The NY Times ran a story about the newest White House celebrity -- the Obama's Portuguese water dog, Bo -- questioning whether or not the puppy knows he's famous.  You've gotta be kidding me.  I'd like to take this moment to direct the nation's (arguably) most respected paper to America's finest news source: the Onion. The piece is written by Gerald the Dog, who pleas for his owner to stop treating him like a human: "I am not a human. I am a dog. I can't talk. I can't say a full sentence. Not even close. I can't experience complex emotions, I can't laugh, I can't rob a bank, and I have no idea that my name is Gerald." If Bo could talk (maybe he can, for he's the magical Obama dog!), I think he'd express a similar sentiment as Gerald. Stop anthropomorphizing him.

Screen adaptations of contemporaneous political events seem to be all the rage these days. First there was United 93, the movie that documented the 9/11 plane that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania rather than its desired Pentagon target. Then there was W, which chronicled the presidency of the widely loathed former president while he was still in office. I never saw either of these films for the following reasons: A. I am currently alive, which means that I am witnessing or have witnessed these events within the past 10 years. Not only am I alive, but I don’t have amnesia and therefore need no reminder of 9/11 (that’s what the American flag bumper stickers on soccer mom vans are for!) or George W. Bush’s antics (I repeat: he was still in office during the movie’s production.) B. Why would I want to watch the deaths of innocent people or relive the destructive decisions of the former president? C. I heard mixed reviews of the first film and a unanimous panning of W....

In the wake of the Obamas' trip overseas, Mrs. Obama has come under fire by legendary designer Oscar de la Renta for her fashion choices.  In a statement to WWD Magazine, the designer said, “American fashion right now is struggling...I think I understand what [Obama and her advisers] are doing, but I don’t think that is the right message at this particular point … I don’t object to the fact that Mrs. Obama is wearing J. Crew to whatever because the diversity of America is what makes this country great. But there are a lot of great designers out there. I think it’s wrong to go in one direction only...[and] you don’t go to Buckingham Palace in a sweater” (WWD.com). In response to de la Renta's rant, Michelle Obama favorite Azzedine Alaïa stated, “It’s not up to him to give her lessons; Michelle Obama is of her time; Oscar de la Renta is no longer" (WWD.com). Dang, them's fightin' words!  I say, cool it, designers!  Michelle is a fashion icon NOT because she...

As the Obamas' European trip winds down, the First Lady keeps her bold fashion statements running in high gear. April 4: During her stroll around Strasbourg, France with Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Mrs. Obama wore a cropped, double-breasted black jacket with leather detailing at the seams by Azzedine Alaia, black trousers, a floral cardigan and a white blouse.  I can't get enough of the Bruni/Obama fabulosity! April 4: Upon the first couple's arrival in Prague, Mrs. Obama sported a fitted black knit dress by Narcisso Rodriguez paired with a black bolero sweater by Azzedine Alaia and black kitten heels (designer not available at press time).  This outfit might be my favorite of them all--sleek, sexy, sophisticated.  Loves it! April 5: During her visit to St. Vitus Cathedral at Hradcany Square in Prague, the First Lady wore an oversize white bow blouse by Moschino, a black pencil skirt by Michael Kors, black cardigan, and Azzedine Alaia studded belt. The last stop on the...

As the Obamas continue their trip across Europe, the First Lady continues to wow world leaders with her impeccable fashion!  During her visit to Buckingham Palace earlier this week, Mrs. Obama "chose an ivory and black silk crepe dress by Isabel Toledo, paired with a black satin opera coat by Jason Wu...She paired the dress with a black cashmere cardigan by Alaia and a double strand of pearls" (Mrs-O.org). According to Mrs-O.org, "Mrs. O joined the spouses of world leaders attending the G-20 conference at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden [on April 2]. Per Politico, Mrs. O [wore] a Jason Wu dress and an asymmetrical Junya Watanabe cardigan...the green Jimmy Choo “Glacier” pumps [are the same ones she wore at ]the Inauguration."  The picture above features the First Lady with Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. At last, two of the world's most stylish political wives meet for a photo op!  Mrs-O.org reports, "Mrs. O wears a custom Thakoon...

