OutlookStudent Press
Volume 46 Issue 1 June 24,2013 outlookpress.net Rockland Community College
Features 4 “These six books are some of the quintessential summer reads.” Suzanne Peguero, Student
If good summer reading material can’t come to mind, here’s a list of books that fit nicely with the warm summer weather.
Style 7 “It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!”
Student Scholars Shine on a Dreary Day Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
On a recent rainy Friday, students from RCC and several other two-year colleges gathered at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA to present research papers for a monetary prize. SUNY Rockland was lucky to have nine student scholars presenting their work Suzanne Peguero, Brendan King, Carlos Costoso, Michael Forrest, Amanda Iacobellis, Tamar MacCallan-Finkelman, Ariel Kotch, Alexandra Marks, Patricia Riviello and I were
honored to be a part of such a prestigious occasion. Professor Fuentes, Dr. Butler, Dr. Baker and Professor Newhem were among the mentors for
support us. What is the Beacon Conference? Every year, a different community college in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
the Beacon papers, and made it to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to
hosts this event. Student scholars from two-year schools submit
papers with a deadline in March, with about twenty categories to choose from. These papers are read blindly, as students put their name and college on a separate document when submitting. This allows for no bias when choosing the finalists for each panel. Students are then selected by late April/ early May to come and present their paper. There are three finalists chosen to present per category. Each presentation is twenty minutes long, and each panel discussion is followed by a questionand-answer session for the students. This allows for the presentations not to be SEE BEACON PAGE 2
Marina Watts, Student
Zach Snyder ushers in a new era with a modernday, and significantly darker, interpretation in his resurrection of the franchise.
Summer Safety Tips Daisey Moakley
Staff Writer
Sports 11 “The correct decision by the team’s front office can pave a way to success.” Benedict Tagle, Student
Predictions in a draft are always difficult, but in this year’s edition, it is nearly impossible.
To most college students, summer began in May. Our frame of mind is “‘tis the season of pool parties, barbeques, and beach and shore line vacations.” I know that many of you will think, as you read this article, “It’s too late for warning; we’ve already begun our summer fun.” However, it is never too late to promote or reiterate warm weather safety. All this warm weather activity involves a degree of danger. Are we really prepared to avoid injury? Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death during the summer months. Running around wet areas, wearing flip flops, or diving into a pool can cause many serious and not so serious injuries such as paralysis, brain injury, fractures and broken bones or drowning,
all of which will need expensive medical care. Some people may overestimate their swimming abilities. This too is a cause of accidental drowning. Boating accidents do not claim as many lives or cause the
open motor boats. The top five causes of boating accidents are operator inexperience, alcohol, speed, improper lookout and inattention. At public pools, the operators can be negligent in many ways.
same amount of damage, but they can still be devastating. Cabin motor boats are much safer than
They may hire staff that are barely old enough to supervise themselves. The levels of chemicals in the pool
may not be properly maintained and can be harmful if ingested. This is certainly something to be careful of. At the beach, or the shore, in the water, or on the sand, we must all practice safety. Let’s refrain from drinking alcohol while boating, swimming or supervising children. When boating, wear Coast Guard approved life jackets at all times and take a boating education course. Always follow lifeguard rules. Make sure that you or someone in your group knows first aid and CPR. Those of us who are parents must be good role models. Let’s keep a close watch on our children and teach them the rules of water safety like swimming in pairs, no diving unless supervised by an adult, and most importantly no shoving around the pool area. Let’s put safety first when having fun in the sun. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen.
News
RCC Students Shine at Beacon
BEACON CONFERENCE FROM PAGE 1 just lectures by nature, but become interactive. The panels presented included the categories of Ph i losophy, Psychology, the Arts, Business and History and Social Sciences. There were three sessions, each an hour and a half long. After the first two was a lunch break. A poster session followed the third panel, where other Beacon finalists set up elaborate trifold posters, which offered another way one could present their paper. The day c o n cl u d e d with an awards ceremony, where the victorious competitors were presented with their scholarship. Sadly, SUNY Rockland didn’t have anyone who won the monetary prize. Nonetheless, being invited to be a
finalist for the Beacon Conference is such an honor. One of the professors who I spoke with from Beacon had said, “Beacon is like the Olympics. Your paper was one
wonderful experience. It was an excellent opportunity to practice public speaking skills outside the classroom. You learn how to give a presentation on a more
of the best, and it doesn’t matter if you win or not. You’re here, and that alone is big enough.” They were absolutely right. Overall, the Beacon Conference is a
professional level. Networking is also an advantage to this conference (as it would be with various events similar). You get to meet people from other colleges who
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are interested in your paper. If you are lucky enough someone may ask you for permission to publish part of your research. This early exposure to panel discussions, question-andanswer sessions, and how a conference works is a great way to find out what to expect when you attend one in the professional world. If you are interested in submitting next year for the Beacon Conference, I would recommend going for it. Be sure to choose a paper you wrote where you are passionate about the subject. The professor you wrote the paper for will be more than happy to help you tighten it up and make it Beaconready. A big thank you to all the professors and mentors who helped make Beacon possible for us SUNY Rockland students to present at!
