When Nick Carter and a friend left a Florida bar bloody and beat up, it was obvious that they took the whole black & blue concept of ’99 a little too literally.

Backstreet Boys heartthrob and Dancing with the Stars season 21 runner-up Nick Carter can now add the title of Key West Bar Brawler to his résumé. On Wednesday night, Jan. 13, Carter was arrested and later charged with misdemeanor battery by Florida police after an altercation with bar staff. Carter and his friend Michael Rae Papayans were refused service and eventually asked to leave a Keys bar because of how intoxicated they were. Instead of being happy drunks and enjoying their time in Key West, the two felt the need to prove their toughness in a slap fight with two bar employees. Both men (babies) are said to appear in court next Thursday, Jan. 21.

A less-ratchet international heartthrob, our beloved POTUS, gave his final State of the Union address last week on Tuesday, Jan. 12. President Obama spoke a little bit on everything: from what he has done, what still needs to be done, who may take his place, who very well will not and a whole lot of idealism. Talk of improving the American education system came up, all the way from Pre-K to college. Energy efficiency and all the ways we could actually use solar and wind power were listed. Peace for all sans WWIII was proposed. Now, about everyone else in the room… VP Biden had the whole cool on the outside, screaming on the inside vibes going after he was given the task to work with scientists and find a cure for cancer, aka Mission Control. Kentucky clerk Kim Davis snuck her way in. Sen. Bernie Sanders gave the Internet something to have fun with. Our FLOTUS looked stunning as always, this time, in a marigold Neiman Marcus dress that sold out even before the end of Obama’s speech. And one of the seats next to Mrs. Obama was left empty to symbolize all of the deaths that have been caused by gun violence. Here’s the entire SOTU in case you missed it.

Oh, politics. You never seem to take a night off. This past week, we saw more GOP and Democratic debates where people talked over one another, threw all the low-blows possible and replaced polite nods with cold side-eyes and mad-dog stares. On Thursday night, Jan. 14, the Republican candidates forced their ways and their useless rhetoric into our homes, that is, minus Mrs. Silicon Valley and Dr. Maybe. Carly Fiorina and Sen. Rand Paul were demoted and couldn’t play with the big (stupid) kids anymore. On Sunday night, Jan. 17, the Democratic candidates graced our TV screens – all two of them were on their game. Could we all just agree that Gov. O’Malley has zero chances with going forward? He can misquote historical figures and be overly polite somewhere off camera. Sen. Sanders did seem to steal the spotlight in this fourth debate; however, my girl Hillary played defense in true varsity style. I’m with her.

Our own student-run governmental body made an interesting decision this week when ASUO senate approved a $15,000 request from the Students of the Indian Subcontinent group. The students of SIS asked for this much money in order to bring Hasan Minhaj to campus, a senior correspondent from The Daily Show. Was Aziz Ansari too busy with Masters of None? I personally have never seen Minhaj’s work in the past, but it seems like they believe he would be a worthy feature of the group’s cultural night. Aside from the $15K from student government, departments around campus are supporting the cause. I remember Maz Jobrani, a Persian-American comedian, was a huge hit when the Arab Student Association got him to come for Arabian Night last spring. Let’s see if Minhaj will live up to it.

One person who will always be loved by the UO community is Mr. (big balls) Chip Kelly. Well, family, he’s coming (closer to) home! After an unfortunate season with the Philadelphia Eagles this year, Chip Kelly has been hired on as the San Francisco 49ers’ new head coach in a four-year deal worth a whopping $24 million. I guess getting fired isn’t all that bad in the NFL. The open position with the Niners was going to be filled by either Mike Shanahan, head coach of the Washington Redskins, or our Chippy, and it seems like the latter got to the Craigslist job listing first.

Since I was three years old, The Kiva was where my parents would go spice and cheese shopping. Oakway Fitness is where my grandma has always gone to her tri-weekly water aerobics class. The Saturday Market was every middle schooler’s first place of employment. And the UO campus was always the cool-kid lunch spot in high school.

Some classify Eugene as the city of hippies, Hacky Sacks and hemp. While others see this city of about 160,000 as a sanctuary for the rich, righteous and retired. One thing for certain is how unique growing up in Eugene is. There is a handful of us who have spent the majority of our lives in small-town Willamette Valley, and have chosen the path of even going through college here.

As someone who considers himself a Eugene native, Michael Enseki-Frank has always recognized the good that comes from the people and culture of Eugene.

