D-(eye) on Arts

And the nominees are...

2012-01-25T19:03:00.003-06:00

Another January rolls around and the red carpets roll out.

Award season is a much anticipated annual occasion for Hollywood stars, socialites, and fashionistas alike.

In case you haven't checked out this year's Academy Award nominees, I'll catch you up to speed.

Best Picture:

The Artist

Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse
The Decendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help

Actor in a Leading Role:
Demián Bichir
George Clooney
Jean Dujardin
Gary Oldman
Brad Pitt

Actress in a Leading Role:
Glenn Close
Viola Davis
Rooney Mara
Meryl Streep
MIchelle Williams

Well there are the head hanchos for you. Obviously, the nominations go on much farther than that -- with nominations for everything from costuming to Sound editing. See the full list of nominations here: http://oscar.go.com/

Now that I'm sure you are all beside yourselves in anticipation of who will win the coveted golden figurines, I must tell you to be patient. The award show will not take place until Sunday, Feburary 27 at 6 p.m. CST.

-by Hannah Kramer

Your Second Semester in the Arts

2012-01-18T16:55:00.001-06:00

With a new semester just getting underway, many of the local venues are starting to promote their events for the semester. Whether that includes theater, music, or dance performances, these performing arts spaces have the community in mind while picking the most talked about events for the start of 2012. Here's a list of just a few of the events that you don't want to miss as the semester continues.

HANCHER:
•L.A. Theatre Works, "The Rivalry"
Thursday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Englert Theatre

•Lucky Plush Productions, "Punk Yankees"
Thursday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Space Place Theater

•Dave Pietro
Thursday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Englert Theatre

•The Gizmo Guys
Sunday, May 20 at 2 p.m.
City High School, Opstad Auditorium

ENGLERT:
•Iowa Opera House Project Featuring Sam Knutson
Thursday, February 9 at 8 p.m.
Englert Theatre

•Hot Tuna (Acoustic Show)
Thursday, March 8 at 8 p.m.
Englert Theatre

•Mason Jennings
Friday, April 6 at 8 p.m.
Englert Theatre

•Romeo and Juliet
Thursday, April 26

Misson Creek 2012 announcement

2011-12-14T17:45:00.004-06:00

Earlier this week, the coordinators of the Iowa City Mission Creek Festival announced the dates of the 2012 event.

When: March 27-April 1, 2012
Where: venues and art spaces in downtown Iowa City
Featuring: The Magnetic Fields, David Cross, Sharon Van Etten, & Bowerbirds

The DI Arts staff talked with Mission Creek's founder Andre Perry about what visitors can expect at the 2012 festival.

Perry said the upcoming festival will include some new additions including food appreciation and an artist-in-residency series.

The artist in residence series was started by Mission Creek producer Christopher Wiersema in an effort to get visiting acts more involved with the community and the culture of Iowa City. Perry said that some of the performing artists with collaborate with local, Luke Tweedy to record music in Iowa City during their visits. They will record in Tweedy's Flat Black studios. Perry confirmed that at least three of the acts coming this spring will record music in Iowa City while they are here. One of these bands is Dirty Beaches who will complete a split release with local band, Wet Hair. Perry said this is a way for musicians to commemorate their experience in Iowa City for the Mission Creek Festival.

Perry said that Mission Creek is a special event in the Iowa City arts scene because it runs a wide spectrum of performances, appeals to various demographics of festival-goers from students to residents, and takes advantage of local geography to engage artists with the community.

All-Access Passes ($115) can be purchased online at Midwestix and the Englert Theatre Box Office.

More information about performing acts and venues will be available in January 2012. Check back with the Daily Iowan at www.dailyiowan.com for festival updates.

-by Hannah Kramer

Santa likes gingerbread, I swear!

2011-12-06T12:49:00.007-06:00

When I was a little girl, I used to set out cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve. As usual, we would have tins upon tins upon tins filled with homemade cookies that my mother so lovingly baked with her four little monsters, or Christmas elves as I liked to think.

Choosing what to leave out for Santa was always a struggle! Does he like sugar? gingerbread? almond crescents? or my Dad's famous "birds nests"...

Well one year I left out Gingerbread boys and when I came down in the middle of the night to see if Santa arrived...he had! and he left a note! There was hay all over my front walkway from the reindeer, a note from the Jolly old fella and a BRAND NEW BIKE under the tree.

So, in my experience Santa loves gingerbread! Leave him a taste and you might be extra surprised this holiday!

Here are the two most scrumptious cookie recipes for the holidays to share with your family and friends.

SUGAR COOKIE CUT OUTS

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

GINGERBREAD BOYS

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly milled black pepper
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup unsulfured molasses
1 large egg
Royal Icing (recipe follows)
- 1 pound (4 1/2 cups) confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons dried egg-white powder
- 6 tablespoons water
- Position the racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Directions:

Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, salt and pepper through a wire sieve into a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer at high speed, beat the butter and vegetable shorteninguntil well-combined, about 1 minute. Add the brown sugar and beat until the mixture is light in texture and color, about 2 minutes. Beat in the molasses and egg. Using a wooden spoon, gradually mix in the flour mixture to make a stiff dough. Divide the dough into two thick disks and wrap each disk in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours. (The dough can be prepared up to 2 days ahead.)

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature until just warm enough to roll out without cracking, about 10 minutes. Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and sprinkle the top of the dough with flour. Using cookie cutters, cut out the cookies and transfer to nonstick cookie sheets, placing the cookies 1 inch apart. Gently knead the scraps together and form into another disk. Wrap and chill for 5 minutes before rolling out again to cut out more cookies.

Bake, switching the positions of the cookies from top to bottom and back to front halfway through baking, until the edges of the cookies are set and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire cake racks to cool completely. Decorate with Royal Icing. (The cookies can be prepared up to 1 week ahead, stored in airtight containers at room temperature.)

Have a safe and happy holiday season and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Fashion Don't

2011-11-30T10:04:00.003-06:00

After watching the Victoria Secret fashion show last night, it made me realize that I probably shouldn't go for that second piece of chocolate that I'd been eye balling all night.

It made me sick to my stomach to watch this year's Angels walk the runaway, and yes unlike them I actually do have a stomach. While all the girls watching this are commenting on how unhealthily skinny all of the models look, the guys watching the show can't keep their eyes off of their chest. It shouldn't surprise me I know, but if that's what girls have to look like in order to get some attention, then count me out. I wouldn't be surprised if every one of those girls had some type of eating disorder. It's one thing to be in shape, but the Angels were scary skinny. I'd hate to see what happened to those of them who might have gained two pounds over Thanksgiving.

Aside from the girls bodies, the costumes were interesting this year. It seemed like super heroes and angel wings were the most consistent costumes throughout the show. They were gorgeous don't get me wrong, but it wasn't exactly the typical lingerie that someone would buy at Victoria Secret. Obviously, these were strictly for the runway.

Musical performances by Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj, and the duo of Jay-Z and Kanye West added some more entertainment to the show.

It was worth taking an hour out of my night just to see what these girls looked like, but can someone please get them a hamburger?

-Sam Gentry

Good eats for Turkey Day

2011-11-16T23:16:00.005-06:00

Every Thanksgiving the calorie counts, fad diets, and concern for looking thin are put on hold for the annual holiday when we give thanks by stuffing our faces - how becoming of American society.

Because plain old turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie are getting a bit dull after 22 years, I thought I would offer some new (and healthier) recipe ideas for readers to try this year.

Pear, Prosciutto & Hazelnut stuffing

Mashed Sweet Potato Brulée

Pilgrim Hat Cookies

Use these tasty new ideas to surprise your families this year. I'm sure the "ooo's" and "yumms" will make you smile (or annoy the crap out of you when they never end.)

-Hannah Kramer

Things I’ve Decided I Need for the Cold Weather Months

2011-11-09T15:36:00.008-06:00

1. A Cape

Because, why not? I will feel like the ravishing and mysterious heroine of a beautiful and tragic French film. I will probably start wearing a lot of red lipstick and berets. Although, first I will need to learn how to place the beret in a jauntily askew way on top of my head. I don’t know how. And it will keep me toasty and be roomy, so even when I’m bloaty, I can still be ravishing and mysterious.

2. Furry Earmuffs

I’m thinking grey because for some reason I feel like that makes them less obnoxious.

It doesn’t really though. These do have headphones inside though, so maybe that gives them some cred...

3. A Cool Mug

I just realized that the only cool mug I own is my plastic Queen Amidala mug, and you can’t put plastic in the microwave.

I have a couple of mugs that I’ve painted at paint-your-own-pottery places, but they have sentimental value, so I don’t want to use them.

Maybe something like this:

To keep my drinks tough and toasty.

4. Roller Skates

This has nothing to do with the cold weather, but maybe winter is the perfect time to start training, so I can finally realize my dream of being a roller derby all-star.

Look for me roller skating around Iowa City in my cape and earmuffs, sipping coffee from my brass knuckle mug. I don't think I'll be too hard to find.

-Julia Jessen

What about the turkey?

2011-11-01T17:29:00.002-05:00

With Halloween behind us, it only makes sense that people start their preparation for the next holiday in line. But I think the real question is, what holiday really comes next?

While in CVS today, life size Santas with rosy cheeks and button noses were on display outside of the store. Inside, however, was a different story. No matter where you looked down the holiday aisle stockings, garland, and Christmas lights were the only thing you could see.

But the Christmas madness didn't seem to stop at CVS. While picking up my morning coffee at Starbucks I was filled with the familiar aroma of peppermint white mocha. Is it possible that Christmas flavors are out already? How can we so quickly change from pumpkin spice to peppermint mocha? Shouldn't there be something in between?

It seems that Iowa City isn't the only town rushing the season. Back home, Schaumburg, IL, Woodfield Mall has already but up their Christmas decorations and the famous snow globe is already awaiting Santa's arrival. The local radio station, 93.9 The Lite, has even already started blasting everyones favorite holiday tunes through the airwaves.

While I too am one to love the joys of the holiday season, I can't help but think, what about Thanksgiving?! Aren't we all forgetting the Pilgrims and Indians and giving thanks? Aren't we forgetting the turkey, stuffing, and gravy?

There's a holiday in between Halloween and Christmas, but I feel like every year Thanksgiving is getting more and more neglected. It's only November 1st, but already people are in the Christmas spirit. So my question is, will this Christmas chaos ever stop? And can we share some of the love with Thanksgiving?

Haunted Houses and Attractions near IC

2011-10-25T21:27:00.000-05:00

It’s about to be Halloween weekend in Iowa City, a time when the girls are looking a little extra freaky and the guys a little too creepy.

While bobbing for apples (or beers in our case) can be a good time, if your feeling extra spirited its always a great time to check out some local haunted houses.

In case you didn’t know, Iowa is home to hundreds of haunted houses and other spooky attractions that are open all weekend long. I’ve done some research and found the two spookiest, most bone chilling places to check out.

Circle of Ash Haunted Attraction

412 7^th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Open weekends 8-12 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT0_OsNUO9k&feature=player_embedded--Check out this promo video!

This place has one of the freakiest websites I have come across. Think Saw meets Silence of the Lambs meets the Joker. This is a self-guided tour through an indoor haunted house maze. They encourage you to walk extra slow so you don’t miss any of the hidden features. Eeeeekk! They recommend you go in groups no larger than 5 people because of space and group interaction. They say they don’t touch you by surprise but they do ask you to interact with set pieces and other cast members.

