Scene

You Know It's St. Patrick's Day at ND If...

If you're reading this, you're at least 10 hours into St. Patrick's Day by now. The celebration is in full swing and you're taking time from it to read the newspaper?!? Here at Scene, we'd never abandon you on Notre Dame's second favorite holiday — the first being the football home opener. To help you through the rest of the day and deep into the night, here's a handy little guide on what to expect from the Feast of St. Paddy's here at Notre Dame.   The lovely green grass is complemented by a few extra green shirts around campus, and if you really have the luck of the Irish, maybe even a shamrock or two. What's the tune blaring from your neighbor's room? The Dropkick Murphys' traditional Irish hymn, "I'm Shipping Off to Boston". On repeat. For hours. Beginning at 6 a.m. Even Yankee fans pretend to like Boston. No one pretends to like Yankee fans. St. Joe's Lake and its year-round sickly green hue becomes not only tolerable, but festive. Still, don't swim in it. Trust us. Did you know there are no snakes in Ireland? St. Paddy drove them out. Did you know there are no snakes on this motherflippin' plane? Samuel J. drove them out. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, you're 50 percent Irish, at a minimum. Finny's is packed on a weekday. You begin the night by skipping the college-approved Keystone in favor of a Guinness. Twenty minutes later, you're right back with your old friend Natty. Your noon appetizer? Candy from a pot distributed by an overly excited stranger on the steps of the dining hall. What's that interrupting your afternoon nap? Bagpipes. It's almost like football season. Potatoes and cabbage boiled until they're devoid of both color and flavor? It helped my ancestors get through the famine so sign me up. Digger Phelps showcases a vibrant green tie and highlighter combo on Sportscenter. That water bottle in front of you probably isn't water. Pinching becomes socially acceptable for the non-grandmothers among us. You and half of your 100-person lecture at 5:30 p.m. share a "I immediately regret this decision" look. First and foremost among them, your professor. The proper response to "Top o' the morning to ya" is "And the rest of the day to you!" No matter how much you consume today, remember this. You wake up; the sun seems sunnier, colors more colorful, smells are smellier and the people are people-ier. The dining halls serve the traditional "Lucky Charms and skim milk in a plastic bowl." Green eye shadow seems like a good idea. Deep in your heart you know that students are every other college are green with envy. You wonder how the trinity would work if Patrick and gotten lucky and picked a four leaf clover. Even the trees are dressed accordingly. You one goal for the day is finding a pot of gold. And that's before you start drinking. "Kiss me, I'm Irish" is used by every guy on every girl with a surprising success rate. Being Catholic is a reason to drink. Protestants believe in Saints for one day. So laddyes and lasses go out there into the wild green world and celebrate! This is our holiday. Be safe, be fun and remember: Today, everyone is Irish.

Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' falls flat

Tim Burton's new film "Alice in Wonderland" is not the "Alice" that fills your childhood memories. Thirteen years after the events in Lewis Carroll's book "Alice in Wonderland" (and the Disney movie adaptation), Alice, played by newcomer Mia Wasikowska, returns to Underland, which she mistakenly called Wonderland on her last visit. Although she has dreamed of her visit to Underland since childhood, she thought it was merely that — a dream — and is convinced she is once again dreaming her fantastical surroundings.