“Everyone I’ve grown up around has been really nice and inclusive and tolerant, which are things I really value, and are all things I did not see much of in other parts of the world that I’ve been to,” Enseki-Frank said. “For example, I went to a very liberal church growing up, the First Congregational, and we had this program called Peace Village where we’d learn from a Rabbi, a Buddhist monk and a Native American figure all at once.”

Outside of church, curriculum in Eugene schools is known to be both eclectic and effective. UO senior Haley Stupasky remembers how different some of her schooling was.

“When most people would be making paper airplanes in school, at Edison Elementary, we were learning how to make sushi,” Stupasky said. “I’ve never heard of any other school doing the kinds of things we did.”

Stupasky moved to Eugene from North Carolina as a young child. She explains how she would never change the fact that she grew up in Eugene, but one aspect of life here she hasn’t been able to ignore is the Caucasian-majority demographic.

“I think about whenever I go back to North Carolina and with being white, I would actually be a minority,” Stupasky said. “I was never given any sort of tools to interact with other people in that sort of way as a kid in Eugene.”

Although there is a lack of ethnic diversity in Eugene, inherited through decades of majority-White populations settling in the area, apparent divisions and sub-communities within the city have existed from South, to North and West Eugene. Going just a few miles in one direction or another can land you in a completely different environment than where you were before.

I’ve described life in Eugene to people who have never visited and some can’t help but think I’m making it all up. On one henna-painted hand, there is positivity and creative culture to be celebrated here, but on a more rugged dirt-under-every-nail hand, Eugene has its maladies. I see so much good, so many peculiarities, yet a lot of issues in this town that all seem to live in harmony together in a way that sometimes feels fictitious. The disparity in diverse ethnicities, the glaring issue of homelessness, the ongoing drug culture and the socioeconomic gap that all exist within Eugene oddly weave into the city’s culture in a way that works.

There is this transparent juxtaposition in Eugene where so many individuals are white on the outside, but are ethnic and world-minded on the inside, where being homeless has turned into its own sort of accepted culture and where the rugged streets of the Whiteaker are now the trendiest spots in town. From my experience, the harmony is seen as an anomaly to outsiders.

However for insiders like Stupasky and Enseki-Frank, the unique way Eugene runs provides them with a place of solace they will always appreciate as the place they grew up in. But because of all the comfort within the city, the two almost-UO graduates also agree that Eugene tends to suck people in, often in a bad way.

“South Eugene, specifically, tends to be a bubble that’s hard to break out of for a lot of people,” Enseki-Frank said. “It can be easy to not want to leave, or be ‘rock-happy.’ That’s what my dad says – where you sit on your little rock and are completely content, too content to not go out and explore. It’s because Eugene is such a nice place and if you go out, the world can be kind of scary.”

TV shows like “Gossip Girl,” “New Girl” and “Golden Girls” all have their places in popular culture as the programs that your grandma, mother, sister or girlfriend once loved to obsess over and continuously marathon. Add “Gilmore Girls” to the mix and you have the perfect compilation of female-centered shows that the last few generations have seen.

The show ran from 2000 to 2007, and despite the eight-year break since its series finale, “Gilmore Girls” is the buzz once again, at least amongst some crowds. On October 1st, our modern, online mecca of TV and movie entertainment, Netflix, made all seven seasons of the series available for streaming. Since then, Netflix announced that they are working with the “Gilmore Girls” creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, and much of the original cast to potentially make four 90-minute movies about what’s happening in the show’s fictional town of Stars Hollow today. Adding to the show’s revival news, a popular podcast called “Gilmore Guys” has also come out since the show’s Netflix debut where Kevin Porter and Demi Adejuyigbe give hilarious commentary on each episode of the series.

With all this news about the “dramedy” surfacing, I felt left out and wanted to get in on all the excitement. I had never watched an episode before last month, but I do recall Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel’s faces popping up on TV every time I’d channel surf for reruns of “Friends.” I had heard about the series here and there in the past, mostly from my female friends and I never thought much about it – I just labeled “Gilmore Girls” as one of those shows that girls watched at sleepovers or in place of a perfectly good rom-com. It was just another fluffy program that women forced their significant others to watch with them, and I wanted nothing to do with it.

But now, after having been sucked into a Netflix binge-watching trance for the last few weeks and completing the show’s first season, I take back every word I said and every thought I had about the early-2000s hit. “Gilmore Girls” is not just a show for teen girls to fangirl over – the characters and storyline are things that we should all be consciously consuming because of all that we can learn from them. And that means you too, boys.

