Michael Mouton, Music Columnist: mrm1567@louisiana.edu
Last update: 2007-08-15
Thomas Hooks, Movie Columnist: thomashooks@louisiana.edu
Last update: 2007-08-15
Health: Shield yourself from the sun
Erin Graugnard, Health Columnist: erin@louisiana.edu
Last update: 2007-08-15
Game: Summer fun without the sun
Robert Gatte, Game Columnist: rfg920@louisiana.edu
Last update: 2007-08-15
Ive recently discovered a trait common amongst many of my favorite movies, the quarter-life crisis. This crisis is said to occur soon after an individual leaves adolescence and enters the real world (not to be confused with the Real World, an MTV reality series that only reinforces my belief that houses without televisions make for very unhappy homes).
Last update: 2007-05-09
As summer approaches, many college students are planning a two-month-long party. That sounds like a great idea, but of course many of us will drink way more than we should. Its all just fun and games, right?
Last update: 2007-05-09
Game: You got a column! Press + to equip it.
Thanks to the end of semester rush combined with wanting to go to Festival, I haven’t quite gotten through the end of the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. However, I’ve still played through what I’d estimate is about 80 percent of it, and I can tell you: It’s awesome.
Last update: 2007-05-09
The end of the spring semester is always the worst time to make new friends, because chances are you will lose touch with them over the summer. Everyone is studying, writing papers, preparing final projects or even getting ready to graduate—no one has time to keep in touch (myself included). I find the last day of classes is a little depressing because I know I won’t remember a lot of people I met this semester, not to mention the friends who are graduating, moving away or transferring to another college.
Last update: 2007-05-09
I hate finals, don’t you? We all want to destroy the homework and research papers that make life difficult on everyone. I blame procrastination—the killer of projects. Little sisters, the Nintendo Wii, dogs or sharks can destroy projects, too. We realize how much work we have to do, but don’t do anything to reduce the work—namely, finishing it. Monday, I conversed with my friend about how much homework and how many projects I have due. The following Wednesday, we discussed the same thing and noticed that we still haven’t done anything since Monday.
Last update: 2007-05-04
With the end of the semester looming over us, many of us have some unfinished business to attend to. Final projects, term papers and exams are on many students to-do lists. Stress is bound to ensue, so what can you do?
Last update: 2007-05-04
This week, I made my way to the movie theater and saw Disturbia, a teen-oriented thriller featuring none other than the star of Even Stevens, Shia LaBeouf. In the first five minutes, LaBeoufs character, Kale, engages in an activity which, when concluded, looks as though it provides him with an immense sense of relief and alleviates any stress and frustration he had been feeling prior to the event. What is this wondrous deed in which he participates? Well, as Kale encounters an individual who perturbs him, he simply punches him in the face.
Last update: 2007-05-04
I don’t understand why terrorists are attempting to take Las Vegas in “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas,” Ubisoft’s franchise redesign with a long name. In it, you play as Generic Military Dude Logan, and, with your teammates Generic Asian Dude and Generic Black Dude, you fight terrorists throughout the streets and casinos of near-future Las Vegas.
Last update: 2007-05-04
Not five minutes ago, an individual (to remain nameless) told me that I should write more movie columns reviewing chick flicks. I absolutely agree with her.
Last update: 2007-04-19
Music: Sound of Silver talks to me
I am sure that you all agree with me when I say, “I really want this semester to be over with,” or “Why did spring break have to end?” or even fewer of you, “I wonder how long I can hop around on one foot.” For most of us, this spring break was filled with high-flying adventure, low-flying cleaning your apartment, drinking like a madman, going to a local shooting range and reminiscing about love lost or, the most popular activity—taxes!
Last update: 2007-04-19
One DS game I’ve been kicking around for a while, in one form or another, is Elite Beat Agents, an Americanized sequel to Japanese developer iNiS’s (Guitaroo Man) rhythm game hit, Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. I had actually originally played an imported copy of the original game, but I wasn’t going to review an obscure Japanese title and say “Hey guys this is awesome too bad it’d be really expensive to buy it and also you can’t really understand it.” Because I had played the Japanese game, I took my time getting around to playing the American version, released last fall, and, well, it’s still really awesome.
Last update: 2007-04-19
The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and the pollen is flying. Yep, its that time of year again: Allergy season.
Last update: 2007-04-19
Feb. 19 has always been a date that I hold near and dear to my heart. I tend to remember one particular instance of this date much more vividly than any other. It began as any other day would, with a hearty helping of Rice Krispies and a two-hour morning cartoon binge. As the clock struck 1, people began arriving at my house, bearing many boxes and bags of varying sizes and designs.
