My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected this week on the east coast by Hurricane Sandy.

Apparently, the storm didn't seem to keep the students at Penn down... '

After the jump, check out this video of Hurricane Sandy hitting the Penn campus and see what some students did in the Quad to pass the time!

Also, see what the windtunnel did to one girl's umbrella and check out the enormous amount of leaves I've probably ever seen at one time on Locust Walk.

Read More......

Continue Reading »

We've seen other stellar Penn promotional videos in the past, but this one is truly classic as this 30 minute(!) video comes from 1957!

At first I thought it was a prank where someone ran a viddy-like filter through a video, but as I got deeper into the video I realized it was the real deal! It even has that narrator's voice you'd think it would have. The biggest thing I've noticed was that the campus was much more green and lush --ivy growing on everything, huge trees on Locust Walk.

Check out some highlights of the video

• 11:00 - the DP staff and offices
• 11:38 - the lost tradition of freshmen wearing "dinks"!?
• 17:30 - the Quad
• 19:54 - Franklin Field
• 18:56 - Mask and Wig!
• 22:10 - Pre-football game activities

There's way too much goodness here...

Get transported back to 1957 after the jump!

Read More......

Continue Reading »

Credit: The Wharton School

You've walked the walk a million times, but have you actually ever stopped to reflect upon how our favorite throughway looks throughout the year?

From your first pre-frosh moment on campus, to your first moment as an undergrad campus, to your last undergrad moment, to your class marching down the walk during alumni weekend? Fall, winter, spring, summer. Mornings, afternoons, nights.  You've done it all.

As fall is upon us, I wanted to share a  great slideshow the Wharton School put together of Locust Walk photos taken throughout the year.

After the jump, check it out!

Read More......

Continue Reading »

Credit: ChristophrHiestr

As you know, there's always lots of construction going on at Penn.

Here's a real gem for you.

You've walked on it a million times and most probably even tripped on one of its crooked bricks, but did you know what Locust Walk was built on top of?

Recently, Locust Walk has been torn apart to reveal an old trolley tracks!

Who knew?!

Check out another picture of the torn up walk after the jump and learn more about the history of these Trolley tracks on campus!

Read More......

Continue Reading »

Yesterday I posted some videos of the Hollywood-filled commencement speeches from President Amy Gutmann and Denzel Washington.

After the jump, check out a new video which includes the pre-graduation procession down Locust Walk, lots of bagpipes, flags, gowns and as always, some uniquely decorated graduation caps.

Read More......

Continue Reading »

Recently a tweet from Clarissa Palmer (C'14), a new Penn freshman, caught my eye about the DO's and DON'Ts of walking Locust Walk.

I thought all the Penn generations of my readers would appreciate this:

"Every single day, hundreds of people walk on Locust Walk (main pedestrian walkway at UPenn) to get to the library, class, their home, or to the dining halls. Everyone has a destination and a purpose to be there. So why the hell do some people stroll like they are just taking a walk in the park? Some people just don’t understand that people are in a rush and they need to keep moving. Here are the 7 things everyone at UPenn and people who come to visit need to know about walking on Locust Walk."

Read them after the jump!

Read More......

Continue Reading »

Woo hoo!  This is DT's 1,000th post!

In honor of this post, I thought I'd post a special treat to all my alumni readers across the world who haven't been back to campus in quite some time.

After not being back on campus for 5 years, this past September I returned to Penn and discovered its many changes.  In the video above, I take a brief trip down memory lane to many of the locations you, my readers, requested of me on Facebook.

As a bonus, you'll see that I've integrated photos and stories from what campus was like in the 90's.

Enjoy my tour through campus which covers:

• our namesake, the Dueling Tampons
• Vagelos Laboratories (the old Chemistry building)
• Furness Building (I reference THIS incident in the video)
• the new Annenerg Public Policy Building (I reference THIS photo album in the video)
• Sansom Street
• the changed Food Court
• Locust Walk
• Ben on the Bench (remember THESE contest entries?)
• Huntsman Hall (where the old bookstore was)
• 38th Street Bridge
• Superblock
• 40th and Walnut
• the former AEPi house location (THIS was the reason it was knocked down) (you've got to see this!)
• (Because my time on campus was limited, I couldn't get everything.  So next time, I promise to get the new Bookstore, the Quad and Houston Hall!)

