Monday, May 26, 2008





Gopher2

GopherLink! The Indiana Jones Theme Song with Lyrics! See it here.

Coming Soon: A Tale of Two Parties and Barely Legal



Welcome to Greek-vivor! Every week, we review the week's Greek episode and, in a Survivor-style system, award points to the Greek students best making their way through the college outback.

The Gopher is in the midst of job interviews and moving! Be patient, he'll be back with Greekvivor later in the week, but please feel free to leave any comments on "A Tale of Two Parties" or "Barely Legal" below...

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

No Campus for Old Rules



Welcome to Greek-vivor! Every week, we review the week's Greek episode and, in a Survivor-style system, award points to the Greek students best making their way through the college outback. The section ahead contains spoilers for this weeks episode.

At long last, we came to the climax of the story arc regarding the Greek restrictions. Finally, we'll be returning to the days of crazy Greek partys! We got to see more growth in Dale/Rusty relationship. It continues to be one of the more interesting relationships in the show in that they're both so different but really create a good balance for friendship as well. Also it was neat to see Evan and Cappie work together for something even if they weren't on the same side, it reminded us of what a great team they made in their freshman days.

But let's look at the standings!







-Missed study hours -2
-President bends rules to recruit her as wingman at Dobblers and basketball game +2
-Get's all "What you talkin' about Willis" with fellow Zeta Beta during airing out session. -1


Net Change: -1
Sum: 114







-Plays human bowling +1
-With Rusty +2
-And scores! +3
-Kappa Tau's win lottery for basketball finals +4
-But the tickets can't be released -4
-Oversaw sober peeing in Olympic pool. Hey better than drunk peeing. Everyone knows drunks have horrible aim. +1
-Uses sandwich lunch metaphor to argue for lifted campus restrictions, gets hungry for sandwich. Sandwich does sound good right now. +1
-Bestows nickname “Evanescence” +1
-Finds his own bra in closet with kilt and Native American headdress. +2
-Tag-teams professors with Evan, gets campus restrictions lifted! +10
-Front-row tickets released to Kappa Taus +4
-Drops pants at basketball halftime. Great footage for Cyprus-Rhodes Game Vision +1

Net Change: +26
Sum: 143







-Awesome iPod stereo +1
-Nepotistic presidential pardon for Ashleigh -2
-Totally backfires, earns her hatred of entire chapter -4
-What is she doing in the middle of a Cappie-Evan fight? She's not with either this time. -2
-Apologizes for pardon, frees everyone for the basketball game +2
-Doesn't notice Evan when she enters coffee shop, or at least fakes it really well +3
-Airing out session turns into a brawl -4
-Casey screams at Zeta Betas to scare them into submission. Ladies bow to her authority as top-rated in Greekvivor standings. +5
-Zeta Beta stuffed animal named "Pussy willow." I could make so many jokes, it's just not even worth the effort -1
-Pussy Willow gets scorched. Symbolic hat tip to the breaking of the conch in "Lord of the Flies." +3

Net Change: +1
Sum: 124








-Takes Rusty/Tina debate and turns it into USAG fighting point +2
-On USAG rebirth: “Resurrections rock, man” +1
-Reasoning for ending Greek life: “I’m savin' your peeps from eternal damnation." +1
-Solid speech to professorial body +5
-But won't stop talking -1
-Launches into three-point sermon on evils of Sadom and Gammorah, relates them to Greek life -2
-Sweats under armpits. Seriously man, wear an undershirt or use strong deoderant. Or don't speak in front of people. Ever. -1
-Recognizes defeat. Disbands USAG.-3
-Speech manages to make the jump to YouTube! +5

Net Change: +7
Sum: 94







-Writes talking points for Cappie +5
-Talking points thrown in his face. -6
-Does research on all the professors, pulls a "phone a friend" to get dirt +7
-Tag-teams professors with Cappie, gets campus restrictions lifted! +10

Net Change: +16
Sum: 86








-Tries to warn Casey of the dangers of a leadership apology +4
-Evan advises Casey to ask Frannie for advice +3
-Solid advice “You can’t show people where to go if you won’t step out in front” +5

Net Change: +12
Sum: 113








-Calls out Casey on roommate favoritism +1
-Encourages Rusty to have sex with Tina +3

Net Change: +4
Sum: 111







-Mauls ticket stand when tickets aren’t released +3
-Out shouts both USAG and Greek picket lines. +2
-Falls for the old "poop in fiery brown paper bag" -3

Net Change: +2
Sum: 107








-Used as human bowling ball -2
-Tina totally hot for him +3
-But dude, level three scary eyes. She's a freak with a clever "almost normal" disguise -1
-Scores date with Tina +5
-…But loses it after Kappa Tau’s tickets aren't released -5
-Room taken over by Dale’s USAG -3
-Brings Tina a malt. Nails her. +5


Net Change: +2
Sum: 86


Only three more episodes left in the season! Things are reaching cleanup time fast! Next week, look for the standard "party/bad decision" episode.