Nightmare Manor

525 H St. SW, Cedar Rapids,

This 100-year-old creepy riverfront warehouse is full of nightmares. It has boarded up windows and has several deaths that have been said to occur there. Homeless Tom “Jackson” Howard was a man that did odd jobs for the hotel in trade for a place to sleep. After a while he got uncomfortable and left, but always showed up for Halloween season. His old living space was below the electric chair and he would count how many “executions” took place each night. In 2003, Tom became ill and hallucinatory and on fall evening the landlord found him dead. No one claimed Tom’s body and so the landlord has his ashes hanging out on the mantle, until they scatter them someday. This house is known as a “too scary to complete” haunted house. Paranormal investigators have seen some action around his ashes and even heard voices and seen strange movements.

Hope you all make it out to a haunted house, have a little liquor courage, wear your sexy costume and maybe shit you pants too!

-Carly Hurwitz

Artsy Halloween Costumes

2011-10-19T15:33:00.006-05:00

It’s that time of year again. You carved the pumpkins, the candy is by the door, and now the only thing left to do is find the perfect costume. If you’re tired of your usual naughty woodland creature getup, try one of these artsy ideas instead.

Have a classy Halloween!

Vincent Van Gogh

For this look, wear a bright blue shirt and a straw hat. If you are already a redhead with a beard then you’re golden. But if you’re not, try drawing on a beard with a reddish brown eyebrow pencil or get a fake stick-on beard.

What you really need to do to make the costume recognizable is use some gauze to bandage your left ear. Then get a fake rubber prop ear (you might be able to find one in a costume shop or magic shop, or just make your own out of Sculpey clay and bake it) and give it to people throughout the night. You will make so many friends.

You could also get a large frame and take the glass and backing off and rig it up with straps so you could wear it around like a self-portrait.

Crayola Crayon

If you are a girl get a simple tank dress in the color of crayon you want to be. If you are a guy, try using pillowcases in your chosen color or dye them. To keep the pillowcase up, wear a shirt in the same color underneath and pin the pillowcase onto it. If the pillowcase is too small, use two, cutting them open and pinning them together.

Next using black felt, construction paper, or duct tape, create long rectangles that can go around your upper torso and upper thigh area. In the middle of the rectangle cut out a wavy line. Then cut out a long oval big enough to fit the word crayola, and cut out the letters. Then attach it vertically to your stomache.

For the crayon point, you could use construction paper in the same color as your outfit and roll it into a cone shape, securing it to your head with string. Or try using a gas funnel and spray-painting it the color you want.

Mozart

So you want to be Mozart? You need a white ruffled shirt, preferably with ruffles at the end of the cuffs, black shorts that hit below the knee, a black coat (the fancier the better), knee high socks tucked into the shorts, and loafers on your feet.

For the hair, curl it and fluff it up with lots of volume. You could either do the tight rolled up curls pinned on the sides with the top straight or leave it all in big curls and secure with a black ribbon at the back of your neck in a ponytail. To make it white you could probably find some sort of a spray at a costume shop or experiment with baby powder. Of course if all that sounds too hard, just get a white wig.

You could even add a child's keyboard with a strap attached and carry it around with you.

Audrey Hepburn

For this look you need a very classy black, sort of retro, sheath dress. Add long black gloves, a few layered strands of pearls, oversized round sunglasses, one of those long cigarette holders (you can find them pretty cheap on Amazon.com), and a black hat with a large, wide brim.

Sweep your hair up in a high chignon and a tuck a small tiara comb in the top.

Now go get some candy.

-Julia Jessen

Reading List

2011-10-12T14:19:00.008-05:00

I am always disappointed with the lack of time I can find to read books for fun. Between reading for classes, doing assignments for classes, and trying to have a tiny bit of a life outside of classes, reading tends to fall by the wayside.

But I’ve decided to try to make a little more time for reading. In honor of my efforts I’ve made this short list of a few books that I really enjoyed and a couple that I’m looking forward to beginning.

The Help

By Kathryn Stockett

I read this book while on vacation with my family this summer, and I became completely engrossed by it. I read it before I saw the movie, and I enjoyed both. It’s always a pleasant surprise when a movie based on a book is actually almost as good as the book. I cried at the end of both.

The book, set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962, tells the interwoven story of two maids, Aibileen and Minny, and a budding journalist, Skeeter, as they expose what it’s really like to work for a white family in the 60’s.

The Passage

By Justin Cronin

Not your typical vampire novel, this book by Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate, Justin Cronin, takes you into a bleak apocalyptic future filled with strange violent creatures, and a few people trying to save the world.

I’ve heard that this book is set to become a movie, which will be very exciting, and hopefully a good movie. I’m also excited about the second book in the series, which will come out in 2012.

Postcards from Europe

By Rick Steves

I love Rick Steves. He is kind of my old man crush. Rick Steves is a guidebook author, travel writer, and he hosts the public television program, “Rick Steves’ Europe”. This book provides a more anecdotal look at his travels, sharing adventures from years of traveling that are funny, beautiful, and inspiring. This book is one of my favorites in my Rick Steves collection.

One Day

By David Nicholls

I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s sitting on my desk right now waiting for the moment when I have a sliver of time to crack it open.

The book takes place during a single day each year for twenty years, showing the interaction of the lives of Dex and Emma.

I would also like to see the movie version of the book, which stars Anne Hathaway, but I hear it’s not very good. I have a feeling I’ll probably like it anyway.

Chuck Close: Life

By Christopher Finch

I recently picked this up from the Haunted Bookstore, and it is now sitting on my desk with One Day, also waiting to be read.

This is a biography looking at the life of Chuck Close, an amazing painter (some of his pieces look exactly like photographs of the person they’re depicting), who suffered a spinal stroke, which caused him temporary quadriplegia. His story sounds amazing, and I know his work is incredible, so I can’t wait to read about him.

-Julia Jessen

Alexa Meade: Painting on People

2011-10-05T18:52:00.016-05:00

I love it when art plays with your expectations, completely catching you off guard and ripping away what you thought you knew. I think one of the best examples of this can be found in Alexa Meade.

I first found out about Alexa in an issue of Nylon magazine last year. Completely amazed by the pictures of her work that accompanied the article, I could not stop looking at them.

Source

"Alexa Split in Two"

This piece gives you an idea of how awesome and breathtaking her style is.

The 25 year old artist paints directly on her subjects, creating 2 dimensional representations of the person on their own 3 dimensional form. Her website describes her work as lying at "the intersection of painting, photography, performance, and installation.

When she paints somebody, she will often also paint the background, completely involving the atmosphere in the painting.

Source

"Aligned"

It blows my mind that this is an actual man sitting here. Way too cool, no?

Sometimes she will also take her subject and place them as an installation in an everyday place.

Source

"Transit"

What would you do if you saw a painted old man on the subway? I love the juxtaposition here of the surrealism of the man and the realism of the world around him .

I think that Alexa Meade is really unique and that her style is fresh and innovative. If you're looking for a new artist crush, definitely check her out.

-Julia Jessen

Rakin' in the new albums

2011-09-28T21:09:00.003-05:00

The music biz usually releases new albums by their biggest acts during the fall, just in time for the holidays. This year is no different. We’ve scoured the world wide web and have found (so far) 20 albums yet to be this in Autumn.

The Fall lineup is…

Rock n’ Roll-

Nirvana, “Nevermind” (a anniversary rerelease) (Oct. 25)

Tom Waits, “Bad as Me” (Oct. 4)

Björk, “Biophilia” (Oct. 11)

Coldplay, “Mylo Xyloto” (Oct. 24) – Stay tuned for my album review after its release

Lou Reed and Metallica, “Lulu” (Nov. 1)

U2, “Achtung Baby (Super Deluxe Edition)” (Nov. 1)

Beach Boys, “The Smile Sessions Box” (Nov. 1)

The Who, “Quadrophenia: The Director’s Cut” (Nov. 15)

Country-

Rodney Atkins, “Take a Long Road” (Oct. 4)

Scotty McCreery, “Clear as Day” (Oct. 4)

Hank Williams Sr., “The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams” (Oct. 4)

Martina McBride, “Eleven” (Oct. 11)

Toby Keith, “Clancy’s Tavern” (Oct. 24)

Miranda Lambert, “Four the Record” (Nov. 1)

Pop-

Feist, “Metals” (Oct. 4)

Susan Boyle, “Someone to Watch Over Me” (Nov. 1)

Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger” (Oct. 25)

Hip-hop/R&B-

DJ Shadow, “The Less You Know, The Better” (Oct. 4)

Drake, “Take Care” (Oct. 24)

Mary J. Blige, “My Life II … The Journey Continues (Act I)” (November)

-Jordan Montgomery (will not be releasing an album this fall)

Seeing Red at the Emmys

2011-09-20T22:55:00.008-05:00

Last Sunday, September 18, was the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, and a slew of celebrities showed up in gowns to match the carpet beneath their feet. I've ranked 5 of the standouts here from best to worst. See if you agree!

Winner: Nina Dobrev

The Vampire Diaries star wins in the categories of: perfect fit, perfect shade, perfect accessories. Overall perfection.

(picture source)

Runner up: Kate Winslet

I love Kate, and I love her in this dress. It has a classic timelessness despite the bold color and plunging keyhole neckline. Elegant but still exciting.

(picture source)

#3. Lea Michele

Not bad, Lea Michele, but it seems a bit safe and boring. I expected a little more glitz and glamour from you. Also, I don't like those weird rosette things on your shoulders. Slightly Blah.

(picture source)

#4. Kerry Washington

There's a lot going on this dress; from the sparkle, to the see-through, to the thick hem. I think I might like this a little better without that thick hem, something about it just looks heavy and bulky. It looks a bit cheap if you ask me.

(picture source)

#5. Angela Kinsey

I think the style of this dress is overwhelming the petite star. There isn't much structure, and the band of ruching in the middle makes her look squat and wide. Not the most flattering, but I like the bold color choice!

(picture source)

Moral of the story: Everybody loves a lady in red.

-Julia Jessen

TV's most addicting reality shows

2011-09-14T14:24:00.003-05:00

I thought nothing could compare to the guilty pleasures that MTV's "Jersey Shore" and Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" gave me, but after flipping through the channels of my TV last night, I was clearly wrong.

I happened to land on TLC's newest reality show "Big Sexy." If the title isn't captivating enough, the girls on the show are trying to promote that you can be "sexy" and overweight.

"Big Sexy" premiered August 30 at 10 p.m. It follows the lives of Leslie, Tiffany, Audrey, Nikki, and Heather as they strive to be plus size models in New York. These girls are into fashion and partying and they are not afraid to let the camera capture their honesty. But I couldn't help but laugh while watching the episode. It seems that reality shows are getting more outrageous by the minute, and to have a plus size model say that she would rather be naked all day then wear clothes, is an image I just don't want to picture.

So you be the judge. Tune into TLC on Tuesday nights and watch "Big Sexy." Is it really a reality show worth our time? Or is it simply just on air for the purpose of a guilt pleasure? I think it's more of a so bad it's good situation.

Pepper Brings Island Sounds Inland

2011-09-07T22:19:00.006-05:00

This weekend, Pepper will spice up Iowa City's live music scene playing at the Blue Moose Tap House on Friday night.

Pepper is a three man ensemble from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The band has been active for nearly fifteen years, specializing in a mixture of rock, raggae, dub, and ska.

Pepper is a modern reggae favorite, ranked by many as the second best reggae-rock band in the last twenty years with the first being Sublime.

Pepper has released five studio albums and one live album. During their stop in Iowa City, their set list will likely feature tunes from their latest studio release, 2008's Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations. But since that album came out three years ago, I wouldn't be surprised if the band tries out some new material this weekend.

