One of my favorite writers runs a column every once in a while that’s just some random thoughts thrown down on the page. Think of this like a buffet: you can start anywhere, and you don’t have to go all the way through.

Honestly, I’m kind of shocked at how much feedback the column I wrote on firearms has generated. I think there were something like four or five letters to the editor and even more messages to my e-mail account. I had no idea what I was stirring up. But I suppose if I had to be on the bad side of any group of people, I would prefer it’s the people I know for certain won’t be willing to pick up a gun. That would be ironic, don’t you think?

The almighty dollar is falling, and falling fast. The exchange rate for the Euro is so bad right now that everyone in Europe is coming over here to do their Christmas shopping. They may hate us, but they can spot a good deal. And this drop really shouldn’t come as a surprise or a mystery. Our backless currency is printed up like Monopoly money. If only there was some kind of standard…hmmm.

I’m all for cancer research, but this LiveStrong craze is out of control. It’s one thing if someone feels so strongly about cancer that they want to wear it proudly on their wrist, but it’s another thing altogether if it’s for fashion. Normally I wouldn’t care because the money is still going to a good cause, but because the demand is so high there’s a lot of counterfeits floating around. And you can bet the money off of those sales is never going anywhere near research.

You learn something new every day, and two weeks ago I learned that hookahs are considered drug paraphernalia on Loyola’s campus. This makes perfect sense to me because, while they are made for tobacco, they could also be used to smoke a substance called marijuana. College-aged kids should not be allowed that kind of temptation. But if University Police was really looking out for our best interests they wouldn’t stop there. Corn-cob pipes and rolling papers could also be used for illicit purposes. And this school even sells cough medicine on campus; think of what some student could do with a couple of bottles of that and some time to kill. And let’s not forget about the markers in the bookstore. But it takes baby steps, and we should be happy with the progress we’ve already made with the hookahs. So thank you University Police for protecting us from the scourge of the dope.

Speaking of personal responsibility, someone tell me where I can find the nearest Hardee’s. The fast food chain recently unveiled the Monster Thickburger. Weighing in at almost a pound, they top it off with three slices of cheese and four slices of bacon. How could you hate anything that’s been labeled “the fast-food equivalent of a snuff film” by

The Center for Science in the Public Interest? The Center further calls it “the height of corporate irresponsibility.”

At what point did people stop being responsible for themselves? Is the assumption that people can’t be trusted to design their own diets? As far as I’m concerned corporate irresponsibility has never sounded so tasty.

This is my last column for the semester and my last as a columnist for The Maroon. As much as I’m sure everyone would love to keep reading what I’m saying, it’s time for regime change.

But I sincerely hope that whoever takes over this esteemed post manages to make as many friends as I did. It’s been real, kids.