Scene grades this spring's movie trailers

Iron Man 2 - 4 shamrocks

Michael & Michael Are Canceled

One of the fall back defenses to being unpopular is the tale of the misunderstood genius. Luminaries such as El Greco, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Alfred Wegener were widely unappreciated before their respective deaths but are well-respected today. While it's a great, if fantastical, comfort for those struggling to make it, the simple fact remains most unpopular art is just plain bad. For every Van Gogh, there are 1,000 artists willing to paint a vaguely familiar landscape, portrait or still life. With that in mind, after months of speculation, it was announced yesterday that Comedy Central's "Michael and Michael Have Issues" was canceled. The short-lived series was the latest vehicle for the perpetually comedic minds of Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter. It is also the latest piece of theirs canceled before its third season. Both comedians cut their teeth in their mid-20s on the MTV show "The State." Back when MTV was still playing music videos, "The State" was the best sketch comedy on the air, bridging the gap between Saturday Night Live's fall from grace and HBO's equally uproarious "Mr. Show." Never truly appreciated in its time, "The State" found a cult following and, 15 years later, a long-awaited DVD release. Rumors of a full-length film have been persistent, but so far unfounded. Many of the show's alumni have gone on to successful Hollywood or standup careers, including Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon and Ken Marino. None are exactly household names, but most are recognizable character actors. Black and Showalter ended up in the same situation as their costars. Following "The State," both Showalter and Black went on to star in their most successful enterprise to date, the 2001 movie "Wet Hot American Summer." The movie again found a cult audience  — noticing a theme? The smart meta-commentary on 1980s teen comedies was directed by David Wain, a frequent collaborator with the Michaels. Again, it was a classic example of a film being critically acclaimed but ignored at the box office.   Four years later, Black, Showalter and Wain, with the support of Comedy Central, embarked on a promising partnership. Comedy Central, still searching for success in the vein of Chappelle's Show, was airing pilots from any promising comedians they could find. From this caviler dissemination of money sprung the creative pinnacle of Black, Showalter and Wain's career: "Stella." It was a magnificent mixture of satire, wit, absurdity and dumb humor, often featuring famous guest stars and fake mustaches. The show lasted one short, 10-episode season but inspired a sold-out nationwide tour. Perhaps most insultingly, "Mind of Mencia" replaced the show. Showalter and Black left television for a while but returned last year, again on Comedy Central. Their show, "Michael and Michael Have Issues," was a hybrid sketch show and sitcom about its two title characters, both loosely based on their own personalities, trying to make a sketch show. (They say write what you know.) The duo lost some of its sensibility with Wain's departure, and the show dragged at times, but its glimpses of comedic gold showed promise. Seven episodes in, Comedy Central halted production, finally canceling the show months later. A DVD release with strong sales is expected, but not strong enough to ultimately bring the show back. While consistently funny, Black and Showalter have a remarkable record of turning out failed products. Make no mistake, both make excessively comfortable livings, but it's hard to not feel bad for two intelligent comedians putting out excellent material only to see it canceled, especially in a world where "Two and a Half Men" is the top-rated comedy on TV. So please, whatever their next efforts, be it on stage, screen, or TV, buy a ticket or tune in and support the Michaels.    

Top 5 Movies of 2009

1. "The White Ribbon" Michael Haneke ("Cache," "The Piano Teacher") creates a simple tale chronicling the strange atrocities committed in a seemingly quaint, innocent German town before World War I. A trip into the heart of darkness, "White Ribbon" is an inquiry into a certain kind of evil bred by a society left stagnant by its own strict moral code and Protestant teachings — the same society that no less than two decades later would commit atrocities that would kill millions of people. One of the most intriguing character and cultural studies ever made, "White Ribbon" succeeds for its insight into a society and culture where facades bottle up the inescapable human capacity for evil, only to unleash it in the worst of ways. This is the year's best film and the first since "There Will Be Blood" deserving of being called a masterpiece. 2. "Antichrist" Costars Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe give their entire selves and then some unto director Lars von Trier's bare-as-bones, uncompromisingly bleak view of human nature. The self-proclaimed "best director in the world" admitted to having suffered from chronic depression during the filming of the movie, and the film undoubtedly benefits from it, as it crosses into rare territory of being truly affecting art. Art that at once will horrify his audience, abandon it, but ultimately, attest to the true visceral power of film and its ability to not only unnerve but leave permanent scars. 3. "Inglorious Basterds" The most fun I had at the movies this year, Quentin Tarantino's history-bending, tongue-in-cheek World War II flick about a band of bloodthirsty Jewish Americans known only as "The Basterds" is pitch-perfect. It loses some of its gusto towards it harrowing end, and it often borders on offensive, but Tarantino and his cast — led by sure-fire Oscar winner Christopher Waltz and a brilliant Brad Pitt — "might just make this his masterpiece." Or, since we're speaking about Tarantino, just another masterpiece to put on his ever-growing mantel. 4. "Up in the Air" What makes "Up in the Air" a deserving candidate for Best Picture is not only George Clooney's unassumingly great performance or Jason Reitman's "breath of fresh air" directing, but also the fact that the movie turns out to be something that we don't expect it to be. It's truly a movie for this time. A moving story made for all of us as we move through the recession, and in many ways, life itself. 5. "The Hurt Locker" Director Kathryn Bigelow's muscle-flexing, full-throttle portrayal of a special unit of bomb disarming soldiers in Iraq, "The Hurt Locker" stands as a king among men in the small but growing group of Iraqi War films. What's different here is that the movie is neither action-driven, nor overly story driven, and it avoids the thus far unsuccessful pitfall of trying to pass itself off as a psychological analysis of soldiers in the heat of the current war. Instead, "The Hurt Locker" is a beautiful marriage of a bare bones portrayal of human nature when the line between life and death is so thin and momentary, and a classic tension-ridden portrayal of the heat of combat. Films that just missed the cut: "The Prophet," "Goodbye Solo," "A Serious Man," "Hunger," "The Cove"  

