Outlook
Volume 46 Issue 9 December 9, 2013
Student Press
outlookpress.net Rockland Community College
A “Plan B” for RCC Theater
Dominique Alvarado
Contributing Writer
“Christmas begins almost four weeks before that, in December, and finishes with the Feast of the Epiphany in January when the Three Wise Men arrive at Bethlehem, bringing gifts for the baby Jesus.” Mary Zecchino, Student The way Italians celebrate and think of Christmas is very unique and one of the most important holidays in Italy.
All kinds of theater can be entertaining to different people. There’s something about watching actors go up on a stage, and develop a story mimicking real life that is inherently pleasing. Nothing appeals to a large crowd more than live comedy, and four young men in particular are able to provide that for any audience. Johnny Nash, Brendan O’Brien, Ch r istopher Murtagh, and Andrew Beadle are the four components of Plan B—the half-scripted, half-improv and wholly original show. As described by the cast,
Marina Watts, Student
While the Academy is busy judging and choosing the nominees for the 2014 awards ceremony, we can go see these films and make our own Oscar predictions.
Science 13 “Malted Hot Chocolate, French Toast Bake” Valissa Hicks, Student
Try out these recipes to mix up your menu this holiday season!
and energy, these actors could find themselves in any situation during a scene, forcing them to
but it is the most entertaining show an audience can get. In the words of the Plan B
Players, when an actor does improvisational acting, their character is nothing but a slightly exaggerated version of their own personalities, playing upon the joke that they are simply being themselves. Whether it is from the slapstick, sarcastic, quirky, or animated vibes you get from them, one of the players is always ready to throw a curveball . Without fail, another actor is able to pick up on it and leave the audience in hysterics. The dynamics among the players are unique. It’s plain to see, as well as behind the curtains, which makes all the difference for the Plan B Players. SEE PLAYERS PAGE 2
Snowden’s Doomsday Cache
Style 10 “Filmmakers churn out films all year long hoping to be noticed by critics everywhere in the most positive way possible.”
stay on their toes as each line is delivered without notice. After meeting with them it is clear to see that not only is this the ultimate challenge for an actor,
Ian Quinn
News Editor
Whether one considers Edward Snowden to be a hero, dissident, or traitor, the U.S. government wants him apprehended. Already, Snowden has fled from the U.S. to Hong Kong, and then to Moscow in search of political asylum. He first chose Hong Kong, not because he intended to seek asylum there, but rather that their legal system allowed him entry without being immediately detained. From there, Snowden had hoped to travel to Iceland, because he desired “to seek asylum in a country with shared values.” However, Iceland requires that one must apply for asylum from within the country. Despite the nation offering him legal advice and assistance, Iceland was eliminated as an option. Following his temporary stay at the Russian consulate in Hong Kong, Snowden flew to Moscow, and after agreeing to cease his work against U.S. intelligence agencies at Putin’s request, he was granted asylum for a year, with the possibility of extending the arrangement once it expired. Snowden stated he would attempt to gain asylum in a democratic country before the
year was over. By July 1, he had applied for asylum in 20 different countries. However, gaining asylum somewhere other than Russia proved extremely difficult. He attributed this difficulty to the U.S. government pressuring those countries not to assist him. Even Ecuador, a nation that originally offered him protection, withdrew the offer and stated that their
cache consists of highly classified material originally stored by the NSA and the GCHQ, and the documents within contain the identities of many U.S. and allied intelligence personnel. U.S. and British officials have stated that they are very concerned about the existence of this cache, but are unable to disable it. The cache is protected by
initial position on the matter was “a mistake.” While the U.S. government has so far been able to prevent him from gaining asylum in a number of countries, the notion of actually apprehending Snowden has become less likely. Anonymous sources have recently revealed the existence of a data cloud created by Snowden, popularly referred to as the “doomsday” cache. This
advanced encryption, as well as multiple passwords known to at least three different people. Valid for only a brief period each day, the passwords cannot easily be obtained. The identities of those who possess the passwords are not known. Reportedly, the cache has been described as Snowden’s “insurance policy.” If he were to be arrested, physically harmed, or killed, his
associates would then publicly disclose all classified material contained on the cache. According to Rueters, Glenn Greenwald, a journalist working for the Guardian newspaper, and among the first to report on the leaked documents, explained that Snowden had “taken extreme precautions to make sure many different people around the world have these archives to insure the stories will inevitably be published.” Since Snowden gained the protection of the Russian nation, and the reality of his cache has come to light, officials have become less concerned with apprehending him. They have instead directed their attention to dealing with the extensive repercussions of Snowden’s prior revelations. To provide perspective, it is estimated that Snowden has released around 500 classified documents originally belonging to the NSA and the British GCHQ, and he is thought to have obtained a total between 50,000 and 200,000. Protected by asylum, and insured by a number of classified documents the Obama administration predicts could fuel two more years of news stories, Edward Snowden may manage to retain his political relevance for some time to come. Picture Credit: rightspeak.net
Opinions 4
it is a show written and directed among themselves that mainly consists of improvisational acting games. While thriving off audience participation, laughter,
News
SUNY Rockland’s Plan B Players
PLAYERS FROM PAGE 1 Being friends and working together in previous performances made the formation of this show much easier. When the idea first came to mind in July, each actor found themselves reading the script Mr. Nash had written and fell in
December 9, 2013
love with it. In order to come up with a final copy, each actor had an easier time than most, making suggestions and revisions constantly, feeding off of one another’s jokes and thought processes, ultimately leading up to the success it has become. A f t e r m a k i n g their debut perfor mance at RCC on November 5 in the Black Box Theater, the Plan B players can say that not only did they have a wonderful t u r nout. They also met their own expectations of having a good time, putting on a hilarious show, and being received with high regards from a lively audience. The night featured games such as
Change It, Moving People, Weekend at Brendan’s, and more, causing everyone to laugh a little harder than the last. Everyone had a great and energetic evening, and smiles didn’t leave anyone’s face throughout the course of the night, making the players a hit. Although they did have only one performance at RCC, the Plan B Players are not through spreading witty, sarcastic,
and silly joy through the humors of improv! On January 16, 17, and 18, these talented actors can be witnessed once more at Shades Reperatory Theater (64 New Main Street, Haverstraw, NY) at 8 pm. If you missed out the first time, or want to relive the magic (because its unpredictability guarantees this improv show is never the same twice), get your seats and set your plans for Plan B.
Features
Mary Zecchino
Contributing Writer
Il Natale è una festa religiosa della Chiesa cattolica. L’Italia è un paese cattolico. Questa festa celebra la nascita del Gesù Bambino. La gente che è cattolica crede che il Gesù Bambino sia nato il 25 dicembre ma la festa comincia quasi quattro settimane prima in dicembre e finisce con la festa dell’Epifania in gennaio quando i Tre Re Magi arrivano a Betlemme e portano i regali per il Gesù Bambino. Il Natale è una delle feste più importanti e più popolari in Italia. Ci sono molte belle tradizioni che passano di generazione in generazione, entrambe in Italia e qui in America. Le tradizioni natalizie sono varie e dipendono dalla famiglia e dalla regione dalla quale la famiglia proviene in Italia. Da una famiglia all’altra e da una regione all’altra, ci sono molte tradizioni per la festa di Natale: la musica, il cibo, gli alberi di Natale, il presepio, i regali. Quando ero giovane, mi ricordo che mio padre cantava una canzone che si chiamava Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle. Mia madre preferiva la canzone, Il Gesù Bambino. Ci sono state molte canzoni della chiesa che tutti cantavano durante la messa. La mia canzone preferita era Gloria In Excelsis Deo. Queste canzoni sono cantate ancora oggi.
