Flyby Culture
The (Mis)Adventures of Issa Rae
When we heard that Issa Rae was going to be on Harvard's campus this weekend for a Law School Conference, we just had to get in touch. Rae is the creator of the beloved (and critically acclaimed) YouTube Series "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl," in which she stars as J, a hilariously honest—and, yes, awkward—young woman dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Issa Rae chatted with Flyby about the importance of embracing the awkward in everything from stop signs to higher education.
Westboro Baptist Church's Latest Target: Vassar College
In this series, Flyby Staff Writer Olivia M. Munk identifies, dissects, and discusses ideas, articles, and opinions found in popular media and popular culture. She's here to inform you and to make you think—about what's out there, what it means to us, and what it might mean for you.
Ben Zauzmer Wins Oscars
With the Academy Awards now over, Flyby caught up with Harvard's very own Oscar guru Ben Zauzmer '15. Zauzmer, who published data predicting the Oscar wins, used available data pertaining to the nominees to predict the likelihood they would go home with an Oscar. Zauzmer tells Flyby how the math matched up to the winning movies.
5 Minutes with Nicole Scherzinger
After serving as host of Cultural Rhythms, serenading the audience with snippets of her songs, and dancing with Harvard Bhangra, Artist of the Year Nicole Scherzinger sat down and talked with Flyby before rushing off to catch a plane to London.
Harvard's Oscar Guru
Ben T. Zauzmer '15, an Applied Math concentrator in Mather House, gained Internet fame last year for his strikingly accurate predictions of who would win the 2012 Oscars. This year, he's at it again. Using results from similar awards shows, critics' picks, and other available data, Zauzmer runs statistical analyses to determine the probability that nominated movies, directors, or actresses will win in their given categories this Sunday. Flyby sat down with Zauzmer to talk movies and math.
Macklemore: Everywhere But Here
Mark your calendars, because on April 26th, Macklemore is coming to a campus near you! But, as always, you can't have your cake and eat it too—the "Thrift Shop" sensation isn't coming to Harvard, but to MIT's Springfest, before scrambling down to New Haven for Yale's Spring Fling. Yardfest better step it up this year.
Professor Palin?
Does seeing another country from a distance constitute foreign policy experience? Is refudiate a word? Is North Korea one of America's allies? Most Harvard students (and for $55,000 a year we'd hope all of our professors) would have no problem answering no to all these questions. All except our newest member of faculty, according to one blog.
Presidential PILFs
From Richard Nixon's "I am not a crook"-ery to Bill Clinton's blue dress shenanigans, years of presidential transgressions have proven that nothing is sacred and the White House is anything but. Which is why we don't have too many qualms in using this Presidents' Day to shamelessly objectify our Commanders-in-Chief and consider which of the 44 we would most like to hit up on Tinder.
Sacrifices for Lent: It's Never Too Late!
Ash Wednesday has come and gone, but it’s not too late to participate in Lent, a Christian tradition wherein observers give up a luxury for the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday.
Takemura Review
"I'm too busy" is never a good excuse to skimp on exciting and delicious food escapades. In this new series, explore the culinary scene of Boston and Cambridge with Jane, your Crimson foodie who may be picky, but will still try anything on the plate at least once (except maybe chicken feet). Getting an authentic taste of Asia in America is a challenge, especially for someone who has lived in an Asian country for most of her life. Takemura, a Japanese-Korean restaurant in Harvard Square, has not quite lost its “Americanized” flavors, but it does accomplish the task of satisfying people’s cravings for ethnic cuisine.
Have a Happy SAD
Tomorrow is February 14th, which means that it is Single Appreciation Day or SAD—not to be confused with Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is the time to celebrate your singleness regardless of any vitamin D deficiencies. So here are a few things that you can do to ensure that you have a happy SAD.
State of Inebriation: A Drinking Game
Stressed over the state of our union or depressed about the terrible weather? Continue putting off your countless pages of reading and psets and get your BAC to the level of the national debt. Here are Flyby's rules to ensure that your Tuesday night gets as sloppy and inappropriate as Biden's smile.
Tuesday Night Procrastination, Courtesy of the Internet
Now that classes have begun and you're in round-the-clock procrastination mode, Flyby presents a quick roundup of all the interesting things on the Internet that you missed while scrolling through Facebook.
Happy Birthday, Abe Lincoln
Today marks Abraham Lincoln's 204th birthday, and to celebrate, Flyby brings you some interesting tidbits about our favorite Badass in Chief.
Use Tinder Successfully
You may have heard of the new dating app Tinder, in which you look at the name, age and profile picture of local singles and swipe left or right based on your approval. If the feeling is mutual, it's a match, and you can start communicating immediately. In the name of scholarly research and objectifying men, I downloaded the app. Two days later, I have over fifteen matches and only one restraining order. Now an expert at Tinder, I've decided to provide you all with a few of my tips for success.
Procrastination Playlist: An Audio Guide to Your Typical Night of 'Studying'
Now that the semester has begun in earnest, long hours at Lamont and nights when you "meant to go to brain break for 15 minutes but stayed for three hours" are just around the corner. Fortunately, Flyby has compiled a study playlist to help guide you through your most unproductive evenings.
Is College Worth the Money?
In this series, Flyby Staff Writer Olivia M. Munk identifies, dissects, and discusses ideas, articles, and opinions found in popular media and popular culture. She's here to inform you and to make you think—about what's out there, what it means to us, and what it might mean for you. WHAT IT IS In the wake of the Great Recession, formal college education and its ever-increasing price tag has been under scrutiny from the popular media. To make higher education accessible for all, Bill Gates, Florida governor Rick Scott, and others have proposed the implementation of a $10,000 bachelors degree program. Is it possible? A recent op-ed in the New York Times details Arthur C. Brooks' flirtation with traditional college, followed by what his parents fondly dubbed a "gap-decade," and finally a return to academia by correspondence. Brooks managed to complete his undergraduate degree as well as two graduate ones without obtaining a cent of debt, and most importantly, all for less than $10,000.