Though her husband will be the primary focus of the First Couple's visit to Great Britain and the G-20 Summit, Michelle Obama has already stolen the spotlight because of her elegant fashion choices.  Mrs. Obama's outfit of choice (seen above) for her arrival at the Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street featured "J.Crew’s Crystal constellation cardigan embellished with beads, rhinestones and sequins, paired with J.Crew’s Dazzling-dots pencil skirt in mint green jacquard" (Mrs-O.org). Upon her arrival in London, the First Lady wore a "chartreuse silk crepe sheath dress by Jason Wu dress paired with a black duster by Michael Kors, cinched at the waist by her signature Azzedine Alaia studded belt" (Mrs-O.org). Keep checking ology.com for additional First Lady style updates! [via Mrs-O.org]

UCLA may have James Franco locked down (we used to, before the lazy bastard dropped out of Tisch), but NYU has officially named Secretary of State H. Rodz its 2009 commencement speaker.  What does she get in return for her pantsuit-tacular speech? An honorary Doctor of Laws degree.  Don't ask me how that one is justified. As an NYU student, I'm not sure how I feel about Hillary Clinton speaking at my graduation.  I'm sure it will be exciting and powerful to see such a prominent leader in person, but then again I'm not really her biggest fan.  A year and a half ago, I was cattle-herded into the now-defunct Washington Square Park (where we SHOULD be graduating, damn it) with 25,000 other students and New Yorkers to hear Barack Obama's speech.  I never actually saw Obama (I'm a bit vertically challenged), but the energetic and SWEATY atmosphere was more thrilling than his typical, politician-y speech (not to say anything against the prez). I expect that Hillary's shtick will...

Check out some of these gems courtesy of Huffington Post!  Message to politicians: a hint of green is the tasteful way to go...

Sure, it's "cool," per se that President Obama's signing of the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will make it easier for women to sue for wages owed in discriminatory pay practices, but it doesn't really do the trick in terms of actually achieving fair pay. Fair pay would mean equal pay. Equal pay would mean that there was a bill, or maybe even an agency (here I go, expanding the government again...I think my libertarian father just cried a little) which makes it illegal to pay women less for the same job. I imagine something that resembles the investigatory practice of hiring illegal immigrants. Employers are fined for paying women less than their male counterparts, just as they would be charged for hiring illegal immigrants. And I do not agree that closing this 30% on average pay gap will destroy businesses and further cripple the economy. Most recipients of welfare, tax reductions and special government funds are single women with children. Women are also larger consumers of goods and...

According to research from Vanderbilt University, moments of victory in Barack Obama's campaign were directly linked to spikes in the test scores of African Americans. Professor Ray Friedman found that the belief that Obama could be president created a confidence differential that basically reduced the achievement gap between black and white test-takers. This "Obama Effect" could seriously pave the way for a better understanding of equality and how best to achieve it. The research was conducted using a sample of 472 participants using GRE test questions during key moments in the Presidential election. After matching black and white test-takers by education and age, the test revealed that the discrepancy between test scores while Obama was less successful were more intense than when we was successful. Meaning, black test-takers did better when Obama was doing better. This symbiosis was explained by the researchers as a positive counter-stereotype. Low test scores among African...

I am a big fan of Daft Punk re-interpretations on YouTube. For instance, the epic Hand Dance, where words are cleverly drawn on two hands to spell out the words to the song. This video has spawned a t-shirt revolution. Then there was the Lampshade Version, with sports-bra wearing body art models: And finally, the famous A Capella version by the Carleton Singing Knights: And now the great tradition of Daft Punk Redux has gone above and beyond the call of duty...they have gone presidential. This video by Adam Freedland combines the band's musical stylings with a dreamy, futuristic celebration of small plastic toys. It is a wonder what HOPE and CHANGE lives in your boombox: The platinum Gummi Bear leadership and psychedelic Egypto-space craft are wildly appealing next to Obama's enormous galactic calculator.

If you're reading this, you're probably alive. And so is Ology! And maybe that's the best thing we can say of 2008--it didn't kill us all. Here are some of the things that struck us, your faithful Ologists, as highs and lows in the year that was 2008, along with the mumbled obscenities that pass for our commentary on them. If you like what you read, join us! Then go out with your friends and get hammered! Not necessarily in that order! 2008 Superlatives   Most Scared-Shitless Newly-minted President-Elect: Barack Obama. Why isn't this man smiling? Oh, right. He's just been given the shittiest job in the country.--Foster Celebrity We'll most miss: George Carlin It was the day before my twenty second birthday this summer when I opened up my computer to the grim news of comedian George Carlin's death at age 71. (Happy fucking birthday, Max!) I use the word "death" because that's the word Carlin, a lifelong opponent of the euphemism, would have used -- not "passed...