News
June 24, 2013
Ian Quinn
Staff Writer
On May 25, 2013, over 2 million activists worldwide united to protest agaisnt the growing international corporation Monsanto. Rallies and demonstrations were organized in 52 countries and 436 cities across the globe. Over 200 cities in the Unites States alone witnessed protests against Monsanto, including Creve Coeur, Missouri, where the corporation is headquartered. Monsanto is a leading producer of genetically engineered seed, and the herbicide known and marketed as Roundup. The company is also responsible for manufacturing such controversial products as the insecticide DDT, and the herbicide/defoliant commonly referred to as Agent Orange, a weapon of chemical warfare that was used by U.S. forces in Vietnam. M o s t activists who par ticipated in the March Aga i n st Monsanto were organic advocates concerned with the o v e r a l l health of the human p opu lat ion , as well as the environment as a whole. T h e s e activists would prefer it if the company were to withdraw from the agricultural industry altogether. While protesting they asked primarily for laws to be passed that would require companies to label their products accordingly if they contained food derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The U.S. government, specifically the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has stated repeatedly that food containing GMOs is completely safe for human consumption, and that there is no difference between GM and nonGM food products in terms of their quality. To Monsanto and the federal government, this assumption is a good enough reason as to why products containing GMOs do not need to be labeled; consumers simply do not need to know the difference, for in the end it does not affect the quality or safety of the product they are buying. However, the assumptions made by these institutions are far from universally accepted. Many people who have done further, independent research have discovered numerous studies indicating that GM
foods are not nearly as safe as Monsanto, or the federal government would have you believe. One study, conducted by Russian biologist Alexey V. Surov, and published in July of 2010, linked the consumption of genetically modified soy to sterility and infant mortality in hamsters. The study consisted of feeding hamsters GM soy for a period of two years over three generations. Hamsters that were fed the GM soy diet almost completely lost their ability to reproduce by the third generation. They were also afflicted with a high mortality rate among pups, who experienced slower growth if they were to survive at all. Another study, led by Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen, examined the longterm effects of consuming trace amounts of Monsanto’s Roundup fertilizer, along with a diet consisting of genetically modified corn. The rats, who were the subjects of the experiment, developed severe health compl icat ion s within months of the study’s inception. Up to 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females suffered premature death. Those who drank trace amounts of Roundup (at levels legally allowed in the water supply) had a 200 percent to 300 percent increase in large tumors. Severe organ damage was also observed, mostly in the livers and kidneys of the subjects. It is easy to imagine why so many people are opposed to such a global, industrialized ag r icult u ral force, so supplemented by the U.S. government in particular. A force of such magnitude and influence may, for many people, impose a legitimate threat to their way of life. Fo r t u n a t ely for them, there is still hope to some degree: C e r t a i n territories have remained relatively unaffected by the company’s influence. On the first of February, 2012,
Monsanto halted the last GM crop trial being conducted in Denmark. On May 29, 2013, just days after the global
are the Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia; they are done only by academic partners of Monsanto, and for
March Against Monsanto, the company announced that they would cease any further efforts to expand their sale of seed to farmers on the European continent. The decision to abandon their efforts was based largely on the test results of GM corn field trials imposed by the Danish environmental authority, Miljøstyrelsen. Testing over a period of two years revealed that the GM corn resistant to Roundup performed at 97 percent when compared to the success of traditional corn. The results also indicated possible harmful effects of the herbicide Roundup. Logically, most agricultural companies throughout Europe felt no inclination to adopt GM corn for commercial production. Either way, it had never been a popular option, independent of what tests had revealed. “GM corn represents less than 1% of the European Union’s (EU’s) corn cultivation by land area”, says Brandon Mitchener, Monsanto’s Public Affairs
EU variety registration. Countries that still do business with Monsanto include the Czech Republic, Portugal, and Spain, where sales are relatively low, but still persist nonetheless. Compared to Europe’s GM corn presence of 1 percent, 88 percent of all corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified, according to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). Since the U.S. was the birthplace of Monsanto, it only makes sense that the country has the highest production of GM crops in the world. But even within these borders, firm opposition has already resulted in tangible change. On March 14, 2013, Whole Foods Markets Inc. announced that by the year 2018, all products sold in its North American stores that contain GM ingredients will be labelled as such. In Vermont and Connecticut, state legislatures acted in May with votes to require food companies to indicate genetically modif ied ingredients in their products. Despite repressive measures taken by Monsanto and its associates, p r o g r e s s t o w a r d corporate t r a n s p a r e ncy and public health has been made through increased awareness and global activism. A beacon of hope still exists to those who value even a trace of the democratic condition in their society.
