It seems that the Task Force on Exams (which has a pretty badass name, considering) as well as the Academic Senate came to the agreement that we all needed a bit more time to study before finals. As a result, the last day of instruction will take place on Dec. 4 rather than Dec. 9, giving a full week of study time before the first finals begin on Dec. 12.

Well, we guess it was the least they could do, after Birgeneau announced the libraries will no longer be open 24 hours during finals week.

Image Source: blockpartypress under Creative Commons
CHANGES TO FALL 2009 ACADEMIC CALENDAR [CALmessages] (requires Calnet login)
The Return of Dead Week [UCB Livejournal]

Oh, harsh realities of budget cuts! First you went for our classes, then our student fees and now, our time-honored final season all-night Anoncon … er, we mean study sessions.

You heard right, the UC Regents voted Chancellor Birgeneau announced last week at the UC Regents meeting to that the 24-hour study halls in university campus libraries during finals will end due to budget cuts. This in addition to the usual, cutting student jobs, GSIs and, now, instating furloughs for UC employees.

So, consider this your fair warning—so you can spend the next semester trying to scout out a suitable location for late night studying during the next set of finals. That is, assuming that your dorm, apartment or other residence location has already been deemed inappropriate for such pursuits.

Also, if you put off checking out books until 4 a.m. the day before that paper is due again … the Main Stacks can no longer save you. (Note: post edited for accuracy)

Image Source: Eddie Rosenbaum, Daily Cal
UC Regents vote on furloughs to close budget gap [Mercury News]

We also came up with a somewhat arbitrary–yet ever so apropos–overall rating scale. From worst to best: Steamed Milk, Weak Coffee, Single Shot, Double Shot or Triple Shot.

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We began our epic (and by “epic,” we mean “involving a lot of walking”) journey at Northside staple, Brewed Awakening, partially because we thought we’d work our way south and partially because it closed first–6 p.m. on Saturday nights. Boo on that. The atmosphere was conducive enough to studying–everyone in the place was doing it, and the prices were low at 95 cents for a drip coffee, but something was still missing …

April Isabel Angeles: It doesn’t look like they do food …
Evante Garza-Licudine: Those bitches. Give ‘em a zero.

It turned out that Brewed does do food, just not a lot of it. And not close to closing time. Fortunately, their cappuccino was described as “the friendliest cappuccino in town” by our guest caffeine connoisseur, though we’re still not sure what that means.

Price (Small cappuccino): $2
Overall Rating: Single shot.
Foam Factor: High. Heart!

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Before departing from Brewed Awakening, we briefly debated whether or not the coffee heart in our foam was intentional. And then we set off, over the river and through the woods of the twilit campus. To Yali’s Cafe, we were going. Unfortunately, our witty dialogue-punctuated capering was mostly in vain, because Yali’s was closed.

Price: Unknown!
Overall Rating: Empty cup. Empty non-compostable cup. Ugh.
Foam Factor: Un. Freaking. Known.

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Next up, the motley Clog crew traipsed over to the rather democratically-named People’s Coffee and Tea on Shattuck Ave. A wave of warmth met us as we entered the packed, but weirdly silent cafe, noting the, erm … eclectic decor along the way. We also noticed some rather quaint bookshelves filled with old-looking books that weren’t being taken advantage of, because literally (har) everyone in the joint was absorbed by their laptops. Except the Clog.

Jill Cowan: (Whispers.) I feel like I’m disturbing people by speaking.
Ruby Lee: (Peeking in at the back room’s mural.) I don’t think I’d want to sit in outer space.
EGL: Everyone looks the same. Very hip.

(After obtaining our cappuccino … )

RL: It’s, like, not real. It weighs nothing!
Rajesh Srinivasan: SO MUCH FOAM! (Sips.) Nice balance between foam and … I mean, it’s not too dry or too wet.*
RL: That’s so Goldilocks. (Sips.) The other one was more milky. This one’s stronger.
RS: Harder, better, faster …

After sighing a bit over the adorable individual teapots and noticing the “Long’s Drugs”-like snack selection and extensive menu that included omelettes, the Clog headed back out into the cold.

Price: $2.25
Overall Rating: Double Shot
Foam Factor: High. Wow.

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As we marched to campus hub, the Free Speech Movement Cafe (yeah, we went there), the Clog discussed the cafe’s often acronym-ized name.