December 9, 2013
La Festa di Natale Il Natale inizia in Italia con l’Avvento in dicembre e finisce con L’Epifania in gennaio. L’Avvento è un periodo per prepararsi per la venuta del Gesù Bambino. Il 6 dicembre, c’e’ una grande festa per San Nicola. San Nicola è stato un Papa che ha vissuto molti anni fa e che era molto generoso ai bambini. Gli dava molti regali durante il periodo dell’Avvento. Alla vigilia di San Nicola, qualche bambino scrive una lettera al Santo chiedendogli di dargli qualche regalo e promettendo che sara` buono e bravo nel futuro. La Novena, cioè otto giorni prima del giorno della nascita, i bambini camminano nel loro quartiere, cantando e recitando poesia. Hanno ricevuto soldi e regali. La gente addobba la casa, fa le spese al mercato e prepara per l’arrivo del Gesù Bambino. Molte famiglie hanno un presepio. Il presepio, veramente la mangiatoia, è lasciato vuoto fino alla vigilia di Natale. In Italia, in quasi ogni chiesa, c’e’ un presepio, alcuni sono grandi e alcuni sono piccoli. Durante la notte della Vigilia di Natale, il bambino
arriva nella mangiatoia. La Vigilia di Natale è la festa più importante in Italia. Le ventiquattro ore prima della Vigilia sono un periodo di digiuno stretto. Gli italiani non rompono il digiuno fino alla messa a mezzanotte. Alla messa, cantano le canzoni tradizionali in italiano o in latino o romano o dialetto. La chiesa è sempre addobbata bene con gli alberi, le candele, e il presepio. La notte della Vigilia conclude gli otto giorni di Novena. Tutti passano la sera con le loro famiglie; andando alla messa, mangiando il cibo tradizionale, cantando le canzoni di Natale, parlando tra di loro. Il giorno di Natale, molti Italiani che vivono vicino a Roma, vanno alla Piazza di San Pietro per ricevere la benedizione tradizionale dal Papa. Frequentemente, i tortellini in brodo sono mangiati. Nel nord, panettone, un pane con frutta secca, è tradizionale. La tradizionale cena di Natale italiano è chiamata Cenone e si compone di spaghetti, broccoli freschi, pesce, frutta, dolci e insalate. Altri piatti
possono includere le lasagne, i cannelloni o un timballo di pasta. Questi sono accompagnati con formaggi, frutta e dolci accompagnato da vino rosso or bianco. La festa finisce con L’Epifania. Qui in America credo che L’Epifania non sia così importante come in Italia per la terza generazione degli italo-americani. L’Epifania è il giorno che I Tre Re Magi sono arrivati a Betlemme portando i regali per Gesù Bambino. Mentre I Tre Re Magi cercavano il Bambino, si sono fermati a una piccola casa per chiedere indicazioni. Una donna, vecchia e brutta, con un mantello nero e una scopa in mano, ha aperto la porta. I Tre Re Magi la hanno invitata a unirsi a loro per la ricerca. La donna gli ha detto, “Non posso. Sono troppo impegnata. Devo pulire la casa.” Dopo la partenza dei Re, la donna si è resa conto che ha fatto un errore. Voleva andare con loro e dare a questo Gesù Bambino un regalo. Allora, è partita con la sua scopa in mano e un sacco di regali per raggiungere I Tre Re Magi e trovare il Gesù Bambino. La leggenda dice che sta ancora cercando. Per questa ragione, per la vigilia dell’Epifania, la donna con la scopa e il suo sacco di regali, che adesso si chiama la Befana, si ferma alla casa di ogni bambino per riempire le calze sperando di trovare il Gesù Bambino. Ai bambini d‘Italia piace la Befana e il suo sacco di regali.
Christmastime Holidays in Italy Mary Zecchino
Contributing Writer
Christmas is a religious holiday of the Catholic Church. Italy is a Catholic country. The holiday celebrates the birth of the baby Jesus. The people that are Catholic believe that the baby Jesus was born December 25, but the holiday begins almost four weeks before that, in December, and finishes with the Feast of the Epiphany in January when the Three Wise Men arrive at Bethlehem, bringing gifts for the baby Jesus. Christmas is one of the most important holidays in Italy. There are many beautiful traditions that pass from generation to generation, both in Italy and here in America. Christmas traditions are varied and depend on both the family and region in Italy from which that family emigrated. From one family to another and from one region to another, there are many traditions for celebrating Christmas: music, food, Christmas trees, the manger and gifts. When I was young, I remember my father used to sing the song Tu Scelli Dalle Stelle (You Descended from the Stars). My mother preferred the song Il Gesu Bambino (The Baby Jesus). There were many songs we sung in church at Mass. My favorite was Gloria in Excelsis Deo, a song that is still sung today. Christmas in Italy begins with Advent in December and finishes with the Epiphany in January. Advent is a time for preparing for the coming of the Baby Jesus. On December 6, there is a big
feast of Saint Nicolas. Saint Nicolas lived many years ago and was very generous to children. He gave many gifts to them during Advent. On the eve of St Nicolas, some children write a letter to the saint asking him to give them some gift and promising that they will behave well and do well in school in the future. On La Novena, eight days before the
Eve, the baby arrives in the manger. Christmas Eve is the most important feast in Italy. The 24 hour period before the evening is one of strict fasting. Italians do not break this fast until the Midnight Mass. At Mass, they sing the traditional songs in Italian or Latin or dialect. The church is always decorated beautifully with trees, candles and the presepio.