Lead for Europe and the Middle East. The only countries in Europe in which GM corn field trials are still conducted
Features
Dive Into These Summer Reads
Suzanne Peguero
Managing Editor
Every summer, I make my pilgrimage to the library. It has always been my tradition to pick up about ten b o ok s (more t h a n I can car r y, which always turns out to be a problem) and then r e a d through all of them in about a week. T h i s , a l o n g w i t h sleepi ng as much as I possibly can and watching Grease until I begin indiscriminately singing “Summer Nights”, is what mainly constitutes my summer vacation. If good summer reading material can’t come to mind, here’s a list of books that fit nicely with the warm weather. The Help by Kathryn Stockett This could be considered our generation’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” This book tells the story of three women in Mississippi during the early sixties; one is a white woman, and the other two are African-American “help”. This book was a New York Times bestseller in 2009 and 2011, for a good reason. Stockett depicts the three women’s lives and life in the South in a beautiful, funny, and sometimes heartbreakingly realistic manner. I often found myself re-reading certain
parts of the novel the grasp subtleties in Stockett’s writing. Once you pick up this book, there’s a danger that you’ll be reading it till the early hours of the morning. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
What could be better than reading the great American classic beachside? Fitzgerald’s most famous novel “Gatsby” takes place in the wealthy part of 1920’s Long Island. A s t o c k b r o ke r, Nick Caraway, rents a cottage and gets thrown into the elusive world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. S w a n k y parties, love affairs, and Rolls Royces are just part of the Roaring 20’s. A tale that intertwines the American dream, hope, love and a timeless theme of making up for lost time is a must read, especially if you haven’t read this novel in high school or college. The Hobbit, or There And Back Again by J.R.R Tolkien T h i s has been a favorite of mine for years. I ’ v e always been a fan of the Lord of the Rings series, so this book was nat urally a must read. It’s set in the fictional fantasy world called Middle Earth, in which a hobbit, Bilbo Baggins sets out on an adventure with twelve other dwarves and a wizard, Gandalf. The dwarves are determined to regain their land and their gold from the dragon, Smaug. This book is far more lighthearted than the Lord of the Rings series, and reads less like an epic quest, and more like a carefree buddy novel. This is a good read if you want something cheerful, but is still well
written. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Anne Brashares When I first found out I had this book was recommended for high school reading, I was devastated. I d r a m at ic a l ly moaned that literature as we knew it was coming to an end. I ended up taking back this statement after finishing the book. This is definitely a girl’s book: it deals with issues that many teenage girls face, but it is nonetheless one that is well read and provides for an enjoyable summer read. It tells the story of four teenage girls, who have been best friends for years, and for the first time, are going to spend their s u m m e r a p a r t . Brashares gives her characters a humanity that makes it easy for the reader to sympathize with them. This book is both l ig ht hea r t e d and also causes you to stop and think, and is a good read for the poolside. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have Lolita. This is not an easy read. At times, it can be unsettling and disturbing, but is nonetheless a brilliant novel. It is told from the point of view from the (unreliable) narrator and main character, Humbert Humbert. He falls in love with a sexually precocious girl of fourteen, nicknamed Lolita. Drama ensues. This novel created much controversy upon its release in 1955, but since then has become a classic (you may recall having to read it in
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high school). The nickname “Lolita” has also become a staple in pop culture. Nabokov created a story that disturbs, but also intrigues us. Evil Under The Sun by Agatha Christie Nothing says summer like a little bit of murder. In this Agatha Christie novel, a beautiful rich actress Arlena Marshall is found murdered on an island near the beach resort she had been vacationing in. This novel features of one Christie’s most loved detectives, H e r c u l e Poirot. She writes the story in an interesting manner that draws you in, and once again, creates a plot twist that is nearly impossible to discover. Christie is regarded as the queen of detective fiction, and this book certainly proves why. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee This is probably the ultimate summer book, and is the book I have been rereading every summer since I was ten. Harper Lee tells the tale of Scout Finch, and her experience growing up in the south for a short while. It discusses the heavy issues of racism and rape, but also has warmth and humor. The titular character, Scout, is highly relatable, and an extremely amusing, too. When asked (and reprimanded) if she wants to grow up to be a proper lady, she replies, “not particularly”. Lee’s prose is also to be praised; it is rich in its imagery, and makes it easy for us to envision what she is describing. It was immediately successful, winning a Pulitzer Prize. I recommend this book for your next summer read, or just a read, or just anytime, ever.