Many women and men are both guilty of ignoring certain TV shows and movies, deeming specific media unfit for them because of its name or general storyline. I’ve done this countless times with shows like “The League” and “Pretty Little Liars.” I was right about the unfitness of one of these, but I still gave them a chance, as should everyone with “Gilmore Girls.”

The show centers on what is often labeled as a “non-traditional” family since it’s just Lorelei, played by Graham, and Rory, played by Bledel – there’s no father-figure who is continuously involved and only a couple grandparents who are slowly re-entering into their daughter and granddaughter’s lives. The two protagonists are then surrounded by these oddball characters who all make up the small town of Stars Hollow. These people are characters to say the least, which brings in a lot of hilarious material to play off of.

After being just one season in, I have noticed that the script feels choppy at times. The sets often seem unfinished. And there are some continuation errors that I’ve already caught here and there. But putting that aside, there is no doubt that “Gilmore Girls” is brilliant in all other aspects. The “drama” that comes up in the show isn’t ever that serious, but the show is far from simple. Strategically intertwined with the witty one-liners and quick banters is a complexity that gives notice to issues that everyone can somehow relate to, not just the show’s female-majority audience. There are bits to the show that hit at relationships we all experience with parents, friends, teachers and love interests. Matters of economic class also come up with Rory’s private schooling and her wealthy grandparents. And then there’s the progressiveness of the series that I think everyone, guys and girls, should be exposed to.

From the amusing humor, to the nonstop pop culture references, to the rich cast – including a more enjoyable Melissa McCarthy before Tammy – all in combination with realistic depictions of women, everyone should give “Gilmore Girls” a chance.

When your parents visit campus and ask to meet your four best friends whose places you’re always mentioning… Taylor’s, Max’s, Rennie’s and Uly’s.

– The game Saturday night ended late enough for fans to go straight to our friends on 13th St. and celebrate the big Ducks versus Bears victory, 44-28. I took shelter from the ole’ stadium and missed out on the post-matchup excitement. Unfortunately, I’m still scarred from the Cal game two seasons back that was hit by a monsoon. We won that one too, but my phone ended up living in a bowl of rice for two months afterwards. New motto: “It always rains at Autzen, so keep your electronics safe and wear as many layers as possible under your Hirons’ ponchos.”

– It’s that time of term again, and a new way to procrastinate your classwork has arrived – winter term class registration starts in exactly one week. Whether you’re a DIY kind of student who can look at your degree audit and know exactly what you’ll need to sign up for next, or if you’re the type that needs to see an advisor every term at this time, get on it. I know a lot of people turn to other sites, like Rate My Professor, to help decide which classes to take and with whom, but I personally don’t like using these during my decision process. Unless there’s a glaringly horrible issue with an instructor, another motto I live by is TIY, or try it yourself, since we all have different learning methods and opinions about people.

– Speaking of procrastinating, Netflix has brought on some new streaming gold this week with Aziz Ansari’s new show, “Master of None.” I haven’t seen it yet – I’m still working my way through all 153 episodes of “Gilmore Girls,” but this comedy is next on my list. From what I’ve heard, the show is tastefully diverse, and it doesn’t rely too much on his last standup success and book, Modern Romance, which is a relief since they both have been out for some time now. I’m also loving the fact that his parents in the show are played by his actual parents in real life. And since I fell hard for Amy Schumer when I first marathoned “Inside Amy Schumer,” and same for Mindy Kaling with three years of “The Mindy Project” that came and left us for Hulu, I can’t wait to waste my days away with another comedy genius, Aziz.

– Speaking of comedy, the next Republican presidential debate will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, November 10, starting at 6 p.m. our time. For this debate, candidates are not allowed to make any sort of opening statements, but they’ll get more time to answer each question asked by moderators – 90 seconds plus 30 seconds for rebuttals. Since Donald Trump is still the highest polling candidate, he’ll be front and center for the show, making it easier on us who need to watch his every move for the purpose of some recreational drinking games. I know I’ll be listening and tallying every time he mentions “China.” Others to watch: Rubio on “families” and Fiorina on “Hillary.”

– For the Dems, their third debate will be at Drake University in Iowa’s capital on Saturday, November 14, also beginning at 6 p.m. our time. This will be yet another event for Hillary Clinton to illustrate for the country how perfect of a candidate she is. As an avid Hillary presidential supporter circa ’96, I don’t have any doubt that she’s going to shine once more. The Benghazi trials were pure bliss for female-Clinton, and last week’s democratic forum was a real success, which I think helped solidify her position among her components Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley. I think she’s still riding a birthday-high from her October 26th festivities. H(belated)BD, HRC!

