"Actress Wendie Jo Sperber, who starred opposite Tom Hanks on TV's "Bosom Buddies" and who in his words became "a walking inspiration" after she contracted cancer, died on Nov. 29. She was in her 40s. Sperber, who appeared in dozens of television shows and movies, including all three "Back to the Future" films, died at home after an eight-year battle with breast cancer." -Los Angeles Times

My mom called me last night to tell me this news. I am sure none of you remember my first blog post for WOI in which I talked about the communities I belong to. One of the few I listed as very important to me was weSPARK. Wendie Jo was the founder of this incredible organization.

It's not sick, it's healthy. Women all over the counrty are being swept of thier feet with the new striptease exercise routines. Growing in popularity, these aerobic exercises help women of all ages get into shape in a fun way that helps them feel younger physically and mentally.

Don't worry, in most classes, the woman do not actually strip. Although, some classes are known for getting a bit raunchier such as this one in Brentwood, California.

A recent article in the New York Times describes Lady beetles infesting homes across North America, searching for winter homes. While one's first reaction might be "no big deal, what are a few ladybugs here and there..." the problem is much more severe than it seems. These beetles are not as friendly and rare as the ladybugs most of us are used to. Lady beetles swarm, leave yellow stains, and smell. Worse than that, they like to stay indoors during the winter, seeking out older homes that are easier to penetrate to swarm in huge numbers.

This weekend I went to the King of Prussia Mall with some friends to go shopping and get off campus for a while. While strolling through the mall my friend and I wandered into Lucky Brand Jeans. For those who do not know, this is a chain of smallish stores that carry trendy (and arguably overpriced) clothing appealing to a wide clientel, including people as young as middle-schoolers. My friend and I browsed around the store for a while without finding anything overly exciting. I drifted over to some neatly stacked girls sweatshirts in pretty colors and lifted one up. I was absolutely astonished to see the word "Vietnam" printed on the front. It was so simple, but held so much meaning.

I was recently introduced to an amazing site that links to newspapers, books, essays, columnists, radio stations and more, from all around the world. It is absolutely fascinating to read about news from the perspectives of other countries, and because it is so important to stay on top of current events and politics during this time, I thought it would be interest

I know the issue has been raised many times, but it was called to my attention again while reading this article in the latest edition of newsweek, written by none other than a Bryn Mawr alumna, Christine Flowers. The topic in concern is the education and experience that single-sex institutions provide. While mens colleges have been completely phased out, the few prominent women's colleges still left struggle to stay afloat. Personally, I think that single-sex higher level learning institutions provide amazing opportunities to their students and it makes me so sad to think that they may one day fade away all together.

I have always loved going to the airport because of the hustle and bustle and excitement that accompanies the experience. I’m also a big fan of people watching. Airports are ideal for this sport because there are so many different types of people that all end up in the same location.

On my flight home, while everyone was getting off the plane, it really struck me for the first time: I had just spent six hours of my life in a plane full of complete strangers, every single person different, and I knew nothing about any of them. Traveling by ways of air, people from all different backgrounds are thrown together, and all endure the same experience, but nothing is shared.

Today as I was reading at my granpdarent’s house I happened to overhear a conversation my grandmother was having on the phone. When she got off the phone, she proceeded to tell me the story in more detail.

She and my grandfather’s close friends from their college days have been having plumbing issues. The woman (we’ll call her Mary) is a very well known and accomplished painter, who makes millions from her paintings, and the man (we’ll call him Len) is a retired army officer with a very nice pension. They live in a house worth over three million dollars, and can afford most of the luxuries this world has to offer. The man however, as my grandma puts it, “is as cheap as manure.”