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Tumblr: A Way of Life
Suzanne Peguero
Managing Editor
By now, mainly everyone with an Internet connection has heard of Tumblr. Some may enthusiastically use it, others may shake their heads in confusion and wonder why all the users seem to be on the verge of insanity, but it’s undeniable: Tumblr has arrived, and it’s going to be staying for a while. This has become a popular social media site for teenagers and young adults. On May 21, it was reported that it acquired around 300 million users. More and more people are using and enjoying the social media site. Now, I’m going to tell you something that is (not-so) secret: I love Tumblr. I love the culture, the writing, the art, and the photography. I love how the people on it seem to share the strange sense of humor as me. I even love the addicting never-ending stream of gifs. Which is why, like many others, I was outraged to find that Yahoo had spent $1.1 billion to purchase Tumblr. Ya h o o b o u g h t Tumblr on May 20, 2013. With the news of the purchase, Tumblr seemingly exploded. Predictions of what Tumblr would look like under Yahoo’s management appeared, along with threats that if Yahoo
began placing restrictions, many of the users would leave. I saw many posts that asked the question, “What if they turn this into a family friendly site?” I may have even asked that question once
Opinions
myself. This widespread panic diffused when Yahoo made it clear that they had no intentions to change the culture of Tumblr. And indeed, after the weeks that users were carefully watching the
a need to reconnect with the younger demographic. Yahoo is a successful company; to be one, you have to have business sense. Thinking of this in a strictly business manner, the last thing
site, the only thing that changed was the post layout. Some, however, are still concerned that Yahoo will subtly begin to change the culture of Tumblr.
Yahoo would want to do would alienate the teenage and young adult demographic of Tumblr. A popular post that was circulating on Tumblr during the Yahoo hysteria was one that basically said, “If Yahoo changes this site, they will have a full scale war on their hands.” And indeed they would. This brings up another point in the Yahoo acquisition of Tumblr: will Yahoo buckle under pressure from others against the culture of Tumblr? Many people have shamed Tumblr, saying that it is a site in which pornography can be easily obtained. However, this is a large part of the culture that Tumblr consists of.
majority of Tumblr. However, many (like myself) argue against this, saying that they are merely being comfortable with their own sexuality. This feminist aspect has become synonymous with Tumblr. So while some may say that Yahoo will eventually begin to place restrictions on this, I think that they realize it would, to many users, appear somewhat sexist, and alienate the users. Another reason I think Yahoo will not change Tumblr too much is the people that make up the site. These users are familiar with Tumblr the way it is: no restrictions on what you can say or post, and family friendly feel to it at all. If Yahoo changes this, they would have a war on their hands. Many Tumblr users would leave. Others would, as unethical as it sounds, find some way of harassing Yahoo in order to get “the old Tumblr” back. Ranting posts would be made. Petitions would be written and signed. Yahoo would receive copious amounts of emails and phone calls. As ridiculous as this may seem, it is understandable: Tumblr is the one place where young people of today can be themselves online. On Facebook, you can’t be too weird; on Tumblr, weird doesn’t exist. If they changed this, they would ultimately change the whole culture of Tumblr, and many people would leave. Yahoo would lose money. The $1.1 billion they spent would go
Fanfiction” often has some kind of literature pornography element to it. And in some cases, you can find actual pornography on the site. This is often seen as taking away the innocence from the teenage girls that make up a
to waste, and they certainly don’t want that. So, while we may all panic and wonder about the future of Tumblr, I think it is safe to say that it won’t be changing anytime soon.
Many were worried that, despite the fact that Tumblr’s founder David Karp promised that Tumblr “certainly isn’t changing”, it indeed would. That it would indeed become more family friendly, less feminist, and purple instead of blue. For a little while, I did the same. However, after my initial freakout, I realized that Tumblr isn’t going to be making drastic changes anytime soon. Right now, Tumblr is a company that is growing quickly. It has an extremely large number of users and visitors, and is highly popular among young people. The no restriction, reblog whatever you wish to is one of the reasons this is so. One of the main concerns of Tumblr users is that Yahoo will not allow this anymore. Many are saying that this is nothing we need to be particularly concerned about. Yahoo bought Tumblr largely because they felt
Opinions
June 24, 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
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.
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u o Y o D w Ho Feel About ? s e s s a l c r e Summ
Marina Watts
Summer classes are good for students looking to catch up on credits before the fall semester. This is not exactly my cup of tea. Students deserve a break after two long, grueling semesters filled with classes. However, the only reason I am taking summer classes this year is because they are part of the Cambridge program offered here at SUNY Rockland. Getting to take Shakespeare courses in England is definitely worth taking up two weeks of my summer. Inside and outside the classroom, there is so much to learn. This is the type of summer course that I will not complain about taking, as opposed to a four hour class each day for a few weeks here that RCC offers. The only thing I dislike is the immense amount of reading I must complete before I go away. Seven plays in seven weeks written in Shakespearean English is a little more than the normal light summer reading I was hoping for.