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Pat Hoover’s involvement with Submissions for Social Responsibility when the correct organization is Physicians for Social Responsibility. Further insight has also made it clear that Hanford was a plutonium-specific nuclear production facility.

It was the year 1990 when Pat Hoover found herself hopeless and weak in a Yachats, Oregon hospital bed for seven days straight. She had fallen ill to what doctors called “a mystery sickness” – something Hoover had heard for what seemed like the thousandth time.

Having lost 50 pounds in 30 days, Hoover was mindlessly watching a public broadcast program when talk about the area she grew up around, Hanford in southeast Washington, came up. Hanford was one of the numerous nuclear production sites around the U.S. that had been active since the 1940s.

Hoover watched intently with her husband by her side, as the T.V. show followed an epidemiologist from the Center for Disease Control as he toured the tri-city area around the Hanford reservation site to survey the local people.

“It was just astounding the number of them who had miscarriages, how many of their loved ones had died from cancer,” Hoover said. “It was shocking and it was this ‘Aha!’ moment for me. I finally had an explanation: I was exposed to radiation my whole childhood, my whole life, just like the people I was watching on the screen. I was 43 years old then and had been living a very medicalized life since birth.”

Hoover is a Downwinder, someone who was exposed and affected by plutonium production in Washington or Oregon. Other Downwinders are those who experienced fallout from actual nuclear testing in either Nevada, Arizona or Utah. The exposure to the radiation has caused ailments in Hoover including tumors in both the throat and brain and the inability to reproduce.

The entire topic of Downwinders was new to me until just recently when I found out that last Wednesday, January 27, is in fact National Downwinders Day – a day that the U.S. Senate unanimously voted for in 2011 to honor those directly affected by the American nuclear program.

When I learned this information, I knew something was not right. I thought, that’s it? They get a day? I’ve been involved with both campus and community groups that actively fight the presence of atomic weaponry in the world, so hearing about Downwinders Day was both unsettling and frustrating for me.

Instead of publicly taking responsibility for the hundreds of thousands of deaths and cases of cancer and miscarriages it has caused, compensating the people accordingly for their medical bills or even just outwardly admitting to the fact, the U.S. government has assigned the people whose lives they’ve ruined a calendar day.

America’s disturbing history with nuclear weapons dates back to 1945 when the first atomic bomb was tested. This was during the nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, fighting to become the world’s most powerful nation.

According to Hoover, who spoke specifically on Hanford, the American people were never told exact details about the nuclear production that was occurring, which is why so many people stayed in these areas where there were incredible amounts of radioactive fallout.

“This was all a huge government secret,” Hoover said. “Of course, my mother and father had no idea that all of these thousands and thousands of curies of radiation were being emitted from this reservation.”

Reports by the National Cancer Institute indicate that the most harmful substance released from making plutonium was iodine-131, which collects in the thyroid gland. Both the Cancer Institute and Hoover explained how the Iodine-131, or I-131, makes its way into the bodies of the American people usually through three pathways: in water, the air and the food chain.

Babies were poisoned from drinking their mother’s milk. Kids were exposed to the I-131 by swimming in nearby waters. And others received the toxins by eating radioactive fish or other animal products, since animals were taking in the harmful debris as well.

With concentrated amounts of thyroid disease and cancer sprouting up around the country, long-time activist Annette Rose learned about the health issues Downwinders in Utah experienced from nuclear testing. Rose worked alongside peace organizations to both protest U.S. nuclear activity and to get aid for the Downwinders of Southeast Utah.

“When I moved to Utah in the late ‘80s, I noticed mostly in the southern regions how there were a lot of children suffering from leukemia since radiation will affect the bone marrow,” Rose said. “Most of the people were Mormon and very well-behaved, so they did whatever their government told them and whatever their church told them. When news came out about the nuclear testing, I think what shocked them the most was that the government lied to them about the dangers of the fallout.”

Like many other Downwinders, Hoover hadn’t discovered the truth about Hanford and the nuclear activity going on so close to where she grew up until that day 16 years ago on the Oregon Coast. Since then, Hoover has joined the widespread Downwinder effort to get compensated by the U.S. government for the medical trauma she continues to endure. She has filed a number of lawsuits through the years, but only one has yet to be rejected mostly because of the tumor found in her brain in 2005.