Oscars Promise Excitment Entertainment & Glamour

For those students not traveling to a warm beach or exotic location for Spring Break — yes, some people actually go, gasp, home — the highlight of break may just be the 82nd Academy Awards. Airing on ABC at 8 p.m. on March 7, this year's show promises all the glamour, glitz, and prestige of before, but also a new sense of fun and levity. This is thanks to producers Adam Shankman ("Hairspray" director, "So You Think You Can Dance" judge) and Bill Mechanic (chairman and CEO, Pandemonium Films), who vow to lighten up the show that sometimes takes itself too seriously. Co-hosts Steve Martin and Alex Baldwin should also assure some quality comedy at the Oscars this year. Both will bring a comfortable stage presence: Martin has previous experience hosting the Academy Awards, and Baldwin is always a hit when he hosts "Saturday Night Live" — which he has done 14 times. The potential for the comedic interactions between the two hosts is one of the biggest reasons to tune into the awards show. But let's get to the most important part of the Oscars (well, to some people): the awards. Most of the winners should be quite obvious, as they have been picking up every award in sight for the past few months. This is especially apparent in the Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress categories. Christoph Waltz ("Inglorious Basterds") will rightfully win for his turn as a cunning Nazi who spoke an impressive four languages in the film. For Supporting Actress, comedienne Mo'Nique is a shoo-in for her portrayal of an abusive mother in "Precious." What adds to the impressiveness of her performance is that before this role, Mo'Nique was mostly known as the host of several trashy reality shows. The Best Actor award will likely go to Jeff Bridges ("Crazy Heart") as the Academy will want to honor a respected actor who has never won, despite being nominated five times. So, why tune in if all the winners have basically already been chosen? Well, there is still debate about who will take home the Best Actress prize. It is a tight race between Sandra Bullock ("The Blind Side") and Meryl Streep ("Julie and Julia"). Both actresses have managed to stand out in films that received only so-so reviews (despite "The Blind Side's" Oscar nomination for Best Picture). Bullock stretched her acting chops by taking on a role much different than her usual romantic-comedy leads, which many voters will want to reward her for. On the other hand, Streep disappeared into her portrayal of legendary chef Julia Child, and she just so happens to be the most-nominated actor in Academy Award history. Another close call is for Best Picture and Best Director, between "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker," and their respective directors, James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow. One is a little-seen but much-acclaimed film about a bomb disposal unit in Iraq, and the other — well, let's just say basically everyone has seen it. If Cameron wins Best Director, it even further establishes his claim that he is "King of the World." If Bigelow wins, it would be the first Best Director win for a female, which is a huge accomplishment. Adding to the stakes is the fact that Cameron and Bigelow actually used to be married. If awards and competition aren't really your thing, then watch for the endless amounts of Hollywood A-list sightings. Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kristen Stewart and Miley Cyrus have all been scheduled to present, even if some of them do not deserve to be anywhere near an awards show celebrating acting ability (I'm talking to you, Stewart and Cyrus). Past winners are also sure to walk the red carpet in beautiful couture gowns. The Academy Awards on Sunday are a must-see for any film-lover or pop-culture addict. Unless you are lying on the beach in Florida, of course, and then you are totally excused.