Suzanne Peguero
While some students may need summer classes to gain enough credits to graduate, I personally would never take them. Summer is my sacred four months off to spend time doing nothing, and unless it is necessary, I intend to use them as such. I would personally rather take 18 credits during one semester and be able to have my summer off than take less and then have classes during the summer. Summer classes also have the tendency to be intense; you are trying to fit four months worth of material into a short amount of time. To me, it makes more sense to take the extra credits, but have the four months to learn the material and be able to comprehend it better. While I understand the need to take them if necessary, I wouldn’t do it. I like my summers free.
Benedict Tagle
Summer is the best season of the year. My favorite activity during this most incredible season is attending summer class. There is nothing more fun than sitting in a lecture class about biology or chemistry for four hours. Those four hours are fascinating, filled with the most incredible facts. Instead of being able to run around and frolicking in the open spaces in the most gorgeous weather, I get to sit in a small classroom for four consecutive hours. There is nothing more fun than attending a lab class, while looking outside, seeing everyone playing and having fun. Instead of playing with frisbees and footballs, substitute those with flasks and burets. I wish summer class were longer than five week sessions. If I was in town the entire summer, I think I would spend all three months in summer school. No, just kidding. I really don’t like it.
Style & Entertainment
June 24,2013
“Man of Steel” is Beyond Super
Marina Watts
Editor in Chief
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the next big summer blockbuster! “Man of Steel” came out this June and is absolutely amazing. Directed by Zach Snyder, (the man who brought us “300” and “Dawn of the Dead”) this sci-fi superhero film
is perfect for the summertime film fan. The film opens with Clark Kent’s (Henry Cavill) home planet, Krypton dying-which is shown through a massive display of special effects. Transported to Earth and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark struggles with fitting in. The super powers he has (the ability to fly, super strength, heat vision, and X-ray vision) are beyond ordinary and he keeps them hidden. After he saves the ambitious reported Lois Lane (Amy Adams), she becomes intrigued with who he is. Once an exposé she writes becomes leaked, she puts his life (along with her own) at risk. However, when Earth becomes threatened by General Zod (Michael Shannon) after he finds out Superman’s whereabouts, Superman must team up with our armies. He battles against the
evil General Zod in order to protect his new home, and these battle sequences are absolutely amazing. Complete with a cast including Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner and Laurence Fishburne, “Man of Steel” will not disappoint. From what I’ve seen, this movie is very reminiscent of Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy. It was no surprise to me learning that Nolan was a producer for this f i l m . Similar to the first film of the Batman saga, “Man of Steel” was darker than past f i l m s depicting the hero. In what could be the first film of a few in this super saga, we bounce back to defining moments in Clark K e n t ’s life. Like many superheroes, Clark Kent is a troubled soul, just looking to blend in. Although none of us can truly relate to Superman, Clark’s back-story makes everything about his life more tangible to audiences.
It was beyond a modest effort to bring back Superman. Although the
past Superman movies with Christopher Reeves are classic, Zach Snyder ushers in a new era of a modern-day (and
significantly darker) interpretation in his resurrecting the franchise. This film also didn’t include the iconic “Superman March” written by John Williams. In an attempt for “Man of Steel” to distinguish itself, it was cut out and Hans Zimmer was selected to compose the music for the film. In fact, if it wasn’t for the immense success of the modern Batman films, “Man of Steel” would have never been a thought. Development for the film began in 2008, when screenwriters, directors and comic book authors came together planning a potential super revival. Christopher Nolan suggested and pitched the idea for the modern revival. He was immediately hired to produce the film, which was a wise decision. The film was slightly fast paced, and before I knew it the two and a half hour picture was over, when anyone could easily claim it was less than two hours. The use of flashbacks kept it moving along, and you get a genuine comic-book feel from itas everything is fleeting but just the right amount to keep one from being distracted by the constant transitioning. The ending to “Man of Steel” indicates some closure as to the events throughout the film. However, there is a sequel is in the works, due to how amazing this film was, along with the fact that Snyder signed a three movie
deal, which includes a Justice League film (which I am beyond pumped for). Hopefully they include Jimmy Olsen, the love-struck photog rapher who works with Lois Lane, as he wasn’t a part of “Man of Steel.” The final scenes left me wanting more, especially the last five minutes. This definitely m e a n s something, considering Superman was never my favourite caped crusader. A n y o n e looking to see this film should not bother wasting the extra few dollars per ticket to see it in 3-D. The cinematography and clarity of the motion picture is so impressive that it would make no difference. The special effects used
throughout the film, from the opening scenes on Krypton to the final explosions are beyond awesome. One of the negative things about this film is all the doors left open at the end. I am definitely looking forward to seeing the next “Superman” movie to come out, provided Snyder directs it. Two thumbs up to this film, as it will satisfy audiences all over craving something “super.”