“They’re going to find a reason to dismiss me just like everyone else and that’s hard to accept,” Hoover said. “The knowledge that I was basically put on the frontlines of the Cold War back in the ‘40s and ‘50s without my knowledge or my permission – once I found out that in all probability that the problems I myself and that my family and relatives and my neighbors were having was because we were poisoned by the government – is hard to accept because I can never un-think it. I am living cell evidence of America’s nuclear holocaust and I can’t take that away.”

When I discussed the Jan. 27 national holiday with both Rose and Hoover, their feelings mirrored mine. Hoover even pointed out that the Downwinders being honored are actually just the workers of the nuclear plant facilities – those who were exposed to radiation from the inside.

Instead of feeling hostile towards the U.S. government, Rose and Hoover have learned to accept what happened in the past and to continue to live their lives actively. Today, at 73 years old, Rose continues to fight for a non-proliferated world with the Eugene-based Beyond War Northwest group as an outreach coordinator.

Hoover has also continued her fight with her involvement in Eugene’s Women’s Action for New Directions, the Community Alliance of Lane County and Physicians for Social Responsibility in Portland.

“It’s hard and it can be deceiving at times, but there are these small victories and that’s what activism is about,” Hoover said. “My message to young people is to always be questioning the government and its policies and keep track of what’s happening that doesn’t meet your values for the life you want to live. Continue the struggle. Always question what is being said and done.”

After the tragic events that took place in Paris on Nov. 13, I felt more frustrated than ever. I felt sad for the 129 lives that were lost and the hundreds wounded, but my sadness was also for Beirut, Baghdad and other places that have been impacted by recent violence. And by the look of what many posted this weekend on social media, I don’t share this conflict with many other people I have connections with online.

Since I have so many opinions on all-things pertaining to conflict around the world — I am a journalism and international studies major, a minor Arabic studies and a member of UO Beyond War — I constantly think about sharing my thoughts online. I want those who think differently than I do to read about what I have to say. And I want the people I agree with to know I support their opinions.

But I have yet to come to a conclusion on whether it is worth it.

Despite the unfortunate fact that catastrophes occur every day in the world, I was ethically challenged in a different way this week when I saw how popularized the Paris attacks were on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. The pictures, comments and filters flooded my feeds.

People want a great change to happen in the fight against the Islamic State group responsible for these events, as do I, but I was bothered by the fact that ISIS probably knew their perverse message would be taken heavily by the international community — just because it was a city within a first-world country.

I am disappointed that an attack in the City of Lights is what had to happen in order for these types of conversations to start among those I follow and have befriended online. This isn’t the first large-scale attack on humanity by ISIS, so why is it being treated as if it is?

Over the past few days, I have wanted to respectfully comment on people’s posts: “What is it about the Paris attacks that made people want to take so much cyber action that tragedies in other places don’t have? Why is the loss of Parisian lives so much harder to cope with than the death of thousands of Afghans, Yazidis, Palestinians, Iraqis and others around the world?”

I knew how they might respond. I could have easily sparked conversations online about ethnicity, security, politics, religion, stereotypes, classism, racism, patriotism and a variety of other hot-topic issues, but I kept catching myself. Is it worth it? Is it worth the chance that some may not want to participate in a calm cyber conversation with me, but rather feel attacked or offended by my comments? If people feel strongly about my words? Is it worth it to spend my day defending myself in back-and-forth comment threads? Is it worth it to have my feelings and words potentially be toyed with by responses to what I have to say?

We all have the right to form our own, individual opinions on what happens in the world and create a dialogue online with what we have to say. Powerful activism and positive change have occurred as a direct result of people posting their beliefs and experiences on social media.

But when disagreements arise from person to person, this is when cost-analyses need to take place and respect must exist – respect in the form of thoughtfulness and validity in what is being said. We should all agree that there is no need for conflict in person or online. If this were our reality, I wouldn’t question my postings all the time on my social media accounts. But unfortunately, I don’t think we’re all there yet.

After listening to people’s stories from New Year’s Eve, I made sure to tell them to brace themselves before checking their bank accounts.

Happy 2016, world! New year. New term. Empty checking account? Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have taken over in the transportation department in many cities around the country in the last few years. They’re convenient, friendly and usually affordable. But during holidays and other high-demand times, the companies are charging two to ten-times their normal rates – a surcharge. In cities like Miami Beach and Philadelphia, people reported that they were charged insane amounts of a couple hundred dollars on New Years Eve night for rides that are usually around $20 or less. It’s understandable that these drivers are shuttling around mostly drunk kids from one club to the next on New Year’s Eve night, but multiplying fares up into the hundreds is insane.