Last update: 2007-04-06
Now that the weather is warmer and people are beginning to partake in outdoor activities again, we all should be aware of the threat of West Nile virus. West Nile virus is spread to humans via mosquitoes. It can have devastating effects because it can lead to meningitis or encephalitis.
Last update: 2007-04-06
Music: Get down with motown sound
So this Sunday, after I finished wrestling a bear and hanging out with Godzilla (I like to call him Zahn, or his more popular name, Zahnzilla), I decided that I needed new music to inspire my reggae band. If you heard us play, your head would explode because of the sound waves overloading your ears with awesome. We hail from the country Awesometania, where the national colors are silver and invisible and the national bird is Batman. That is only a small taste how awesome our country is. Enough about my band. This weekend I heard this band, Uro Fashion, while Myspace surfing. They will probably sell a bazillion copies of their songs by tomorrow; they are that good. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/urofashion. The song “Titled” is God’s gift to music.
Last update: 2007-04-06
Game: How not to do Wii controls
Here are two Wii games, both by Activision, who get Wii controls perfectly right and perfectly wrong. This can even occur in the same game. It’s fascinating to look at this in what is the Wii’s formative period, as developers that are not Nintendo, and even Nintendo itself, figure out how to wring the best performance out of the little console’s scary new controls. (The same thing happened with the DS.)
Last update: 2007-04-06
Movie: I think I think this movie is okay
Have you ever been the only person inside a movie theater? At 5:15 on a Thursday afternoon, I had such an opportunity and I do have to say, it is quite a liberating experience. Feel free to use your cell phone at any moment. Begin an epic text war. Fold the arms of the seats up and lay out. All I needed was a pause button and an infinite supply of corndogs and my movie experience could not have been any better. Well, perhaps I could have seen a better movie, but it was still rather enjoyable.
Last update: 2007-03-28
Health: Give the pox vaccine a shot
Everyone has heard of chicken pox, but not everyone has had chicken pox. If you have not gotten chicken pox, have you been vaccinated?
A vaccine for chicken pox, Varivax, was approved in 1995 by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. The vaccine is usually given to children within the first year of life as part of the regular immunization series. However, all of us were most likely born after 1995, so have you gotten the vaccine? Thanks to my brother being born in 1995, I was made aware of and have received the vaccination. Maybe you should, too.
Last update: 2007-03-28
Every once and a while, when life gets extremely stressful and difficult, we need to just sit back, relax and listen to some good soul music. It may be hard to destress, because the last day to drop classes is this Friday, but maybe during the weekend you can relax to some neo-soul and contemporary R&B. This week while I was looking for soulful music, I saw some up-and-coming R&B artists and noticed a few older releases like Anthony Hamilton and John Legend. I highly recommend any of John’s albums. His music is very fresh and filled with talent. I also came across some new music by Amy Winehouse, suggested by Thomas ‘The Column to My Right’ Hooks. I have heard nothing but good things about her albums and the few songs I have sampled I enjoy throughly, but I was poor and could only purchase one CD. When I get more money, though, Amy is next on my “music I can’t function without” list.
Last update: 2007-03-28
Game: Wii will play, but not for very long
Wii Sports was, at least for me, unexpectedly great. I was expecting a cool tech demo, and that’s what some of it was (boxing), but tennis and bowling are really great, and golf is good, but just needed more holes.
Last update: 2007-03-28
Music Column: Bring your bible
This week Joss Stone released a new album called “Introducing Joss Stone,” Modest Mouse has released its highly anticipated “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank” and LCD Soundsystem is releasing a new album called “Sound of Silver.”
Last update: 2007-03-21
After recently viewing 300, only one thought has continually been running through my mind. I want a sword. It doesnt have to be a particularly fancy sword. I just want one that is rather large and intimidating with a nice, sharp edge. If, by any chance, the pelt of a large animal, say a lion or a bear, could be obtained as well, I would appreciate it. I just want to walk around campus and have people say, Wow, hes rugged and fearsome, yet sophisticated. Its the little things in life that get me through my day.
Last update: 2007-03-21
Game Column: It's not really blurry
This game EA’s SSX Blur confounds me. It’s not just the controls. I’ll freely admit right now that I don’t feel like I’ve mastered the controls. I’ve almost completed every event on the first section of the game, but I continue to improve in my handling of them. They are really complicated, but, for the most part, feel more and more natural the more you use them. However, I just feel like I personally suck at them.
Last update: 2007-03-21
In this weeks movie column, were going to take a little stroll down memory lane. Next week, you can read about 300 and how absolutely amazing it is (hopefully), but today were going old school.
A few months back, while walking down the hall of Moody Annex, a friend approached me with a movie recommendation.
