It's not enough to negatively label a politician a "limousine liberal" or a "country club Republican" anymore. Now "celebrity" is the new dirty word.

When John McCain's "celebrity" Internet ad juxtaposed Obama's public appearances with paparazzi fodder like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, his attack on Obama's "elitism" turned misguided. Just as there are different levels of celebrity, there are different types as well. Given the high-profile nature of both candidates' lives, this might backfire for the "Straight Talk Express."

Americans could learn a lot from the Chinese. Their massive industrialization for the last 30 years is unmatched by anyone else in the world, and hosting the 2008 Olympics legitimized its status as a global...

As a sophomore this year, coming to TCU was pretty strange for me, thanks to all of the changes taking place on campus. Although I was aware that the old Student Center would be rubble when I returned this fall, it still came as a shock to see the impressive Brown Lupton University Union sitting proudly on Stadium Drive.

Don't get me wrong, I like the BLUU. The extra space is nice, especially compared to the tiny eating area of the Main, and the food is a little better. But I have to admit that I really can't tolerate the new meal plan.

The 2009 Nissan Maxima SV is advertised by Nissan USA as the return to Nissan's past, with the reinvention of its four-door sports car concept. This is a much needed change as the past few editions of the model have simply been large, soft and alloy Altimas. This was Nissan's shot at fixing this problem, and it has still missed the mark. I could sit here and ramble on about the features it has or needs, but, really, the problem is simple.

For the TCU theatre department, summer without Shakespeare just didn't seem sweet.

"A community that is as rich in culture and fine arts as Fort Worth, it needs to have a professional Shakespeare company," said Harry Parker, theatre department chair. "It's really a dearth."

Parker and associate theatre professor T. J. Walsh hope to help fill that void with the June 2009 debut of the Trinity Shakespeare Festival at TCU.

University officials from some of the nation's best-known colleges are pushing for lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, but the chancellor said he is unsure of his stance on the issue.

Chancellor Victor Boschini said he is weighing both sides and has yet to make a decision.

However, Boschini said the university will abide by state and local laws regarding alcohol consumption.

"Barcelona, my mind is full of foreign people faces ..., I don't exist any more, Barcelona; ... being your sounds wife, your extroverted labyrinth" tells us the song that accompanies the characters along the latest Woody Allen film, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." Narrated by Christopher Evan Welch, this rueful comedy is one of the best films of the year as it ingeniously combines art, passion, romance and madness in an exotic ambience.

A rising demand for land professionals has caused enrollment in TCU's petroleum land practices program to double since last fall, a Neeley School of Business official said.

Marcia Ivey, assistant director of executive development at the Tandy Center for Executive Leadership, said the program was prompted by interest in the Barnett Shale, a large natural gas reserve encompassing more than 5,000 square miles and covering at least 17 counties in North Texas.

Beginning Tuesday, the Mary Couts Burnett Library will be open 24 hours a day for five days a week.

June Koelker, dean of the library, said because of the Labor Day holiday, the library will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning and will stay open continuously until Friday night at 8 p.m.

Normally. the library will open Sunday at noon and stay open continuously until Friday at 8 p.m.

Koelker said the Saturday hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. will go unchanged.