Another womp womp womp moment from last week was Oregon’s loss to TCU on Saturday night. We made it to the Alamo Bowl – yay us! – and the game ended kind of like how the aftermath of the actual Battle of the Alamo went – the Texans revolted, made up the deficit they faced against the Mexicans and made Texas independent. Coming out on top after a 31-point Oregon lead and triple overtime, once again, the Texans were victorious. “Remember the Alamo!?” Is what should’ve been called after TCU’s final scoring. Also, hashtags that need to dissolve: #buildingyear and #stilllovemyducks.

Depending on your personal beliefs, Oregon may or may not have scored in another big way this week. As of Jan. 1 in Oregon and starting in March for California, women will be able to acquire over-the-counter birth control, so that’s without a doctor’s written prescription. In Oregon, women need to be at least 18 years old to get non-prescription birth control pills, but in California, there will be no age restrictions. Although in both states’ policies, women will be required to fill out a health questionnaire that pharmacists will use in place of a prescription. This is a pretty big deal that Governor Kate Brown signed off on last July for Oregon – let’s see if our 48 friends will eventually follow suit. Here’s a rundown of a few other new laws for our state put into motion with the new year.

Another big occurrence this last week was at the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors that aired on Tuesday night, Jan. 29. Aretha Franklin brought the packed house down and was the MVP of the night, in my eyes, with her grand performance of “You Make Me Feel.” This event happens every year in the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and each year, a few individuals in the performing arts are honored for their lifetime contributions to American culture. A couple of the honorees this year were George Lucas and Carole King. King co-wrote the hit that Aretha Franklin is essentially known for, so appropriately enough, Ms. Franklin performed and their song was a showstopper to say the least. I cried. Obama cried. Viola Davis (of “How to Get Away with Murder”) was up on her feet fangirl-ing. The crowd erupted.

The Kennedy event was a good kick-off (so much football!) to award season. Next Sunday, the Golden Globes will air, and following this month and into next will be the SAG Awards, the Grammys, the Oscars and a few others sprinkled around here and there. I have a few favorite movies, TV shows and actors picked out that I want to win, but can we all agree that it’s Leonardo DiCaprio’s year?! I mean, I’m nervous to watch his new movie The Revenant because of how chilling his performance is. He deserves it; he has always deserved it.

What’s literally been on the tips of everyone’s tongues since Sunday is snow! Eugene experienced a light blanket of white – a quilt or shawl of snow if you will – and the moisture continued to travel up north to Portland where it was more of a down comforter of snow that covered the city. My newsfeeds were flooded with people posting about how they would get to Eugene in time for the first day of winter term classes. For those who made it safely to town, happy syllabus week, but for everyone still traveling, stay safe! Snow is not in the forecast for the rest of the week in Eugene, but it will be nippy out and icy conditions will continue to taunt us.

When I heard Somalia and Brunei officially banned public Christmas festivities, all I heard was Pat Sajack’s voice announcing, “Pack your bags, but not your Santa hats or Rudolph noses!”

Christmas fell on a Friday this year, which seemed nice for many who got an extra-long weekend for the holidays. Unfortunately, next year is a leap year, making Christmas fall on a Sunday – no vacation days there. Even though my family and I don’t celebrate Christmas, having everyone at home at once to watch endless amounts of Home Alone/Elf/Love Actually and to enjoy the excessive holiday cheeriness is a treat. It all can get to be too much, with the radios abuzz with jingle this and nuts that, and stores shoving sales down our throats left and right. For people who do get annoyed with American society during this time year, I have a solution for you – move to Brunei or Somalia! This week, both of these governments announced a ban on PDCs as I call it – Public Displays of Christmas – because they believe it can be damaging to the Muslim faith.

Winter is finally here, but some parts of the U.S. are having zero chill. I am currently visiting the East Coast right now where Sunday’s high was a scorching 70 degrees in Philadelphia. A lot of people are huffing and puffing about the weird weather being another effect of global warming, but it also has a lot to do with it being an El Niño year. Because of this, meteorologists predicted from the get-go that the North would have a warmer than usual winter in 2015-16 and the South would be cooler and wetter.

A number of southern states and parts of the Midwest have experienced intense storms this past week, resulting in flooding, mudslides and a massive tornado outbreak. As of Sunday, Dec. 27, the death toll has reached at least 17 and around 60 people have been injured as a result of the ravaging twisters. These types of tornadoes usually hit during springtime, but for two years in a row now, December has been a damaging month in these areas. The states that were hit by these weather-related tragedies include Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Indiana. If you feel so inclined to get in on the action from a distance, there’s nothing like feeling full-on storm anxiety than watching footage of storm chasers doing their thing.

