Vote for a U of M student in the declare yourself tour:

“Subject: LAST CHANCE FOR KERRY AND BUSH INTERVIEW!!

Thank you for your time and help, it is undoubtedly appreciated! “

The Grand Opening of Amer Zahr‘s bar OZ is tonight. Open until 4 AM, the newly expanded Hookah Bar now serves beer, wine, a full bar, and a variety of sandwiches, pitas, and middle eastern desserts. Entrance to the 5,000+ square foot club is 21+, and there is no admittance after 2 AM, although if you’ve already arrived guests can stay for the official after party until closing. Tonight a belly dancer is scheduled to perform at 11 PM.

Zahr is perhaps best known as a Palestinian activist and author of a controversial column for the Michigan Daily is completing a masters in middle eastern studies and a law degree.

Friendster, Friendster Everywhere

Fan of Friendster? A similar service with more features that support online communities which works much more quickly is Orkut. A similar website targeting a number of elite universities is thefacebook.com, not to mention the “facebook” feature of dogears.net.

Also, a student column in the student newspaper at UMass Amherst alleging a U.S. solder who died in Afghanistan shouldn’t be considered a “Hero” has caused the president to issue a formal rebuttal:

” … UMass president Jack Wilson issued a statement saying Rene Gonzalez’ comments in The Daily Collegian “are a disgusting, arrogant and intellectually immature attack on a human being who died in service to his country. … “

Unfortunately for free speech, the website of the Collegian is “unavailable” do to high traffic.

Articles of note from the Ann Arbor News:

> “High-rise city is envisioned”
> “Kerry touts plan to save jobs,” and “City sees hoopla of campaign”
> See also Freep “Kerry brings message to Ann Arbor”

Also, next year’s Michigan Journalism Fellows have been named, and the group includes Alden Bourne, a producer at 60 Minutes, and senior CNN producer Maria Fleet.

And four Transportation Security Administration screeners have been charged with stealing from luggage at Detroit Metro Airport.

More Kerry Details:

” … It’s a pleasure to let you know that you can join many of us in noisily welcoming Senator John Kerry to Ann Arbor, this Wednesday (April 28) shortly after lunchtime. We will gather at 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the former Bill Knapps restaurant, at the corner of Carpenter Road and Washtenaw (half a block toward Ypsilanti, just east of highway 23). The Kerry campaign bus will pause there as he enters Ann Arbor, before it takes him to his 2 p.m.(?) speech at Washtenaw Community College, half a mile to the east.

There will be another opportunity to greet Senator Kerry, and show our support for him, when he departs from WILLOW RUN AIRPORT (please note: NOT Detroit Metro!). We will gather at Willow Run Airport at 5 p.m.; again, wear your Kerry gear, and as you arrive look for the Kerry signs. (As you drive east on 94 you’ll see signs for Willow Run Airport; be in the left lane to leave 94.)”

John Kerry in Ann Arbor Tomorrow

Although it’s unclear whether the event is open to the public, this recently came across the AP wire:

” Details of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s Wednesday visit to Ann Arbor:

–Quote: “I believe that manufacturing should not and must not be a part of America’s distant past,” Kerry said Tuesday in Youngstown, Ohio.”

> See also AP: “Kerry , Bush emphasizing jobs in Michigan”

A New York University student who couldn’t afford housing lived in the basement of the library – for eight months.