Below is 'No Control', the bands most popular song to date off of their No Shame album.

MTV VMA'S live blog

2011-08-28T20:44:00.013-05:00

Lady Gaga dressed as a man, i'm sure it's already on YouTube.

Britney Spears won best pop video...shes still one of my idols

Kanye and Jay-Z performed from Watch the Throne "Otis" pretty great duo, but I do think Jay-Z makes Kanye look short!

Foo Fighters won best rock album, well deserved.

KIA Sol's are the cars of the future I guess...Hamsters driving and robots groovin'.

8:47 Best Collaboration goes to Kanye and Katy Perry with the pink hair. I think she's pretty awesome AND she was nominated for 10 vma's!!

8:50 Neyo ft. Pitbull and Nayer perform "Give Me Everything" ...is she wearing a body suit? making her look naked?

Kim looking "dashing" as usual

Debut VMA performance for Adele. She is so talented and what a gorgeous face. Her album "21" is something to hear. She sounds just as great live as on the cd.

9:05 BRITNEY IN 20 minutes!!

9:11 Nominees for best male video announced by Kim Kardashian:
cee lo green, kanye west, bruno mars, eminem, justin bieber

...goes to JUSTIN BIEBER. And there is that rumor about Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber being in love. They probably get paid to do that!

Chris Brown is finally back on top of his game and that whole violence dispute with Rihanna. He is a great performer.

"Beautiful people" and flying through the air in a white suit. Beautiful timing but its pretty insane. This performance is a statement about his career in a way, he is back, he is the future kinda thing.

CANNOT WAIT FOR ALL OF THE 'POP QUEENS'

Does anyone know who this singer girl is?

Lady or shall I say Lad Gaga's biggest inspiration was Britney Spears! And honestly she was sooooo amazing back in the day.

9:28 Tribute to Britney starts with Hit me Baby one more time..oops i did it again..toxic..slave 4 u...till the world ends. STANDING O for Britney who looks great! But Gaga was taking away from her speech.

#itsbritneybitch

Are they gonna make out

BEYONCE is performing in a sparkly purple suit, but she's still rocking it hard, never heard this song but I love it, so powerful and confident!

And she reveals the BABY BUMP! congrats honey-B and Jay-Z

Who is gonna be the best new artist? Nominees are Foster the People, Wiz Khalifa, Tyler, the Creator, Big Sean, Kreayshawn

and it goes to Tyler, the Creator!!!

9:45 VMA Debut, Young the Giant, Indie group gone famous. They put on a good show.

Just found out the singer is Jessie J...an english, R&B, and soul artist

DO you think the jersey shore girls coordinated their outfits ?

9:58 BEST FEMALE VIDEO: Lady Gaga "Born this Way" I'm nervous for what Gaga is doing right now.

I would be kind of pissed if I was sitting behind Katy Perry in that Hat.

Gaga is accepting of all people no matter what and I think that's pretty cool of her. She is clearly making a statement with her song and outfit tonight.

Russell Brandt tribute to Amy Winehouse acknowledging alcoholism and drug addiction. Her death did effect all of us she was a great talent.

10:08 Tony Bennett speaking of Amy and their recording together. Calling her a true "jazz artist" along with Ella Fitzgerald! Recording of "Beautiful" from March 23, 2011. What a great way to celebrate her life and talent.

-Carly Hurwitz

Feel Good Movies

2011-08-24T11:45:00.003-05:00

Now that classes have started up again, it won’t be too long until we’re all stressed, crabby, hopped up on coffee, and sobbing silently into our pillows.

But have no fear, I’m sharing my favorite feel-good-distract-you-from-your-troubles-temporarily movies. Admittedly, most are somewhat sappy; I can’t help it if I enjoy a good romantic comedy. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you, but if you give one a try, you just might like it.

1) Annie

Seriously, Annie is such a classic. Both the 1982 and the 1999 version are great, with really excellent people and that adorable dog. If you’re craving some edginess, go with the 1982 version; it’s much scarier than the remake (Rooster chasing Annie on the bridge, anyone?) This movie is a nostalgia rush.

2)The Princess Bride

This was my favorite movie when I was 5 years old. So many excellent quotes, and Westley (Cary Elwes) was a total babe. I like my fairy tales with a good dose of tongue-in-cheek humor and this movie satisfies that requirement. Buttercup is a bit wishy-washy for my taste, but Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Westley make the film. A movie trailer, you say? “As you wish.”

3) The Holiday

I don’t even like Cameron Diaz, but I love her in this movie. Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law, and Cameron Diaz are perfect together. This is a great distraction movie-amazing vacations, romances with adorable men; Your heart will be glowing in no time.

4) About a Boy

I will always have a huge crush on Hugh Grant. I don’t care what anyone says; he is a dreamboat. This movie may not seem like your typical feel good movie (suicide, womanizing, bullies), but it’s probably my favorite movie ever, and it always makes me feel better.

5) Elf

Will Ferrell at his best. A delightful movie at any time of the year, a heaping helping of Christmas spirit will always brighten your day. I love Christmas. I love Christmas movies. Be careful with this one though; if you watch it a few weeks after Christmas, you will feel depressed because Christmas is over. This is a very real concern.

If you don't feel better by now, I don't know what to tell you; my area of knowledge is pretty much solely located in goofy movies that make me smile.

-Julia Jessen

Back to School, Back to School

2011-08-17T20:06:00.002-05:00

The Daily Iowan Arts and Culture blog is now back in full swing. Sort of...

Check out the first print and online publication of 80 Hours in The Daily Iowan tomorrow, Thursday, August 18.

Enjoy your last weekend of freedom before the lectures, labs, homework, studying and days with little sleep commence.

Go see some of the fun bands, art exhibits and "foody" events that are featured in this week's 80 Hours!

More to come next week...

So You're Graduating.. Here's a Playlist

2011-05-09T12:33:00.008-05:00

College is a good time. Sure, it's not quite like every B movie about frat boys and endless partying, but few will deny that they will be a little bummed when it's over. Call it a mid-college crisis, but as more and more of my friends graduate every spring, that diploma starts to seem right around the corner for me as well.

I feel for you seniors. The least I can do is make an obligatory, end-of-the-semester playlist, because that's how the iTunes generation copes with stuff.

1. "Unstoppable" - Foxy Shazam

The perfect anthem for you to face the real world. Way to go, you did it! You're a champ!

2. "The End" - The Doors

Oh wow.. the real world, huh? Here's a song for when reality sets in.

3. "Grown Ocean" - Fleet Foxes

Come on, it's not so bad. You get to go after your dreams and all that good stuff now.

4. "Chicago" - Sufjan Stevens

Move to Chi-town, because you can!

5. "Someday" - Tegan and Sara

Be something someday, like Tegan and Sara.

6. "Journey Of The Magi" - Frank Turner

English songsmith Frank Turner reminds us of people throughout history that didn't play it safe and were happier because of it. Comforting, right?

7. "Chasing Pavements" - Adele

This one's for Arts Editor Josie Jones. She's graduating this spring and just happens to love Adele. Good luck Josie, we'll miss you!

-Riley Ubben

Social Networking Sites Gone Viral

2011-05-04T13:26:00.003-05:00

Whether you're procrastinating on homework or just looking for something to amuse yourself with, Facebook and Twitter are usually always up on your computer screen, at least that's my case. But now these social networking sites are being used for a lot more than just creeping on new photos from the weekend, or seeing what your favorite celebrity is gossiping about. They are actually covering breaking news. With the recent death of Osama Bin Laden, almost everyone's status had something to do with the death or props to the U.S.A. My personal favorite had to be "Congratulations Osama Bin Laden on being the Hide-and-Seek champion for 10 years" or something along those lines. For me, these statuses is how I found out about his death in the first place. It's sad to think that as a Journalism major, my Facebook page is up more on my computer screen than CNN.com, but after talking to a few people, I wasn't the only one who found out from Facebook. So I guess my question is, are social networking sites acting as a beneficial tool for finding out breaking news? Or has it gone completely viral leaving people with only the status instead of the full story?

-Sam Gentry

Stars Doing Stand Up

2011-04-27T21:01:00.005-05:00

"How do you kill a circus? Go for the juggler!"

This joke was Daniel Radcliffe's introduction to stand up comedy. Admittedly, the star of the Harry Potter series wasn't making a serious career move when he took the mic on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Radcliffe's aspirations to be a comedian merely came up in his conversation with Fallon, and the bit was only meant to be part of the talk show. A few celebrities have given stand up comedy a try, however. Most of the time their efforts only make it clear why they didn't become famous for being funny in the first place. Here are some stars that tried to do stand up comedy:

John Mayer

The soulful singer's sense of humor proves to be a little dirtier than you'd expect. He keeps the audience fairly entertained, but it seems like most of them are waiting on Mayer to change...back into a musician.

George Bush

As a former president certainly not known for being witty, Bush does fairly well as a comedian. A lot of the work seems to have been done for him, however, as his best jokes are at the expense of his own presidency.

Steve-O

The resident dare devil of Jackass doesn't really stray from his drug abuse in his act. For his own health, and for his career's sake, he might want to stick to snorting wasabi.

Larry King

Watching King do stand up is kind of like listening to your grandpa at the Thanksgiving table. He gets a few big laughs, they're often spaced out between ten minutes of rambling.

Dustin Diamond (a.k.a. "Screech")

There's no way the actor known for playing "Screech" on Saved by the Bell was going to escape his sitcom persona, but he definitely tried. He spends more time trying to intimidate hecklers than telling jokes.

-Riley Ubben

Favorite Faux Twitters

2011-04-18T23:55:00.006-05:00

Twitter didn't invent pretending to be someone you're not on the internet, but it just might have made it more hilarious. Rather than tweeting about what they ate for breakfast or their weekend plans, some clever individuals are approaching the social networking sites with a mischievous sense of humor. Here are a few fake twitter profiles that are especially entertaining.

1. http://twitter.com/#!/BPGlobalPR

2. http://twitter.com/#!/FAKESARAHPALIN

3. http://twitter.com/#!/bronxzooscobra

4. https://twitter.com/#!/Jesus_Christ

5. http://twitter.com/#!/darthvader

-Riley Ubben

Summer Jams

2011-04-13T19:04:00.008-05:00

As the sun begins to shine, so does everyone's mood. While lying bare foot in the grass, it seems as if all negative thoughts melt away..almost as fast as the ice cream. The closet has finally been cleared of heavy parkas and snow boots...so why not clean up your music playlist? These four songs are sure to get you in the mood for those lazy, summer days.

1. ) Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

Foster the People formed in October of 2009. The trio's first single aired on NPR. They released their EP in January of 2010, and expect a full album sometime this spring. The group made a big name for themselves at this year's SXSW festival. After touring Europe this spring they will travel across the U.S this summer.

2.) Tennis- "Marathon"

This husband and wife duo gained inspiration from a sailing trip of the Eastern Seaboard. Their full length album "Cape Dory" came out in January of this year. Tennis's retro-pop songs are sure to be great company while at the beach.

3. ) Cults - "Go Outside"

Couple Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion didn't know what to expect when uploading their three songs online. The duo began by making music in their home, and gained popularity through social networks quickly thereafter.

4.) Surfer Blood - "Take it Easy"

Often compared to group Vampire Weekend, Surfer Blood's first single "Swim" was quickly placed on Pitchfork's best songs of 2009. Their album "Astro Coast" was recorded in their University of Florida dorm.

This Year Is Here?

2011-04-12T23:34:00.008-05:00

Cubs- 2 Astros- 11

Ouch!