The Wizard, he told me. A puzzled look slowly crept across my face. Its from the 80s. Fred Savage was in it.
Last update: 2007-03-17
When I began the research for this column, I set out to find ways to be healthier overall, mostly via exercise. What I found was that in nearly all sources regarding exercise, diet was mentioned as being just as important in maintaining overall health. Since I know a little more about diet, I decided to address it this week. I will address working exercise into our busy schedules next week.
Last update: 2007-03-17
Apparently March 6 was a huge day for new releases covering an array of music genres. For the indie rockers, there was Arcade Fire’s “Neon Bible.” Fans of electronica can listen to “Pocket Symphony” from Air. The easy listening and jazz types can rejoice in “Avant Gershwin” by Patti Austin and “From the Plantation to the Penitentiary” by Winston Marsalis. People who appreciate good country music can listen to the new Johnny Cash collection, “Cash: Ultimate Gospel Collection” and for the Christian rock fans, Reliant K has released a new album, “Five Score and Seven Years Ago.” Heavy metal listeners can head bang (maybe not so much for this album) to KoRn’s “MTV Unplugged.” Even though it is acoustic, it will rock your socks.
Last update: 2007-03-17
Crackdown is a game that screams with potential. Its content seems somehow unfinished. It is also sometimes quite buggy. It is obviously setting up for a sequel. It is a game that draws attention away from its obvious deficiencies through the sheer coolness of the idea behind it. Despite all this, it is extraordinarily fun to play.
Last update: 2007-03-09
Health Column: Color Your World
Colors are taken for granted, however they may influence your life in more ways than you realize. Have you ever heard of chromotherapy? Chromotherapy is also known as color therapy and is based on the idea that colors affect your mood, health and way of thinking.
To give a simplified explanation: Color is presented to our body as energy. Special parts of cells in our eyes called photoreceptors convert energy into a signal that can be transmitted to the brain. The brain processes this signal and interprets this energy as color. There are three kinds of photoreceptors: One type for blue, one type for green and one type for red. All of the colors we see are a combination of the use of these three types of photoreceptors.
Last update: 2007-03-09
What is the difference between passion and obsession? Passion is defined as any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. Obsession is the domination of ones thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc. At what point does a mere interest develop in a life-consuming addiction? What causes this transformation? This weeks movies deal with the effects of the human minds ability to make a rational man behave in the most irrational of ways.
According to wikipedia.org, the 23 Enigma refers to the belief that all incidents and events are directly connected to the number 23, some permutation of the number 23, or a number related to the number 23, given enough ingenuity on the part of the interpreter. The Number 23, a film written by Fernley Phillips, deals with this exact phenomenon.
Last update: 2007-03-09
Music Column: Not Your Standard Deviation
In today’s music world, I find there are new and strange genres and sub-genres of music appearing in pop culture references. For instance, while walking through the music section of a store in Lafayette recently, I spotted a girl wearing thick black eyeliner, stockings on her arms, a bike chain choker, and Baby Phat designer jeans asking a sales associate about a certain sub-genre she wanted to check out. Naturally, the clerk laughed and said they didn’t have any specific space for what she was looking for. Yep, the woman was looking for “Emo Hardcore Goth Rap.”
Whether this girl was seriously looking for this genre, or she was put up to it as a prank i can’t say; I wouldn’t be surprised either way. This made me think about whether or not such a genre actually existed and just how far bands today are willing to go in order to push traditional music just for originality’s sake.
Last update: 2007-03-09
Game Column: Let's talk about pińatas!
Unlike most games on the Xbox 360, this one is not one that 14-year-olds might consider “mature.” In fact, they would probably call it “gay.” But that doesn’t matter, because Viva Pińata is, in fact, totally awesome.
Last update: 2007-03-09
Before you consider watching either of the movies I am about to review, I want you to take a moment to clear your mind. Ignore any marketing you have been exposed to regarding these films and definitely dont let yourself be drawn into the movie simply because you have an affinity for the main character. I want you to suppress any high expectations you may have attached to these films. In fact, lower them. Lower your expectations as if you were about to go on a blind date with that goldfish trainer that your Great-Aunt Myrtle thought would just be perfect for you. (Im not bitter, I swear). These arent bad movies; its just that they will more be appreciated if you begin viewing them with a very open mind.
Last update: 2007-03-09
Music Column: Jaryd Lane's "Riding for the Brand"
Now that we are all fully recovered from the madness that is Mardi Gras, it’s about time to get ready for the stress of homework and exams. I didn’t notice much new music over the break. I may of missed something, but what can I say, I took a break for Mardi Gras too.