Cappie (143)+26
Casey (124)+1
Ashleigh (114)-1
Calvin (114)N/A
Frannie (113)+12
Rebecca (111)+4
Beaver (107)+2
Dale (94)+7
Rusty (86)+2
Evan (86)+16

Thanks for reading! See you next week!

Monday, May 19, 2008





Gopher2GopherLink! The Prettier Than Napoleon Blog is done by a relative of my wife. Check her out.

Ten Coolest Movies Scenes

#7- Car Chase in "Gone in 60 Seconds"



The movie as a whole throws you through a loop. A bad guy does bad things and gets in trouble with bad people. Then a reformed bad guy (Randall Raines, aka. Nicholas "I can't really act" Cage) becomes bad again to save the aforementioned bad guy from bad people. And we're supposed to cheer for him...why?

But we do when this chase scene begins. Somehow we just want Randall to get away with stealing the frickin' awesome '67 Ford Mustang (a rare Shelby custom). And of course, it's totally tricked out with nitro, drives like a dream with it's brandnew tires and luckily came equipped with a never-ending tank of gas. Sidebar: I have '67 Ford Mustang with a 289 engine rather than the at-least 350 that thing was sporting. And it spewed gas like lactose-intolerant kid after four scoops of ice cream.

After watching this scene, you'd better believe I got into my '67 Ford Mustang (a standard coupe, not a Shelby--we can't be too picky when living out our fantasys), and blasted . When I got on the highway, I had that thing riding high in the RPM, trying to recreate the awesome growling "Elenor" makes in the scene.

Nope didn't get pulled over. I guess I'd learned how to escape the cops too.

Oh and look here

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Mr. Purr-fect



Welcome to Greek-vivor! Every week, we review the week's Greek episode and, in a Survivor-style system, award points to the Greek students best making their way through the college outback. The section ahead contains spoilers for this weeks episode.

The episode last night was a decent addition into the season. I think more than anything it served to show how relationships have developed: Rusty/Cappie, Rebecca/Cappie, Casey/Evan and even Ashleigh/Calvin. In the meantime, in keeping with Greek's style, the writers made the episode about finding "Mr. Purr-fect." Although Casey seems to find her Mr. Perfect, Evan buys him off, which doesn't seem to be the mark of a good suitor. Additionally, Calvin finds himself a Michael. The only complaint Calvin is able to make is that the guy is too gay. (Never thought I'd hear that on prime time) Calvin also makes a very chin-stroking speech about the gay lifestyle that will definitely earn him some points.

Let's look at the standings!







-Successfully manages a gay matchmaking. +2
-Looks cute in cheerleader outfit. +2

Net Change: +4
Sum: 119







-Scores coffee date with Michael. +3
-Receives flowers at frat house. "No tulips? Forget it!" -1
-Speech: “Why does everything have to be about 'being gay' when you’re gay? You’re sexuality doesn’t define who you are.” Good point. I always give points for good thoughts. +3
-Realizes Michael may not be Mr. Perfect, but still sits through gay/lesbian short films with him and Ashleigh. He may be whining about the date, but I've heard of worse. +2

Net Change:+7
Sum: 114







-Has girlfriend from hell. Rebecca totally working over his Kappa Tau guys. -4
-Guys unwilling to tell him his girlfriend sucks. -2
-His little doesn't care enough about the confines of social society to keep him away from the knowledge of his significant other's malicious actions. +1
-Pretty lame Mr. Purr-fect act. He should have done karaoke. -2
-Ah-ha! He wanted to have a lame act. You showed them! +2
-Able to ream out Rebecca without being hit. +3
-Overturns Guy Code, reveals that brother is dating a prostitute. +5

Net Change:+3
Sum: 117







-Really knows how to coach Lambda Sig. Pat Riley in a woman's body. +3
-Shane totally digging her. +4
-Successful major change: “No longer majoring in Cappie or Evan.” I think everybody is just about over those two too. +4
-Scores teeter-totter kiss from Shane +3
-Called a Muse, invited for celebratory drink +5
-Offer reneged in favor of $1000. In all fairness, Shane could get two Playstation 3's with that kind of money. -5
-Wins bet. Lambda Sigs win the Zeta Beta Games. +7

Net Change: +21
Sum: 123







-Accepts friend invite, ready to start over with Casey +5
-Psych! Just wants a relationship, as evidenced by getting his jealousy on. -6
-Scores some major flirting from Frannie. Manages to be cool, manly and ignore it. +3
-Buys out Shane to keep Casey single. He really does have a future in politics. Following this line of reasoning, he could just buy Casey out and pimp her out like an escort service when he gets bored. Wow, he really is a politician. -10