Luckily in Eugene, the biggest weather issue lately has been the rain – buckets and buckets of rain. Our rivers and lakes are high. Freeways are getting trickier and trickier to drive on. And some elevated parts of town, like Spencer’s Butte, have snow as of this week! The question on everyone’s tongue: do you want to build a snowman?! Portland got some snow on Sunday as well, but too bad it was the non-commitment type; therefore, no snowmen-building yet.

Now that I got the weather small talk out of the way, let’s talk toys. For whichever gift-giving holiday it may have been for, people really need to lay off the whole hoverboard craze. I’m serious – danger danger! Not only do hoverboards make people both young and old extremely lazy, but more importantly, they’re also a hazard to everyone’s well-beings. Then again, what’s done is done, and as seen with the storms of the South and Midwest this week, tragedy can quickly turn into entertainment by means of technology and social media. The videos of people trying out their new hoverboards on Christmas morning and then eating it are pretty amusing, if that’s your thing.

Also for entertainment, there’s that one little movie that came out last week called Star Wars or something. No thanks to me, the seventh installment of the series made over a billion dollars worldwide faster than any other movie in history. In just the U.S., the film grossed $544.6 million in box office sales in just 10 days. In the past, around and on Christmas day has been a successful weekend for movie premieres, but Star Wars shattered this week’s new movies in numbers. From Friday to Sunday, Star Wars: The Force Awakens grossed $153.5 million, Will Ferrell’s Daddy’s Home was at $38.8 million and the one I made sure to see, J. Law’s Joy, grossed an unfortunate $17.5 million. If you’re into films featuring the dynamic-trio of Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, think Silver Linings Playbook, then Joy is a must. Ignore the numbers – I thoroughly enjoyed the picture and all its drama.

When I saw everyone’s excitement for Star Wars: The Force Awakens this week, I thought maybe this one would be worth watching because if the force is finally awake, maybe I’ll be too.

Fast-forwarding thirty years, Han, Luke, Leia, Chewbacca are back in action for Episode VII, which came out officially on Friday, Dec. 18. I can’t say I’ve stayed awake for any of the galactic installments in the past, so I didn’t take my chances on this one either. It did, though, get high ratings on IMDB with 8.8 stars and an impressive 95 percent on Rotten Tomato. I actually wish the Star Wars saga would grab and hold onto my attention because all the positive things I hear about it, but I guess you can’t force everything (heh). Fortunately, I didn’t feel any FOMO, despite how popular the premiere was. I still felt involved with the whole experience given that advertising for the seventh entry was everywhere, from Facebook photo filters to my coffee creamer container.

While en route to a movie I was actually excited to see, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s Sisters, I did get to witness all the Star Wars hype with all the dedicated fans who were dressed head-to-toe in character. There was Han at the concession counter grabbing himself a large ICEE, and Chewbacca was standing in line, dreading the crowds between him and a popcorn refill. With only a 62 percent Tomato rating, Sisters won’t be winning any Oscars, but it definitely filled my laughing quota for the week. It honestly could’ve been better given Tina and Amy’s natural chemistry, but in the end, it was a good time. I mean, girls just wanna have fun, right? And so did all three guys who showed up in our theater.

Characters with bad hair and bad jokes didn’t just grace us in theaters this past week, but came home with us as both the Republican and Democratic debates aired. On Tuesday night, the GOP took center stage in Las Vegas, and I must say, Wolf Blitzer was the best part of the entire debate. There was more arguing and finger pointing with this group, and that was just Jeb Bush and Donald Trump. I did, however, start to gain a little more respect for Carly Fiorina, but that only lasted until she endlessly mentioned Silicon Valley and how they hold the U.S.’s golden ticket to eternal security. Sen. Ted Cruz spoke out of turn one too many times and forgot to do his fact checking homework. There was also a moment of silence started by Dr. Ben Carson, a ton of Obama-hating by everyone especially Gov. Chris Christie and more familial storytelling by Sen. Marco Rubio. Much blab. So disappointment.

