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Consider the Alternative

I bet your mother told you that it is never a bad idea to try new things. When it comes to female pop stars, I'm going to tell you the same. With Lana Del Rey's release of "Paradise," her third EP, music fans get to enjoy an alternative to the regular rotation of female pop stars. Even I will admit there is more to life than Lady Gaga and Ke$ha. In fact, it's pretty easy to find some innovative pop songstresses who will treat your earlobes to their delightful sonic confections. And let's face it, you're pretty basic if you aren't making an effort to move beyond what's playing on the radio. Whether you want to hit the dance floor or satiate your sadness on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry's and a rom-com, there is a pop star out there to suit any one of your moods. Here's a list of the top female pop stars that you should be listening to but probably aren't already.

Campus Cafes by Claire

If you go wandering down the grand spiral staircase of the Mendoza College of Business, adorned with lights and Christmas garland, you'll eventually find Café Commons, hidden away in the hallways of the basement. It's a perfect place to get a quick bite, and students and faculty alike come here to enjoy the trendy new furniture and calm atmosphere.

Wreck-It Ralph' Nostalgic Fun for All

"Wreck-It Ralph" is Disney Animation's latest feature film following an arcade villain of the same name. The movie is a genuine and well-developed story of finding oneself and identity outside of the labels placed on us. At the same time, "Wreck-It Ralph" is an ode to gamers and retro video games, spotlighting beloved characters like Sonic, Q-bert and Pac-man. Regardless of any preconceived notions of how Disney will handle the beloved "Star Wars" franchise, their incredible use of licensed games and characters in "Wreck-It Ralph" is certainly a good sign. Overall, the movie, in typical Disney fashion, is a good-hearted feel-good movie that has enough humor and allusions to appeal to kids and adults alike. The movie's namesake, Ralph, is a typical arcade "bad guy" whose days consist of smashing the same building of condos while Fix-It Felix Jr. uses his magic hammer to repair any of Ralph's wreckage. After a long day's work of wrecking, Ralph heads home to the neighborhood dump filled with broken bricks and his stump. On the game's 30th anniversary, and after being left out of the party the other characters were throwing, Ralph becomes fed up with being a bad guy and just once wants to be the hero. Moving from game to game, Ralph tries to find a good fit where he can in fact be a hero, win that shiny medal and be accepted in his own game as a friend and member of society. In the process, Ralph goes to a Halo-esque military combat game and a polar opposite candy-coated go-kart racing game. Filled with puns and references to games from our past, "Wreck-It Ralph" is sure to become a Disney classic. John C. Reilly is the voice of Ralph and puts on a performance on par with his from "Step Brothers." While not personally the biggest fan of Sarah Silverman and her typically juvenile humor, her character Vanellope suited her persona well, of course with a fair share of "doody" jokes. It would be tough to find a better person to play the intense female military commander than Jane Lynch, but the character's romantic encounters with Jack McBrayer's Fix-It Felix Jr. are beyond awkward. Still, the casting as a whole was surprisingly great for the movie. It should not take much to convince one to watch a vintage heart-warming Disney movie, and "Wreck-It Ralph" is no break from the tradition. Using retro gaming and classic characters as vehicles in the movie only adds to the story and provides more than enough for the college-aged viewer to feel nostalgic about. Be sure to take your little brothers and sisters to see it when you go home for the Thanksgiving holiday - you won't be disappointed. Contact Amkur Chawla at achawla@nd.edu

