve physical enrichment.

Aside from ordering various juices from the menu, Dike teaches “juicing classes” at the Bistro, educating others on proper fruit combinations for attaining the proper nourishment.  There is also a “Bring your own beer, wine or vodka” policy, in which customers can bring their own alcohol for a small charge of $4.

A Phiner Bistro does not serve alcohol but allows customers to take advantage of the BYOB policy.

What most likely is the motive to keep people coming back is the menu’s flexibility, as it rotates on a weekly basis. Dike explained that if customers don’t see something on the menu, they can ask the chef if he/she can make it.

It’s this type of service that makes each customer’s experience personal with Chef Dike, which serves as a great incentive for many to return. The menu and the service are proven factors that show A Phiner Bistro masters the art of healthy food and hospitality.

“I’ve learned that people are happy when they’re healthy and when the world is happy, it is a better place,” Dike said.

A Phiner Bistro is located at 2199 Lee Rd. and is open Tuesday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.

That is the future that 27.5 million NPR listeners could face this time next year, as a cloud of controversy has forced the media group to make tough decisions in the last 12 months.

Since its inception in 1970, NPR (formally National Public Radio) has faced criticism on both sides of the political aisle for alleged bias and partisanship.

Often times, the cultural programming and community driven news that the network provides have taken a backseat to scandals and controversies surrounding its commentators and administrators.

The past year has been no different for NPR. Programs like “All Things Considered” and “A Way With Words” have taken a backseat to names like Juan Williams and Ronald Schiller.

Last October, NPR terminated the contract of senior national correspondent Juan Williams because of comments he made on Fox News Channel.

On “The O’Reilly Factor” in January 2010, Williams made remarks about being fearful of being on planes with Muslims.

CEO Vivian Schiller made remarks criticizing Williams at the National Press Club days later, and was forced to apologize.

Some have claimed NPR fired Williams because the remarks were made on Fox News.

This March, NPR was embroiled in controversy again when VP of fundraising Ronald Schiller (no relation to Vivian Schiller), was secretly recorded making controversial comments about the Tea Party, evangelical Christians and the Republican Party.

Schiller characterized the GOP as “Islamophobic” and said that removing federal funding would be good for NPR because it would make them more independent.

When the video, posted by conservative blogger James O’Keefe, hit the Internet, Schiller resigned.

On March 17, the House approved legislation to fund the government for the next three weeks. They also approved a bill to block public radio stations from spending public funds on programming, most likely a direct response to the Schiller video.

What does this all mean for NPR?

In short, if the spending cuts stand, NPR will only be allowed to use taxpayer money for administrative costs.

This means NPR will rely even more on  public funding to stay afloat, much in the same way John Carroll’s WJCU operates.

Mark Krieger, general manager of WJCU, weighed in on NPR’s recent troubles.

He believes the House vote is nothing more than the GOP using funding of public broadcasters as a “partisan political football.” “NPR is the only domestic radio network remaining that engages in serious journalism,” he said. “It is a critical link in keeping citizens informed.”

Krieger also believes that people are missing the big picture in the NPR controversy.

“NPR programming is much more than news,” Krieger said. “It embraces all the arts and culture, and delivers it to many places in America that have little access to those things.”

From the strikingly radiant red strapless Valentino gown of co-host Anne Hathaway to the tangerine Versace gown of singer/actress Jennifer Hudson, many of the female presenters and nominees made the statement that red was all the rage.

Sandra Bullock, last year’s Best Actress winner for her role in “The Blind Side” returned to the Academy Awards as a presenter for the Best Actor award.

She arrived wearing a scarlet Vera Wang gown and Harry Winston diamonds. Fashion critics noted the choice as a style comeback from the recent “Golden Globes” red carpet appearance in which Bullock sported heavy bangs and an unflattering Jenny Packham gown.

Natalie Portman, who took home the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in “Black Swan” showed off her baby bump in a violet silk chiffon draped gown by Rodarte.

Scarlett Johansson chose a dress of a similar hue to Portman with a fitted Dolce & Gabbana lace gown designed with a cut out back.  Mila Kunis of “Black Swan” arrived in an Elie Saab lavender chiffon gown that kept her look light yet daring.

Placed in the controversial fashion department of Sunday night’s red carpet appearance were presenter Cate Blanchett, along with actresses Sharon Stone and Nicole Kidman.  The lilac Givenchy gown worn by Blanchett was what some critics detested.

“Culture Map’s” Clifford Pugh described Blanchett as the evening’s biggest fashion loser who looked suited for battle with armor-like shoulders and bubble wrap beading.