Last update: 2007-03-09
Did your mother ever tell you to drink a glass of orange juice when you had a cold? Im sure you know the reasoning is that vitamin C will help combat your cold. But what else does vitamin C do for you?
Last update: 2007-03-09
When I say Gardasil, what do you think of? A girl singing I want to be one less, one less pops into my mind. Im sure youve seen the Gardasil commercials, or heard about it in the news, but whats all the fuss about? Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer, thats what. Will this vaccine become mandatory? It is likely, and with good reason.
Last update: 2007-02-14
I should start this by saying I haven’t really played this game to a point where I would feel comfortable reviewing it properly, so consider these opening impressions. However, as all I have been playing lately is endless games of Lumines Live!, and Gears of War co-op on insane, this is what I have for you.
Saints Row has the luxury of being the first Grand Theft Auto knockoff out on the next generation. The game places your create-a-character in a generic-ish American city called Stilwater and charges your multiracial gang with the task of subverting various other gangs that are made of various ethnic stereotypes.
Last update: 2007-02-14
System launches are often plagued with pretty good but not great titles. The Nintendo Wii was no exception. Here are two of them.
Last update: 2007-02-09
With the release of the film Smokin Aces, I found myself once again in the gravitational pull of The Grand Theatre. Late as usual, I expected to have missed the first five minutes of the movie, thus sending me into a downward spiral from which I would never recover. Luckily for me, it appears as though someone must have called ahead to let them know I was going to be tardy, and the movie began twenty minutes later than the time listed. Bless them, because without seeing the first 10 minutes of this movie, youre going to have the worst hangover of your life when its all over.
Last update: 2007-02-09
Mononucleosis. Mono. The kissing disease. Weve all heard of it and most of us have had it, have been exposed to it or will be exposed to it, whether we know it or not. So what should you know about mono?
Last update: 2007-02-09
As a music seller, I get to see what is slowly becoming popular in different genres and I am very disappointed by some of the new emo bands we have today. For those of you who donât know about the genre âemo,â it can be described as music filled with long complicated guitar riffs and screaming males that sound prepubescent. It creates a sound like that of cat yelping after its tail has been stepped on.
Last update: 2007-02-01
The past couple of albums I have reviewed, as well as this one, were released in November of 2006. December and January are not big months for new music. I think it is because of the Christmas holidays and the aftermath. The music played in December is usually Christmas music; real music gets set aside for commercialism, so all the good stuff isnât released until late January.
Last update: 2007-02-01
I want the world to know that the fabrication of this first sentence took thirty-one minutes of intense concentration. Iâm in a slump and Iâm fighting to get out of it. The problem is that Hollywood also appears to be in a bit of a slump. I decided to give the theatres a break this weekend after previewing the four or five possible candidates for this column. Although I searched and searched, I failed to find within myself even an ounce of longing to see these movies.
Last update: 2007-02-01
Not so smooth in social situations
The Wiiâs next big game has arrived, in the form of âWario Ware: Smooth Moves,â a new entry in the recently born but prolific series marked by players completing a series of minigames afflicted with attention deficit disorder – theyâre usually about three seconds long.
Last update: 2007-02-01
With water being the most-consumed beverage in the world, whatÃs all this buzz about free radicals, antioxidants and green tea? Well, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world and it seems to be beneficial to your health.
Last update: 2007-02-02
âAs the sounds of playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Itâs very odd, what happens in a world without childrenâs voices.â
Last update: 2007-02-01
Microsoftâs Xbox Live Arcade download service has been one of my favorite things about the Xbox 360 thus far. For between $5 and $15, you can download any number of classic arcade titles or even newly developed games created specifically for Xbox Live Arcade. Most of the games fall for $5 or $10, and you can demo any of them before buying. Despite this, Iâm still going to review all the ones Iâve bought so far.
Last update: 2007-02-01
This article isnât so much about your health here, but about what you can do to improve the health of others before or after youâre gone.Organ donation can be a wonderful experience, and it does save lives.This is the best option we have now for advanced heart, liver, kidney and lung diseases. Iâm sure many of us know someone who has experienced many more years because of the charity of another through organ donation.
Last update: 2007-02-01
(Un)Appreciation Station: All you need is "Love"
I know what you’re thinking; how can the Beatles have a new album that isn’t a greatest hits or tribute album? The answer: It’s remastered, remixed and re-edited. In the past, there have been tributes and remixes of the Beatles such as “BeatleJazz,”; which received mixed reviews. Atrocities like the heavy metal tribute to the Beatles called “Butchering the Beatles,”; have also occurred. The term “butchering”; was very fitting for that particular album.