Style & Entertainment
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Joe Cannata
Contributing Writer
“Arrested Development” The overall grade: A+ Main reason to watch: In a world where the thieves of Hollywood steal every idea and make it their own, there’s “Arrested Development.” The gags and format continue to maintain as some of the most original since “I Love Lucy,” “Happy Days” and “All in the Family.” They offer some of the densest jokes you could find on television. Annyong! It’s now time to wake up all of the sophisticated enthusiasts of the cancelled cult sitcom acclaimed by Time Magazine as one of the “100 Best Shows of All Time”. GOB is back for new illusions as the groundbreaking mockumentary style comedy is returning for a definite fourth season plus a movie potentially looming in the near future. It’s “Arrested Development.” The cast is solid as a rock. Jason Bateman stars as Michael Bluth, who attempts to keep his family and The Bluth Company together while his father is behind bars. He was busted by the FBI for building houses in Iraq for Saddam Hussein. Michael Cera also stars as Michael’s son George Michael, who works for the only source of income for the Bluth family, which is the banana stand. Will Arnett, Portia DeRossi, Tony Hale, David Cross, and Alia Shawkat round out the
starring roles. Charlize Theron guest stars as a retarded British person, as other guest stars include Scrubs star Zach Braff who plays a “Girls Gone Wild” style filmmaker while coping with a psychological problem called “Never-Nudeness.” Amy Poehler of “Parks and Recreation” also guest stars and Ron Howard narrates the series while appearing in the final seconds of the third season. Howard initially conceived the idea of a reality show to be filmed and produced in a sitcom format for a lower budget than a traditional sitcom. Hits such as “Modern Family,” “The Office,” and the aforementioned “Parks and Recreation” have all mirrored this format since its initial broadcast. After FOX launched the pilot, the overwhelming critical acclaim for “Arrested Development” began instantaneously. The mock reality series also caught attention as they snagged numerous award nominations 8
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during award season including five Emmy wins in just the first season of the show. This continued throughout every season as the show was rewarded at least one Emmy win for the next two seasons, still the numerous
“Arrested Development”’s innovatory style of leading every plot of the episode into another was an essential part of the shows charisma. Inside jokes and running gags often left new audiences puzzled and confused.
breakfast food? Amy Poehler is fresh out of SNL while we are directed into the hilarious world of Pawnee, Indiana. “Parks and Rec” has excellent values of community and solidarity. It reteaches us about friendship
awards did not save the series from a downward spiral. In 2006, the show was cancelled after three seasons as a result of declining viewership and ratings. After seven years of hard work by creator Mitchell Hurwitz, the show has
However, the viewers that watched the series from the pilot all the way through to the final episode; “Development Arrested” were compensated as they cackled with laughter. After the show was cancelled audiences discovered the show and a brand new wave of interest is concentrated on the show for the fourth season. For those interested in large laughs and unprecedented comedy, it is highly recom mended to view Arrested D e ve l o p m e n t from the very beginning and lead right up to the new format that the fourth season will bring. The unparalleled series is now being prepared for air. Fortunately on an episode for Will Ferrell’s web channel “Funny or Die”, movie star Chloe Grace Moretz filmed a segment in the future; 2015 to be exact. “The Hugo” and “Kick-Ass” star grinned while saying, “The Arrested Development movie has been made, as well as a sequel. They both win Oscars.” If you’re a fan of the show you know that things will never be the same again. This is the final countdown. “Parks and Recreation” The Overall Grade: A+ Main reason to watch: Who doesn’t love
and leadership while enveloping us in total comedic liberation. A documentary crew has been capturing the Parks Department of the fictional town of Pawnee for the past five years. However an outrageous comment by the director of the Parks Department caught the attention of taxpayers. He was recorded stating; “I don’t want this parks department to build any parks, because I don’t believe in government. I think that all government is a waste of taxpayer money. My dream is to have the park system privatized and run entirely for profit by corporations, like Chuck E. Cheese. They have an impeccable business model. I would rather work for Chuck E. Cheese.” We attempted to clear up this outrageous comment; however, Mr. Swanson was not in. Unfortunately his uncooperative personal secretary, April Ludgate penciled us in for a July 50 2:65 p.m. meeting. Parks and Recreation Deputy Leslie Knope, taken aback by this allegation though her three hours of revealing comments, were all off the record. While working in a small office in Pawnee’s Parks Department the lovable Amy Poehler stars as the show’s protagonist: Leslie Knope. She hopes to build a beautiful park in a lot that was also referred to as “The Pit.” She works alongside fascinating office workers, Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) the corky shoe shiner, the awkward one lining comedic genius Aubrey Plaza plays April. The “beautiful, sweet, naïve” nurse Ann Perkins is played by Rashida Jones of “I Love You Man”, and “The Social Network”, Tom Haverford is played by “This is the End” star
been rethought, revitalized and was recently picked up by Netflix who will be executing a new method in media. The company prepares to release 15 brand new episodes on the same date; May 26, 2013. This principle follows the innovation of internet viewing and new ways of watching television rather than watching the broadcast as it happens. This method was demonstrated by another series on Netflix called “House of Cards.” The “cancelled” status of “Arrested Development” overshadowed what most overlook. Comedian David Cross played the hilarious Tobias Funke. He commented on the show’s fate in a “Rolling Stone” interview stating, “If (the show’s initial broadcast) was one year later, ‘Arrested Development’ would still be on the air. It took (FOX) a while to figure out what everybody else already knew, which is that people aren’t watching the show the night it airs.”