birth of Jesus, children walk in their neighborhoods singing and reciting poetry. The receive money for gifts. The people decorate their houses, do grocery shopping at the store and prepare for the arrival of the infant Jesus. Many families have a “presepio.” The presepio, really a manger, is left empty until the Christmas Eve. In Italy, in almost every church there is a presepio, some very large and others small. During the night of Christmas
Christmas Eve ends the eight days of the Novena. Everyone passes the evening with their families; going to Mass, eating traditional foods, singing Christmas carols and speaking among themselves. Christmas Day, many Italians near Rome, go to St Peter’s Square to receive the traditional Christmas Blessing from the Pope. Frequently, tortellini in broth is eaten. In the north, Panettone, a bread with dried fruit, is traditional. The
traditional Italian Christmas dinner is called Cenone or “Big Dinner” and is composed of spaghetti, fresh broccoli, fish, fruit, sweets and salad. Other dishes can include lasagna, cannelloni, or timballo (a type of deep dish pasta). These are accompanied by cheeses, fruits, and sweets with wine and wine soaked fruit. The holiday ends with the Epiphany. Here in America I believe that the Epiphany is not so important as it is in Italy for those of us that are third generation Italian. The Epiphany is the day that the Three Wise Men arrive in Bethlehem carrying gifts for the baby Jesus. While the Three Wise Men are searching for the baby, they stop at a little house to ask directions. An old and ugly woman with a black cloak and a broom in her hand, opened the door. The Wise Men invite her to join them in their search. The woman told them, “I can’t. I’m too busy. I must clean the house.” After the departure of the Three Wise Men, the woman realized that she had made an error. She wished to go with them and give the baby Jesus a gift. So, she leaves with her broom in hand and a sack full of gifts to catch up with the Wise Men and find the baby Jesus. The legend says that even today she is searching. For this reason, for the evening of the Epiphany, the woman with the broom and sack of gifts, who is now called La Befana, stops at the house of every child to fill their socks with gifts, hoping to find the baby Jesus. The Italian children like La Befana and her sack of gifts.
Features
December 9, 2013
How To Christmas in the Big Apple
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
One of the biggest tourist attractions during the holiday season is New York City, which is conveniently located about 45 minutes from the 845. There is so much to see and do, so why not take a mini-vacation and experience it all? Get into the Christmas spirit with a romp through the city, and be sure to check out these hot-spots! The best recommendation on getting there is by train or bus. It will be easier to cover ground on foot, as you can really take in the cheery atmosphere much better. It will also be less expensive than having to pay meters or parking garages. There is nothing more miserable than being stuck
in New York City traffic. Don’t even get me started on the parking. MACY’S store windows Annually decorated with the utmost care and artistic flare, the MACY’S store windows are a mustsee. Only a few blocks from Penn Station located on West 34th Street and Herald Square, the store windows are hard to miss. They line the outside perimeter of this fantastical department store. If you have the time, or simply would like to warm up somewhere, take a stroll through MACY’S. Its inside is very decorated as well, and the Christmas music playing throughout will get you in the holiday spirit. Central Park
A stroll through Central Park may seem out of the way and time consuming, but if you can make your way there, I highly recommend you do. Located in the heart of Manhattan and spanning
over 800 acres, it is a beautiful site to check out. Horse and carriage tours are available, and it is the perfect way to make your way through the park and see the New York skyline surrounding it. You can also go ice skating on the lake. Time permitting, stop by the Plaza Hotel’s lobby to see it beautifully decorated for Ch r ist mast i me. If there is snow ever so slightly decorating the tree branches and the sidewalks aren’t too icy, it is definitely worth the trip. Rockefeller Center The quintessential Christmastime tourist attraction, Rockefeller Center is home to the
Christmas Tree. This is the extremely tall tree lit up every year with a huge ceremony and concert some point in early December. It is also home to the ice rink. My advice, however, is don’t go ice skating in Rockefeller Center. Even though it sounds like a good idea, it’s anything but cheap. It’s $20 at a minimum, and the lines can be long. This site is best to be seen, and simply that alone. Bryant Park Ice Skating If you are looking to fulfill your desire to skate in a New York City park this December, look no further than Bryant Park! Located on 42nd Street and
Fifth Avenue, Bryant Park ice skating is much cheaper than that of Rockefeller Center. There is also a café to grab a coffee or hot chocolate afterwards. A d d i t i o n a l l y, there are lockers set up for you to keep your stuff in, and the lines won’t be too long. Times Square Located on Seventh Avenue between West 46th and 47th street, this vivacious part of downtown has everything. There are plenty of shops, restaurants,
even Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum to check out. It also isn’t far from the Theatre District, in case you were in the area for a show. No matter what time of the year, Times Square is one
of my favorite places to go when I head downtown. However, during the holiday season all huge stores are decorated for Christmas. The Toys R Us, Disney Store and M & M Factory are just a few locations adorned with snowflakes and bright lights. Hopefully this is a must-see on your list of places to go! The New York Botanical Gardens This would be another trip altogether, but definitely worth setting the time aside. From late November into the New Year, the Conservatory at the Botanical Gardens features their annual train show. Located in the Bronx, this trip is only forty minutes outside the 845. Designer Paul Busse and his team worked hard this year to put together this wonderful exhibit. It contains miniature replicas of cities and places throughout the world. Places like London, Paris, and even Manhattan are part of the exhibit. Along with the train show are the expansive gardens. There is plenty to do, including touring the gardens, grabbing a bite to eat and checking out the children’s center. This is a great family excursion, for no matter how old you are you will find it impressive. Giant Christmas Lights And I mean giant. These oversized Christmas lights are on display in West Midtown, on the corner of 49th Street and 5th Avenue. It is the perfect place to take a picture and exaggerate your shock at such large decorations. If you are in the area, they are definitely worth checking out. I mean, it’s impossible to miss them! Enjoy your mini getaway, and you will indeed have a holly jolly Christmas.
Opinions
December 9, 2013
“Happy Girls are the Prettiest Girls”
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
Beauty is an ever-changing concept. It can be very definitive, or very broad. Based on what the economic, political and social status is for women during a certain time period can and will determine what one considers beautiful. When women were gaining more rights and freedoms, they had shorter hair and a smaller stature, as though to emphasize how liberal they were in appearance as well as in society. In more conservative time periods, however, curved bodies and covering more skin was attractive, as though to subordinate women. This look emphasized femininity. Often, my friends and I find ourselves constantly questioning what it means to look beautiful. I am also reluctant to say we sometimes even brainstorm ways to make ourselves look better, whether it is healthy or unhealthy Sometimes I fear there is someone looking better than me in the back of my mind. I can be bipolar about my appearance, and I’m sure plenty of girls can relate. Half the time I tell myself not to worry about how I look, and then the rest of the time my mind is racing, trying to figure out when I can schedule another workout session at the gym to burn off the 100 calorie granola bar I ate to keep myself from gaining 29,894,384 pounds. Although this seems ridiculous, it is not far from the truth. In today’s economy, one can only afford so much to keep up with the fashion trends many girls try to follow from Seventeen magazine, for example. Although I cannot afford the insanely expensive Michael Kors sneakers or the simple $298 sundress, I manage to find clothes to buy that are stylish and suit my body type. Affording the clothes advertised is one thing, even though a good amount of the products are affordable. However, I find that what the models wear isn’t the issue. It is what they look like. In these 21st century magazines, girls are photo shopped to look skinnier, to make their faces look thinner and to have their skin perfected. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve looked through magazines that idolize super models as the “ideal w o m e n . ” We are still looking at girls who are unrealistically thin and considering
them beautiful, and think that unless we are as thin as a twig, we aren’t beautiful. A waif look, similar to the model Twiggy is what girls wear in ads for clothes, make-up, bags, perfume, etc. The message is that if you buy a
