After listening to people’s stories from New Year’s Eve, I made sure to tell them to brace themselves before checking their bank accounts.
Happy 2016, world! New year. New term. Empty checking account? Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have taken over in the transportation department in many cities around the country in the last few years. They’re convenient, friendly and usually affordable. But during holidays and other high-demand times, the companies are charging two to ten-times their normal rates – a surcharge. In cities like Miami Beach and Philadelphia, people reported that they were charged insane amounts of a couple hundred dollars on New Years Eve night for rides that are usually around $20 or less. It’s understandable that these drivers are shuttling around mostly drunk kids from one club to the next on New Year’s Eve night, but multiplying fares up into the hundreds is insane.
Another womp womp womp moment from last week was Oregon’s loss to TCU on Saturday night. We made it to the Alamo Bowl – yay us! – and the game ended kind of like how the aftermath of the actual Battle of the Alamo went – the Texans revolted, made up the deficit they faced against the Mexicans and made Texas independent. Coming out on top after a 31-point Oregon lead and triple overtime, once again, the Texans were victorious. “Remember the Alamo!?” Is what should’ve been called after TCU’s final scoring. Also, hashtags that need to dissolve: #buildingyear and #stilllovemyducks.
Depending on your personal beliefs, Oregon may or may not have scored in another big way this week. As of Jan. 1 in Oregon and starting in March for California, women will be able to acquire over-the-counter birth control, so that’s without a doctor’s written prescription. In Oregon, women need to be at least 18 years old to get non-prescription birth control pills, but in California, there will be no age restrictions. Although in both states’ policies, women will be required to fill out a health questionnaire that pharmacists will use in place of a prescription. This is a pretty big deal that Governor Kate Brown signed off on last July for Oregon – let’s see if our 48 friends will eventually follow suit. Here’s a rundown of a few other new laws for our state put into motion with the new year.
Another big occurrence this last week was at the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors that aired on Tuesday night, Jan. 29. Aretha Franklin brought the packed house down and was the MVP of the night, in my eyes, with her grand performance of “You Make Me Feel.” This event happens every year in the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and each year, a few individuals in the performing arts are honored for their lifetime contributions to American culture. A couple of the honorees this year were George Lucas and Carole King. King co-wrote the hit that Aretha Franklin is essentially known for, so appropriately enough, Ms. Franklin performed and their song was a showstopper to say the least. I cried. Obama cried. Viola Davis (of “How to Get Away with Murder”) was up on her feet fangirl-ing. The crowd erupted.
The Kennedy event was a good kick-off (so much football!) to award season. Next Sunday, the Golden Globes will air, and following this month and into next will be the SAG Awards, the Grammys, the Oscars and a few others sprinkled around here and there. I have a few favorite movies, TV shows and actors picked out that I want to win, but can we all agree that it’s Leonardo DiCaprio’s year?! I mean, I’m nervous to watch his new movie The Revenant because of how chilling his performance is. He deserves it; he has always deserved it.
What’s literally been on the tips of everyone’s tongues since Sunday is snow! Eugene experienced a light blanket of white – a quilt or shawl of snow if you will – and the moisture continued to travel up north to Portland where it was more of a down comforter of snow that covered the city. My newsfeeds were flooded with people posting about how they would get to Eugene in time for the first day of winter term classes. For those who made it safely to town, happy syllabus week, but for everyone still traveling, stay safe! Snow is not in the forecast for the rest of the week in Eugene, but it will be nippy out and icy conditions will continue to taunt us.
Weekly Pond(er): NYE, Alamo Bowl, birth control freedom, Aretha Franklin and snow!
Negina Pirzad
January 3, 2016
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