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Aziz Ansari. Nick Offerman, Retta and Rob Lowe round out the implausible supporting cast. Writers Michael Schur and Greg Daniels originally released six beginning episodes with mostly negative feedback although the first episodes are arguably some of the
most comically tuned of the series, they were hated critically. The second season was welcomed with opened arms by audiences and received similar critical acclaim that “Arrested Development” received in the first season. Some raved that the second season was a masterful changeup while viewership started to skyrocket. The writers never looked back. Although Parks and Rec was praised as the Best Show of 2012 from “Time Magazine,” and serious praise was given for select performances, Parks and Rec is often snubbed from Emmy competition while less entertaining shows “Glee”, and “30 Rock” often receiving recognition in the past. Fortunately the headache, “30 Rock” has been ended by the NBC Network which is still managing their own headaches. As we conclude the fifth season, the show is still delivering fresh jokes and entertainingly clever scenarios comparable to “Family Guy.” For example, Jerry, a major player in the series is often messing up regularly. He is often perceived like Mila Kunis’s “Meg” character from Seth Macfarlane’s series. There are also moments of hilarity when middle aged men sleep overnight in children’s slides, verbal bashing of the public library by the Parks and Rec team, and Leslie putting an end to dog poop fights by local teens while also participating in the fun. Bully for you! Your entire family can visit the town of lovely town of Pawnee since the show is rated PG and although it can get intricate at times, the town offers jokes for everyone here. Over the years, guest stars have appeared in Pawnee like Louie C.K, Will Arnett, Fred Armison, Andy Samberg, Paul Rudd and Patton Oswalt. Good news! Pawnee is going to remain as a vital force in the world of comedy. There doesn’t seem to be any stopping the Parks and Rec team unless the government gets shut down again. Not to worry, we’re in good hands with Leslie Knope at the helm. Remember, Pawnee is first in friendship and fourth in obesity. “Modern Family” The Overall Grade: B+ Main reason to watch: The writing is witty; Ty Burell and Julie Bowen have
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created one of the most entertaining couples in television history. The show is hilarious. In our packed lives, we are surrounded by the most inexcusable awfulness that the rest of the human race presents to us daily. Often our dysfunctional families are so annoying to us that we tend to purposely ignore them. “Modern Family” reminds us that we should sometimes take a break from the annoying world and solely concentrate on our annoying families. As the Dunphy and Prichett families are gathered in the living room of characters Cameron Tucker and Mitchell. They complain after a long day of dancing to “High School Musical,” and subsequently shooting kids at point blank range. The lights are turned down, the complaining is halted and The Lion King’s “Circle of Life” blasts from their stereo as Cameron Tucker simultaneously raises their newly adopted Vietnamese baby to a single golden light. Meanwhile, families crowd around in joyful amazement to a wonderful new baby and a wonderful new comedy that would reign for two straight seasons as the premier sitcom on broadcast television. “Modern Family’s” facetiousness has often ordered viewers to review episodes for a second or third time, since its improbable humor the show offered on a weekly basis through the middle of the third season. Well in season four, the outstanding writers led by co-creators Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd continue to provide a reputation for the show as a clear stand out in ABC’s mostly PG rated “Laugh On” lineup. Unfortunately this particular season has been scattered with
bad there are many great moments in season
nearly unwatchable episodes as the writers seem to exceed their own talents by writing in scenarios and gags that are similar to cataclysms “Subergatory” and “Don’t Trust the B” who implement their own humor in these shows and state that they are “their better episodes.” As Alfred Hitchcock pointed out, this is an instance where if the script falls apart the actors practically crumble. Still with the
between both comedies. “Modern Family” adds extra elements to their show that adds extra appeal featuring three separate storylines, and characters talking and gazing directly into the camera to make the show feel as if you are with the Dunphy’s and Pritchett’s throughout the chaos. “Modern Family” also uses physical comedy to its full potential. In select episodes character often find themselves exposed to
four.“Fulgencio” is a Godfather themed episode that is sure to be enjoyed by any movie phonetics, and “The Future Dunphy’s” offers a very original, comical take on what parents see in their children’s future. The format holds a similar appeal to the original mockumentary “Arrested Development.” Writer Abraham Higginbotham and reoccurring guest star David Cross offer an amusing crossover