Last update: 2007-01-31
Hooks' Flicks: Let's clean the slate
Can you feel it in the air, people? Itâs a new semester, a fresh start. Itâs a time to buy those brand new (previously owned) textbooks, unwrap that pack of your favorite ink pens (which you will no doubt lend and lose within two weeks) and take control of your life with only the aid of your handy and ever dandy daily planner (you will, I repeat, will abandon this planner faster than the Tony Romo Fan Club).
Last update: 2007-01-17
Bloody fantastic: Bloody fantastic
Epic Gamesâ âGears of Warâ finally, truly validates the existence of the Xbox 360. The insane amount of detail the system allows the game to put on screen underscores and enchances the atmosphere of desperation the game seeks to build, which is enhanced by the gameplay style it utilizes.
Last update: 2007-01-17
I hope everyone had a great holiday break. I know many of us, myself included, had a little too much to eat this holiday season. OK, maybe a lot too much, and now these extra pounds need to go. Also, I need to resume my somewhat healthy eating habits and even improve them for 2007, and Iâm almost positive Iâm not alone on this one.
Last update: 2007-01-17
(Un)Appreciation Station: Tenaciously disappointing
Itâs finally here: the Tenacious D movie, âThe Pick of Destiny,â along with a soundtrack for me to review, but unfortunately, the best bits on the album are recycled from their earlier work, and the album as a whole just isnât very funny.
Last update: 2006-11-29
Hooks' Flicks: Shaken, not stirred
As I begin to write this column, I canât help but think that many of you wonât have the time to glance at it. Itâs that time of the semester that we all have learned to hate. Itâs the one week worse than finals; the week before finals. Students across campus fight furiously to reach project and essay deadlines while trying to maintain some semblance of a sleep pattern.
Last update: 2006-11-29
I know, I was supposed to review âThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princessâ this week. I will say only this: It is fantastic. I canât give a full review due to circumstances beyond my control, so hereâs a rerun from the summer when no one was here. Plus, maybe you can actually find a copy of the game now.
Last update: 2006-11-29
The Health Corner with Erin: Extra boost at extra cost
Ritalinâs popularity seems to peek during finals week and not just among those students with prescriptions. Many college students use Ritalin to help them study for their exams, but this is not without consequence.
Last update: 2006-11-29
(Un)Appreciation Station: Soundtrack roundup
The right soundtrack can turn a good movie into a masterpiece; from mainstream songs that put you in the right mood for the time period, like in âDazed and Confused,â to a quirky mix of original songs and rarely listened to gems like on âRushmore,â the soundtrack is generally the most impacting part of any memorable scene.
Last update: 2006-11-22
Do you hear voices as you proceed with your everyday tasks? If so, are they simply conversations you have with yourself, or are they alternate personalities telling you what to do? (If itâs the latter, putting down the newspaper and seeking someone with a degree in medicine wouldnât be a terrible course of action.) What if the voice was that of a narrator, a person describing your every move and thought, revealing things to you that no one else could possible know? Does that sound familiar? (It shouldnât. Really, see the above-mentioned recommended course of action.) This weekâs movie, âStranger Than Fictionâ deals with the influences a mere voice can have on a life.
Last update: 2006-11-22
I triumphantly returned home from Gamestop Sunday morning, carrying my wonderful new Nintendo Wii. Yes, after waiting in line for 10 minutes and hearing the giant dork in front of me fail miserably at making small talk with the people in front of him, the Gamestop girl, and just about everyone there, I received my system, âWii Sports,â and âThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.â The latter will have to wait, however, as I havenât had nearly enough time to get into that. âWii Sportsâ and the system, however, are fair game.
Last update: 2006-11-22
The Health Corner with Erin: Misdiagnosed migranes?
A fellow student and I were talking and somehow we got on the subject of migraines. I believe the self-diagnosis of migraines is misused frequently, and he and many others agree. Most people get headaches, but the majority donât suffer from migraines. Yet you will commonly hear people refer to a painful headache as a migraine, but do they really have a migraine?
Last update: 2006-11-22
(Un)Appreciation Station: Well worth the wait
The last time Eric Clapton worked with JJ Cale was in 1976, when Clapton recorded a cover of Caleâs song, âCocaine,â for Claptonâs â77 release, âSlowhand,â but their latest collaboration, âRoad to Escondido,â composed primarily of Cale songs, was well worth the 30-year wait.
Last update: 2006-11-15
Hooks' Flicks: Tasteless genius
Sacha Baron Cohen must have some of the largest kahunas in Hollywood. Many of you may not recognize the name, but thatâs because heâs also somewhat of a social kook. Rarely does he perform an interview under his own name, but often as one of his few popular characters. Heâs best known for his role as Ali G and the television show so aptly named, âDa Ali G Showâ. With the release of âBorat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,â Ali G may be playing second fiddle to a socially inept, anti-semitic foreign reporter.