10 Reasons to Love Heath Ledger

"It's a story for every guy who has ever tried, for every girl who has ever hoped, and anyone who has ever been taken completely by surprise."   The "it" is "Ten Things I Hate About You," the witty comedy that served as the breakout hit for young stars Heath Ledger ("Brokeback Mountain") and Julia Stiles ("The Bourne Ultimatum") and launched them into stardom. The hilarious movie is a modern day adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play, "Twelfth Night." It is the story of Kat (Stiles) and Bianca Stratford, sisters who could not be more different and who live with their excessively overprotective father. His house rule:  Bianca can't date until Kat does. Bianca, the pretty, popular younger sister, has multiple guys knocking at her door, while Kat, the feminist anti-conformist, scares them all away with her acerbic tongue. What follows is undoubtedly a solid 90-minute chick flick, but not a formulaic, overly cheesy one. The script is clever and quick, seamlessly intertwining lines from Shakespeare with modern jokes and references. It takes an old story and proves with its modern application that The Bard and his themes are timeless. The actors help advance the movie without allowing it to sink into the mindless stereotypes generally found in teen comedies. Although the cast was relatively unknown in 1999 at the movie's release, they brought their characters to life and helped launch their own careers. Such stars include Ledger, Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("(500) Days of Summer"), David Krumholtz ("Numb3rs"), and Larry Miller ("Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"). Stiles plays her character flawlessly. She nails the feminazi, driven personality of Kat, all the while making her escapades as a drunk girl and her growing affection for Patrick Verona (Ledger) believable, not just the creation of a director trying to use clichés to appeal to a teenage audience. Shining in her role, Stiles is a breath of fresh air among the usual teenage heroine who flip-flops and generally ends up abandoning her principles for the boy. Verona is the resident bad boy of Padua High School, around whom rumors abound because of his dark clothing and mysterious accent. Ledger sparkles in his role and is the best part of the movie, from his superb acting to his brilliant smile. He portrays his mysterious yet soft personality perfectly. The character of Patrick is multi-faceted. A senior in high school, he frequents a local bar to play pool and drink beer, but he also hands out advice on love, telling Cameron (Gordon-Levitt), "don't let anyone, ever, make you feel like you don't deserve what you want."   The movie allows Ledger to display his true acting skills.  He illustrates that he can play a variety of roles and complex characters.  His bad boy persona as Patrick captivates the interests of his female audience, while his boyish good looks and adorable smile melt their hearts.  Even as Patrick accepts money to pursue and date Kat, it is impossible not to fall for him because Ledger allows every aspect of Patrick's personality to shine through.  It also does not hurt that movie showcases Ledger wearing leather pants and later singing in a beautifully romantic scene. This zippy comedy is one of the best chick flicks out there, pleasing to both males and females.  It is appropriate for any occasion, from a pick-me-up film to a quiet Saturday night in, and it never grows old, especially now that a 10th anniversary edition is available with extra behind-the-scenes footage.  Also, it is a fitting remembrance of Ledger in his youth, just over two years and one month after his sudden and untimely death. Just be sure not to confuse this movie with the TV show on ABC Family bearing the same name and very loosely based off the movie.  It is a poor substitute, though Larry Miller still shines in his hilarious role as the overbearing father.

Two person harmony: Yale students find YouTube fame with cover songs

As with much else on the Internet these days, YouTube has become a part of life. Just as "Google" became a verb several years ago, we now use the word "YouTube" in precisely the same way.

