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Imperfection is perfection

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

My name is Shannon McDowell, and I have a secret. I'm obsessed. I use two different facial cleansers, two different shampoos, two different lotions, two different types of toothpaste and two towels when I shower. I pace when I talk on the phone. If I misplace a sock I will search for hours until I've found it. I've never lost a sock. I'm a perfectionist. I'd rather arrive 40 minutes early than one minute late. I tear myself apart in front of the mirror. I worry. I double-check that the door is locked. I fixate myself on the tiny details most people never see. I'm my own worst enemy.

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Spread the word to spread the lotion

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

As South Benders finally emerge from a cold, grey winter, I think many of us view the sun as a long lost friend finally gracing us with his presence after a long period of standoffish evasiveness. Yet, in the midst of rejoicing over the return of the prodigal sun, we tend to forget the hazards of excessive and unguarded association with our sorely missed companion. Last Wednesday, Colette Coyne, an activist from Long Island, NY, came to LaFortune's Montgomery Auditorium to remind students of these hazards.

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Wedding capitalizers

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

As the royal wedding draws closer, my Anglomania is reaching an all-time high. I mean, I've always been fascinated with all things British (Alexander McQueen, "The Queen," Hugh Grant and obviously Harry Potter). My interest in the royal wedding is just a natural step in my desire to know more about Great Britain.

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Tomorrow is trash day

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

For those of you who have managed not to be bombarded with a "days of the week" refresher from Rebecca Black in the last two hours: Since today is Tuesday, tomorrow will be Wednesday. However, more importantly, tomorrow is also trash day, but not your ordinary "day-everyone-sets-their-trash-outside-on-the-curb" kind of trash day. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Tomorrow, I challenge you to not use trashcans at all.

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Style' in the eye of the beholder

By The Observer · Monday, April 4, 2011

I never thought I'd be compelled to send a letter to The Observer, but the presumptuousness and superficiality of Kevin Brainard's letter ("Ladies, be decent," April 4) requires a rebuttal.

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The issue with 'The System'

By The Observer · Sunday, April 3, 2011

It seems as though every time I am in the dining hall and around campus I hear yet another person talking about the event "The System: Opportunity, Crisis and Obligation in K-12 Education." I consistently hear about how excited they are to hear that Michelle Rhee is coming to campus. I am really feeling the hype around campus for this event coming up soon. But, could some of the panelists' ideas and policies be overhyped?

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Just live your life

By The Observer · Sunday, April 3, 2011

After the ever-so-disappointing Notre Dame-Florida State tournament game, I thanked Mike Brey and the Notre Dame Basketball Team for only one thing — giving me an easy topic to write about for this column. I knew I could easily babble on about my thoughts concerning basketball at Notre Dame, Mike Brey's future, how inexcusable that performance was and so on. But recently, I received much more important, much more disappointing news that amplified the tough year the Notre Dame Community has endured — three heartbreaking stories to add to the ones of Declan Sullivan and Lizzy Seeberg.

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The state of being

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

In support of the chain of messages from Ms. Mason and Mr. Nawrocki, I think it is necessary to point out a fatal flaw with the entire structure of the upcoming "God Debate." Our modern culture is mistaken in believing that if we think hard and long enough, everything can be supported by human reason, even the nonexistence or existence of God. However, it is ironic that I have come to understand the contrary from one of the greatest contributors to modern philosophy.

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Project Salt

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

CommUniversity day is coming up this Saturday. For your sake, I hope you've signed up. The day is a fantastic opportunity to interact with the South Bend community, make visible improvements in the community and have a really great time with really great people.

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Coming to terms with life and death

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

Nietzsche warns in his "Ecce Homo," against a sentimental misreading of his Overman: "this word ‘Overman' is understood almost everywhere with complete innocence to mean values that are the opposite from the ones appearing in the figure of Zarathustra, which is to say the ‘idealistic' type of the higher sort of humanity, half ‘saint,' half ‘genius.'" Nietzsche does not hesitate to offer an alternative model: "If I whisper to people that this type would look more like a Cesare Borgia than a Parsifal, they do not believe their ears."

The Observer

Coming to terms with life and death

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

Nietzsche warns, in his Ecce Homo, against a sentimental misreading of his Overman: "this word ‘Overman' is understood almost everywhere with complete innocence to mean values that are the opposite from the ones appearing in the figure of Zarathustra, which is to say the ‘idealistic' type of the higher sort of humanity, half ‘saint', half ‘genius.'" Nietzsche does not hesitate to offer an alternative model: "if I whisper to people that this type would look more like a Cesare Borgia than a Parsifal, they do not believe their ears."

The Observer

Crisis of education

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

If there is one person I swore to myself I would never become, it was the person who writes Viewpoint articles while abroad. And while I have been agonizing over the lack of spoons in the dining hall, the hook-up culture and the existence of Saint Mary's these past few months, it is for something altogether different that I feel compelled to write.

The Observer

The state of being

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

In support of the chain of messages from Ms. Mason and Mr. Nawrocki, I think it is necessary to point out a fatal flaw withthe entire structure of the upcoming "God Debate." Our modern culture is mistaken in believing that if we think hard and long enough, everything can be supported by human reason, even the nonexistence or existence of God. However, it is ironic that I have come to understand the contrary from one of the greatest contributors to modern philosophy.

The Observer

Gluten-Free ND?

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

I am not overly concerned whether or not the dining halls serve meat on Fridays during Lent. I don't eat it, but I won't force my beliefs on you. What concerns me more is the lack of gluten free foods on these days. As I was diagnosed as being a non-Celiac gluten intolerant over Christmas break, this is my first Lent dealing with this problem. I had never before given much thought to all of the meatless options: mac and cheese, cheese pizza, potato pancakes, and various vegetable casseroles. Even the fish option last week was breaded.

The Observer

Gluten-Free ND?

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

I am not overly concerned whether or not the dining halls serve meat on Fridays during Lent. I don't eat it, but I won't force my beliefs on you. What concerns me more is the lack of gluten-free foods on these days. As I was diagnosed as being a non-Celiac gluten intolerant over Christmas break, this is my first Lent dealing with this problem. I had never before given much thought to all of the meatless options: mac and cheese, cheese pizza, potato pancakes and various vegetable casseroles. Even the fish option last week was breaded.

The Observer

I hate Notre Dame

By The Observer · Thursday, March 31, 2011

Notre Dame is a school steeped in tradition and praised by alumni, students and faculty alike. I hate it.

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