Last update: 2006-11-15
Game Theory: Psychobilly freakout!
Longtime readers, assuming I have any, will remember me hurling excessive praise at the original âGuitar Heroâ late last year. I stand by it, it really is that good. Iâve played it on and off constantly since the gameâs release, and firing it up and rocking out to some Boston has not gotten any worse over time. I was nearly reduced to a quivering mass of bulbous goo in waiting for the sequel, but itâs finally here, and it rocks.
Last update: 2006-11-15
The Health Corner with Erin: Flu is for the birds
I always thought the flu vaccine was for old people. Why should I take the flu vaccine? Iâve never even gotten the flu!
Last update: 2006-11-15
(Un)Appreciation Station: The Depresstones
Remember back in early 2000, prior to the release of their third album, âWhite Pony,â when there were rumors that the Deftones were going to split? Along with their self-titled fourth album, these two albums showed real promise and growth in the bandâs sound, but after hearing their latest release, âSaturday Night Wrist,â Iâm wondering if it would have been better for everyone if they had gone out with the â90s.
Last update: 2006-11-08
There are very few movies that I refuse to see twice. After watching âSaw IIIâ and âNacho Libreâ, I can safely add two more to this very short list.
Last update: 2006-11-08
Game Theory: Starting with a whimper
This weekend, I began playing a game I had heard about from many enthusiasts as one of the many forgotten gems of the bargain bin: EAâs âFreedom Fighters.â Unfortunately, this game is nothing special. It is a fantastic concept held back by an incompetent execution.
Last update: 2006-11-08
The Health Corner with Erin: Calcium is key
About two years ago my boyfriendâs mom told me they were doing free bone density tests at Wal-Mart. Big deal, right? She somehow managed to drag me along and convince me to be tested. I was at medium risk of having low bone density at the age of 20!
Last update: 2006-11-08
(Un)Appreciation Station: Groovinâ with the games
Perhaps one of the most important, and most overlooked, aspect of any video game is the music; much like a movie, it has to set the mood, but it canât be too repetitive, a challenge when it will most likely be played on loop, over and over again, until the sweet release comes in the form of âgame overâ music.
Last update: 2006-11-01
Excuse me ladies and gentlemen while I completely geek out on you in this week. With the release of âX-Men: The Last Standâ on DVD and the recent premiere of NBCâs new series, âHeroes,â Iâve decided to dedicate this column to those fictional men and women who go beyond their nine-to-fives in an effort to make the world a better place for comic book fans everywhere.
Last update: 2006-11-01
Game Theory: Deliciously innocent
Outside of North America, âBully,â Rockstarâs latest free-roaming opus, is instead known as âCanis Canem Edit,â or âdog eat dog.â This is a far more appropriate title than the North American one, which was embroiled in controversy from the moment of its announcement almost two years ago.
Last update: 2006-11-01
The Health Corner with Erin: No shoes, no sense
Two weeks ago, Lafayette had more than two inches of rain and last week the rain continued. Thatâs a lot for a campus that floods like the ours! I see the craziest things when it rains, like people walking around campus holding their shoes in their hands while trudging through the puddles. Wait a minute; I thought the whole point of a shoe was to protect the foot from harm. Presented here are a few reasons why taking off your shoes when it is raining on campus doesnât make sense.
Last update: 2006-11-01
(Un)Appreciation Station: âColorblindâ has 20/20 vision
Take some heavy influence from a â70s funk band like Sly & the Family Stone, a close friendship with Eric Clapton and Dave Matthews and a penchant for some classic rocking from Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and cram it into the soul of a jam band known for live shows with no set list that ends when the audience stops having fun, and you end up with Robert Randolph & the Family Band and their second studio release, âColorblind.â
Last update: 2006-10-25
Hooks' Flicks: âDepartedâ far from dead
What you are about to read will be considered by some as the most blasphemous statement in all of movie history. The fact that I write this will almost definitely ensure that I will be âswimming with the fishesâ sometime in the near future. As far as criminal drama movies go, I consider Martin Scorceseâs âThe Departedâ to be the best of the genre, even surpassing what some consider the be all and end all of movies, âThe Godfather.â
Last update: 2006-10-25
Game Theory: Episodically yours,
The classic adventure game âSam and Max: Hit the Roadâ is one of my favorite examples of stellar writing, art direction and general quality of presentation in game, ever. The classic Lucasarts point and click adventure game stars a dog with a dry sense of humor and a âhyperkinetic rabbity thingâ with a taste for wanton destruction as private detectives, and frames them in a sick, twisted satire of the U.S. filtered through a cartoon detective movie. It is one of the few successfully funny games.