certain product, you too can look like a stylish skeleton! Kate Moss is an excellent example here. What many girls who do not fit the waif ideal find frustrating about fashion is that if they do not have that body type, they are not fashionable. Nor can they wear the clothes that waify girls wear and pull them off right. I personally think this is a m isc once pt ion. There are many different clothes styles for all different body types. Although one may be “out of fashion,” one will always be stylish. With new t e ch nolog y, anyone can be made to look “ b e a u t i f u l .” Plastic surgery, liposuction, and other harmful procedures allow women to alter their appearance. Whether it is breast implants, removal
of “unnecessary fat,” or a face lift to leave you more youthful-looking than ever, there is a procedure out there for you! Many celebrities have been into artificial beautification, such as Amanda Bynes, Joan Van Ark, Dolly Parton and Cher. Personally, I think they looked better before they invested thousands in Botox, etc. Contemporary movie stars are getting bonier too, like Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift. Even if girls look up to them for who they are, we can’t deny that they are skinnier than ever before. For example, I noticed that before filming the seventh Harry Potter film, Emma Watson lost a considerable amount of weight because she had signed with Burberry for a modeling contract. She was already a stick to begin with, so any additional weight loss was unnecessary. Seeing how skeletal she became was scary for me, considering I looked up to her and didn’t think she needed to drop any weight to model. As important as it is for girls to
have role models, I don’t think that girls should starve themselves in order to become what they believe is more
beautiful than who they really are. All the advertising in the magazines mentioned above along with many others targeting women from their teens to even beyond college subliminally implies that unless you are thirty pounds with long legs, a bony core and perfect skin, you are ugly. This kind of message leads to girls developing eating disorders, starving themselves and over-exercising to obtain an unrealistic body type. Girls also develop depression and low selfesteem, which can lead to other mental disorders. Many negative things stem from girls looking through these ads and feeling insecure about themselves. Effects include depression, low selfesteem, anorexia and bulimia. The last two are physical and psychological, as girls will starve themselves, binge eat and/or throw up after they eat to ensure they gain minimal calories after meals. This is very dangerous as it can lead to many health problems in the future. I personally think that if you feel pretty and confident, that is beautiful. Why should we compare ourselves to unreal girls in magazines? If we could change anything, I would advocate changing the media aspect of beauty. Advertising agencies should not show stereotypical twig-like models in their ads, it degrades us. They should have a variety of types of girls advertising their products. Women should also not be objectified and com mod it i zed , even though this marketing ploy is effective and brings in profit for companies using it. Magazines and modeling agencies should be required to hire a variety of different girls with various body types. This will emphasize the idea that you do not have to look a certain way to be beautiful. On a smaller level, we can resist the beauty standard by accepting who we are and reminding ourselves that ever ything we see is an illusion. The most attractive quality a girl could have is conf idence. Regardless of what the ideal body type is, confidence will never go out of style. That alone outnumbers the photo s h o p p e d skeletons that sprinkle the media.
December 9, 2013
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
Ugh, there is nothing I adore more and fear more than those dreaded three words: “I love you.” They once meant something so great, at least I think so. It’s such a cinematic cliché, and I’m a sucker for that moment in a film (or reality). Whenever we would see a guy try to win the girl of his dreams and at the very last straw, he breaks out those three magic words. I mean, who doesn’t love the end of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” when Ferris tells Sloan he loves her and will marry her? I can almost hear the cheesy eighties music in the background as I write this. This phrase has become so hackneyed it almost sickens me. It really is just another fish in the sea of phrases people overuse. In a relationship, I personally fear my significant other telling me this. Sure, I am honored that anyone would want to take things a step further emotionally and proclaim their utmost affection for
Dropping the L Word me, but nowadays we “love” everything. I love pizza. I love your shirt. I love that new Bradley Cooper film. I love Leonardo DiCaprio. We love everyone and everything. It’s very clear this word is overused. It is impossible to tell what we really love, or just simply like more
I hope not). Even over the phone can sometimes be a little out-of-place for the first time. In person, fine. Whatever. Point is, someone loves you. Then these three words trail everything; every single text message. The first thing you say to someone when
than a little. So, does that mean your significant other loves you as much as they love pizza? If that’s the case, they may need to sort out their priorities. The first time the L word is dropped, it can hit you like a wall of bricks. But it’s all about timing. This wouldn’t happen over text or a Facebook message (at least,
you see them, and the last thing too. It laces itself into conversation, no matter how interesting or mundane. Before you know it, it’s the only thing you say (okay, not really. But you see my point). Oh, and if it comes about too soon, forget about it. Then it is impossible to distinguish whether the “love” you feel
Opinions
is legitimate. What if you say it too soon and what you feel is just really liking the person, so you don’t know how to respond and you just say it back to please them? Or if they tell you they are in love with you, and because you aren’t sure how to distinguish this sensation, you parrot that back too? THEN, you could fall hopelessly in love with the person long after, but you don’t know how to tell them you realize that. How do you go into that? “Sorry baby I didn’t love you then but I do now? I lied. Only now am I in love with you.” Save yourself the trouble, and just be honest with them if you aren’t ready to say that you love them. Don’t go by me, I have no idea what you may feel for your lover. Reader, don’t be weary due to this rant. If you are ready to tell someone you love them, go for it. If you feel that your emotions are unmatched and want to express your affection, then do it. There is nothing more beautiful than finding the right person and telling them so. However, just don’t overuse the phrase, otherwise I won’t love you.
Opinions
December 9, 2013
Outlook Student Press Marina Watts, Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Peguero, Managing Editor Julie DeVito, Production Manager
Anuj Chokshi, Photography Editor Benedict Tagle, Sports Editor Ian Quinn, News Editor
Outlook Student Press is published every other week except during exam periods and summer. It is an independent newspaper produced by students and paid for by advertising revenue and student activities fees. Submissions and articles become the property of Outlook Student Press. Outlook Student Press invites you to submit your opinions and ideas for publication. We strongly encourage letters to the editor. Content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Outlook editors or staff. Submissions may be edited for clarity, length, style, and taste. Outlook does not accept anonymous submissions.
On the web: Outlookpress.net Facebook.com/outlookpress Email: Outlookstudentpress@gmail.com Office: Student Union Room 3200 Phone: (845) 574-4389 Fax: (845) 356-6261
Contributors: Dominique Alvarado, Mary Zecchino, Brooke Fischman, Sambou Jaiteh Staff: Daisy Moakley, Valissa Hicks, Sarah Peguero
Snail mail:Outlook Student Press Rockland Community College 145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901 Professor Fuentes, Advisor
www.facebook.com/OutlookPress
www.twitter.com/OutlookPress
Like to write? E-mail us at outlookstudentpress@gmail.com
ITE R O V A F R U WHAT IS YO ..... ? m u b l A s a Christm
Ian Quinn
Marina Watts
Suzanne Peguero
I don’t mean to kill the holiday vibe, but I don’t have a favorite Christmas album. This isn’t because I inherently dislike Christmas music; I just don’t care for it. I’ve never celebrated Christmas growing up, for I am not a Christian. I was raised as a member of the Baha’i Faith, a relatively new, world embracing religion that, for the sake of brevity, I will not explain in this response; if you’re at all curious, Wikipedia does a pretty good job at describing it. Regardless, I prefer not to define myself by any religious doctrine; I guess the term Agnostic would suffice, though I personally find it too vague of a description. Let’s just say I’m human. That’s probably the most accurate description you’re going to get out of me in this response. Still, I would like to wish everyone a happy holidays, whatever you might celebrate. If you don’t celebrate anything this time of year, like myself, have a happy life! My favorite Christmas album is the more recent Michael Buble one entitled “Christmas.” It is the perfect combination of warm and jolly. Nothing pleases me more than commuting to class singing “Holly Jolly Christmas” loudly and off-key. This time of the year also encourages dancing around my living room to the ballad “All I Want for Christmas is You” with my cat. Buble’s renditions of Christmas carols we all know and love is the perfect soundtrack to your December. Each song is unique and evokes a different mood, from the cheerful to the somber. His smooth voice can get anyone into the Christmas spirit.