From post #1 to the coming months of stories I already have banked, a sincere thank you to all the current (and soon-to-be) Penn alumni for sharing your memories, enthusiasm and stories of success with me and all your fellow Quakers.  From this site, many memories have been relived, new connections made and job interviews (and jobs!) attained!  But don't listen to me, read these testimonials below....

DT Testimonials...+/-

"Just wanted to send a note to say thanks for your continued work w/ Dueling Tampons. it's one of the various e-news blasts I read most days. I really liked the one about '3 generations at Penn'."

-Jody Girgenti (C'98)


"As an outsider to the entertainment industry and to LA, DuelingTampons.com gave me an excellent jumping-off point to start my job search. It enabled me to learn about Penn alums in the entertainment industry and conduct necessary preliminary research. From there I was able to reach out to our incredible alumni network, schedule introductory meetings and phone calls, eventually land an interview, and finally secure an internship at a top Hollywood studio."

-Steve Gottlieb (C'04)



"I love what you are doing for Penn with this website. Keep it up!"

-Adam El Sehamy (C'09)



"Thanks for doing your part to unify Penn through Dueling Tampons--it's already been a great resource, and I'm only an incoming freshman. I am truly looking forward to my next four years at Penn and beyond. Thanks again."

-Haywood L. Perry III (C'12)



 "Just want to thank you for all you are doing re: DT. You've reenergized my feelings toward Penn and now I have a son who will be applying to Penn"

-Joan L. (W'80)



"Great site. I've really enjoyed everything I've come across since I first came across it. Keep up the good work."

-A.J. Cabrera (C'04)



"Great site —when I first came across it, it took me by surprise. I hadn't used the phrase DT in years, you totally made me laugh. Thanks for that."

-Jason Seiden (W'95)



"I got all misty-eyed looking at the Dueling Tampons site. I mean it gave me sense memory of Penn... of the Walk when it was cold, or being in McNeill with Abiel, or being in German class, or taking 20 extra minutes to get to class because of seeing everyone I knew on Locust Walk, or people that sat in my classes that are now really famous or important... just a great site"

-Chris Hartwell (C'95)



"Love you website..! Very fun to read - I cannot believe what alums (that are WAY younger than us) are accomplishing...very cool...!"

-Dorie Clayman (C'96)



"I'm really digging your website. It's nice to have someone keeping track of all us Quaker over-achievers."

-Jeff Levin (C'07)



"Thank you for your website. I've not been in touch with Penn for YEARS, am speaking at the Bookstore and they wrote to me about Dueling Tampons. I've spent the afternoon going around inside it. so thank you!"

-Michael Rosen



 "Hey, I'll be entering Penn in the Fall as a '12 student. Just trying to get a feel for the campus before I come and Dueling Tampons seems like it has got a big place on campus."

-Eric Jacob Maltiel (SEAS'12)



"I love the way you are reaching out to Penn alums and this site...keep up the good work"

-Jennifer Merves Robbins (C'92)



"I just found dueling tampons, and im hooked. i had no idea so many alum do what i want to do when i grow up!"

-Danielle Hannah (C'03)



"Dueling Tampons has an AWESOME reputation on campus here, and I see you and your site everywhere!"

-Matt Amalfitano (C'11)



"Your site's a great way to keep up with Penn stuff with a laugh. Thanks."

-David Toturgul (C'99)



"What you do on Dueling Tampons I think really provides many Penn students with inspiration for their future careers, as I know it has done with me."

-Ryan Townsend (C'08)



"I really like all the Penn stuff, makes me feel at home... I had a good laugh at the name of the website, it only took me a split second to get it!"

-Dan Gutin (C'97)



"Dueling Tampons is an awesome resource. Thanks for representing LA (my hometown!) and the entertainment industry!"

-Joey Volpe (C'09)



"your dueling tampons site rocks"

-Jordan Rockwell (C'00)



"Big fan of the website! I find it a must read!!"

-Troy Majnerick, Penn New Student Orientation Coordinator



"I just want to thank you. I am a cinema studies major at Penn and your site is an amazing creative and networking resource for me. I love it."

