Literally means figuratively in today’s backward culture, a mistake propelled by celebrities and television personalities. For example, pop star Beyoncé Knowles told fans at a fundraising concert that it was imperative to “literally give the clothes off your back” for those in developing nations. To the great disappointment of many male fans, the diva never personally followed through with her call to action. Perhaps this once literary term is condemned to the cellar-dwelling ranks of seriously, totally or like, words that once properly signified veracity and now point only to emphasis. Seriously folks, I’m like so totally tired of these words, literally/Rusty Shellhorn, WSU Daily Evergreen. More here.

Question: Are you annoyed by the misuse of a word in our culture? What is it?

Item: Video games illustrate Nation’s love of laziness: Nintendo’s recent ploys for profit cheapen actual involvement/Alex Gratzer, WSU Daily Evergreen

More Info: Nintendo is doing the world a lot of favors these days. Instead of simply producing mindless racing and shoot-em-up games, they want people to get their priorities straight. The Wii console allows a slew of apparently constructive interactive activities, including exercising and instrument playing. It�s all part of Nintendo�s revolutionary plan to get people active and productive without having to get off the couch. The video game guru’s latest threat, “Wii Music,” allows gamers to play up to 60 different instruments by simply flailing the controls in whichever way the instrument requires. Let’s call it faux music class.

Question: Do you or your kids play video games? How much?

And at that precise moment it won’t matter the size, color or shape of the purse. At that precise moment the only thing that will matter is the thin line that this man walks between the potential humiliation if he takes the bag and the guaranteed earful of trouble if he doesn’t. It’s not a request. It’s an emasculating ultimatum disguised with misleading seduction to viciously grasp the tender male heart into a brutal catch-22. It’s an offer a man can’t refuse. So what does a man do when he finds himself in this no-win situation? Does he quickly snatch the purse in a symbol of affection or does he reject it in a symbol of masculinity? For men, the only thing worse than staring glassy-eyed into rows of lingerie for hours is admitting to being a personal purse valet. /Rusty, WSU Evergreen. More here.  Shellhorn

Question (for men): When did you last have to hold your Sweetie’s purse?

t is very fitting that Barack Obama will be inaugurated the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Indeed, the dream has come full circle. The battle is far from over, but this election is as big of a victory as any for racial equality in the history of our country. This election of hope seemed unimaginable when hope itself seemed to die with John F. Kennedy in Dallas. When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, no one could foresee the inauguration of another leader of change, President-elect Barack Obama. Forty years after the untimely death of presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy, Obama�s campaign ended in transformative victory/Derrick Skaug, WSU Evergreen. More here.

Question: Is Barack Obama’s presidency the beginning of the end of racism in this country?