Last update: 2006-10-25
The Health Column with Erin: To Sit or Not to Sit?
Ever use those sanitary seat covers in a public rest room? Ever make one yourself out of strips of toilet paper? Are you really protecting yourself from the evils of the toilet seat? Is there anything there that you need protecting from in the first place?
Last update: 2006-10-25
The Ins and Outs of Sex: On the lighter side
We live in a crazy world. Actually, that is quite an understatement. I was browsing the Internet and I came up with some weird and strange sex laws from around the country. I thought I would spend this column educating you on the funny and fascinating world in which we live.
Last update: 2006-10-18
(Un)Appreciation Station: Mayer for the fortysomethings
There comes a time as a music reviewer when reporting an honest assessment of an album conflicts with personal feelings and respect for an artistâs previous work and things get hard, but, unfortunately for Lindsey Buckingham and his new album, âUnder the Skin,â I donât find it much of a problem.
Last update: 2006-10-18
Hooks' Flicks: Reminiscent rambling
Do you remember Saturday morning cartoons?
Last update: 2006-10-18
Game Theory: A guide to the next generation
Being that I havenât had the time to play any kind of new game lately, I have decided to make this column a guide to the two console launches coming up this fall: the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PlayStation 3.
Last update: 2006-10-18
The Health Corner with Erin: Bottled or tap?
When you head off to the gym or class, is a bottle of water stuffed into your bag? Will you buy one shortly after getting there? You probably answered âyesâ to one of these questions. Bottled water has become more and more popular in the past few years, but is this just a fad, or is bottled water really better than tap water? Is one more safe than the other?
Last update: 2006-10-18
The Ins and Outs of Sex: Afflicted by sex addiction?
Thanks to all of my readers who have written in with questions and topic ideas. I am going to try my best to research and educate the public on every request that I receive. Please be patient with me and enjoy the columns!
Last update: 2006-10-11
(Un)Appreciation Station: MuteMath rocks mediocrity
MuteMath, a band with a home base in New Orleans, released their first full-length album on Sept. 26, a self-titled mix of rock, new wave, jazz and a sprinkling of pop, that is so close to being good itâs annoying, but might be worth a listen through anyway.
Last update: 2006-10-11
Let us hold hands and rejoice. âThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Driftâ has been released on DVD. Finally, the long awaited third installment of this fine franchise is in my hands and may I say, itâs possibly one of the finest films Iâve ever seen.
Last update: 2006-10-11
Game Theory: âKenny, use Trueshot Aura.â
This week on âSouth Park,â the boys are addicted to âWorld of Warcraft.â The episode, animated in the gameâs gorgeous engine and artwork, also quantifies the gameâs problems, particularly at the endgame. I can only assume that Matt Stone and Trey Parker played the game over the summer.
Last update: 2006-10-11
The Health Corner with Erin: Is plasma donation safe?
Maybe you have donated plasma for money; I know it can be very tempting. Or maybe you have waited in line and filled out papers only to be scared away by the whole process or to find that you cannot donate. Maybe you have friends that you think are crazy for donating their plasma, or maybe you havenât even heard of plasma donation.
Last update: 2006-10-11
The Ins and Outs of Sex: A celebration of non-penetration
Not all students on campus are single. Iâm not preaching pre-martial sex. There are many married students on this campus, too. The purpose of this column is to educate and entertain. Not every topic is going to interest everyone, every time.
Last update: 2006-10-04
(Un)Appreciation Station: Slayer...doesnât
And on this day the drought is over, a package fresh from Warner Bros. Records, the company that so politely provides albums for me to make fun of, brought with it an end to the five-week void that was my mail cubby, but in a way slightly more satanic than usual.
Last update: 2006-10-04
Hook's Flicks: Thank you, Mr. Sagat
Bob Sagat was a comedic innovator. You know him. He played Danny Tanner on âFull House.â The man made genitalia injuries a much anticipated weekly event for families around the country. Better yet, he awarded them monetarily for sending in videos of themselves suffering these injuries. Sure, there were cute babies and animals in the mix, but letâs face it, all you were interested in was watching grown men fold in two like a stack of cinder blocks succumbing to the blow or Mr. Miyagiâs lethal fists (see âKarate Kidâ).
Last update: 2006-10-04
Game Theory: Ingredients: One stylus
First things first: if you are a subscriber to the Official PlayStation Magazine and have the latest demo disc, the one with âGuitar Hero IIâ on it, e-mail me at cbirdsong@gmail.com and I will pay you money for it. Now, on to the column.