Bond Back With A Bang

Whether or not you go into "Skyfall" as a Bond fan, you'll definitely leave as one. "Skyfall" exceeds expectations of a Bond movie, fully bringing 007 to the modern day in spectacular cinematic style. After an impressive reboot with "Casino Royale" and an average but forgettable sequel in "Quantum of Solace," the four-year wait for "Skyfall" was well worth it. The task of the iconic opening sequence song is given to Adele, who more than rises to the challenge in the song she performed and co-wrote. The moody, emotional piece already on playlists across the country sets the movie's tone. The movie has barely begun, but from the opening song you immediately get drawn into the story. The "Skyfall" beginning is as psychedelic, artistic and kaleidoscopic as ever, consisting of artsy underwater scenes featuring blood, fire and of course, silhouettes of women. Though at times very self aware and abstract, paired with Adele's smooth and haunting voice, it works to create the darkness and the beauty of the film. As far as characterization, "Skyfall" doesn't feature the reckless, cocky Bond of "Casino Royale." Instead, it's an aging, vulnerable Bond being dragged down from the beginning. The audience sees their once-confident hero fight against dark forces and the inevitability of time passing, his true humanity brought out through his weaknesses. M is featured in "Skyfall" much more, too, played so well by the sharp, strong Judi Dench, of whom we see a new side. Another fun bonus is the introduction of Q (Ben Whishaw), the witty, clever brains behind the technology, often comically contrasting Bond's rugged violence. It wouldn't be a Bond film without a sexy, foreign femme fatale or two for Bond to tangle verbally and physically with (this time a more kick-butt, intelligent female is around to challenge Bond as well.) However, Bond isn't so much absorbed with a woman like in "Quantum of Solace," but a dangerous new villain who has infiltrated too close to home and made the battle personal. This movie also doesn't have the brutal physicality in its action scenes as Daniel Crag's Bond has had in the past. The chase and fight scenes are still prominent and charged with breathless action, but are more stylistic and mesmerizing deadly dances. This moment in Bond history makes a point to define itself as a cultural force in a new modern time while still paying homage to Bonds past. The movie reminds the audience of the true "British-ness" of Bond with scenes all over historic London and more of a locational presence in the iconic city. The plot follows the international scandal of the British Secret Service and the dangerous consequences of a hacker villain. Even a viewer who has never seen anything Bond will be dazzled by the scenes of international travel - from the glamorous, glowing neon of Shanghai to the scenic, rustic hills of Scotland. "Skyfall" not only is a good Bond movie, but an all-out stunning, thrilling movie for today. The cinematography at times is art in motion, seamlessly blending beautiful and dramatic shots with the action of the story and the emotional stakes of Bond and M. The score sucks you into the action of the chase, the intensity of the fight and the drama of the emotions and the intricacy of the new technology. "Skyfall" is a promising and exciting new chapter in Bond history, electrifying for devoted fans and pulling in new ones by being so darn good. Contact Claire Stephens at cstephe4@nd.edu

Twilight' and Notre Dame Football

"The Hobbit," a children's fantasy book following a diminutive adventurer and an enigmatic wizard as they battle dragons, trolls and magic, hit the shelves in 1937. In 1950, four English children stumbled through a wardrobe and into a land of lions and legends in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." In between, Frank Leahy led the Notre Dame football team to four AP national championships.