-Dustin Blank (C'09)



"It's great to see you bringing together the community of Penn alums who took a possibly more interesting route and are doing some really cool things."

-Tara Todras-Whitehill (C'00, Eng'00)



"This is the kind of value-added, life-giving nectar that Matt spoons out so regularly, and for which I am forever...FOREVER...indebted to him."

-Adam Hellegers (C'96)



"The Dueling Tampons site is really impressive. I think Penn should just hand the alumni network over to you :)"

-Eric Barker (C'94)



Alumni Attending Events Because of DT:


"Logan [Levkoff] was here on Friday and was featured in the October 2 Penn Current and today's DP. I heard about her through DT.com, so thanks Matt!"

-Fran De La Torre (C'04)

Thank you to Alison Cote (C'95) and Ira Goldklang (C'90) for supplying the stills of the old bookstore and its painted 38th street wall!

And a special thanks to my friend David Chalfin (C'96), a fantastic editor living in Los Angeles who edited this video together.  Check out his reel HERE!



Share

Read More......

Of all the crazy things those wacky undergrads do on Locust Walk, this one takes the cake.  ...And whatever grocery items these guys are able to fit into their cart.

For my Games and Movies series, check out another video gem I've been holding onto for quite some time.

It's the video game "Mario Kart Race" brought to life on Locust Walk! (see below!)

More Locust Walk shenanigans HERE



Share

Read More......

In continuing my "Delicious Leftovers" week, the following 2 videos were submitted by Kiera Reilly (C'93, Director, Alumni Travel, Associate Director, Global Alumni Network) about 2 years ago and somehow they slipped through the cracks.

In the following clip, Phi Kappa Sigma raises money for Leukemia on Locust Walk via a bike "ride-athon".  How many of these "-athons" have we all been a part of in one form or another on Locust Walk?

This actually reminds me of one of the first bits I ever starred in for Mask and Wig when I was a freshman. It was called "Gamma-Lam Read-athon".  The premise of the bit had sorority sisters trying to draw attention to their "readathon" (guy on rocking chair sleeping).  After several "Gamma-Lam Readathon, check it outs" and "any spare change will do", a guy walks by and pulls out his kidney and puts it in the money jar.   The bit ended with "organ donors get no respect".  I realize as I'm writing this that this doesn't exactly translate, but it was funny.

Speaking of Locust Walk, check out this "Fall" nighttime video:

More Locust Walk shenanigans HERE!

New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......

For decades now, if you want to get any sort of attention on Penn's campus, you're going to do something whacky on Locust Walk.

As you've seen here on DT, I've covered all sorts of posts related to Locust Walk including  

• squawking parrots 
• enormous pillow fights 
• students remaining frozen for 5 minutes 
• warriors clashing fiddling

Now, I've got another video I've been holding onto which begs the question, "what the hell!?"  This videos is described as "Bleeding Wings: Performance with body extension in a public place".  It reminds me a bit of Kathy Change from my time at Penn.

The action starts at the 35 second mark. (and by "action", I mean "reaction" from everyone passing this woman)

Anyone have any more insight into what this was?



More of my "Delicious Leftover" posts HERE

New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......

Last week the Google Street View Bike was spotted  on Locust Walk  snapping pictures in front of the Button.

The cameras take shots and geo-tags the photos so users can get a street-level view of where they are on Google Maps.  The bikes were created so they could photograph smaller areas that the car can't access (like campus walkways).

No word yet on when these images will come to Google maps.

Thanks to Scott Spitzer (Penn Staff) for the photos! Check out all his work at http://www.scottspitzer.com.

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......

This video was taken on Locust Walk last Thursday...just before Fling '09 Weekend was to start.

And you just know some of the students you see here on Locust Walk have decided to blow off class to figure out new ways of smuggling certain libations into the Quad.  :)

More Spring Fling Videos here

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......

This is just too funny not to share!



Check out some of my other videos of more wackiness happening on Locust Walk

Join the new Dueling Tampons Facebook Fan page

New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!

Share

Tweet

Alumni Weekend May 13-16, 2011 Available hotels here

Graduation May 16, 2011 Available hotels here

Homecoming Nov. 5-6, 2011 Available hotels here

Read More......