Others, however, believed the Givenchy piece was the epitome of art meets fashion.  USA Today described Blanchett as a vision of spring and gave the actress the “People & Style” award for best-dressed.

Sharon Stone chose a black Christian Dior silk crepe one-shoulder gown with an ostrich feather detail to make her way down the red carpet.

Kidman, who opted for the same designer,  received bad reviews focused on the gown’s washed-out color and odd design that flared out at the hips.

Among the other A-listers were those who chose fashionable picks that ironically resembled the Oscar statuette.

Most clearly channeling the look of the statuette was “Country Strong” actress/singer Gwyneth Paltrow.

The star glistened in a liquid platinum silver Calvin Klein Collection gown and iron-straight blonde hair.  The gown flaunted her fit form with its plunging chest slit and jeweled peacock resting at her waist.

Best actress nominee Michelle Williams’ Chanel gown was a shoulder-covering nude piece that received modest results.

However, “InStyle” fashion director Hal Rubenstein Williams’ Chanel gown, deeming it one of his best-dressed picks due to its “delicate artistry.”

In a slimming Armani Prive choice, singer Celine Dion showed off her post-twins figure in a metallic dress.

Pairing the piece with a Bulgari broach necklace, the 1998 Academy Award winner for best original song “My Heart Will Go On” reminded us of a certain special “Titanic” jewel.

Of all the bright colors presented on the red carpet, one of the most coveted looks of the night was a simple black and white gown.

Actress Reese Witherspoon’s sleek black Armani Prive gown with a white band at the bustline reminded critics of Julia Robert’s vintage Valentino gown of the 2001 Oscars.

The 60s style up-do completed the classy look that had Internet fashion critics calling for the “Oscar Barbie” to hit store shelves nationwide. Perez Hilton stated Witherspoon was “practically the spitting image of the very first Barbie doll at the Oscars.”

With the minor exception of Blanchett’s Givenchy gown, it was evident that the red carpet was void of any fashion choices that pushed boundaries.

It seems as if most of the stars took to the safe-side of style.

While using “curious” may not exactly be the perfect way to describe Barton’s present predicament, I thought it was somewhat fitting.  “Serious Case” or just plain old “Basket Case” would have been more appropriate.

Honestly though, I cannot hate on the girl, although she has her own mug shot to go with her DUI. In addition, “The O.C.” star made a public statement star explaining  how she entered into a psychiatric hospital last year, and got into a fight with a nurse that led to her 5150 (an involuntary psychiatric hold).

Yet despite her run-ins with the law and the mental hospital, the paparazzi have gone crazy over her weight in the past year, taking snapshots of anything and everything they can tag as cellulite. It’s saddening to mention how many times they noted her “fat” thighs. Every tabloid and issue of Us Weekly magazine  seems to have covered it.

I’m not going to leave out Perez Hilton either. Anyone who goes on Hilton’s webpage enough knows that the “Queen of All Media” rips on her every chance he gets.  In one of his more recent posts, Hilton posted a picture of Barton from behind, indicating, “What you are seeing here is Mushy and her squishy tushy.”  First reading this, it doesn’t sound that malicious, but Hilton continues with a nasty remark.  “She has nothing left to lose — except maybe some a** fat!”

Why not just give the poor girl a break?

How sad is it that I type in “Mischa Barton” into my Google Search and one of my first five choices is “Mischa Barton fat?” Or the fact that her ex-boyfriend (Brandon Davis, grandson of oil tycoon Marvin Davis) called her a heifer.

Yes, it’s a serious case that she may be a basket case at the moment.  But it’s as clear as all the Absolut Vodka that her “O.C.” character Marissa Cooper drank that Barton is the way she is because of the pressure.  Hollywood attacks her because she no longer looks like a skeleton, but now resembles a “Michelin” woman? Give me a break. I’m surprised Perez Hilton wasn’t clever enough to use Michelin Mischa.

Sure she’s not the best actress, but she can model just as well as any of those Victoria’s Secret Angels (Unfortunately, she just needs to become anorexic again to prove it).

I still don’t understand why she takes some of the roles she does.  Playing the student who has an affair with her teacher in “The Oh in Ohio” isn’t necessarily something great to put on your filmography list. As strange as Mischa Barton may be, I do feel bad for the bad rep she’s acquired because of her weight.  If she tries not to look like a basket case from now on (think Marissa Cooper, minus the drugs and alcohol), she should be in the clear.