Figure skating fashion at the Olympics: the elegant, the sparkly and the feathery

The 2010 Winter Olympics figure skating competition showcased amazing athletic artistry, but along with triple toe-loops come the costumes. They ranged from blandly tasteful to perfectly ludicrous. Here's a small sample of the standout outfits from the men's, women's, pairs and ice dancing competitions.

Typical Trips Every Notre Dame Student Makes

Midterm week means sleepless nights and stressful studying, but thankfully Spring Break is coming along to bring a smile to everyone's distressed face. And with Spring Break, many of our Notre Dame students will be making their way either to some warm and exotic location, or just home to sleep and watch TV for many uninterrupted hours. Yes, we all know these midterm breaks always come in at exactly the right time, and the very much-anticipated Spring Break is only a few dreadfully long, exam-packed days away. As of mid February, plans were made and the "so what are you doing for Spring Break?" question is the newest go-to conversation starter. Unlike in the fall, rarely does anyone stay on campus for this semester's break, and the traveling plans begin. Taking this into account and thinking of other breaks and typical Notre Dame student traveling habits, I have assembled a list of trips that every Domer makes throughout their time as a student. In a sort of undergraduate bucket list, you cannot graduate with ‘student experience honors' without completing most, if not all, items on this list. Appealing to the reality and the stereotypical, in no particular order, here goes: 1. Notre Dame vs. University of Michigan football game in Ann Arbor Fall at Notre Dame equals football, and going up to the Big House to watch the Irish play the Wolverines is definitely one of the defining experiences of Notre Dame undergraduate studies. Forget about those difficult books you had to read in class and that one time you understood what was being taught in your Orgo class. Wearing Muck Fichigan shirts and driving three hours to maybe have the chance to glorify your victory against one of ND's favorite rivals in their own stadium ... that is Notre Dame. 2. Appalachia It seems that everyone does Appalachia. Service is, without a doubt, a big part of Notre Dame life and these trips serve as proof to this. Students that go always love it, and the number of applicants for these programs is always large, and increasing. Included in this section are the SSLP and ISSLP, which also offer summer service programs that are extremely popular and successful. 3. Chicago Every Notre Dame student goes to Chicago for a weekend. They take pictures at the Bean and make it their Facebook profile picture, and then they eat deep-dish pizza. 4. Pro-life march in Washington, D.C. Much like Appalachia, another aspect of your typical Catholic Notre Dame student is going to D.C. in January, to the pro-life march. Frequently, during that week of January, you'll see students absent for class, and then back with a "Irish Fighting for Life" sweatshirt. To some, hopping on that bus to D.C. is a marking experience of life at Notre Dame where Catholic principles can easily be applied in every aspect of daily life. 5. Home for the weekend If you go to Notre Dame, you're from Chicago (which basically means you live anywhere in the Midwest). Therefore, you sometimes go home for the weekend. Actually, on your way there you'll probably be sitting next to someone who decided to go to the city for the weekend (view item No. 3 of the list). 6. Michigan City outlets This is mostly for the girls, although it applies to both sexes. Since South Bend isn't your typical idea of the perfect college town and the Mishawaka Mall can become a little tiring after a while, the outlets in Michigan City provide a quick escape from academia to the wonderful world of shopping! An experience Notre Dame students have to have, at least once. 7. Spring Break in Daytona Beach, Florida Finally, the most relevant item in the list for this week! Although some decide to be more ‘culturally diverse' and go to Puerto Rico or Cancun, this trip is not so much a Notre Dame  must-do, but more of a college student requirement. Popular nation-wide, Spring Break in Daytona Beach is where all things tan and sunny happen. Many wild nights are experienced and yet memories of them are lost as you wake up hungover, in the clothes you wore last night, and completely unable to recall anything that happened after 9 p.m. Might sound like a regular weekend at Notre Dame, minus the sun, bikinis, beaches and tanning.