To me, a Christmas album is synonymous with a headache. I absolutely hate it when people play Christmas music everywhere before the holiday season. I don’t care if we are in the month of December. I don’t care if it is coming soon. I don’t want you to play Christmas music so that I will ultimately buy things (I also hate capitalism). Call me Daria, but Christmas music is just obnoxious. I don’t want to hear people sing second rate songs about “Holiday Cheer” or “Christmastime” or “Baby Jesus.” I don’t want to hear you sing about peace on the earth. There is no peace on earth. It is full of war and death and sadness and misery and sexism, and we all celebrate this by buying presents. Merry Christmas everyone.
Christmas music is the most amazing type of music. It’s a shame it’s only played on the radio during this time of year. I don’t have any problems listening to my favorite Christmas albums in the middle of July. Why? It fills me up with so much joy! How could you not be in a good mood after listening to Christmas music? I have so many memories of listening to Filipino Christmas music. So many hours filled with memories and fun while listening to the songs. It’s the best time of the year, filled with the best type of music.
Benedict Tagle
Style & Entertainment
This Year’s Oscars Season Preview
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
us at one point; that’s why we threw the cat in.” The cast features the talents of
Along with the holiday season comes my favorite time of the year---Oscar season! Filmmakers churn out films all year long and wait to premiere them between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, hoping to be noticed by critics everywhere. While the Academy is busy both judging and choosing the nominees for the 2014 awards ceremony, we can go see these films and make our own Oscar predictions. If you are a huge film fanatic like myself, you probably already have scheduled when you are making your cinematic pilgrimages for each of these films. THE HUNGER GAMES:
CATCHING FIRE Although not likely to be nominated for the most prestigious Oscars, this film is making intense waves in the box office, and shouldn’t be left out. November 22 was the premiere for the second film adaptation in Suzanne Collin’s series “The Hunger Games.” This film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, and Liam Hemsworth as Gale. Additions to the cast include Woody Harrelson and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. This is a must-see for any die-hard Hunger Game fans, along with anyone seeking an intense film this holiday season. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS The Coen Brothers’ latest film hits theaters December 6. It takes its audience back in time to 1961, as they follow a folk music singer-songwriter in New York. As far as the story line
goes, according to Joel Coen, “The film doesn’t really have a plot. That concerned 10
Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake and Oscar Isaac as the titular character. “Inside Llewyn Davis” made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival with its winning the Grand Prix. With the Coen Brothers directing it, all film fanatics will be expecting something great (which seems to be the case). OUT OF THE FURNACE Christian Bale’s first film this holiday season comes out December 6. Directed by Scott Cooper and produced by Ridley Scott and Leonardo DiCaprio, the crime drama has a predictable story line. Two brothers, Russell and Rodney (Bale and Casey Affleck), wish to escape their run-down town in search of better lives. However, things take a turn for them, as Russell (Bale) winds up in prison. Now, Rodney must make the decision of whether seeking freedom or justice for his brother is the path to take. Even
though the people in and working to put this film together are rather notable, I would pass on seeing this film in theaters. SAVING MR. BANKS Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson star in this film, premiering December 20. It has a good chance of being one of the most lucrative films this holiday season, as it is directed by John Lee Hancock (“The Blind Side”). This autobiographical film follows Pamela Travers (Thompson), the author of the novel “Mary Poppins.” The film takes place in Los Angeles, as Travers visits Walt Disney (Hanks), looking for the rights to adapt her novel to the silver screen. Throughout the film, Travers also revisits her difficult childhood and recalls her father, who was her inspiration for the character Mr. Banks. Collin Farrell, Paul Giamatti and
B. J. Novak also star in this picture. Hanks and Thompson certainly did their homework, intensely researching the characters they were to portray. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the fantastic reviews coming in definitely move this film up on my must-see film list. AMERICAN HUSTLE This film is by far my biggest mustsee coming out (hopefully my high hopes aren’t disappointing, but the people involved with “American Hustle” explain my excitement). Directed by David O. Russell, the man who brought us the feel-good film of 2012 (“Silver Linings Playbook”), the crime drama “American Hustle” brings together another phenomenal cast. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star in this motion picture, alongside Christian
Bale, Michael Fassbender and Amy Adams. The FBI ABSCAM operation of the 1970-80’s becomes the central plot, as Rosenfeld (Bale) and Prosser (Adams) are pushed into its dark yet mesmerizing nature. I’ll be counting the days till I can see “American Hustle,” and I wish I was kidding. Mark your calendars--this one comes out December 20. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET Adapted from Jordan Belfort’s book comes Martin Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio’s fifth cinematic collaboration. Anyone who has read the novel and loved it as much as I have is pretty pumped for its Christmas day premiere. The film follows Belfort (DiCaprio) throughout his time moving up on Wall Street, laced with drugs, illegal dealings and more excess than you can imagine. The memoir was such a page-turner; I can only imagine how excellent the
film will be. Even though the Academy doesn’t seem to favor Leo, there is a
December 9, 2013
good chance that this movie could let him finally get his well-deserved Oscar.
With a star-studded cast and the talents of the brilliant Martin Scorsese, who could ask for anything more? AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY The leading roles in this cast are estrogen laced in this film coming out December 27. Directed by John Wells and produced by George Clooney is the film adaptation of Tracy Letts’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Juliette Lewis star in this drama about a group of confident women who reunite in their childhood Oklahoma house. Here, they stay with their entire family (which includes Abigail Breslin and Benedict Cumberbatch), and like all family reunions, it turns into utter chaos. It has already won the Hollywood Film Award of Ensemble of the Year, and Best Supporting Actress (Roberts), so we can only expect it will be a big
contender this February. THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY Ben Stiller stars in this film and directs it too, coming out December 27. This film is adapted from the 1939 short story and the second film adaptation (the first being in 1947). “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” follows a man (Stiller) who escapes his mundane lifestyle through daydreaming in exchange for romance, heroism, and all things fantastical. However, when his real job requires he go on a real adventure, he must take real action. Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn and Adam Scott are part of the cast. Provided the adaptation is adequate, this adventure comedy shows some signs of sure fire potential. Buy your tickets, grab some popcorn and start weighing the odds for each category’s potential nominees!