RS: Whenever I think of ‘FSM,’ I think of ‘S and M.’
EGL: Really? I think of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

We arrived and ordered our beverage. The cafe was almost empty, but the Clog knew the truth–during the day, the place is always packed. We, then, decided to focus our attention on the tiny cappuccino.

AIA: The foam is less airy. The espresso part is thicker than all the other ones. Also, the newspapers are distracting.
RS: It’s kinda mucus-y.
JC: I kinda like it. I’m kinda into that.
RS: Jill Cowan is into mucus-y foam.

Price: $2.10, but tiny!
Overall Rating: Weak coffee (But plus brownie points for awesome food.)
Foam Factor: Low-ish, and mucus-y.

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Cafe Milano was next on our hit list. Despite its proximity to campus, more than one Clogger told tales of its uncanny similarities to Platform Nine and 3/4.

AIA: It’s, like, Harry Potter status.
RL: One time, I was going to office hours there, and I passed right by it.

Once seated in the cafe, we assessed the atmosphere only to find that electrical outlets were few and far between, and Wi-fi was NOT FREE. Despite this nasty little realization, we decided we should be sporting and stay, if only because the sandwiches were reportedly “epic,” and it was a nice, open space. When our cappuccino arrived, it was lukewarm, as was the Clog’s general response.

RS: It’s not as light as Brewed but still pretty light.
RL: It’s heavier than People’s.
AIA: It’s kind of milky-tasting.

Price: $2.25
Overall Rating: Weak coffee
Foam Factor: Off the chart.

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By this point in our journey, the Clog was getting mildly exhausted (despite being totally hopped up on espresso) and a little hungry. So we took a quick detour to Blondie’s and then made our way down Telegraph Ave. to our final destination–veritable Berkeley institution, Caffe Mediterraneum, where the people are characters and the foam is always a work of art. Also, it is the self-proclaimed birthplace of the latte. (Take that, Italy!) Also, Dustin Hoffman was there. Anyway, we digress.

We ordered our cappuccino and headed upstairs, where spotlessness and transparency were apparently not the top priorities.

AIA: It smells funny up here. Hey, there’s a secret door! (Points as someone emerges from a shelf.) I feel like Alice in Wonderland.
EGL: There are always hobos outside.
RL: I always hone in on the interesting conversations.

The drink itself was well worth the longer wait. It was served in a ceramic cup, and had a foam heart that was undeniably intentional. We also observed that just one person was using a laptop. So much for studying.

RL: I feel like I’m in a real cafe.

Price: $2.50 with two shots of espresso.
Overall Rating: Triple shot (for not studying.)
Foam Factor: Low, but tasty and pretty.

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Thus, a simultaneously wired and tired Clog staff (plus an Arts person) concluded a six-cafe crawl, knowing exactly where we’ll be dragging our computers when we need to buckle down (People’s) and where we’ll go to relax and enjoy the (slightly smelly) view–Caffe Mediterraneum. Bon appetite! Er … Ciao?

We know you don’t want to think about it yet, but after Thanksgiving, we’re all going to hell in a handbasket. Just a week and smidge and then finals come to attack our sanity and happiness.

First, don’t panic–we’ve got you covered. Here’s a compacted version of some professor-approved tips.

* Go to all of your remaining classes.
* Do the important reading–don’t try to play catch-up on texts the professor never talked about much anyway.
* Focus on the big goals: your final exams or your papers.
* Hello, GSI whatsyername!
* Be healthy: sleep, don’t drink too much, try not to develop too much of a caffeine habit (too late).

The main thing is, though, do what you know will work best for you. Some may advise to keep away from busy work (like copying class notes or replaying podcasts) but if that’s what will get the material in your head, do it.

Oh, and have a happy Thanksgiving break. Ha!

Image Source: massdistraction under Creative Commons
How to Ace the Last Month of the Semester [Professors' Guide]
Earlier: Avoid Douchy Bars in the City

For the duration of finals week, every dorm-dweller’s favorite late-night hangout, Crossroads, will be open from 10 p.m. until–ohmigawd–6 in the a.m. and will be serving free yum-yums the whole time! Yes, this means free life-blood (sometimes referred to as coffee), free soda, and free muffin tops. (OK, obviously we mean the baked item, not the wardrobe malfunction here.)

There’s only one possible minor little drawback to this veritable concentration camp (too much?)–tons of other people. You’re kind of bound to run into someone you know, sit down next to them to avoid being thought anti-social, start commiserating about how much finals suck and not get any work done. Game over, dude.

Finals Hours [Cal Dining]