Shamrock Shake Season Has Arrived

It's the most wonderful time of the year! No, not Lent. Shamrock Shake season, of course! Those wonderful green milkshakes are back at McDonald's in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. As a member of the Notre Dame Irish community, it's your responsibility to enjoy and support the Shamrock Shake at this magical time of the year. The Shamrock Shake was first introduced to the public in 1970, and was available in nearly all McDonald's until the early 1990s. Though widely considered the predecessor to all seasonal beverages, the Shamrock Shake has, since its reign in the ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s, become something of a domestic rarity. However, it seems that McDonald's has recently come back to its senses. In the last few years, there has been a rise in the availability of Shamrock Shakes come late February through St. Patrick's Day. A Shamrock Shake is a hard thing to describe. While technically considered mint milkshakes, to the trained connoisseur, they are so much more. As a person who doesn't typically enjoy mint-flavored ice cream, it would be a disservice for me to label these delicacies as mere mint milkshakes. The light flavor is something of a delight to the taste buds regardless of proclivity to mint. There is some secret ingredient buried within that green milkshake-y goodness that adds a complex flavor to something that seems so simple. And they're green! McDonald's has changed things up on us a little this year. It seems that the mega-restaurant chain has decided to class up their products by serving all milkshakes in a clear plastic cup, much like those used for frozen coffee beverages, with whipped cream and a cherry on top. While many will be horrified to see that their favorite wax-paper cups are no longer available, the beautiful light green color of the Shamrock Shake can now be shown off to all. This year, I had my first Shamrock Shake of the season Friday, Feb. 19. The McDonald's on Ironwood did right by me and had my favorite seasonal beverage waiting for me at my first free moment on Friday afternoon. What a way to start out a weekend. It has come to my attention that many at Notre Dame are unfamiliar with the ways of the Shamrock Shake. To this, I say for shame! Many will find it difficult to share the love for it that I have, but you owe it to yourself, and really to humanity as a whole, to at least try it. You might not like it, in which case I feel sorry for you, but at least you can say that you have tried the mighty Shamrock Shake. You will instantly garner the respect and admiration of those around you. And for those of you who have experienced the magic, I say that there isn't a moment to lose! Head over to the nearest McDonald's and start March off right! For further inspiration on the quest for the Shamrock Shake, just search "Shamrock Shake commercial" on YouTube, and prepare for your mouth to water and your eyes to pop at the kitschy ‘80s era commercials. The only thing left to say, really, is bon appétit!

Like No Others, The Avett Brothers

I forgot my plaid shirt. And my can of beer. But I had my sway on and a friend by my side and that was all that was needed to enjoy the folksy musical trolling of the Avett Brothers Sunday night. As the Murat Egyptian Room lights dimmed in Indianapolis and the opening act, The Low Anthem, took the stage filling the atmosphere with hippie folk rock, a sense of serenity fell over the crowd preparing us for the magical night that was ahead. The opening band, a group of four from Rhode Island, brought their own flair to the stage and invited us into their trance of musical harmony, opening our ears to new sounds with innovative instruments. Their ending song changed pace and quickly shook us from our reverie, waking us up just in time for the two brothers, Scott and Seth Avett, their bassist Bob Crawford and their cellist Joe Kwon to take the stage. Never have I seen a cellist like Joe Kwon. He was the most fascinating character to watch by far (even more so than the drunken college bros in front of me) and worked his bow with such precision that he seemed as practiced as a doctor using his scalpel in surgery. His look was a total contradiction — a classy suit with shaggy hair and a Genghis Kahn-like mustache/beard combo. He rocked that cello though, forcefully and passionately, adding vigor to the mutt musical styling of the Avett Brothers. The Avett Brothers, though their instruments include a banjo, cello, standing bass and acoustic guitar, don't quite fit the bluegrass genre, nor are they fully folk, punk or rock and roll. They're a mix of genres, a unique entity unto their own. This, combined with their simple yet surprisingly profound lyrics, makes them a fascinating band to listen to. Just when you think you can push them into one category and set aside their CDs for chill time, you hear a song like "Distraction #74" that makes you want to link arms with a person nearby and spin around (which we did with those drunken bros in front of us). The set list weaved between fast and slow numbers, highlighting each member of the band at one point or another. Scott and Seth took turns singing the lead vocals, allowing for one favorite moment in particular when Scott (or "Hottie Scottie" as my friend likes to call him) performed the cryptic song "St. Josephs," one I hadn't heard before. The melancholy soft strumming of Scott and his brother's guitar strings matched with the mysterious lyrics about a hospital stay were entrancing and bittersweet. "Murder in the City" was also poignant and sweet, recalling memories of sibling rivalry, parental pride and a last will made of love for a family. The closing two lines, "Always remember, there's nothing worth sharing/ Like the love that let us share our name," are as charming as a song can get, and struck a chord with the women lusting after the simple loving world of the Avett Brothers. There's a reason these men were picked to open for Dave Matthews Band during a portion of their spring 2009 tour. They've got talent, sincerity and simple passion that reverberate with every pluck of their instrument strings. The only thing that left me blue was the fact that they didn't play my personal favorite Avett song, "I Would Be Sad." Regardless, I left the concert feeling refreshingly light and worry-free … until I got back to campus and remembered it's Midterms Week. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. Thanks for the break from reality Avett Brothers — to put me in such a serene mood, there really are no others.