Know Thy Shelf

Texts, emails, tweets, Facebook messages, snapchats, pings, letters, pokes, iMessage - which one doesn't belong? It doesn't take an SAT whiz to figure this one out. Letters don't seem to fit into our modern landscape of communication. This is an unfortunate side effect of our efficient, economic, environmentally-friendly new system of email and instant messaging. Letters are an intensely personal and cathartic way to develop and deepen relationships. It doesn't matter if you're writing to your sister on the other side of the country or to the cutie in organic chemistry. Sitting down and putting pen to paper is the next best thing to a face-to-face conversation. Not only does writing down your thoughts help organize and clarify how you want to say something, it also helps you understand what you are trying to say. People talk about how they sometimes compose angry emails to vent. That annoyance doesn't seem so important once you actually see your complaint composed on paper. Letters force us to really consider what we are putting into words. Typed, instant messages are more likely to be regretted. Letters provide the same release without the danger of the "send" button accidentally clicked. They can be revised, restructured and reworded to fit the message you're trying to send. Perhaps the most important part about writing letters is the stationery. Letters give people the excuses to obsess over stores like Papyrus and Hallmark. Calligraphy pens and cardstock letterheads beckon like catnip. Sending a letter lets your personalize your signature in more ways than one. Letters are also a wonderful form of memorabilia, a record for you to look back on. When you're feeling sentimental, what sounds more appealing: scrolling through a litany of texts and abbreviations on a tiny screen, or keeping important letters to frame on your wall or tucked into your journal? Most Notre Dame students probably have their acceptance letters still tacked on their bulletin boards. Cards from grandparents, love letters from deceased spouses and notes scrawled by a marker-wielding kindergartener decorate refrigerators and living room walls. When we're dead and gone, will our children spend hours ticking through tweets to figure our what their parents were like? Or will they have physical heirlooms of our intellect, sentiment and personality? Is there any delight greater than waiting for a letter? The delayed gratification increases the importance of the message and makes it more of a gift. When someone opens their mailbox to find a letter, they usually perk up and think, "I wonder who it's from?" When someone notices they have yet another email in their inbox, they usually groan and think, "Why do these people keep bothering me?" Envelopes even look like gifts. Here's a letter, wrapped, signed, sealed, delivered and all just for you. So here's a little lesson about writing a letter, for those of you have never trotted to Hammes-Mowbray to buy postage stamps. When you're trying to make a romantic gesture, you don't shoot your significant other an e-card. You don't send a potential employer a text, "Hey! Thanx 4 the gr8 interview!" While formal letters are something of a societal antique (alas!) there's something classy, sophisticated and memorable about a composition. So, take a minute and jot down a note to your mom, your dad, your boyfriend, your roommate, your grandparent, your mentor or anyone who has been on your mind. If you're abroad, make everyone on campus jealous and send a postcard from your latest day trip. Just remember this: Writing a letter breaks your message away from the mundane blitzkrieg of electronic overload and shows that you are far more mature, considerate and classy than the lucky recipient of your letter ever imagined. Contact  Meghan Thomassen at mthomass@nd.edu The views in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.  

Asian Allure takes over Washington Hall

Timeline of a Breakup

Top Bond Cars

1. Aston Martin DB5 - "Goldfinger," 1964 2. Lotus Espirit - "The Spy Who Loved Me," 1977 3. Aston Martin DBS V12 - "Casino Royale," 2006 4. Aston Martin DBS -"On Her Majesty's Service," 1969 5. Ford Mustang Mach 1 -"Diamonds Are Forever," 1971

Top Bond Villains

1. Ernst StavroBlofeld The leader of the criminal organization SPECTRE, and the exact basis for Dr. Evil's character in "Austin Powers," Blofeld appears in six different Bond films, constantly at war with Bond and the British Secret Service. 2. Goldfinger A classic bad guy obsessed with gold and wealth, Goldfinger plots to devalue the entirety of America's gold stock in Fort Knox with some pretty fancy radiation technology. A very economically devious plan. 3. Jaws A monstrous figure with unlimited strength, Jaws actually appeared in two different Bond films, "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker." He survives a building collapsing on him, being thrown from a train, being hit by a car and even a fight with a shark. Not bad. 4. Oddjob A Japanese henchman in "Goldfinger," Oddjob was famous for his nasty hat-throwing skills. 5. Scaramanga Bond's nemesis in the 1974 film "The Man with the Golden Gun," Scaramanga is a three-nippled assassin who wields the infamous golden gun. Christopher Lee, who found villainy again later in life as Saruman in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, played the villain.

Bond Rankings

1. Sean Connery His accent. What more is there to say? Sean Connery will always be the one and only original James Bond. 2. Pierce Brosnan As James Bond from 1995 to 2002, Brosnan brought the most suave English sophistication to the screen. Another Bond with a great accent, Brosnan embodies 007 flawlessly. 3. Daniel Craig Craig ranks as the third best Bond, positioning himself as a beautiful compromise between Connery and Brosnan. Craig is equal parts tough and smooth. Craig, at the center of the present Bond era, hasn't disappointed so far. 4. Roger Moore Though Moore had one more appearance than Connery as Bond, their representations of the agent differ. While Connery brings a gruff sort of secret agent style to the screen, Moore's handsome yet funny portrayal makes him a top contender for the best Bond. 5. Timothy Dalton Timothy Dalton takes the prize for most intense and driven Bond. He brought a certain seriousness to the role when he took on villains in "The Living Daylights" and "License to Kill." 6. George Lazenby As Bond for only one film, Lazenby is at a numerical disadvantage for judging. As the Ringo Starr of James Bond, there is little to say about his performance, though "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is one of the best of the series.