Style & Entertainment
December 9, 2013
“Catching Fire” Satisfies Fans’ Hunger
Suzanne Peguero
Managing Editor
November 22 was a very important day to many teenagers and young adults across the nation. It was a day that many had been waiting upon for more than a year. It was a day that many fan girls marked in their calendars and would count down the days till it occurred. It was the release of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” Like many 16-year-old girls, I had originally loved the book series. When I found out they were going to make a movie adaption, I was more than excited. They were going to bring a great book to the silver screen! I remained in this state of excitement for the next year. I was 17 years old when I watched the film. I had hopes and dreams of the level of greatness this movie would achieve, of the Academy Awards it would win (Ha! That’s very funny, 17-year-old me), of the thrills I would experience while watching it. I went into the theater starry eyed and full of expectations. The obligatory two and half hours passed. I then walked out of the theater a changed young woman. Instead of being starry eyed, I was feeling bored. The experience could be amply described in the words of a friend: “Well, that was extremely average.” I had actually forgotten that Catching Fire was coming out. When the time
was nearing, I wasn’t too excited. I was disillusioned by the mediocrity of the first film, and expected the second to be like the first. Nonetheless, I duly went to see it. I was made a little more hopeful by the reviews that I had read just before I went to the theater (many of them were positive). I grabbed my popcorn and drink, found a
dystopia film, you had better use the entire budget. The sequel worked with what they got, and the result was very gratifying. The special effects were realistic looking, a sharp contrast to the first movie in the series. The costumes were far better in this film than in the prequel; Trish Summerville was the costume designer,
seat, and got ready to watch the film. What was definitely apparent in this sequel was both the larger budget and the different director. The first film actually had a pretty large budget, but it seemed like they didn’t really use it to the full extent; if you’re making a science fiction future
and her expertise was apparent. There was also no more “shaky-cam”; the previous director, Gary Ross, had used this in the first movie, and as a result many people experienced motion sickness. This isn’t the best way to keep your audience entertained. The cast also did an excellent
job acting. Jennifer Lawrence was superb, as usual. Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, and Elizabeth Banks also gave excellent performances. Newcomers to the franchise Jena Malone and Sam Claflin were perfectly cast and played their roles to perfection. However, despite all of these merits, the franchise just can’t seem to shake off the “extremely average” feel. A good movie has good dialogue. That’s a fact. If there isn’t good dialogue, the movie isn’t going to be as good as it could have been. You can put in as many special effects or flashy images as you want, and the actors and actresses could have said their lines to perfection, but if the dialogue is merely O.K. or worse, someone who is genuinely interested in seeing a good film and not just a blockbuster (like me) is going to lose interest. This is exactly what happened here. If they had only improved the dialogue the movie would have been far better. It felt like it should have been the blockbuster of the year, but just couldn’t reach it’s own potential. This was the same problem with the first film, also. It was extremely disappointing—and a bit frustrating—but I guess this is how every film in this franchise is going to be. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong. Maybe the next two will “self-actualize” and be genuinely good films. I’m not going to hold out much hope, though. The starry eyed 17-year-old me is completely gone now.
“12 Years A Slave”: Film Review This film teaches us about a time in our history when mankind was truly broken. I am not blind to the ways of our world today. Racism is still a part of our society. Don’t get me wrong; we are no longer segregating our schools or businesses, we have freedom of speech, and we have even come to accept gay rights. These are all good things but there is still a long way to go. We can learn a great lesson
Daisy Moakley
Staff Writer
“Twelve Years A Slave” takes place in the time period prior to the American Civil War. It focuses on a 12 year period in the life of Solomon Northup, a free black man from Saratoga who was kidnapped, held in bondage, tortured, transported
south and sold into slavery. Although a law had been enacted in 1840 to rescue citizens kidnapped into slavery, Northup was kidnapped in 1841 and would be in captivity for the next 12 years of his life. The kidnapping of free black men, women and children seemed to have been common practice during that era. Once kidnapped, they were beaten into submission then taken south and sold as slaves. This was a time in our history when the sale of another human being was not only accepted but legal in the south. It is mind blowing to me that anyone could believe themselves to be above another human being. The cruelty
suffered by slaves at the hands of their socalled “masters” is hard to fathom. This was a tough movie to sit through. I cried throughout the entire two hours and 12 minutes this movie was onscreen. It is not fiction, but an accurate account of a time in a real person’s life in our history. I would not recommend this movie for anyone under the age of 15. The acts of cruelty and torture that are depicted in this story are inappropriate for any child under
that age. There is one scene where a young female slave is tied to a tree and savagely horse whipped for going to a neighbors home for a bar of soap. This scene is so intense that you can feel the intensity of the lashes as she is being struck. It’s as if her blood is showering you from the screen. In another scene, Solomon removes his shirt and you see the scars of the same type of punishment. These scenes are too traumatizing for a young viewer.
from Solomon Northup. He was a man of great integrity, courage and strength. He refused to forget who he truly was. He would not cave in to the cruelty he suffered at the hands of his owners. He stayed true to himself. He would not be allowed to testify in court after his rescue, but Solomon courageously filed charges against the men who kidnapped and sold him. “Twelve Years A Slave” is a must-see film. It educates us on the horrific ways we as a society have hurt one another. It shows how truly cruel we can be to each other if we do not educate ourselves and learn to work together. 11
Style & Entertainment
December 9, 2013
Disney’s “Frozen” Will Melt Your Heart Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
This Thanksgiving, Walt Disney Animated Studios has done it again. In the past, they have pulled your heartstrings to follow along the paths of lovers. They have made you laugh so hard you’re choking for breath. They manage to break your heart and slip in tear jerking moments. In the end, they (usually) satisfy with a feel-good ending that can make anyone forget their woes and become a kid at heart again. Usually, a few of the above aspects are achieved in a film, but it is hard to achieve all. “Frozen” is able to do everything, and beyond that. It leaves all audiences smiling and begging for more, even though the film is practically perfect as is. Its ticket was the best $12 I spent in too long. “Frozen” is a must-see this holiday season. It may not be a film revolving around a holiday, as we would look for in seasonal animated features, but its winter wonderland to a fault is the perfect pull-in. Loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson’s fairytale, “The Snow Queen.” Ambitious princess Anna (voiced by Kristen Bell--who sings too!) embarks on a journey
12
to rescue her estranged sister, Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) from herself. Wow, Disney has hit everything on a deeper level. Not only is this film wonderful in all its typical fashion for an animated feature, but now it has become more
her journey, and Santino Fontana as the seemingly enchanting Prince Hans. The film follows their journey trying to restore order in the kingdom, and it is as fun as it is intense. It’s also filled with more music than your average Disney film. Or any
personal and psychological. Other voice talents in this film include Josh Gad as the dopey snowman Olaf, Jonathan Groff as the ice salesman Kristoff, who accompanies Anna on
film for that matter. The score? Fantastic. The soundtrack? Even better. It may be a drive-by musical, with characters bursting into song to express themselves every five minutes.