As I sat watching my beloved Cubs get embarrassed by a 3-8 Houston Astros team, I was comforted by the fact that the World Series favored-to-win Boston Red Sox lost again, sliding to a 2-9 record. That matches the team’s worst start ever. How does that happen?

Baseball, long considered America’s pastime, is truly unpredictable from the start of Spring Training, from the start of the season, and even from the first pitch of any given game. While the Cubs seem to have had bad luck for the past century of professional play, other teams seem to pour millions of dollars into what amounts to losing teams on the field. It’s an enigma. The game, meticulous in every sense, requires a great deal of patience and a hell of a lot of practice. Each pitch is crucial, and one play can have an effect on an entire season. 162 games.

For me, I can assume that it’s going to be another long season of losing. History is against the Cubs winning anything, and has been for 103 years. But since I understand the fickle game that is baseball, there is still hope. If the Red Sox are off to their worst start ever, then who’s to say the Cubs can’t compete. A man can dream right? I can label this game as a fluke (and it really was- two of our best pitchers are injured, so we had to start an inexperienced relief pitcher who set a miserable tone to the game). There’s no real excuse, though, for the committing 3 errors in the field. That’s just bad baseball.

There’s still a long way to go, but by the time October rolls around I’m sure I’ll remember games like this. Oh the misery of being a Cubs fan. Red Sox fans, you once knew the feeling- may your 2 and 9 start remind you what it means to perpetually lose.

-Eric Hawkinson

The Best of Banksy

2011-04-04T20:53:00.005-05:00

As popular as graffiti art is these days, sometimes it's easy to forget that it's illegal under usual circumstances. When you think about it, that's probably part of it's appeal. Take Banksy, the British graffiti artist whose handiwork can be found all over the globe. He's essentially a wanted criminal, so his identity has to remain anonymous. Having a secret identity hasn't kept him from gaining recognition, however. You might even say that his anonymity has helped make him famous (ironic, much?). Online blogs speculate on his identity, news sources watch out for him at the Oscars, and before you know it he's a legend.

Regardless of what you think of this antihero's hobby, one thing's for sure: the guy's great at what he does. Here's a few of my favorite Banksy tags.

-Riley Ubben

Fate Wears a Fedora

2011-03-30T16:37:00.008-05:00

The other week I went to see The Adjustment Bureau. For months I had seen previews, highly anticipating the new film. The earnest expression in Matt Damon's eyes along with the inspirational background music had me convinced of a life-changing film. To my dismay, Hollywood proved me wrong.

Who controls our fate? That is the question human have been pondering over for years, and that director George Nolfi helps viewers to investigate. It turns out that after centuries of diverse theories we can stop worrying. Middle-aged men with tiny notebooks and stylish fedoras hold that power. Duh.

The film tells the story of David Norris (Damon,) a politician running for the U.S Senate. While practicing a speech in a men's bathroom he unexpectedly meets a dancer named Elise (Emily Blunt.) The two have instant chemistry. The encounter leaves Norris confident enough to present an honest speech. They will never meet again.

Unless of course an angel/ fedora-wearing caseworker just so happens to fall asleep during his shift...

Unlike the trailer, The Adjustment Bureau is more comic than chilling. In the end, it seems as if the characters became tired of the never-ending plot. The little suspense that exists simply disappears. For those wanting a watered down version of Inception, I highly recommend The Adjustment Bureau.

- Laura

Fun with Craigslist

2011-03-29T11:54:00.011-05:00

Finding the right apartment can be tough, especially when that apartment needs to be 800 miles away. I was faced with this dilemma when I learned that I would need to find a place to stay in Georgia for the summer, so I did what any tech-savvy 20 year old would do: I turned to Craigslist.

While I still haven't found a place to live, I did come across a couple amusing posts. After a little more research, I discovered that Craigslist has a "Best of..." list where users vote for posts that made them laugh. Whether these posts are meant to be taken seriously or simply the work of some creative minds, you might say that there's an art to crafting a truly hilarious Craigslist ad. Below are some of my favorites from my apartment search and from the "Best of Craigslist."

$600 Furnished room - great house- all utilities included- summer rental (Midtown/Ga Tech)

Date: 2011-03-26, 9:34PM EDT

8 people live in this three bedroom house. Bring your own mattress - we just put them on the floor. only one bathroom works but that's okay because most of us don't take showers.

Pets are welcome. we already have five dogs, seven cats, two piggies, and two python snakes. dont worry the snakes won't hurt you but they do eat a hamster occasionally yes we have a few hamsters and gerbils running aroud.

We all play in bands and like to make good music at all hours of the day and night.

420 friendly

Location: Atlanta

Looking for a beard mentor

Date: 2010-03-04, 3:40PM CST

I've had a moustache and beard off and on over the years, and I've tried styling it in the past but I just can't seem to get it to the next level. I'm looking for some srs protips with this, as well as possibly some styling services by someone with skilled hands. Please submit to me your beard/moustache resume. Also if you have pictures of you achievements that would be greatly appreciated.

I'm currently having trouble with getting my handlebar working correctly as well as keeping the sideburns even.

This is 'srs bsns' (serious business) as I've been informed I need to style it up, shave it off, or loose my job. (I work in adult daycare.)

• Location: Chicago

stomped on your fire, you choked on a biscuit

Date: 2010-02-21, 9:09AM CST

You: passed out on the grass after choking on a biscuit and slamming your car into a guardrail at Franklin and Harding

Me: driver of silver bug with 2 women in the car who stopped and put your car fire out.

It's been a bad month, so if you would get me a new fire extinguisher, I would appreciate it. Also don't eat while driving in the future, it's dangerous, as you discovered.

Location: Nashville, TN

Spacious Studio Igloo

Date: 2010-03-01, 8:10PM EST

Looking for a renter for a 70 square foot igloo (4' x 5' entrance tunnel, 4' radius living area.) An excellent choice for EMU art students as it is located right next to the Ford Building on Eastern's campus. Quiet neighborhood consisting mostly of squirrels. Heat, plumbing and electric not provided.

Water included (must be melted by occupant.)

Includes hole in roof for bonfires to prevent asphyxiation.

Neighborhood security provided free by campus police.

$200 a month OBO.

*Landlord not responsible for property melting.

• Location: Ann Arbor

Gong Ringer

Date: 2010-01-24, 5:26PM EST

Looking for someone to ring a gong in my living room when prompted. Part time position, I imagine mostly weekends. Experience not necessary, but history of gong-related ceremony in bloodline preferred. Serious inquiries only.

Location: Atlanta

-Riley Ubben

Montaigne For President

2011-03-23T01:51:00.004-05:00

The headlines these past couple weeks have left many of us feeling captivated and concerned by what may happen next. Even those who don’t typically lend an ear to current events have been gripped by the stories of turmoil in Japan and the Middle East. A 9.0 earthquake triggering a 10-meter high tsunami traveling at jet speeds is not something you hear everyday. The last time the earth shook like that was in the 18^th century. What about civil war? With rebel groups rising in Libya, the Middle East and North Africa region just got a little hotter, and it’s causing the rest of the world to sweat.

You see, the world is flat now. Everything is connected. Not just by technology, but advances in environmental sciences have raised awareness that our human actions effect the entire world. You can’t just go around spraying DDT in the atmosphere any longer. With that we’re more aware of each other, even across hemispheres. There’s been the growing fear of the rising radiation levels coming from the tidal wave battered nuclear reactors in Japan. All we can do is continue to read the news, hoping we’re not next on nature’s list…

There’s perhaps a better way to grasp these things we cannot control. Look back.

History is the greatest tool in seeing into the future. As the centuries have passed, people have been through the most devastating hardships and disasters one can imagine- yet still we’re here. Just as many people do in these difficult times, past generations made rash decisions out of fear of the unknown. People are naturally afraid of change, therefore when it happens they abandon their reason. Not all did this, though. French philosopher Michel de Montainge was a voice of sensibility in an otherwise shaken world.

Writing his essays during the 16^th century, Montaigne was living in a world of war, disease, and polarizing religious reform. Many people were predicting the end times, but Montaigne kept his cool. He sat in his study and thought about the problems the world saw, and he came up with logical responses. Driven by “Stoicism,” based on rational principles, he writes his essays in an enjoyable and often funny way. While reading, one can see into the Renaissance with no disdain for its “age.”

He would’ve made an excellent blogger.

It’s true though, that too many abandon their calm and resort to methods that are out of control. If we all had a little bit of Montaigne in us we would have self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-control. We would also learn a lot about how much he loves books and the company of beautiful women, but that’s a different story.

-Eric Hawkinson

5 Artists I Wish I Could Have Seen at SXSW

2011-03-22T00:13:00.007-05:00

Don't get me wrong, I had a great spring break. Rather than take the conventional trip to a warm beach, my friends and I headed north for one last snowboarding venture before the season was over. I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything.. until I saw the line-up for last week's South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX. The festival is one of the largest in the country and features music, film, and interactive media. SXSW always features some of the biggest artists in indie, punk, and hip hop, and this year was no exception. Here are five acts that I would have most liked to be in Austin for, along with some footage, because that's as close as I'll get to actually being there.

1. Kanye West

Don't pretend like you're not dying to see him too. Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was arguably the biggest release of last year, and his SXSW performance was just as big. Ye brought along many of the big-name artists that appeared on the record, including Jay-Z, Justin Vernon, and John Legend.

2. Odd Future

This out of control rap collective's set was one of the most anticipated at the festival, and from the insane footage that's showing up online, it looks like they lived up to the hype. The group's so-vulgar-it's-clever style is making them a bit of an obsession in the hip hop world, and for good reason. These guys are talented.

3. Glasser

Probably one of the more bizarre performers on this list, Glasser's ambient vocals and industrial beats have drawn comparisons to Björk. If the video below is any indication, Glasser's performances are capable of being just as trippy as her Icelandic predecessor's.

4. Phantogram

This electronic indie rock duo is getting attention with its combination of chilled out beats and mellow guitar parts. The band's appropriately titled debut album, Eyelid Movies, might be the perfect record to fall asleep to, and I mean that in the best way possible.

5. Theophilus London

Calling London a rapper would be missing the point. The artist does rap on his recent EP, Lovers Holiday, but the record is well-rounded with 80's pop influences showing through every big melody and synth-driven beat.

-Riley Ubben

Water

2011-03-09T17:44:00.013-06:00

Red square, blue square, tiles of white

The spout spits rapidly

Thoughts of love, and future commerce

Thoughts of pain, failed attemps

Droplets sail over the synthetic,

mapping their trail across the wall

Others explode against the floor

to be filtered, amass to reap

Eyes follow the fall of one,

a plummet to the palm

Splashing splatters wet ravine

Enough to sustain

Enough to nourish

Blazing light beats

dark toned flesh

The dirt, rigid, cracks under foot

The stretched horizon widens sight

Faces gleam blank with plight

Tattered cloth and soccer balls

Scattered huts made of the earth

A silent wind breathes hope, a song

that’s hushed by tears of kin

The sandstone well,

a glimmered surface

Arid, hollow, thirsty within

A single drop would suffice

But nothing now

nothing now

-Eric Hawkinson

Bringing Back Vinyl...to Your House

2011-03-09T16:56:00.002-06:00

The decline of the record store has been talked to death, but not many people have been willing to do anything about it. That is, except for Jack White. The former Whites Stripes frontman is using his independent record label, Third Man Records, to get people excited about physical media again, his latest innovation being the Third Man Rolling Record Store. This is basically a record store inside of a bus, and White hopes to use it to show downloaders what they're missing by bringing the store to them. Here's the promo:

White also put together the first Triple Decker Record back in September, which is a 12" vinyl record with a 7" record inside of it. Fans can open up the 12" and play the 7" to hear an otherwise unreleased song. This one's probably better to see for yourself as well, so here's the video:

In my opinion, these are exactly the kind of experiments that record labels need to try, if for no other reason than to generate some hype about the label. Every time White does something like this, it's an interesting story, so music websites from Pitchfork to Absolutepunk post about it and give the label free publicity. Digital music is definitely not going anywhere, but Third Man Records is proving that it's still possible to get people excited about tangible music.