Check out Gyro, a clever comedic short film from Kevin Conley (C'12) about a Penn student who wakes up one Saturday morning to search for his favorite food: gyros.   No matter when you graduated, one thing that rings true in this video is Kevin's humorous depiction of Locust Walk!  Watch the video above to see what I mean!

Per Kevin's description, this takes place in the 1920's commons on a Saturday! Apparently since I've graduated, dining halls are now open on Saturdays!. I would have loved that when I was at Penn! Instead the default for me was Houston Hall's Skolnik Bagels and My Favorite Muffin (I loved me the amaretto raspberry muffin!).

This whole quest for food reminds me of the film I did in 1996 about a man who stops at nothing for love ...and his favorite food. See what I mean by watching below.

More of my Now and Then Thursday posts here!

Watch other creative class project videos here!

Check out what else is happening on campus

Join the new Dueling Tampons Facebook Fan page

New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!

See which Penn undergrads and alumni are registered on DuelingTampons.com

Friend Me Up:

Facebook MySpace Friendster Twitter Digg

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......

I enjoyed this class project video that Raphael Langenscheidt (C'10) created which sums up the lifeblood of Penn: Locust Walk.

Per Raphael,

"The idea I had for my movie came to me when I was walking down Locust Walk on a busy day between classes. Whenever you try to get from one class to the next, it seems that Locust is bustling with people, and there is almost no space to walk. However, if you walk down Locust at a time where no class gets out, or on weekends even more so, there is almost nobody there. What I aim to do in my movie is to emphasize how in approximately 30 minutes, Locust walk changes from a beautiful, almost ancient walkway into a scene which is full of life, full of emotion and full of university life, and then back after everyone disappears into the buildings. I think this is a good project because everyone at Penn knows that it takes about 30 minutes for people to start coming out of classes until everyone is back in their classes, therefore we all know what this movie is portraying."

Enjoy!

Check out what else is happening on campus

More entertaining class project videos!

Join the new Dueling Tampons Facebook Fan page

New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!

See which Penn undergrads and alumni are registered on DuelingTampons.com

Friend Me Up:

Facebook MySpace Friendster Twitter Digg

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......

Back in September I reported (check out the videos) that there was a "flash mob" on Locust Walk which took the form of one huge Pillow fight.

Now news that there was another flash mob on Locust Walk yesterday of some of the freshmen class (C'12) freezing in place for 5 minutes!

Nothing like keeping the campus fresh! Love this!

Check out what else is happening on campus

Join the new Dueling Tampons Facebook Fan page

New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!

Friend Me Up:

Facebook MySpace Friendster Twitter Digg

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......

UPenn Phillies fans above Locust Walk
Originally uploaded by Aaron G Stock.

Love this!

Read More......

So I found out what the deal was with yesterday's random pillow fight on Locust Walk.

This makes me laugh actually.

The pillow fight was apparently a "flash mob", which is a large group of people joining together, doing a random activity for a short amount of time, and then leaving.

Per an anonymous source,

"I'm not sure who organized the pillowfight, and part of the point of flash mobs is that they're usually spread by word of mouth, and the organizers take little to no credit. Also, each flash mob differs, it's not necessarily the same people. The mob is just comprised of whoever heard about the event and was interested.

The idea for flash mobs stems from improv everywhere, an interactive improv group which would do things like send 50 shirtless men to shop at abercrombie. This one's [below] probably the most famous example. Improv everywhere had hundreds of people go to grand central, and at a specific time, everybody froze in place for five minutes [see video below for reference].

Check out more videos from yesterday's pillow fight below!

New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!

Check out what else is happening on campus

Friend Me Up:

Facebook MySpace Friendster Twitter Digg

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......

From squirrels, to fiddling, to jesters throwing balls, I thought I saw it all on Locust Walk...

Not sure if this is a new tradition, but there are students on Locust Walk having one really big Pillow fight..?

What's going on here? Anyone?

Past debauchery from Locust Walk here!

New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!

Friend Me Up:

Facebook MySpace Friendster Twitter Digg

Did you like this article? You can get the latest articles at DuelingTampons.com in your email inbox each afternoon by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More......