However, you cannot help but wish you knew the words going into the theatre to sing along with them. Its upbeat and catchy music is wonderfully composed by Christophe Beck. In fact, I made a Spotify playlist of the soundtrack as soon as I got home. Don’t bother with seeing it in 3D. Save yourself the few dollars for a cup of Starbucks, along with the headache from the overwhelming and excessive effects coming at your face. This film was so crisp in its normal definition that you don’t need anything else decorating the screen to enchant. The special effects were impressive. The snow onscreen looked so real you could almost feel the powdery whiteness sprinkling over you. Many critiques consider it the best movie musical Disney has released since their renaissance era, and it already has a rating of 8.1 stars on IMDb. If you liked “Tangled” (2011) and are looking for something to completely lose yourself in the semi-comfort of a movie theatre, then “Frozen” is the film to see. Despite its icy cold title, its warm nature can and will melt anyone’s heart this winter. It could potentially get the Oscar for animated picture of the year too, God willing. Either way, go see “Frozen.” Now.
December 9, 2013
Science & Health
Christmas Classics with a Twist Malted Hot Cocoa
chocolate. Let stand for 3 to 4 minutes until chocolate is melted. In a small saucepan, combine cream and milk over medium heat; bring to simmer. Stir
Valissa Hicks
Staff Writer
Ingredients: 6 (1-oz.) squares, bittersweet baking chocolate, chopped ½ cup boiling water ½ cup whipping cream 1-cup milk 3 tbsp. malted milk powder (if you cannot find this use molasses and caramel) 1 tsp. nutmeg Garnish: w h i p p e d topping, crushed malted milk ball candies, caramel sauce or, for a nice twist, c r u s h e d peppermint candy canes Directions: P l a c e chocolate in a small bowl; pour boiling water over
in malted milk powder and nutmeg; set aside. Whisk chocolate mixture until smooth; add to milk mixture. Garnish with toppings.
French Toast Bake Ingredients: 1 loaf French bread (or any bread you prefer), torn into bite-size pieces 1 tsp. cinnamon 1-cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, etc.) ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries 6 eggs, beaten 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1-cup half and half 1-cup milk ½ cup maple syrup ½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup butter, melted Directions: Mix together bread, cinnamon, nuts, and raisins; spoon into a greased 13x9 inch-baking pan. Set aside. Meanwhile, beat eggs, vanilla, half-and-half and milk together; stir in maple syrup. Pour over bread; sprinkle with brown sugar. Drizzle with butter, cover with aluminum foil, and refrigerate for at least one hour (24 hours is even better). Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes with foil on, then uncovered for an additional 15 minutes or until golden brown.
13
Science & Health
December 9, 2103
Spice Up Your Holiday Season With This Cake Sarah Peguero
Staff Writer
This light, fluffy cake and spiced whipped cream is perfect on a chilly night with a mug of coffee! Cake
Ingredients: 6 oz flour 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 2 tsp ground ginger 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg 2 eggs 8 oz superfine sugar 8 fl oz. whipping cream 1 tbsp vanilla extract icing sugar, for sprinkling Preparation: Preheat a 350° oven. Grease a 9 in. square baking tin. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and spices into a bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs on high speed until very thick, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in the superfine sugar. With the mixer on low speed, beat in the flour mixture alternately with the cream, beginning and ending with the flour. Stir in the vanilla. Pour the cake mixture into the tin and bake 35—40 minutes, until the top springs back when touched lightly. Let cool in the tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Sprinkle icing sugar over the hot cake, cut in 9 squares, and serve with spiced
whipped cream. Spiced Whipped Cream Ingredients: 6 fl oz. whipping cream 1 tbsp icing sugar ¼ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground ginger 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg Preparation: Combine ingredients in a bowl and whip until the cream will hold soft peaks. Serve with ginger cake.
Grilled Colorful Veggie Stack Brooke Fischman
Contributing Writer
The perfect appetizer or centerpiece for any dinner! Ingredients: 1 yellow squash 1 green squash 2 plum tomato ½lb ground beef Marinade: 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp dry red wine Salt and pepper to taste 10-12 party toothpicks Directions: Slice the unpeeled green squash, yellow squash and plum tomato into ¼” thick slices.
14
Marinate the vegetables in the lemon juice and wine for 20 minutes Form 1-1/2” diameter x ¼” thick beef slider Grill the beef sliders on a heated George Forman for 2-4 minutes on each side Grill the remainder veggies for 5-7 minutes on each side Stack in the order of green squash, beef slider, yellow squash and top with tomato Stick a party tooth pick in the center to keep it in place
December 9, 2013
Technology
The Ultimate Tech Wish List
Sambou Jaiteh
Contributing Writer
The holiday season is the most wonderfully unforgiving, marvelously uncompromising and absolutely insane time of the year. This is the time of year when people battle one-on-one mentally, and sometimes physically, and put life
and limb on the line in order to give each other the best holiday gifts. Each store becomes a battlefield, and each day that passes in this season increases product demand and decreases personal safety. Since technology products are always top-sellers, I compiled a list of some of the most popular electronic products available this holiday season, so you can provide your loved ones with great gifts, with less fuss. iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C Let’s be honest: you have at least one person in your family that wants some type of Apple product. Apple is the company with the highest customer demand in the world; it has the highest stock prices. If you love Apple and need a phone upgrade, then these are the phones for you. These phones came out earlier this season, and are fresh on the market, so they are in high demand. Ultimately, I’d advise buying an iPhone 5S over a 5C. The 5C is basically the same as the older iPhone 5. The iPhone 5S has many new added features, such as a newer and faster processor, the innovative Touch ID function that blocks unwanted users, new camera upgrades and a sleek design. Also, I’d personally feel more comfortable having an iPhone with a metal back than a colorful plastic one, although you should buy a phone cover anyway. Samsung Galaxy S4 As popular as they are, many people don’t want to use iPhones. They don’t want to be tied down to the limitations of the App Store and iTunes. Thankfully, there are many other alternative places to go to for phones, and the biggest one is definitely the Android phone market. There are so many Android-operated phones that it makes my head spin. There’s the Google Nexus 5 for the Android
purists out there, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a popular choice for tabletphones, and the HTC One if you’re interested in trying a new and innovative interface instead of the others, or if you like metal phones. However, I’d personally recommend buying the Samsung Galaxy S4 to anyone who wants to try an Android for the first time or if you don’t know what you want in a phone. It’s a great overall p h o n e that’s very popular this year. It’s got a powerful processor, a long-lasting replaceable battery, and lots of storage space. Nokia Lumia 1020 Windows phones are less popular than either the iPhones or the Android Phones, have less variety and are fairly expensive, but I really don’t want to sound disapproving of them. They are excellent phones of good quality that are some of the best of their leagues. The Nokia Lumia 1020 has
one of the best cameras ever designed for a smartphone. If you can’t afford both a phone and a high-end camera, you can consolidate both prices and get this next best thing.