Build-A-Bond

Breaking news: following the smash success of "Skyfall," Daniel Craig and everyone else involved with the newest James Bonds movie, from director Sam Mendes to the guy who gets sandwiches for the break room, shocks the world and quits. Billionaire Warren Buffet sees an investment opportunity, and opens his checkbook to Scene Editor Kevin Noonan and Assistant Managing Editor Sam Stryker. "Make the greatest Bond movie imaginable; spare no expense," Buffet tells the enormously talented, wildly good-looking and rather humble pair. All right, so most of that isn't true. But what if it was? What if Sam and Kevin could build an entire Bond film from the ground, picking everything from the car to the villain to Mr. Bond himself? Well, it would be a great Scene story, that's what. Kevin: I think the first place to start is to figure out exactly what we need. What are the core pieces that make up a Bond film puzzle? Off the top of my head, I'd say it's the Bond actor, the villain, Bond's car and the gadgets. And probably the director, too. Did I miss any? Sam: Kevin, you missed a key ingredient - the Bond girl. A James Bond movie without a leading lady is like chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chips. It just isn't right. Now, I may not know a lot about ladies, but I do know this - behind every great man is a woman. In James Bond's case, sometimes she wants to kill him and take over the world. Regardless, she's an important ingredient. One other key ingredient is who sings the theme song. In recent years, we have had Madonna, Alicia Keys and Adele lend their vocals to 007. You need someone with a solid set of pipes to sing a Bond theme song. Otherwise, I think you have a pretty good grasp on what makes a Bond movie tick. Kevin: So now that we've decided what we're deciding on, let's get to it. 1. Who's going to wear the tux? Sam: I'll be the first to say I am very disappointed Daniel Craig quit his role as James Bond. As a fellow blond, it was nice to see someone who looked (somewhat) like me in the role, fulfilling my fantasies of one day being an international man of mystery. He even looked good in a Speedo, to boot. Alas, now that he is gone, we need to find a new man for the job. James Bond needs to be handsome, suave and witty (like yours truly). But most important, he needs to be an embodiment of all things British. That is why I choose Christian Bale to be my new James Bond. When he is not too busy cursing out production assistants or saving Gotham City, Christian Bale is a handsome, proven Oscar-winning actor. And a little-known fact is that he is actually English. Now that he is done suiting up as Batman and hanging around in the Bat Cave, he has more than enough free time to don a tuxedo and save the world. I know an Aston Martin is a step down from the Batmobile, but somehow I think he would agree. Kevin: While I won't say that I don't like Christian Bale for the Bond role for fear of Sam going Patrick Bateman on me, I'm going to go in a different direction. An actor from the U.K. has traditionally played the role, but I'm going to pluck from one of the empire's former colonies - Guy Pearce. The Aussie actor has dipped in and out of the spotlight after a promising start to his career ("L.A. Confidential" and "Memento" followed by a decade of junk), but regardless, it appears no role is outside of his range. Daniel Craig brought a stony handsomeness to the role and it's been wildly successful for him, because - let's call a spade a spade -  he's a stonily handsome man. With Pearce though, Bond returns more to the Sean Connery model: suave and capable, yes, but also always the hint of a wisecrack on the tip of his tongue. I think Pearce brings a different angle to the role, and I like it. 2. The Villain Kevin: A wide range of characters has taken up the mantle as Bond's rival -  Christopher Walken once plotted to destroy Silicon Valley in "A View to a Kill." The villain must be menacing, of course, but Bond villains always seem to have a little character to them. They're never just ordinary villains, they're always a little unique, if not a bit gaudy. A Bond villain has to scare you, but also intrigue you to a degree. My instinct is to go with John Malkovich, because I'm pretty sure he's the square root of every movie villain ever, but it feels a little obvious. Instead, I'm going to go out on a limb and go with Adrien Brody. Brody is a spectacular actor, but always seems to play good guy roles. I think he could delve into a Bond villain like nobody else and surprise people with a legitimately creepy character. Plus, with his facial hair skills, he could be from just about any place in the world. Sam: Some of the most memorable Bond villains have been women. Evil does not have a gender. That's why I am choosing Angelina Jolie - who has expressed interest in playing a Bond baddie in the past - to play the villain in my James Bond movie. She's got looks, she has traveled the world and she has a slight edge to her. She certainly is scary, having worn a vial of blood around her neckewhen she was married to Billy Bob Thornton. Most importantly, she is one of the few ladies on the planet who is not only a talented actress, but also someone who can match the action star power of James Bond. She's been a tomb raider, Mrs. Smith and a handful of other shoot-em-up roles. Jolie is the perfect Bond femme fatale. 