Weeks before I was getting ready to leave for Bryn Mawr, my mom was reminding me that when I arrived I had to go to the health center to get my meningitis vaccination. Like a good girl, the second week I was here I wandered over to the health center and put my name on a list to get the shot once they got the vaccine in. I have yet to hear from them, and today while browsing the internet I found a very interesting article on the topic. Apparently, there have been several reports of teenagers developing the Guillain Barre syndrome ( a serious neurological disorder) after receiving the new and more protective vaccination against meningitis. The cases all appeared a few weeks after the seventeen and eighteen year olds received the vaccination, and occured in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

It seems as though no matter how much technology progresses, old ways of thinking are what truly set us back. Recently a vaccine was developed that prevents the human papillomavirus. This virus, adverse in itself, is also a major cause of cervical cancer. The catch is that the vaccine is most effective when given to children around the age of eleven.

Because the human papillomavirus is an STD, many parents, as well as conservative groups oppose the distribution of the vaccine, fearing that it is yet another insentive for younger people to engage in sexual activity. While this is a valid concern, in the long term it is simply nonsensical. Amanda Marcotte makes an incredibly good point," You wouldn't think of breaking down your grown child's door and throwing away his condoms, so why do it retroactively by denying this vaccine?"

Throughout most of high school I had a really serious boyfriend. I've always had lots of guy friends, but I've never really thought about the role that males played in my life, and how much they contributed to my happiness.
While I love Bryn Mawr, and the all women's aspect, I have found myself going nuts recently. Anyone who knows me knows that I've never been boy crazy or anything of the like. I love my guy friends and I loved my boyfriend, but I was never one of those girls that wanted to get out there and find guys. Whatever I had was always kind of dropped in my lap. I never sought actively to find men.

I don't really know how I wound up here, but here I am. Everyone who knows me will tell you that I am the most indecisive person they know. I never thought I'd be able to make a decision about where to go for college.

There has always been this huge stigma that accompanies the phrase "All Women's College." When I told people that I was considering Bryn Mawr, and that it was all women, people would say things and give me looks like "do you know what you're getting yourself into?" Before I got here and experienced it for myself, I always had doubt in my choice to come here, and didn't know if people's adverse reactions to my choice were at all warranted.

So I added two sites to the aggregator. The first is Lunch on Friday. I was searching for blogs about food online (because food is an extremely important part of my life) and i came across this site. It's this group of guys that go around eating at random places and write reviews on them. It's funny, and the coolest part about the site is you can type in your zip code and it randomizes a place to go to lunch for you. I don't know, I thought it was really quirky and well done, so I hope you all enjoy too.

In chapter 6, Brad Graham describes his early fascination with blogs that began by reading other's and finding links to more through them. I think this is often the way people discover blogging. One finds themself knowing people without having ever met them, talked to them, or having the other person even know they exist. While that may sound creepy, the people who post these blogs are doing it so that people can read them to gain information and to relate.

Contrary to popular (non blogger) belief, blogging has tons of benefits that cannot be attained through most other activities. Graham points a few of the most substantial out in this chapter. The one that I find most valuable is the sense of community that comes from blogging. By reading other's blogs and becoming attached to the individuals posting, one find's themself wanting to be an actual part of the community that they already feel a part of. I am starting to think of blogging as cheap therapy. You vent online, get out whatever it is that is going on inside your head, and people can comment back, give you advice, understanding, or whatever else it is you need. In the earlier assignment on community, I wrote that a community is something that you can always find comfort and understanding in. I think that for many, blog communities supply just that.

Throughout my life I have belonged to countless communities, so I'll only focus on a few that are most important to me, and those I will always be a part of. First of all is my family. I am incredibly close with my mom. I also went to my grandparent's house every day after school from kindergarten to the last day of high school. My family on my mom's side all live close by and we have family dinners all the time.

The next community is weSPARK. weSPARK is a non profit cancer support organization. I was very involved with the children's group back home, for kids who have a parent with cancer, or who have cancer themselves. When I left for college, they had a little thank you party for me and said some amazing things. When I left they made it clear that I would always be a part of that community and that I would be welcome always.