Xbox One Microsoft just released their sequel
It, like the Xbox One, had made upgrades to its own cloud-based gaming network
device to the extremely popular gaming console Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 was one of the highest selling video game consoles ever produced, and has since secured a huge number of fans. The Xbox One has many upgrades that were meant to appeal to a wider audience of people than ever before, such as application multi-tasking, better Kinect functionality and a higher focus on visual interactivity, such as Skype functions and the ability to record and stream live gameplay and share it with others on Xbox Live. It also has a bigger library of releases than its direct competitors. Aside from the confusing naming, there really isn’t much to complain about just yet. But Microsoft doesn’t have the best track record for flawless launches, so expect some complaints to rise before Christmas. Playstation 4 Microsoft’s primary competition this year is the Playstation 4 released less than a week before the Xbox One, and if I had to bet money on which would be more popular, I’d pick this one. The Playstation 4 seems to focus more on the gaming angle than the Xbox One does, opting for a more basic processor than the previous models, in order to promote game development.
and allowed live streaming of gameplay. Sony seems to be focusing on the social gaming aspects for their consoles, and so
far has a better reputation than Microsoft. If you are big on console gaming, I’d recommend this console. iPad Air Yep, it’s an iPad Air. That seems to be the primary reaction I hear from everybody about this. There were a few changes from the New iPad (or the iPad 3 if you’re as confused as I am). It has the same processor used in the iPhone 5S, has new cameras and is one of the thinnest tablets on the market. However, apart from that, that’s pretty much it. However, most people forget that the iPad is one of the best tablets on the market. It has great processing speed, decent battery life and, now, is much lighter than ever before. I can recommend it for anyone who doesn’t have an up-todate tablet, but if you have a good iPad or Android tablet, I can easily tell you to skip this. Nintendo Wii U The least recent entry on our list, the Nintendo Wii U is the latest console effort from the eponymous video game giant. The console itself looks pretty much like the Wii, but it has added the usage of a tablet/controller hybrid called the Gamepad, where the player can view and control the game on two screens. Since its initial release in 2012, it has sold a decent number of consoles and has a much larger library of games than the other two consoles, and is recommended for families and casual gaming circles. 15
Sports
December 9, 2013
What’s Wrong With The Knicks & Nets? Benedict Tagle
Sports EDitor
The local basketball teams are in a world of trouble. Following an offseason filled with high expectations, both the Knicks
and the Nets have been disappointing. The Nets were expected to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. After all, the team had a massive makeover done, bringing in future Hall of Famers in Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. The expectations
were through the roof, both among local fans and observers nationwide. The team was expected to compete for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, even with a first-time head coach at the helm of the team. How have they done so far? By all accounts, they are disappointing. Any cohesion between the stars of the team has been nonexistent. Perhaps it has been natural— established superstars not knowing when to pass and when to score. Another possible reason for the difficulties on the court is injuries. Jason Terry, has not been healthy for the duration of the season. Another prominent member off the bench, Andrei Kirilenko, has been out an extended amount of time. Jason Kidd has not been much to write about as a coach so far. He’s a first time head coach—with no previous coaching experience at all—and he’s learning the ropes. Perhaps his best move as a coach so far has been the infamous coke spilling onto the court. Apart from that, he has
leaned heavily on his assistant coaches. The inexperience of Kidd has led to speculation that his schemes are the reason for the Nets’ struggles. Meanwhile, across town, the Knicks are facing their own problems. Coming off a highly successful season, the team has had nothing but trouble this season. With a number of new players, head coach Mike Woodson is experimenting with a number of lineups. None of the lineups have worked very well. With shooting percentages low, all players but Carmelo Anthony have had trouble on the offensive side of the ball. The team has gone through three point guards—Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni, and Beno Udrih—and none of them have had the spark to carry the team to a winning stream. J.R. Smith has been cold from the field, not showing the same brilliance he did on the offensive side of the ball last year. So far this season, he is not making a strong case to retain his Sixth Man of the Year award.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Knicks have not been good. Clips can be found across the internet of their defensive sets, with comments making fun of the Knicks. The Knicks are just in trouble as the Nets. There doesn’t seem to be a spark with the team as there was last year.
Unlike last year, Anthony doesn’t have any support. It’s a shame because Anthony has been playing very well, hustling on both sides of the ball. His scoring and rebounding numbers have been high all throughout the season.
Pacquiao’s No Ring Rust Return Sports Editor
After a yearlong absence from the ring, Manny Pacquiao returned in a bout against young hotshot Brandon Rios. Pacquiao had not fought since being knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez. The fight, staged in Macau, was highly anticipated by both hardcore boxing fans and the average fan. Fans were anxious to see if Pacquiao—heralded as one of boxing’s all-time greats—still had anything left in the tank after the devastating loss to his rival. Rios is an upcoming boxer, having been undefeated through more than 30 fights until this past March. In addition to the conf lict within the ring, there were extra factors outside of the ring that made the fight a juicy matchup. Freddy Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, has a history with Robert Garcia, Rios’ trainer. In a previous bout between Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito, members of Margarito’s camp— that included Garcia and Rios—were seen mocking Roach. The members of Margarito’s camp were mocking Parkinson’s disease and Roach’s stuttering. Roach was no fan of Garcia. In addition, Rios’ new strength coach, Alex Ariza, had been 16
Pacquiao’s strength coach for the past few years. Ariza had been released by Pacquiao’s camp following the most recent Marquez fight. Even while serving as Pacquiao’s strength coach, Ariza and Roach did not get along. In the days leading up to the match, the extracurriculars surrounding the fight boiled over. Running late in their training session because of media obligations, Rios’ camp were still in the gym when Pacquiao’s scheduled time started. Roach stormed into the
gym shortly afterwards, demanding the gym be relinquished. Emotions were hot, and numerous vulgarities and expletives were shared between the two camps. Ariza was seen mocking Roach’s stuttering. Roach, not taking kindly to Ariza’s taunts, stepped forward, and Ariza landed a kick to Roach’s chest. On fight night, Pacquiao and Rios squared off in a 12 round welterweight fight at the Venetian Macau. Despite the knockout power both boxers possessed, the fight was determined not by knockout, but by decision. In fact, there Getty Image
Benedict Tagle
were no knockdowns in the fight. Pacquiao, over the course of 12 rounds, dominated Rios. Pacquaio won the fight by unanimous decision: 120-108, 119-109, 118110. The statistics of the fight support the decisions of the judges; Pacquiao’s punch totals were about double in every major category. In total jabs landed, Pacquiao outnumbered Rios 58 to 25. In total power punches landed, Rios was outnumbered 223 to 113. In total punches landed, Pacquaio outnumbered Rios 281 to 138. With a dominating performance of Rios, Pacquiao launched himself toward the top of the boxing world once again. With the win, talks about a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown as soon as next year came back. In the meantime, Pacquiao may face a number of upcoming young stars, such as Timothy Bradley, Canelo Alvarez, and Robert Guerrero. For Rios, he may have to reassess, now coming off a two-bout losing streak. Following the fight, he admitted Pacquiao was too fast for him. He was emotional following the fight, evidenced by media obligations. Max Kellerman interviewed Rios following the fight, and Rios answered aggressively, saying “Do I look like a punching bag to you?” Well for one night, he was.