3. Bond Girl Sam: A Bond girl has to be beautiful, that is to be sure, but she also has to match wits with one of the most interesting men in the world. She needs to be smart, independent and hopefully a bit spunky. By no means should she just be eye candy. She needs to have a certain sense of allure to her, like Eva Green did as Vesper Lynd in "Casino Royale." That's why I choose Charlize Theron as my Bond girl. She's got acting chops and a serious mean streak, having won an Oscar for portraying a serial-killer prostitute in "Monster's Ball." She also has starred in her fair share of action movies. This South African stunner is no dumb blonde, and she is more than capable of defending herself. Plus, she gets mad props for starring in "Mighty Joe Young." If she can handle a gigantic gorilla and Bill Paxton, then James Bond should be a piece of cake. Kevin: I'm picking two. Deal with it. For my first Bond Girl, even though it might break the mold of the usual Bond fare, I'm going to go with a proven actress -  Freida Pinto. She's proven her merit in "Slumdog Millionaire," and played a core role in the likely to be forgotten, but still pretty good "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes." She's tough, she's gorgeous, she can complete sentences and given a few weeks of training, she could probably kick some butt. I'm going to cast Pinto in the role of "the one who seems questionable at first but turns out to be the good one." The second Bond Girl, who will play the role of "the one who falls for Bond's charms a little too quickly to be believable and turns out to be bad and probably dies before the end," is EmmanuelleChriqui. "Entourage" fans will know Chriqui as Sloan, E's off and on love interest, in what should be forever known as the textbook definition of "outkicking your coverage." Chriqus is absurdly stunning, with just enough deviousness in her to deceive Bond, for a while at least. 4. The Song Kevin: Like Sam said, a long line of accomplished singers have belted out the Bond theme song, including Paul McCartney, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, Madonna, Alicia Keys and Adele. Those are some big, soulful shoes to fill. When it comes to soul, power and musical genius, there's no better in the music world right now than John Legend. A musical prodigy, there seems to be no limit to Legend's infinite abilities, and there's no doubt that he could belt out a memorable tune. Plus, with his collaboration connections, there could be some pretty sweet possibilities for "featuring" credits. Sam: Bond themes have been their best when sung by a British singer with power vocals - that's why Adele was chosen to sing "Skyfall" and absolutely nailed it. She may not quite have the star power of her English compatriot, but Florence Welch has a powerful set of pipes. Her voice is soulful and introspective and would serve the new Bond series well. She fits in the classic mould of Bond singers - think Shirley Bassey and Carly Simon - while also appealing to a modern audience. My backup choice is Sia. Either way, you can't go wrong. 5. The Car Sam: Choosing James Bond's car is obvious. It has to be an Aston Martin. Yes, he has driven other cars, including a BMW and - gasp! - a Ford, in addition to a Lotus that converted into a submarine. But Bond will always be synonymous with Aston Martin. Seeing him drive something else is like seeing him order something besides a vodka martini, shaken, not stirred. I sure don't want to see Bond sipping a Cosmo. So buckle up, Bond - you're still riding an Aston Martin if I have a say. Kevin: The Aston Martin is indeed the typical Bond choice, but little known fact; Aston Martin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of - gasp! - Ford. My movie is going to be a little progressive; I'm going after the hippie, environmentalist, "save the whales" crowd and that stuff. Therefore, my James Bond will be driving a model from the coolest electric motor company on the market - Tesla. The Tesla Roadster reportedly gets 120 miles to the gallon, in addition to look absolutely filthy awesome. 6. The Gadget Sam: I'm going to be honest; the gadget question perplexed me at first. Sometimes, when Bond's gadgets get too high-tech, the movie loses credibility. Remember the laser guns in "Moonraker" meant to mimic "Star Wars" or the invisible car in "Die Another Day"? Absolutely ridiculous. I prefer my Bond gadgets futuristic but within the realm of realism. That's why Bond absolutely must have a jetpack in his next film. Because when the Aston Martin can't get you to the top of a building, Q better have a good backup plan for you. Kevin: I was an engineering major for three days once upon a time. I'm anti-qualified to invent a gadget for a Bond movie. But, if I must, I think there might be a good joke somewhere if Bond had bulletproof pants. Simple-minded maybe, but they have bulletproof vests; who wants to get shot in the pants? Sparknotes Sam: Christian Bale as Bond, Angelina Jolie as The Villain, Charlize Theron as The Bond Girl, Florence Welch for The Theme Song, Aston Martin for The Car, Jetpack for The Gadget. Kevin: Guy Pearce as Bond, Adrien Brody as The Villain, Freida Pinto and Emmanuelle Chriqui as The Bond Girl(s), John Legend for The Theme Song, Tesla for The Car, Bulletproof Pants for The Gadget. To paraphrase the late great Buffalo Bill, would you see those movies? I'd see those movies.  