-Riley Ubben

Goodbye Galliano

2011-03-02T15:41:00.009-06:00

Chic French spectators will have more than elegant Chanel dresses and Jimmy Choo shoes to ponder at during Paris's fashion week. More shocking than the thin runway models is the latest news on Christian Dior's chief designer-John Galliano. According to The New York Times, a recent video showcased him yelling anti-semantic remarks in a Paris bar. He has since been fired from Christian Dior.

Wearing fish tail braids, a top hat, and trench coat, how could one not suspect that Galliano was slightly crazy? While many celebrities have lost respect for the designer (Natalie Portman commented that she would no longer be associated with Galliano) can we deny that his designs were an art all their own?

For his 2010 spring collection, Galliano used a laser lit runway. White balls (Galliano preferred the term "orbs") fell from the ceiling as models walked down the catwalk in flapper dresses and feather hats. The make up contrasted with the girlish garments, as women wore heavy black eye shadow, resembling extras from "Shawn of the Dead." Galliano claimed his vision derived from women in the silent era who were "meeting their technological demise."

Yeah. That's what I instantly thought too...

Called "one of the most influential fashion designers of our time," he often traveled to different countries to gain inspiration. While in Shanghai, he crafted a show that drew influences from the 1960's French new wave era, mixed with modern day Chinese culture.

While the man underneath the slightly creepy top hat is questionable, his clothing is undeniably fascinating to observe.

5 Favorite Swan Songs

2011-02-28T00:22:00.002-06:00

I picked up the latest Bright Eyes record today, and it got me thinking about swan song albums. Connor Oberst, the founder of the band, has said that this will be his last album under the Bright Eyes moniker, and while fans are often disappointed when an artist decides to hang it up, I've always had a certain amount of respect for musicians that knew when to hang it up before the music got stale or repetitive. Here are five of my favorite last hurrahs:

1. Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come

This album is legendary among indie snobs and Hot Topic regulars alike. That's no easy feat. The title of the 1998 record would seem arrogant if it hadn't turned out to be true.

2. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

In an uncomfortable interview before his last television performance with LCD, 41 year-old frontman James Murphy told Stephen Colbert that at certain point "it just gets embarrassing." As great as this album is, I suppose seeing Murphy sing "Drunk Girls" during his golden years would be a bit of a buzz kill.

3. The Blood Brothers - Young Machetes

These guys were all over the place stylistically, so it's hard to imagine that they could run out of ideas. The split was probably for the best, though. With all the impossibly high-pitched shrieking in their tunes, I'm guessing their throats were pretty sore.

4. The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Jack and Meg White may have called it quits this past February, but their music lives on, like in that commercial for the show with those two guys who collect garbage.

5. As Cities Burn - Hell or High Water

This album was definitely a departure from the band's metalcore roots. Instead As Cities Burn opted for a more melodic rock sound that even hints at new wave at certain points. It would have been interesting to see what direction the band would have taken on the next record.

-Riley Ubben

Bonnaroo at its Best

2011-02-23T19:13:00.005-06:00

This time of the year beats Christmas and Thanksgiving. Last week, 2011's Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival line up was announced. Like every year since 2009, the event will take place in Manchester, TN June 9-12. Headliners include Grammy winner Arcade Fire, along with the Black Keys and Eminem. Other large names such as Best Coast, DeVotcka, Florence and the Machines, and Ratatat will also perform.

How is it that all of my favorite musicians are going to be in the same city at the same time? I am having trouble falling asleep at night, devising a secret plan on how I can sneak into the show. This line up may just top last year's, which included groups such as She & Him and The Dead Weather. An estimated number of 75,000 people turned up in 2010-about the size of Chicago's annual Lollapalooza.

If I can't sneak in someone's guitar case, I will pretend I'm at Bonnaroo by sharing a video of five piece indie pop group Freelance Whales. Known for their obscure instrumentation (banjos, glockenspiels, and mandolins to name a few,) the band surprises audiences by performing in subways and on New York City's streets.

What you always wanted to do in art class

2011-02-21T13:47:00.003-06:00

I remember my high school art teacher telling my class that "the process can be just as beautiful as the work itself." This sounded ridiculously campy to me at the time, I mean, a painting of a bowl of fruit is great, but who cares how it got there? Recently I started doing some research on the work of Lil Picard and performance art, and I started to see what all of my teacher's cheesy lines were about. Today I came across a video of a group of people simply pouring cups of different colored paint on top of a white block. The result itself is great, but watching the time-lapse footage of it all happening is incredible. But why describe it to you when there's YouTube? Here's the video:

-Riley Ubben

Keep Portland Weird

2011-02-15T15:22:00.006-06:00

The other day I overheard a conversation amongst vegans:

“You HAVE to try this ice-cream. It's soy free!”

“Really? Where did you get that? I bought the most incredible vegan mustard last week, no oils added.”

Now don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for vegans. I cannot imagine a diet lacking in obscure cheeses or scrambled eggs. I appreciate Iowa City for its organic-conscious atmosphere, and vegan restaurants such as The Red Avocado and Fair Grounds Coffeehouse. But when does eco-friendly behavior become borderline crazy? In the television series Portlandia, the vegans, dumpster divers, and feminist librarians of the unique city are shown in a humorous light.

In one particular skit, a hip adult couple is shown ordering food at a restaurant. They ask their server about the chicken on the menu. What did the chicken eat? What about the farm? Is it local? How big is the area where the chickens are allowed to roam free?

To calm the couple’s nerves the waitress fetches a portfolio of the chicken, complete with a heavy stack of papers and a photo of the deceased bird. Luckily the chicken, which goes by the name of Collin, had 4 acres to roam. He ate a diet of soy, whey and hazelnuts, and lived on a farm approximately 30 minutes away. Before ordering a meal, the couple decides to double check on Collin’s environment by visiting the farm.

As I watch the show pigging out on high calorie, soy induced ice cream, it seems as if Portland and Iowa City may not be so different after all. In fact, the more I watch the more I get angry at Whole Foods for being corporate, and realize that dumpster diving may not be a shabby gig. The show portrays Portland as strange, yet so inexplicably wonderful.

- Laura

Arctic Sprint

2011-02-09T13:13:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, reportedly 15 minutes of exposure to the four degree weather outside could cause frostbite. Today is not much better with a mere seven degrees and an 11 mph wind chill making it feel like negative nine degrees.
This type of weather leads many UI students to take the most inconvenient route to their classes- walking through every building in sight just to stay warm. And for those too frigid to move, the cold compels groups of student-shaped icicles to wait for lengthy periods of time simply to ride a heated Cambus.
Yes, the UI campus has resembled an arctic town for the past few weeks, with North Face- coated and UGG-booted Eskimos hiding their faces behind their furry hoods on every street corner.
I am disappointed by the groundhog this year- when he didn’t see his shadow he gave me hope for the early arrival of spring but it currently looks like this bitter winter has no end in sight.
On the positive side, the enduring chilly weather has given me the opportunity to practice sprinting as I rush from heated building to heated building to get to my classes. At this rate, I’ll be ready to join the track team by the time spring arrives.

5 Tips for the aspiring movie snob

2011-02-06T21:21:00.003-06:00

Everyone’s got those select few friends who are very enthusiastic about their movie-watching. You know the type. They take great pride in the fact that they spend their free time watching way more movies than you, and they never want you to forget it. I know you’re probably thinking, “How can I be just like them?” Give these five tips a try, and soon you’ll be snobbing it up with the best of them.

1. Laugh independently

Take great care not to laugh too hard at the scenes that all your friends laugh at. This could suggest that they are just as capable of spotting a good laugh as you are. Instead, try laughing extra hard at parts that may only elicit a small chuckle out of your fellow viewers. This will assert the subtle nuances of your perceptive sense of humor and assure those around you that you are indeed the superior movie aficionado.

2. Name drop, name drop, name drop

If possible, do some research before said movie experience and find the name of a quasi-famous supporting actor in the film with a minor enough role that none of your friends will pay attention to him. That is, until you convince them that they need to be paying attention to him. Proceed to call said actor “the man” at every available opportunity, being as broad as possible so that you don’t end up actually having to explain what places this particular actor above the rest. Make sure to enlighten your uninformed friends about how underrated said actor is and make more vague statements about how he or she “steals the show” from some of the actors with lead roles.

3. Know your audience

When suggesting movies to others, do not under any circumstance recommend a movie if there’s a good chance that they’ve heard of it. This works best if you’re familiar with the person you’re talking to. If this person enjoys action movies, for example, present them with a low-budget tragedy. Make sure to say things like, “I loved it, but it’s probably not for you.” This will show off the breadth of your tastes.

4. Utilize social media

Rotten Tomatoes for Facebook is a great tool for movie snobs. After every movie you watch, pass your judgement on it for all the online community to see. The five-star rating system allows you to be just vague enough that if another movie buff calls you out on one of your ratings, you can simply complain that a ten point system would reflect your opinion much more accurately.

5. Stay up to date

The biggest mistake a music snob can make is falling behind. Just imagine the embarrassment you would feel if one of your less cinematically inclined friends happened to mention an upcoming film that you weren’t aware of. To ensure this never happens, religiously scan upcoming movie lists and watch all the movie trailers you can. With a little hard work, you can enjoy movies better than all your friends.

-Riley Ubben

The Next Big Thing... Viral Videos

2011-01-26T20:36:00.002-06:00

Everyone loves discovering the next big thing. Whether it's being that dude who listened to Kid Cudi 6 months before anyone had ever heard Day 'N Nite for the first time ("Dude, this is so old."), or the guy who gathered everyone around his laptop to share with everyone their first Cup Chicks experience, (That was definitely me) everyone loves being first. That's why I'm starting The Next Big Thing. For it's debut, I'm doing viral videos. I will choose videos that have under 1,000 views, and predict their future glory of the million view mark. Enjoy.

1. "Microwave Explosion"

Title says it all, and it's awesome. Try this at home.

MICROWAVE EXPLOSION!!!

2. "The Greatest Sarah Palin Impression... Period."

Move aside Tina Fey, you've met your match.

THE GREATEST SARAH PALIN IMPRESSION EVER!!!

3. "Don't You Wish Your Neighbor Was Hot Like Me"

Don't mess with this guy's fence. (Check out the Captain pose at the end)

CRAZY NEIGHBOR

4. "Yes Officer, That's My Kid..."

This is why Ritalin is necessary.

HYPER KID

5. "Lewis & Clark"

Two of the greatest and noble men of our time.

TWO WISE MEN

Peace,

Evan

Let's Start Over

2011-01-26T17:48:00.001-06:00

The Heligoats box 2 from Snap FM on Vimeo.

We all know how it works, we get a new band to listen to for a week or so and then get tired of them. They become recycled to the bottom of your "most played" list on your iTunes, only to be brought out again at random points of desperation for something new. Occasionally, though we find something special- a band that can keep you riding a high for weeks. I guess you could call it love.