Glenn Beck's path to power

President Obama's meteoric rise to Commander in Chief of the United States was a unique moment in American politics. His calm demeanor, level-headed oration, willingness to compromise and intellectual heft were combined in a campaign promising change. In the 15 months since his election, change has proven elusive, bipartisanship scarce and progressivism negligible.

Music Rewind: Empire of the Sun's 'Walking on a Dream'

It seems rather odd to call this a music "rewind;" Empire of the Sun's album "Walking on a Dream" was only released in 2009. While the album was by no means overlooked or forgotten, it was an album that should have garnered much more attention than it actually did, given its quality and the timing of the album's release in the wake of MGMT's massive success with a similar synth-pop sound. It is an album that at first will seem foreign to most but with just one listen will have anyone smiling and taking to the dance floor.

Floating Into 'The Sea' With Corinne Bailey Rae

British soul sweetheart Corinne Bailey Rae blew us all away with her 2006 summery single, "Put Your Records On," off her self-titled debut album, a jazzy take on the pop R&B genre. Now, after a long hiatus, her sophomore album, "The Sea," has a more mature sound, with less pop and more soul.

Farley's Finest Host Winter Carnival for Literacy

Hills are hard to come by in South Bend, and there certainly aren't any local sliding centers like the one in Whistler, British Columbia. So how is Farley Hall hosting a bobsled race for its signature event this year?

A Call For More Catty Villains

Love them or hate them, catty villains — to put the term nicely — are almost always the best characters on television.

The Buried Life Uncovered

The guys from "The Buried Life" seem to be living the life. They have a hit show on MTV that enables them to do everything they've wanted in life and they get paid for it. It definitely seems like a good gig, but is it genuine? Are these guys really this carefree and cool? I had the opportunity to talk with Dave and Johnnie and it turns out they're even cooler than they appear. The project started four years ago in Victoria, British Columbia, from where the guys hail. Dave and Johnnie said they were sick of seeing their friends wasting their lives, and sick of doing what they were "supposed" to do. So they decided to use death as a motivating tool in their lives. It was supposed to compel them to do what they wanted most in life.   When the pair asked their parents what they thought about this project, they responded with knowing laughs. They said they did get the expected questions, like "How are you going to do this?" However, all of their parents were generally supportive. Not one told them not to follow through with what they had started. While they were supportive, this support did not include monetary help. They raised the money for their project in their own community, but there were many times when money was an issue for them. It got hard to keep going when they were so poor, but that's where the group came in. If two people were feeling really down about what they were doing and just wanted to quit and get a real job, then the other two were right there motivating them and reminding them why they started doing this in the first place. They were offered a show in 2007, but elected not to take the pitch, as they were concerned about keeping   creative control. Today, they are very content with their involvement with MTV because the network simply acts as a vehicle for what they are doing. The four act as executive producers on the show and they are in full control of the editing. They wanted it to be made very clear that they were presenting something real. They wanted to show that normal people can do anything, because they are just that, normal guys in their mid-twenties. (Or at least they were.) They would not call themselves celebrities, but they are certainly aware of their increased profile. It seemed to make them uncomfortable when asked if they were celebrities. Both Dave and Johnnie were reluctant to answer. So how will this higher profile affect their project? If they do sign on for a second season it will be a little more difficult to find things they cannot do, which is almost the best part of the show. They still appear to be living the life, even if they do not cross off all the items on their list. Perhaps the reason that Dave and Johnnie seemed so cool is that they were aware of the impact their project had on people, yet chose not to take any credit. They said that they were "just humbled to be a part of it." What they really wanted to do when they started this project was to get other people to ask themselves to ask what they were going to do before they die. Once you acknowledge what you want to do, the next question is, why aren't you doing anything to get there? This is the cool part about the guys on this show — they want it to inspire people, and not in a preachy way. In addition to the questions I posed to Johnnie and Dave, they had one question for the people watching the show:  Everyone has something that they want to do as an individual, but what does our generation want to do as a group? Only time will tell.