The Demorcats were a little quieter on Saturday night, since it was just Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton (and Martin) going at it, but some shade was thrown here and there. The debate was held in Manchester, New Hampshire with the moderators being Martha Raddatz and David Muir, aka the new Brian Williams *winks seductively*. Former Secretary of State Clinton continued to back Obama on all the progress he has achieved in the last seven years, which she hopes to continue to build on as POTUS. Sen. Sanders reiterated the fact that he thinks all public universities should be free and our healthcare system needs to be fixed – taking a page out of almost every other developed country’s book in the world. Gov. O’Malley didn’t hold back from attacking his opponents, that is, when he got a chance to speak. #WheresHillary trended after Clinton came back (fashionably) late from a bathroom break. This happened at the first Democratic debate back in October too. When Anderson Cooper called her out, she promptly responded with, ”You know, it does take me a little longer. That’s all I can say.”

And the current Family Feud host, Steve Harvey, is the bud of Sunday night’s news when he wrongly announced Miss Universe 2015 during the renowned pageant. He called second runner-up as Miss USA, which was correct. Then, the cringe-worthy moment came when Miss Philippines took first runner-up, or second place, and Miss Colombia was crowned first place. Harvey did come out and clear up the mistake, which was that Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, was in fact Miss Universe 2015. Miss Colombia, aka Sofía Vergara 2.0, didn’t look too happy.

On every Saturday and Sunday of December until Christmas, my routine for five years was as follows:

– Arrive at the Lane County Fairgrounds before 10 a.m.

– Enter the Eugene Holiday Market festivities from the east end

– Listen to the woman on stage singing nursery rhymes in French and English for all the jumping kids

– Wish I had as much energy as those kids did in the morning

– Grab a coffee from Dana’s Cheesecake Bakery to gain said energy

– Get to work at the Afghani Cuisine food booth

The Eugene Holiday and Saturday Markets were the first places I had ever worked, as was the case for so many other high schoolers in and around Eugene. Once I started college, I decided to free up my weekends and take a break from the seasonal traditions.

I find myself visiting the Markets from time to time but never more than once or twice a year. When I do get the chance to go, I never regret it. The Eugene Holiday and Saturday Markets are places you can count on for authentic Eugene. The dance floors never dull. The vendors continue to celebrate eclectic foods. The artisans impress new and old crowds every season. And specifically with the Holiday Market, the routes that lead from one booth to the next never fail to lead you to something new.

I’ve discovered some of the best foods and crafts with all the hours I’ve spent winding and wandering through the Holiday Market paths. The area of the space is large and easy to get lost in, but fear not – I’ve done years of field research for you.

Here’s how to enjoy a day at the Holiday Market from a local:

Morning:

– Wake up! Market opens to the public at 10 a.m. The coffee is good at both Dana’s Cheesecake Bakery and Edible Improvs. I’d pick the former if I were looking to pair it with one of Dana’s specialty cakes or cream puffs. I’d go for the latter if I want my morning to consist of the gooiest cookie ever or the crêpiest crêpe.

– Start snaking. Maneuvering the craft booths should be done slowly and carefully. Many sellers have been at Market for decades and still return year after year, but there are a number of new faces and products to keep an eye out for.

– The morning is also a good time visit the Farmer’s Market in the separate Holiday Hall. Get that fresh produce ASAP.

Midday:

– Take a break – you deserve it. One of the above-mentioned sweets makes a great midday snack if you missed out in the morning, but for something a little different, and not to be bias, the Afghani Cuisine makes a mad bolani that’s both easy finger-food and freakishly flavorful once you add some chutney.

– On the other end of the food court (and the world), Ritta’s Burrito and Saritza’s Mexican Food offer up some of the best quesadillas I’ve ever had, which are also fun to walk around with and share with friends.

– Get lost among the crafts once again. Cross those people off your holiday list.

– Lunchtime! Eating at Bangkok Grill is a must for anyone who visits the Holiday Market. As a Market and Faire (of Oregon Country Faire) baby, I have never seen a booth need its customer lines roped off as much as this Thai food mecca does.

Evening:

– Shake it off. The music gets increasingly upbeat (and all-around better) as the day goes on. Jump onto the dance floor to experience a little Eugene rhythm.

– Take a breather with an ice-cold mix from The Lemonade Gourmet. Guaranteed, this is not your typical lemonade.

– Market closes at 6 p.m., so there is a little time to fit in a final meal. You can also get some dishes to go – for instance another plate of Pad Thai.

– Renaissance Pizza at the west-end of the food court also sells full pies. Go home with an entire pizza with some of the best tomato sauce you’ve ever had on it.

And two of my biggest points for last: Make sure you enter the Events Center with an open-mind and that you leave with a full stomach and a load of unique goodies.

The Eugene Markets are one in a million – little changes, but people’s passions for being where they are continue to grow. Don’t be shy to be a part of the celebrations.

Happy holidays.