And there's nothing like falling in love with a new band, right? Well, it's happened to me once again, and it was exactly the lift I needed. Something fresh, something that spoke to me in a way that I'd never heard, from a band I'd never heard of. They're called The Heligoats, which is mainly a product of Chris Otepka work. Reading the clever lyrics and listening to his slanted rhymes in songs like "Dark," "The Great Outdoors," and "Fish Sticks" (featured above) left me feeling like I couldn't get enough. I wanted more. The voice and the approach are just so well versed with each other that I had to tell someone about what I'd found. The video above shows how simple, yet beautiful his music is. I love that. I don't know if in a week's time whether the Heligoats will still have my full attention, but at the moment they are THE BEST EVER (caps for emphasis, not fury). We'll see how long that lasts, though, and then I suppose I'll know if this love was "true."

-Eric Hawkinson

Glitter Gone Wild

2011-01-19T13:08:00.012-06:00

Over winter break I spent many days lazily hanging out with my friends and relaxing. One of the many things I did over break that I don't have time to when school is in session is watch YouTube music videos.
My friends and I spent hours browsing the video site for the funniest, weirdest and most pointless videos. My friends especially enjoyed repeatedly watching Ke$ha, Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus's new clips.
I was appalled by Ke$ha's ridiculous attire in "We R Who We R", which include her black blush, trashy ripped American flag t-shirt, not to mention her gold studded eyebrows.
If that wasn’t enough, Cyrus’s “Can’t Be Tamed” video was a disturbing cry for the Disney pop-star to break free from her pre-teen audience and get a different kind of attention. Cyrus tries too hard to be edgy in this video with her bird transformation and intimate dances. This clip seems like Cyrus's poor attempt at mounting to the intensity of Lady Gaga's famed videos.
Katy Perry is the pop princess making the right moves in her new videos, particularly in the free-spirited “Teenage Dream” and the inspiring “Firework.” The “Firework” video touches on issues of, love, death, and self-esteem beautifully with vivid images and strong message of acceptance.

In a few months Spring break will come and I will take my usual seat in front of my laptop, ready to watch the newest YouTube music videos. I can only hope that they will contain much less glitter.

The Best Twwweeets of 2010

2010-12-15T19:12:00.004-06:00

If we learned anything in 2010, besides the side effects of oil, adding mosque to my vocabulary, and how much Arizona loves diversity, it'd have to be that Twitter is here to stay. At first I was amazed by its simplicity. By basically stealing the status update from Facebook, Twitter busted on the scene and made anyone who can type suddenly important. Now here we are at the end of 2010, and it can finally be concluded that Everyone has Twitter. That is, everyone that matters.

And just to clarify that when I say everyone that matters, I mean famous people. Everyone loves famous people, except there's that slight curiosity we repress that tears us apart to know what exactly famous people think throughout the course of their everyday famous lives. Do they wake up everyday and put their pants on one leg at a time? (Or one meat limb at a time, Gaga?) Do they make the same decisions we do? (Hmm... Red or Yellow Ferrari today?) While thanks to Twitter, all our unfulfilled answers of celebrity's most inner thoughts are available to us at our own disposal. So without further ado, I'd like to list the top 5 most inner thoughts from my favorite famous people whom I follow intensely everyday waking minute of my life. Enjoy.

5. 50 Cent (Still keepin' it gangsta via 140 characters or less)

@50CENT: Perez hilton calld me douchebag so I had my homie shoot up a gay wedding. wasnt his but still made me feel better.

I only wish I could be a fly on the wall for 50's therapy sessions.

4. Kevin Jonas (The bad boy of the bros)

@kevinjonas: Bieber fans are talking shit about me? I’m sorry, I can’t hear them. I’m not seated near the kids table…

AWWWW SHIIIAAAAT YOOO! Was dat a Thanksgiving themed insult K-Jo?

3. Kanye West

@kanyewest: i hate when im on a flight & I wake up with a water bottle next 2 me like oh great now i gotta be responsible for this water bottle

Sounds like Yeezy's having a Larry David moment.

2. John McCain

@johnmccain:

@Sn00ki u r right, I would never tax your tanning bed! Pres Obama's tax/spend policy is quite The Situation. but I do rec wearing sunscreen!

He's Hip! He's Fresh! He's familiar with Jersey Shore! McCain 2012!

1. Al Qaeda

@alqaeda: just noticed twitter keeps keeps prompting me to "Add a location to your tweets." not falling for that one.

Damn, there goes all that money spent on intelligence.

by: EvAn ClArK

Bon Hiver

2010-12-07T19:03:00.007-06:00

So says the French phrase meaning, "good winter." Eau Claire, Wisconsin musician Justin Vernon, aptly named his band Bon Iver several years ago, which has gained an emerging presence in today's music. The project took inspiration during a time where Vernon was in lowly stances. He had lost a band, a girl friend, and suffered from mononucleosis. With six years of pain behind him, Vernon escaped to northern Wisconsin in the middle of winter, where he could take solace in the tranquil, remote cabin. In his three-month stay, he poured his emotion into a debut album titled For Emma, Forever Ago. The unique composition of vocal harmonies, "entangled lyrics", and layers of ambiance gives listeners a sense of Vernon's emotion. The album, recorded solely by Vernon himself, blew up across the nation. He took on other musicians to create a touring band, one that has been all over the world. The story of his success is fascinating to many, but the music Bon Iver creates has an even stronger effect.

Here's their most recognizable song, "Skinny Love", performed live.

Bon Iver "Skinny Love" from Isaac Day on Vime

Bon Iver, comprised of Vernon, Michael Noyce, Sean Carey, and Matthew McCaughan, is currently on a long break after touring for three years. But they will be back. For those who can't get enough Bon Iver, especially during these winter months, keep your Friday night open. At the Mill,120 East Burlington St, Bon Iver’s Sean Carey will perform his first solo album, in which he took heavy inspiration from Vernon’s style. Carey also draws from many other bands and musicians he’s seen while on tour, and has truly created a unique sound that is vast and natural in each composition. Here’s a sample of Carey’s brilliance in the song, “In The Dirt.”

In My Room: S Carey "In the Dirt" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

The group, titled S. Carey, takes the stage Friday night at 9 p.m. Admission is $8 in advanced, and $10 at the door. This is set up to be a great winter show, especially with opening act, White Hinterland. The electronic group is led by the vocals of Casey Dienel. Check them out before you go also.

Begin Again from leif peterson on Vimeo.

Oh, and "Bon hiver, mes amis. Passé de bonnes vacances!"

-Eric Hawkinson

Getting Into the Holiday Spirit with a Cinematic Classic

2010-12-07T18:09:00.004-06:00

Home Alone never gets old. It is one of those movies that people watch over and over, especially around the holidays. The heartwarming comedy is arguably one of the best holiday films made since the beginning of the 90s.

Anyway, one of the best things about Home Alone are the iconic quotes that stick with kids as they grow up watching the movie dozens of times. Therefore, here is a countdown of the top 5 quotes from the original Home Alone movie:

5. "This is extremely important. Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back. No toys, nothing but Peter, Kate, Buzz, Megan, Linnie and Jeff. And my aunt and my cousins. And in a few years time, my Uncle Frank. Okay?"

4. "This is my house, I have to defend it."

3. "Keep the change ya filthy animal."

2. "Look whatcha did ya little jerk!"

1. "Buzz, your girlfriend. Woof. "

Watch a clip from Home Alone here!!

So as finals week approaches and your brain turns to mush from writing too many papers or making hundreds of flash cards, this movie is a great way to sit back, relax, and get ready for the holidays.

-By Hannah Kramer

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2010 - whoa.

2010-11-30T22:16:00.003-06:00

Every year when the time for the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion show comes along, guys go wild and girls are either green with envy or obsessed with the idea of looking like one of the angels.

This year is no exception.

The televised fashion extravaganza is a marketing dream.

The models look amazing, the costumes are inventive, and what girl, or guy with a lady friend, wouldn't want to buy some of Vicky's undies if putting them on made girls look like those models.

It is truly a spectacle - especially with the inclusion of A-list music artist like Katy Perry and Akon.

The part about the show that I find most comical are the camera shots, which often close up on parts of the models that other fashion shows don't highlight... mainly the areas covered by the six inches of fabric on the models' bodies. I'm just sayin'... I'm sure there is no better place for a straight guy to be than behind the lens of that camera during the show.

All jokes aside, I give props to the models, designers, and coordinators of the event. Every year they put together a show that out-does the year before.

This year's highlight: the "wild" jungle animal print themed series of costumes. A+.

-By Hannah Kramer

Why choose Uggs?

2010-11-17T15:05:00.004-06:00

The other day I was walking to Burge with a friend from my spanish class. I happened to be wearing my gray sweater Uggs with my sweatpants tucked inside.

My friend looked down at my feet and asked, "Why do so many girls wear those? What's wrong with normal shoes?"

As I tried to convince him that not only are they the easiest shoe to put on, but they are also the most comfortable and not to mention warm, I started to think about his question,"Why do so many girls wear them?"

I don't think anyone is quite positive as to when the Ugg craze started, it just kind of did. It was a new trend that everyone was participating in, and if you didn't have them you were missing out on what some might call a shoe epidemic.

Sure they are comfortable and you don't have to deal with the hassle of tying shoe laces, but now that I think about it, the Ugg boot isn't a very good looking shoe. It's actually dare I say . . . ugly.

Of course, this won't stop me from wearing them and it won't stop people from buying the latest style, but it's something to think about. Will people ever realize that Uggs are actually an ugly shoe? Will this Ugg craze ever end?

-Samantha Gentry

Carpe diem

2010-11-17T14:16:00.007-06:00

Yesterday, I overheard a conversation between two girls sitting and talking about their upcoming week.

“God, I will be so happy once this week is over,” said one to the other.

It was a normal conversation, and a normal thought to have. Many times in my own experiences, I’ve said to myself that once I get past a certain point, I could finally be happy. It didn’t occur to me until later that what they said was actually intriguing. Happiness is something that everyone seeks, a universal goal. But someone tell me why happiness is always pushed aside by ordinary circumstances? I don’t suppose you could tell me the meaning of life while you’re at it.

- Eric Hawkinson

Just Whip, Don't Grind

2010-11-10T21:24:00.004-06:00

Willow Smith’s song “Whip My Hair” has become an obsession all over campus. I must have heard the song playing from eight different dorm rooms this week. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s daughter has also become very popular in the entertainment industry since her single dropped. Her new single has climbed to the top of the music charts and her performance of the dance recently appeared on Ellen.
There is no wonder why “Whip My Hair” has had such sudden popularity- it’s a great song to dance to. My friends and I have definitely whipped our hair back and forth a few times to this song, occasionally getting whiplash.
The one negative thing about this craze on campus is that many people are doing more than just “whipping their hair back and forth” when they dance to this song. This is a song people grind to. And when I say grind I mean pretty much doing everything but having sex on the dance floor. People are grinding to a 10 year-old’s song. Something about this idea makes me cringe. People have the right to dance the way they want but I feel that it is inappropriate to grind to a 10 year-old’s pre-pubescent voice.
Please people, limit your dirty dancing to songs by artists who have at least graduated from grade school. But feel free to whip your hair back and forth!

Manny don't need no comforting

2010-11-10T14:21:00.004-06:00

Music is powerful. It can move you, in more ways than one. It can change your feelings, your thoughts. It can inspire you. This song, "Right Me Up" by State Radio really shows the effect music can have.

State Radio, out of Boston, has special ties to those with handicaps, and disabilities. Lead singer, Chad Stokes, was a councilor at Camp Jaberwockee, a summer camp for the disabled in Massachusetts, when he found the inspiration for this song. He wrote it about one of his campers, Manny Furtado, who despite all his setbacks, still manages to find joy in whatever happens. It's a moving story, a beautiful video, and a great song. I definitely needed to rethink myself after watching.