Weekend Events Calendar

Ain't No Grave: A Fitting End for the Man in Black

‘Bob Dylan once said Johnny Cash "was and is the North Star; you could guide your ship by him. The greatest of the greats — then and now." His career is impossible to put into perspective. He stands among the musical elite, and with the exception of Elvis and The Beatles, there are none above him in terms of popular and critical success. He's one of the many great American stories: grew up poor, served in the army, hit rock bottom (on more than one occasion), found family and religion, and faded from the spotlight as he aged. Cash's career and legacy reached a pinnacle in 1994 when he changed course. After being dropped by Columbia, Cash was washed up until label co-head Rick Rubin signed him to American Recordings, a rap and heavy metal label. The contract blossomed into six remarkable albums and a new audience for Cash. "American VI: Ain't No Grave," Cash's latest and perhaps final entry in his extensive discography was released on Jan. 23, three days short of what would have been his 78th birthday, with the blessings of his friends and family. It's been seven years and another album since Cash left this world. It comes as no surprise that much of his output in his last days would focus on his impending death. "Ain't No Grave" is a natural culmination of both his American Recordings and his impressive career. Gone is the anger, regret and sorrow that pervaded much of his work from the 90s (most notably on his cover of Trent Reznor's "Hurt"). Instead, a portrait of man's proper relationship with death is painted; not eager, but certainly not afraid. Cash only authored a single track on the album, "I Corinthians 15:55." Taking his inspiration from the Pauline verse, "O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your victory?" Cash tells of salvation with all the conviction of a preacher and twice the effectiveness. The album art, a concept almost lost in the digital age, highlights his song writing, piecing together several handwritten drafts in lieu of proper liner notes. The back cover presents Cash through a windowpane in the months before his death. Careful consideration was clearly taken in the look of the album and, while it continues in motifs familiar to Rubin's style, Cash's young countenance shines out from the cover, an unusual but poignant choice for such a somber album. The material that Cash covers, perhaps the strongest point of American Recordings — other than Cash himself — is the most consistent of the series. Thankfully, gone are the cheesy choices such as "A Legend in my Time" from "A Hundred Highways" or "Danny Boy" off "The Man Comes Around." Sheryl Crow's "Redemption Day" meshes beautifully with Cash's weathered vocals and stripped instruments. The final track on Cash's final album is a surprising choice, the iconic Hawaiian "Aloha Oe." It masterfully avoids the pitfalls that could have easily turned it into a novelty song and ends the musical career of a legend with the grace, beauty, elegance and joy evident in the words of the piece. No artist will ever age as gracefully as Cash did. He never burnt or faded out, became a caricature, stayed past his welcome or impeded his own legacy. In the final years of his life, he recorded hundreds of songs. From these, Rick Rubin was able to put together a proper final album for the "Man in Black." While it would be impossible to say "Ain't No Grave" is Cash's best album, it now ranks among the essentials in a string of masterpieces.