Last update: 2006-10-04
The Health Corner with Erin: Remember not to forget
Do you have a parent, grandparent, or other relative who has been diagnosed with Alzheimerâs disease? Do you know someone else who has been diagnosed with Alzheimerâs?
Last update: 2006-10-04
The Ins and Outs of Sex: A consumer guide to condoms
I would like to start this column by thanking all of my readers who have written in with comments and suggestions. One big suggestion that I got was to have more facts behind my column. Here are some facts that I learned while browsing the Internet. I am going to educate you on condoms and other forms of contraceptives.
Last update: 2006-09-27
(Un)Appreciation Station: âAmputechtureâ unleashed
When The Mars Volta dropped their second album, âFrance the Mute,â in 2005, many fans, myself included, were both surprised and impressed with the musical leaps of sound and style compared to 2003âs âDe-loused in the Comatorium,â leaving many to wonder if their creative ceiling had been reached.
Last update: 2006-09-27
Hooks' Flicks: 'The Las Kiss' is the best
âSaying that you love someone doesnât matter. Itâs what you do to the ones that you say you love that matters.â
Last update: 2006-09-27
Game Theory: A retrospective on âHalo 2â
It is fall 2004, and thereâs one game on the collective mind of Xbox owners: âHalo 2.â The âI Love Beesâ alternate reality game is in full swing, âHalo 2â trailers are playing theatrically and you canât watch TV for 10 minutes without seeing a spot promoting the game.
Last update: 2006-09-27
A heart attack can be a very scary experience. Last December, my boyfriendâs father had chest pains for a few days, went to two hospitals, was sent home each time and dropped dead within an hour of returning home from the last hospital visit.
Last update: 2006-09-27
The Ins and Outs of Sex: Does size really matter?
This goes for guys and gals, but weâll start will the guys.
Last update: 2006-09-19
(Un)Appreciation Station: Iâm waiting for the Mars
The Mars Volta will release their third full-length studio album, âAmputechture,â on September 12, and since the record companies stopped sending me CDsâcome on record companies. I said some things; you said some things; that doesnât mean we canât still be friendsâIâm going to have to wait like everyone else to get my hands on a copy not tainted by the fowl Internet.
Last update: 2006-09-19
Hooks' Flicks: Congratulations, you passed
In last weekâs column, you may have noticed that I spelled the last name of Mark Wahlbergâs character two different ways. The incorrect spelling, Papele, was used early in the column and then suddenly changed to the correct spelling, Papale.
Last update: 2006-09-19
Game Theory: This one goes here, that one goes there
Legos are pretty awesome. I think we can all agree on that. âStar Wars,â now, not so much. I mean those old movies (finally out unharmed on DVD) are pretty awesome, but the new movies offer a vast amount of late-night amusement by making fun of their dialogue and acting. They are bad movies, and if youâve only seen them once and claim otherwise, watch them again and note how the presence of an awesome thing like lightsabers can cloud your judgment. I should probably mention the name of the game in this first paragraph. âLego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy.â
Last update: 2006-09-19
The Health Corner with Erin: Smoking is bad!
We all know the harmful effects of smoking, right? Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. according to the CDC. Tobacco use results in 440,000 deaths per year. The overall health of everyone in the United States is being affected from smoking or coming into contact with second-hand smoke.
Last update: 2006-09-20
(Un)Appreciation Station: Cat Stevens is not a terrorist
The mailbox at The Vermilion has been alarmingly bare of new CD releases as of late, creating worries that the people sending the CDs were actually reading what I wrote about them, but a quick check from Billboardâs new release list confirmed my suspicions: There is nothing worthwhile to review this week.
Last update: 2006-09-13
Hook's Flicks: Cage karate kicks women
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that these words would begin this weekâs column. As I begin to write though, these are some of the only images that resonate in my mind from âThe Wicker Man,â a remake of the 1973 British film by the same name.
Last update: 2006-09-13
Game-Theory: Two completely unrelated games
Jade Empire (Xbox)
This game held promise. Itâs an action RPG set in ancient China, and made by Bioware, the guys who made âStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,â one of the best âStar Warsâ games ever.
Last update: 2006-09-13
The Health Corner with Erin: Dealing with depression
Many of us know people suffering from depression or suffer from depression ourselves. Unfortunately, the disease not only affects the depressed person, but also the friends and relatives of the depressed person.
Last update: 2006-09-13
The Ins and Outs of Sex: Sex does not mean love
While chatting with my female friends I posed the question- what do college students experience, regarding sex, that would be a good topic to write about? One good answer I got was the separation between love and sex.
Last update: 2006-09-13