Sometimes music can put things into perspective. Sometimes we just need to smile at life, like Manny would.

-Eric Hawkinson

Say Cheese

2010-11-03T13:30:00.005-05:00

My grandmother is known for playing paparazzi. As she opens her door to greet me, I am instantly blinded by a white flash of light. I see my life unfold in front of my eyes until I realize that it is only her camera. Her mustard yellow, grocery store bought, “old-school” film camera.

For years I have nagged her to go digital. She has a cell phone, DVD player, and even satellite television, but she refuses to buy an SLR camera.
“Grandma, this Canon 7D would look wonderful in your home,” I say.
“I will just get a nice plant instead,” she replies.

I try to convince her that digital software allows individuals to alter ISO, aperture, and shutter speeds to their hearts content, yet she still ignores my pleas. This is why, when my multimedia class assignment consisted of a photo slideshow using a simple Kodak point and shoot camera, my jaw hit the floor.

I began my photo adventure with a negative outlook. Yet the more I snapped photos, my attitude drastically changed. Without technology I could really test my eye. It wasn’t a matter of adjusting camera modes but of where objects were placed. Every shot looked more candid compared to my previous shots on digital cameras. Furthermore, I was excited to get photos developed. I felt like a child waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve.

This experiment has persuaded me to not save up for the latest and greatest camera, but to use equipment that my dear granny still finds hip. I prefer not knowing what is not beneath the LCD screen, and finding out in a pleasant, or unfortunate surprise.
-Laura Willis

Journey of Music

2010-11-03T02:14:00.001-05:00

There is one universal constant that makes the world go round specifically. That is music. No matter what is going on, whatever situation develops you can bet there is a song for it. From Patsy Cline's "Crazy" to Justin Timberlake’s "Sexy Back" music is an expression of life at its most human. It is a journey into the fleeting moment, which is how I came upon this gentleman named Kevin "B.F." Burt. These days most popularity "in the biz" as they call it is very much who is wearing what (or not wearing) is very fickle with no concern with true artistry, causing the listener to have an experience that draws you in to listen to that track again and again. My first allegiance is to rock, second to techno and the third slot I save for musical theater just because I’m partial to bursting into song.

Rhythm and Blues has never been on my radar. Listening to his rendition of “Crazy Love” I felt like I had somehow been transported back to a simpler time and place. Afterward Mr. Burt handed me his card, very simply I might add "to make my job easier." That action couldn't have been further from the truth. For me, my job was that much harder; because there is only so much one can say about music that takes you along for the ride.

~Brittany Hall

THE ONLY HALLOWEEN MOVIES YOU NEED TO SEE THIS WEEKEND

2010-10-28T18:09:00.001-05:00

What's the best part about Halloween? Getting toothbrushes from your dentist neighbor? Realizing that every kid on the block has copied your Edward Cullen costume? The Exorcist chick getting a little too close to you in the haunted corn maze? Enough questions, the best part of Halloween is the excuse to watch completely graphic, twisted, psychotic horror movies, duh. Any other month besides October is just plain awkward to watch scary movies. (Who watches Paranormal Activity in February?) But everyone’s already seen every good scary movie out there, (You mean you haven’t seen Saw 3?) So in celebration for All Hallows Eve, I’ve accumulated the top five cheesiest scary movies to pop in the blue ray to get your terror on. Read on if you dare…

5. KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE (1988): Everybody hates clowns. They are the opposite of Raymond. (Insert laugh track here) And the title of a killer clown from outer space shrieks out pure terror. But when you throw in atrocious special effects, cheesy 80’s soundtracks, and the dude who plays Dean Wormer in Animal House as the skeptic local Sherriff, killer klowns become kute and kuddily. While the title basically gives away the plot, just listen to the voice over in this trailer for everything you need to know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHXy8DpF5k0

4. HALLOWEEN 3: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982): Michael Myers is the epitome of Halloween. He is hands down the scariest bastard alive. His mask is an inside out William Shatner from Star Trek mask, that reeks of pure fear. He is the face of the Halloween franchise. So can someone please tell me what the hell the producers of Halloween 3 were thinking when they completely left poor Michael out of the third installment of the greatest Halloween movie series ever? Even when you take away the fact that Michael isn’t in the movie, you’re still left with the plot that revolves around children’s masks that possess kids to kill people. This movie would even make Michael cringe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tvVla5AHmA

3. THE GINGERDEAD MAN (2005): The-I mean-what? Gingerdead what? And did I just see Gary Busey shoot up a diner? Dude, just watch the trailer. (“What is it?” “Well it sure ain’t the #%$^& Pillsbury Doughboy!”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsOtcEOkJ-I

2. LEPRECHAUN: IN THE HOOD (2000): It was hard to just choose one flick out of the Leprechaun series, but Leprechaun: In The Hood is just too much. Shout out to Ice-T, who probably got his role on Law & Order SVU just from keeping it together as his character Mack Daddy O'Nassas during filming. (Sidenote, if you loved Leprechaun: In The Hood, you’ll love Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood!) Here’s what should’ve been the trailer to this movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8

1. Troll 2 (1990): Just because it features the single greatest climatic scene in cinematic history. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyophYBP_w4

Evan Clark

Finding Humor in a Realistic Nightmare

2010-10-20T12:25:00.006-05:00

I have a newly found appreciation for the humor in the movie "Knocked Up."

Sitting at home, flipping through the channels during my break between classes, I stop

ped on a station playing "Knocked Up." I saw this movie in theaters and was repulsed by the concept of having a child with a stranger, and also, how realistic the portrayal of getting pregnant after a one-night stand is.

It is hard to tell what would be more frightening... finding out you are unexpectedly pregnant, or finding out that the guy who will be the father of your child is a jobless stoner without any motivation besides starting a porn website.

After I took a moment to step back and accept the movie for what it is supposed to be - funny, it was a lot easier for me to enjoy and separate it from reality.

The opposition in Alison and Ben's lives set up innumerable hilarious moments. The high-strung entertainment broadcaster, Alison, is constantly anxious, worried, and fearful of what will happen to her future and her baby's. Ben seems mostly concerned about how he will confront this situation like a man, despite his empty wallet and less than stellar resumé.

As a woman, it would seem that I would sympathize more for Alison in the film, which was true upon my first viewing. After watching it again, Ben's character is more likable than I ever considered. It would have been very easy for him to ditch Allison and leave her without any support in the situation. He actually deals with the opps! and helps Allison along the way.

For any haters out there, I recommend watching the film again. Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogan build a relationship with their acting and comedic abilities that make the film relatable, heartwarming, and more than anything - full of laughs.

But really, if you find yourself out to celebrate a promotion, or birthday, or pretty much anything worth celebrating, it might be smart to spare that last shot at the bars. It may be the difference between becoming a parent or maintaining a successful career.

A reminder of what you will find in "Knocked Up"

My Childhood

2010-10-19T19:52:00.002-05:00

Hide and Seeeek! Personally, I can’t remember the last time I played. Due to this poster I might have to give it some thought. With my life over run by things like 500 dollar bills and paying student loans. Methinks I am not the only person that needs to unwind and unleash my inner child. And it’s free. Due to the economy recently that has become one of my favorite words. Which got me thinking what other games do I have fond memories of could I play with complete strangers with abandon? I came up with this list:

1) Dodgeball

2) Red Rover

3) Tag

4) Heads Up, Seven Up

5) Hot Lava

~Brittany Hall

The Burger Dilemma

2010-10-13T19:38:00.004-05:00

I’ll admit it...I am a foodie. I care more about what type of aoli (a fancy word for mayonnaise) is on my cheeseburger than most. In fact I would go so far to say that I am the “Alton Brown” of my family. On any given day on the week most often you’ll find me watching shows like Man VS Food, Iron Chef America or Barefoot Contessa thinking up ways to turn the contents of my college budget refrigerator into a meal that could cause Hubert Keller to bow down in worship the wake that is my culinary greatness.

So when on a trip home to Des Moines I discovered the existence of a hamburger named “The Luther” I had to check it out, just for my own geeky sanity. Supposedly it is named after the departed R & B star Luther Vandross consisting of a ¼ lb. hamburger patty between two Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a slice of cheddar cheese and strips of bacon. There is a version in Des Moines that you buy for 5 dollars at The Iowa Machine Shed. At a whopping 1,500 calories per burger, eating it could possibly induce a coma.Wanting my curiosity satisfied I performed the dreaded Google search and discovered even more; regional varieties including fried eggs and chocolate covered bacon. Among the results was also a cartoon series named "The Boondocks" by Aaron McGruder which features the now famous burger in an episode titled “The Itis.” (the video clip is hyper-linked to the title)

What is it about the discovery of hot new food items that causes it to be linked high calorie, high fat yet oh so delicious is taking this to the extreme. For those of you who don’t know 2000 calories is daily requirement for most human beings….DAILY. So imagine having 3 of these one for breakfast lunch and dinner...Whoa boy! I am all for trying new things but not if it causes a heart attack. I am a wimp that way, but at least I’ll be standing after all the eating is done.

-Brittany Hall

Not sure I could walk a day in their shoes...

2010-10-13T18:32:00.005-05:00

10 Conclusions about the "Teen Mom" Finale:

1. As attractive as Macy's ex-fiance Ryan is, he is not the ideal model of a father. Her heartfelt tears at their appointment to set a schedule for Bentley showed how dedicated she is to her role as a mother. Thumbs up Macy!

2. Gary (Amber's ex-fiance) has earned brownie points in my book every episode this season. I am proud that he grew a pair and stood up to Amber about a schedule for taking care of Leah. Also, the way that he stays calm when Amber freaks out at him is beyond me. I would be tempted to smack that fake tan and eyeliner off of her face as soon as she opened her mouth.

3. Congrats on the weight loss Amber, but you are still trashy.

4. Farrah and her mom aren't fooling anyone with their lovey family hugfest at the end of the episode. Farrah is still a brat and her mom is still a judgmental head case. I guess some things just don't change.

5. Both of the new beaus on the show, Chris - Amber's ex-con boy toy, and Julien - Farrah's hairstyling hottie, are weirdos. Amber's selection doesn't surprise me, she probably loves that this guy told her he wanted to marry her on the first date (creepy). But Farrah, you act like the sun shines out of your you-know-what and you choose to go out with this guy who colored your dull roots. Weird.

6. Tyler and Catelynn may not be the most attractive individuals, but their offspring must have gotten the best of both gene pools. Carly is adorable.

7. Bentley wins best dressed "Teen Mom" tot. His Run DMC shirt was bomb. Classic vintage style for this little guy.

8. Does anyone else find it interesting that the only couple who is still together since the show's original air date is the couple (Tyler and Catelynn) that no longer has their child? My sympathy goes out to Farrah and I can't imagine losing someone you love, especially when you are having a child with him. Props go out to Macy for dumping a loser like Ryan, but she loses a couple points for moving her whole life just for a new boyfriend, like Kyle. Amber needs to be medicated for her psychotic episodes, grow up, and realize that Gary was a good guy for her (he might deserve better though.)

9. I wonder if Farrah knows what her face looks like when she cries. She is a pretty girl, but that face is quite frightening. She should try to warn people before the tears start to flow.

10. I can't believe I am going to admit this, but I was close to tears when Tyler and Catelynn gave Carly the storybook with the audio of their voices. The visit they had with their daughter showed individual maturity in both of them, as well as maturity as a couple. It is clear that they made the right choice to keep Carly out of their houses, which are tainted with cigarette smoke and drug addicts (and I'm not talking about Tyler and Catelynn.)