  New Year's is a time for reflection and renewal. With that in mind, let us consider the memorable best and worst of 2008, The Ology Edition, so we may not make the same mistakes in 2009. Best All-Around Dude: Barack Obama.He broke down racial barriers, redefined grassroots politics, is BFF with Oprah, shoots hoops, is executing America's Puppy Watch 2k8, pulls off a less-than-desirable name, vacations in Hawaii...oh yeah, and he's the 44th Prez. Biggest Asshole:  Bernie Madoff. Of all the scoundrels on Wall Street and disappointments in the auto industry, this guy takes the cake. He even ripped off charitable orgs and Kevin Bacon...well, we can forgive him for the last one. But he's an all-around douche bag that makes even Lord Voldemort and Dick Cheney look pretty non-asshole-ish. America's Favorite Mistake: Sarah Palin. We loved making fun of the winking, Caribou Barbie that does not read Newspapers. She delighted us with her folksy diatribes and interview snafus,...

I realize it's a stretch, but I would like to draw some comparisons... Both have a quiet quality about them. They both have an aire of mystery. Everyone wonders who they "really are." They both have troubled/less than cozy childhoods. Both are simultaneously introspective while also being at the center of their respective organizations. People admire them as leaders and men of substance and character. They both served America. They both occupy much of pop-culture's love and affections. Both have two children. They both "get" America and know the precise way to speak to its citizens to convey important and sometimes lofty messages. Both are sex symbols. Could the success of AMC's Mad Men been partly responsible for the success of the Obama campaign? Is Obama Madness so deeply ingrained in America, that it effects even our television? Could I be off my rocker making these comparisons?

First allow me to bark a few platitudes: this election is not only historical in its evidence of American progress and possibility, but it is also a serious statement to the world that America is ready to play ball, with good sportsmanship, internationally. Barack Obama, in his guarded victory speech, indicates his intense thoughtfulness and capability to use inclusive diplomacy to solve some serious problems. He was optimistic, but not in a "rainbows and unicorns" sort of way. I found it comforting and refreshing. I miss having leaders with sensibility. That said... like me, you might be cautious about all the lofty platitudes and tears of joy, and maybe you're anxious to see all this wondrous justice and progress become tangible legislative change. All of this brouhaha is for naught if the royal WE, citizens, fail to act with fierce determination to make good on all these promises of change. This means immediate action to repair our foreign relations, coupled with sound strategy...

Amidst all the conversation about Joe the Plumber and the politics of race in this year’s presidential election, the judicial factor has been a lesser-discussed topic. Yet this forgotten branch has the potential to create historical and ideological change far longer than any presidential or congressional term. We’re all aware that the great political pendulum swings from left to right in short election spurts, but judges are for life (or retirement). Court decisions determine legal precedent for years and years to come. The NYTimes produced an interesting analysis of the Bush appointments in the Court of Appeals, which is populated by conservative and unusually young judges. This suggests that an Obama victory, with presumably left-leaning appointments in federal courts, could be less effective in turning the judicial rulings in the immediate future, and it creates an interesting contradiction between a potentially all-Democratic Congress and White House and a generally...

With polls showing the presidential candidates neck-and-neck for the win in November, the youth vote could really "rock" the establishment. What attracts these voters, anyway? Is it Vote or Die t-shirt ads? Celebrity endorsements? The use of New Media has emerged as a powerful tool for a generation born and raised in the Internet Age. From Will.I.Am's popular YouTube video endorsing Obama, to both campaigns use of text messaging, the election has moved into our digital and mobile lives in a big way. MTV's popular Rock the Vote initiative even publishes a pamphlet on the subject for candidates. Tips include: 1. Run your own online voter registration campaign with free web tools. 2. Buy targeted online advertising, particularly search, to drive online voter registration. 3. Remind your supporters of registration deadlines and Election Day via ads, email, and text messaging. 4. Get personal via social networks. 5. Simple, clear advertisements perform best; test...