Best Bond Movies

1. "Goldfinger" Widely considered by many fans to be the quintessential Bond film, "Goldfinger" follows the formula for an epic 007 movie. Megalomaniac villain? Check. Girl with a double-entendre? Check. Aston Martin? Check. Throw in the first appearance of Q and you've got one of the best Bond films - ever. 2. "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" George Lazenby may have only played James Bond once, but boy did he make it count. Critics contend if Sean Connery starred in this flick it would be the best by a landslide. Set against the Swiss Alps, this action-packed thriller is about as good as it gets. Plus, the film packs the biggest emotional bang at the end of any Bond movie - but we won't spoil it for you. 3. "Thunderball" The fourth Bond entry into the series is the first when James Bond isn't just a British spy but a larger-than-life action star; and this film set the tone for the rest of the series. No longer was Bond just combating Cold War Communist baddies, but the evil organization SPECTRE. Throw in the underwater climax, and you've got a winner. 4. "Casino Royale" Daniel Craig's first foray into the world of 007 is one of the series' best. A franchise reboot, the film does not feature mainstays Q or Moneypenny, but nonetheless Craig brings a fresh, thrilling take on the character. Plus, Judi Dench as M and Eva Green as Vesper Lynd give inspired performances. 5. "The Spy Who Loved Me" Easily the best of Roger Moore's seven tries as James Bond, "The Spy Who Loved Me" features one of the best Bond girls ever, Anya Amasova, and a climax on a submersible villainous lair. Plus, Bond's ski jump, complete with a Union Jack parachute, is one of the signature moments of the series.  

Where are they now: 'Friends'

I don't know about you, but I just can't get enough of "Friends" re-runs. Every time I turn on the TV and encounter one of their famous episodes, I have to watch it. With 10 very successful seasons, friends Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey continue to capture viewer's hearts today. Their laughs, tears and overall stories and relationships have made "Friends" one of the greatest TV shows of all time. After the series finale in May 2004, our favorite friends parted in separate ways starring in new TV and movie roles. So, where are these actors now?