Tune into all of the season 2 episodes of "Teen Mom" here.

KARDIASH ARREST

2010-10-05T22:44:00.002-05:00

Kardashian. What does that name mean to you? Around fifteen years ago, that name was partially responsible for one of the greatest atrocities our judicial system has ever allowed. Robert Kardashian was a member of the Monstar (Yes, that’s a Space Jam reference) legal defense team that OJ Simpson assembled for his case. A case so notorious, that even while it occurred at a period in my life where my deepest questions lied within choosing between Snack Packs or Dunkaroo’s (Dunkaroo’s till the day I die) to be included as dessert in my red Power Ranger lunchbox, I still couldn’t understand how a glove not fitting justified acquitting.

The point is that we should’ve seen this coming. Millions of American’s hearts sank as Robert passionately hugged his dearest friend on October 3^rd, 1995, but we must’ve been so overwhelmed with OJ that we didn’t see who the real enemy was. The man who hatched the plan to marry a self indulgent money grubbing wannabe Milf, go onto conceive three completely oblivious and spoiled rotten whores, along with some dude who not only looks like but acts more useless than Vinny on the at least humorous Jersey Shore, and then completely brainwash over four million people every week for the past five years into getting sucked into the inescapable deathly black hole that is Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

I only write about the Kardashians because of a recent phenomenon I’ve discovered. Every time I’m channel surfing, I normally come across the E! channel. (Which must stand for Excrement!) And every time I stumble across the E! channel, there happens to be a Kardashian marathon on! What I’ve found is that if you don’t change the channel within five seconds of being exposed to the Kardashians, you will then find yourself in a trance. Time will stand still as you zone out all of your surroundings and your brain will then inhabit the mindset of a Kardashian. When you inherit the mental state of a Kardashian, no thoughts or emotions will enter or leave your body. You feel nothing. You aren’t even aware of the fact that you are alive; let alone watching a television program. You become one of them. I call this experience Kardiash Arrest. To the non Kardashian viewer, Kardiash Arrest normally lasts for around a minute, till you snap back into reality, and ask yourself, “What the hell just happened?” But within that minute, you are totally powerless. It’s similar to the experiences of suspected alien abductees. You don’t recall what exactly has just taken place, only that you feel something isn’t right. You try to continue with your existence and everyday activities, but you know you’ll never be the same. Innocence is lost. The fact that you took a peek into the window of their lives will forever be with you. This is how it starts. Now that the seed is planted, the next time you are channel surfing and find yourself rollin’ on E! with the Kardashians, your time experienced in Kardiash Arrest will increase, and can multiply severely. Five years in the making, and millions of viewers later, the name Kardashian holds a special place within your subconscious. Your familiarity with their show will spark mixed emotions every time someone drops a K bomb. You could potentially even find yourself in a discussion of their recent trip to New Orleans that ended in heartbreak and tragedy, with a few laughs along the way. And that’s when you know you’ve reached the point of no return. Watching full episodes between studying, exploring the on demand button on your remote control for more juicy gossip, and just when you think you’ve injected the whole supply, you find yourself shooting up with the recent Khloe and Kourtney reality show spin off. It’s anything to get your fix at this point.

But I want to help. I want to make a difference. I don’t want to see any more of my fellow Americans hooked on this phase any longer. (Especially now that we’ve finally conquered that dreaded soccer phase again. Why don’t we make it every 12 years to really increase the excitement!) That’s why I’m taking one for the team. I’m going to engage in watching an entire episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, while analyzing every second and detail of whatever they endure. My hope is that by reading the utter insanity and insignificance that I will endure for the next half hour, you and millions like yourself will be spared of experiencing any of the Kardiash Arrest epidemic that has swept our beloved nation. As for me? I only pray that I find the strength to fight off my K.A. after this whole ordeal is done. God speed…

I’m currently flipping through the on demand menu, finally finding the Excrement! Section. Hmm, look at all the options we have. Girls Next Door? Nah, I’m not twelve and don’t have access to the internet. Holly’s World? As if the other two didn’t have enough personality. But I ignore my raging hormones and trot on. I’m clicking on the Kardashian menu and browsing through the episode titles. Let’s see, here’s what we have. “Weekend from Hell”?

“Kourtney arranges a special weekend trip to Santa Barbara to spend time with her sisters before her baby arrives. But when she’s left out of some activities, Kourtney question if she’ll ever be close with her sisters again. See the drama unfold!”

Oh I just may description from Mediacom! Who honestly as the job of writing a synopsis for the on demand menu of Keeping Up With The Kardashians? Whoever they are, I see reminiscence of Hemmingway. The next one is titled “I Want Your Sex”… I guess I’ll check this one out.

“Khloe makes a “love tape” for her hubby Lamar…”

Ok, think I’m gonna take a rain check on that one. Here we go. “Blame the Alcohol”. It says that Kim is celebrating her 29^th birthday, damn 29? That’s almost over the hill in E! years I thought. So they’re partying in Vegas, some drama unfolds, and some dude named Scott apparently gets belligerent during the b-day dinner, and I’m assuming Scott is some lazy pile that is willing to put up with the Kardashian who’s a 6 at best in order to milk that money machine. Oh who am I kidding, that guy probably has it made. The only problem is it’s 45 minutes long… Screw it, this is in the name of journalism.

The first advertisement for tonight’s episode is presented by Cesar, canine cuisine. Clearly the target audience shows us this show is recommended for people who are willing to spend 12 dollars a can for some sloshed up raw meat that could’ve came from Shrek’s swamp for a species that communicates by sniffing each other’s butts. This is going to be the longest 45 minutes ever.

OMG! It’s about to go down! They just showed a minute long preview of what were getting ourselves into tonight, and from what I’ve gathered (For some reason I feel I sound like a reporter for the Weather Channel who’s stationed right in Hurricane Katrina describing the destruction that is happening all around me to two white male and female anchors sitting in an air conditioned TV set, who are secretly hooking up.) Whoever this Scott guy is semi looks like Christian Bale, and proceeds to get extremely drunk and be huge jerk to everyone… Wait, maybe that was Christian Bale.

We start with Kim and some moron who apparently is the CEO of something out to a fancy dinner, where I can only imagine what it would be like for me to go on a date with Kim.

“So… How’s the food?”

“Oh my God Evan, it’s so good.”

“See Kim, I told you the Ahi tuna was to die for!”

“Haha, oh my God, you’re so right Evan.”

“Haha, yes Kim I am! Haha, ha, ha… So, who’s bigger? Ray Jay or Reggie?”

They start talking about her upcoming birthday, and cue the dramatic piano and steady close up as Kim gets real about some drama that was supposed to go down.

TEXTING TALLY: 1

I’m currently shaking my head. Kim explains to me that she doesn’t want to celebrate her birthday in Vegas because she has to, cough, ahem, work.

“But I have to work, I mean, come on.”

I see that Ryan Seacrest is an executive producer. He’s just always finding talent, that guy.

So do they all live in the same house? Kim just walks into her home and immediately starts yelling for her mother like a sixteen year old who totaled the beamer backing out of the garage. She goes to her mother’s room, where she asks her mother told someone she’s celebrating her birthday in Vegas. Here’s a God honest quote from the Botox wonder herself.

“Kim, you work 364 days a year? Don’t you think it’s time for a little break?”

Scratch that, she just one upped it in her one on one camera confession.

“Kim has been working hard, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.”

I’m at a loss for words.

“You’re not made of steel Kim!”

TEXTING TALLY: 2

Oh my God, Christian Bale! He’s shopping with Kourtney, whom after a quick camera confession, I now downgrade to a 5 at best. (Maybe she’s born with it, or maybe it’s way too much Maybelline)

Now the whole family is gathered in the kitchen, where they proceed to analyze a photo of Kim that is very revealing, and they engage in a family debate over the authenticity of Kim’s breasts and buttocks. Literally, every member of the Kardashian family is talking about Kim’s T&A for about twenty seconds. (TEXTING TALLY 3) Then the talking lip injection (Mz. Kardash) reveals to us that she recently got Kourtney’s boyfriend Bale a new job, because to put it frankly, Bale wasn’t doing diddly. Kourtney comments on how her mother is always too harsh for Bale, then the father says something completely useless, leading me to question what the hell this guy does again, prompting a quick Wikipedia search, finding he’s an Olympic athlete, then Khloe calls the group on speakerphone and swears at everyone for not paying attention to her, then they all start yelling at each other while Fake Vinny chills in the corner drinking a Sprite Zero, all leading up to…

You know what? I can’t do it. I’m only eight minutes into this odyssey and my head is nearly about to explode with more drama than a Tuesday night on TNT. Look at me, play by playing something more meaningless than a NFL preseason game. I’ve officially experienced Kardiash Arrest for eight minutes straight. But I’ve impressed myself. I was basically four dream layers down into conceiving the inception when I suddenly felt the kick that sprung me back to reality and minutes away from being in limbo forever. (So did you see it? OMG! What do you think! I think the dreidel doesn’t stop spinning!... I’m really banking that you’ve seen Inception) But maybe I survived for a reason. Maybe I’ve been chosen. I’ve been to hell and back. I am the One. I have been unplugged, and I need to warn you people. I don’t know the future. I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it’s going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you. (Cue badass Rage Against the Machine music… Matrix anyone? I need to cool it on the sci-fi movie references…)

-Evan Clark

Reality Music

2010-10-05T21:18:00.009-05:00

I like when people make music.

We live in a computer driven world, and our music has changed with it. Advances in recording technology have opened the door for many new genres of music. It’s also given a wider range of people the ability to create on their own, without the cost of hiring a band and studio time. That’s great and all, but my ear still knows what’s real. Computers make sound, but people make music.

Musikmob #09: Rue Royale - "Tell Me When You Go" from Musikmob on Vimeo.

This particular video, shown above, is a small testament to that notion. The band, Rue Royale, is comprised of Brooklyn and Ruth Dekker. The couple began their music career in Chicago following their heart for music. Four years later, they are touring throughout Europe and have played in over 350 shows.

They are a breathe of fresh air.

Rue Royale plays organically. Every song is believable and understood because it’s simplified. It’s just a man with his guitar joining voice with a woman and her percussion- a relationship that evokes emotion in its harmony.

It’s easier to hear the message when it’s simplified. Playing your song backstage in a stair well should be the definition of simplified. It’s a performance where the focus is the music, and the video footage coincides with the nature of the music. Something real, which seems to be hard to find these days.

Although its real in its form, I know there’s nothing especially moving about this video. It's kind of short and uneventful, but it made me smile when I watched it. The smile was genuine, so I thought I’d share it.

-Eric Hawkinson

America's Funnyman returns to Iowa City

2010-09-22T23:38:00.003-05:00

Comedian Neil Hamburger will be performing tonight at the Mill. For those who don't know who he is, he's like today's version of Tony Clifton (Andy Kaufman's alter-ego). With his greasy comb-over, large glasses, and rude attitude, his shows make for some interesting and over-the-top comedy. Don't go to his show expecting some simple laughs. You may have to hold yourself back from wanting to throw your drink in his face. Hamburger tends to clear his throat a lot and make jokes that some people may find crass, obnoxious and even offensive. Youtube sensation and yo yo jedi master K-Strauss will start the night out. The show starts around 9 p.m. and admission is only $10, a bargain for seeing such a comedian. You can read more on him in today's 80 Hours.

-Jason M. Larson

jason-m-larson@uiowa.edu