Net Change: -8
Sum: 70








-Saucy statements getting Evan's attention: “You’re all wet.” Chambers Pimp Services, Inc. is hiring! +3
-Totally gets under Evan's skin...again. +3
-Has to clean Lambda Sigs bathroom -5

Net Change: +1
Sum: 101







-Has to ask Cappie for backup to get attention from Kappa Tau’s. I thought you were a senator's daughter. Come on, now. -3
-Knows how to piss off Kappa Tau’s. Completely alienates all the guys on the team. -6
-Totally put in her place by Cappie. -4
-Heartfelt apology and pizza win heart of all boys. +5
-Gets special pizza for Rusty. +4
-But it's the wrong kind. -1
-Loses bet. -5


Net Change: -10
Sum: 97







-Totally destroyed by Rebecca's coaching. -3
-Requests beer-in-mouth resuscitation. +3
-Tries to pass of Rusty’s anger on a postponed Isaac Newton passing. +2
-Almost became a Canadian citizen. What was he thinking? -1

Net Change:-1
Sum: 105







-Totally caught with the whole rolling eyes thing. -2
-Learns Guy Code. In his defense, he never really needed to learn since there haven't been a whole lot of girls knocking at Dale's door. +1
-Somehow manages to be whipped by his Big’s girlfriend. -3
-Breaks guy code due to emasculating treatment from Rebecca. +6
-Pretty lame act. -1
-But Cappie planned it that way +3
-Likes green peppers. -1

Net Change: +3
Sum: 84


Wow! And Casey's on top! There's been a lot of back and forth movement on the Greekvivor standings, but we have a couple of contenders routinely pushing their way forward. Cappie, Ashleigh, Calvin all are within striking distance, even Rebecca and Beaver!

Casey (123)+21
Cappie (117)+3
Ashleigh (115)+4
Calvin (114)+7
Rebecca (107)-3
Beaver (105)-1
Frannie (101)+1
Dale (87)N/A
Rusty (84)+3
Evan (70)-8


Thanks for reading! See you next week!

Monday, May 12, 2008

A Love Story

This isn't my usual hilarious "drop-on-the-floor-and-laugh" post. Today I have a story I want to share with you, and it's a love story. And it's not your typical love story.

This weekend, I went to a wedding for a close friend from high school, Sara. It was sort of unreal, being put at a table with all my old "lunch-table-buds" from high school after about six years had passed. The last time I'd talked with some of them, I getting ready to go to a college I wanted to transfer out of, I was very very single, and I had no idea what to do with my life (except be a hot doctor on ER). We all caught up as best we could and then she appeared, at the entrance in her white dress. The sight shook me up.

Looking back, Sara was the only girl really in my inner circle. To me, she was a sister, a mother and I think for all of us guys, we secretly loved her. Not, obviously in a Notebook kind of way. We'd watched her all throughout high school with the same guy, who was also in our inner circle. She was always devoted, always supportive. I can't remember a single instance when she was blatantly mean (and if there was one, I don't doubt we deserved it). What I think we all loved was the relationship she brought to the table. Every guy at that table with me would have killed to have a relationship with a girl like Sara had with Mike.

When we all went to college. We had an opportunity to find the girl that could fit that bill, without having to watch the (at times) sickeningly beautiful Sara-Mike relationship. My friend Andy, headed off to film school and met his Sara. My friend Nick went flight school and began emailing a girl from high school, who he'd met but never really known -- soon they were together as well. John headed to college, met a few different girls as I recall, but finally seems to be with his Sara. And me? Met her in an internship program. Everything I loved in the Sara-Mike relationship plus breakfast-in-bed some Saturdays, hours of joint video games and sitcom series viewing.

But the guy who walked down the aisle with Sara this weekend wasn't Mike. Unlike the rest of us who were hard-up in high school but lucky in college, Sara had the opposite experience. Where Mike could be funny in person (albeit a bit obnoxious), he became a bit mischievous when they went to different colleges. I don't know all of what happened, but I know Sara suffered a lot. At times when I saw her after high school, I could see the pain in her face, but she was too devoted to say anything against him. In the time since then, I've come to distaste Mike. He could be a real jerk, I suppose. If you'd asked any one of us, back in high school, which relationship would last, we would point to Mike and Sara. But for a relationship to truly last, I suppose it doesn't take a Sara and a Mike. It takes two Sara's, two people fully devoted to a relationship. But after four years of painfully trying to hold together a painful relationship, it finally ended.

But after that, Sara met Matt while helping at a middle school youth group. He was everything she loved about Mike, but more. He was spiritual, he was musical, he was fun, but most of all he was the kind of devoted guy she deserved. All of us were there at their wedding, except Mike of course. But it was okay. Sara looks so happy with him and I haven't heard a negative word about the man from anyone. He seems to be a man who really deserves her. I guess you could say, at long last, Sara found her own Sara.