Know Thy Shelf

With the election this week, it would be remiss to neglect one of the greatest American popular historical authors of our time: David McCullough. Biographers like McCullough not only know how to write, but also meet the challenge of portraying America's history in a way that is engaging, enlightening and truthful. Perhaps the best modern biography today, McCullough's "Truman" (1992) won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. McCullough took every step to understand Truman better - he literally reenacted the president's daily morning walk around Independence, Mo. The book won a Pulitzer and HBO turned it into a movie. "What I demand is accuracy for the sake of imagination," he said in an interview with the New York Times in 1992. The Yale graduate stands out for his thorough research and uncanny ability to bring historical figures to life. Charming and eye-opening anecdotes from letters and diaries give subjects like Truman and John Adams a modern voice and modern relevance. McCullough, who won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor for a civilian, in 2006, said he wrote "Truman" in response to what he viewed as shallow political debate. "I felt that something needed to be said before people made a choice," he said. "This book is about the country, not just about Harry Truman. It's about who we are and what we can be." Even though his books can be found at Barnes and Noble, don't mistake McCullough for just another trade fiction sensation. McCullough writes American life through the details that made up our forefathers' past. While this usually means his tomes sometimes reach 1,000 pages, the story is well worth it. McCullough reportedly read every page of "Truman" aloud to his wife to make sure it sounded like he was talking to his readers. McCullough also won the Pulitzer Prize for his non-fiction book, "John Adams" (2001), which was one of the fastest-selling non-fiction books in history. HBO made it into a mini-series starring Paul Giamatti, which is worth any history buff's free time. McCullough's writing is definitely well-informed, but he manages to stay away from pedantic plodding through history. He instead populates what would be dull records and lists with the most important part of historical study: the people. Sometimes it's easy to forget that movements, events, rallies, bills, wars and treaties aren't just documents. They're spurred by intensely dynamic and painfully human individuals. Not only does this make politics enormously complicated, it also makes history heart-stopping and dramatic. Even though the confetti probably still lies on the ground in Chicago, it's strange to think: What will historians write about President Barack Obama? What parts of the election last night would McCullough include if he were to write "Obama"? Would this be the doom-and-gloom chapter? Or the tipping point for a new golden age in American history? "History is the story of people," McCullough said. Now more than ever, Americans are cognizant of how just one person can change the historical landscape. Contact Meghan Thomassen at mthomass@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Observer.  

The Best of 'Breaking Bad'

"Breaking Bad" is about a lot of things - it's a story about the meth epidemic in the American Southwest, a critique of the American healthcare system or a trying tale of a boy with cerebral palsy that really loves breakfast. At its core, however, "Breaking Bad" is about the complete moral corrosion of its lead character, Walter White (Brian Cranston). Just about every other television series features a protagonist who possesses a constant set of character traits and qualities. For example, Dexter of "Dexter" has always been the serial-killer anti-hero with a close attention to detail. What makes Walter White so compelling and original is his total character shift over the course of four and a half seasons - from lovable loser to egomaniac, from high-school chemistry teacher to meth kingpin and from dedicated family man to remorseless murderer. "Breaking Bad" is in the midst of its fifth and final season, and has taken a break - a very long break. An excruciatingly long break, in fact, was directly preceded by one of the show's biggest and most dramatic cliffhangers. Yes, the American people will have to wait until the summer of 2013 for "Breaking Bad" to return, which makes now an ideal time to reflect on the greatest moments Walter White and company have provided us with over the past four and a half seasons.

Keep Calm and Style On

There are very few people in the world who have flawless skin. For those individuals that do, I congratulate you and envy your fabulous gene pools. For the rest of you, who find yourselves dealing with the occasional breakout or worse, follow the steps below and you'll be amazed by the difference in your skin.

The Man with the Iron Fists': All Slashing and No Substance

There's violent, there's gory, there's weird and then there's "The Man with the Iron Fists."

Download, Listen, Discard

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Can you tell if it's SNL?