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danger including; characters being mistaken for being raccoons so they are shot at by a fire extinguisher dynamically, a plane being flown directly into one of the characters faces, chucking pumpkins across a football field, and of course, kids walking in on their parents while they are screwing around. The first and second seasons of “Modern Family” have offered viewers hilarity and thoughtfulness. The writers have been the main source for winning these numerous awards while being the focus point at the disreputable Golden Globes and Emmy Awards. The likeable characters of Modern Family have helped this show in every way. Ty Burell has arguably formed one of the greatest characters in television history. It’s Phil Dunphy yo. Julie Bowen is Claire who somehow tolerates the madness of the families complete dysfunction. Luke (Nolan Gould), Alex (Ariel Winter), and Haley (Sarah Hyland) play the now underutilized children of this modern family. Over the course of four seasons this small team of actors have crafted their trade at a very young age and find themselves enjoying every second of working on set although they also find that they have scattered screen time because of current show running faults. Ed O’Neil acts as Claire’s father and is happily married to a Columbian woman named Gloria (Sofia Vergara) who often complicates things by her absurd attitude toward people and dogs. Her mispronunciation of simplistic English words also provides many laughs. Their son, Manny Delgado (Rico Rodriguez) is a classy tween who is loves women although he can’t seem to get any. Finally there is the strangest group. Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) plays an over the top theater loving gentleman and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) is similar to Claire as he rolls his eyes as the antics pursue around him. Both Cam and Mitch provide a source of controversy by conservatives and some in the LGBT community because they so in fact perceive an over the top gay couple however they are well received by millions of fans across the country nevertheless. Fans of the show also know that we can’t forget their young, back-talking Vietnamese daughter who brings them all together. The most thorough comedy on television has been in the headlines for gathering awards and nominations for the supporting cast. Eric Stonestreet has won twice and Ty Burell has won once for their contributions to their outstanding supporting roles while Julie Bowen has also pulled away with two Emmy awards for her exceptional performance. Ever since the loss of “Arrested Development” it seems like there has been a missing piece for lovers of genuine family comedies. “Modern Family” has unquestionably filled this void. Since the phenomenal episodes are scattered like shells on a beach it’s only fair that the top five episodes are listed if you do wish to laugh up a storm: 1) Family Portrait 2) Fizbo 3) Hawaii 4) Pilot 5) Caught in the Act. The show is incredibly enjoyable and there are is a lot to be offered in terms of comedy and family values. “Modern Family” airs Wednesday’s at 9 on ABC. You can also take a look at the first two seasons, which is probably a better idea.
Style & Entertainment
Don’t Apply for the Internship
Marina Watts
Editor In Chief
Opening two weeks ago was Shawn Levy’s latest (attempt at) comedy, “The Internship.” With a brilliant premise and the dynamic duo of Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, one would think that the film is foolproof. You would be wrong. The director of “Date Night” and the “Night at the Museum” films has failed to make “The Internship” worth seeing. A set of salesmen who feel past their prime lose their jobs, and contemplate if their careers will ever pick up again. Billy
McMahon and Nick Campbell (Vaughn and Wilson) search for an opportunity to get them back in the work field. They land
an interview for Google, and once they are voted in they are given the opportunity to compete for a highly-coveted internship. Throughout the remainder of the films, Campbell and McMahon experience the trials and tribulations of competing against technologically-geared college kids. With highs and lows along the way, they figure out where their skillset can truly be utilized and climb their way back up into the work world. I particularly loved the movie “Wedding Crashers;” it’s in my top ten of best comedies. Vaughn and Wilson balanced out each other perfectly, as not a line between them was wasted. However, in “The Internship” some of their attempts at humour were failures. I would even say at a couple points their roles were more obnoxious than funny. I found it hard to identify with them and felt little sympathy for them. At certain moments, I even rooted against them. The band of misfits they collaborate
with throughout the film seem to work well, cast-wise and as far as their performance is concerned. The lack of chemistry, however, made little room for sympathizing with their situation at hand. The plot line to the movie was a very interesting concept. How would it work if college kids competing for internships at Google had a couple of salesmen about twenty years older than them in the mix? A clashing of mentalities and ways of life, and an eventual harmony between the age gap would be the result. In “The Internship,” it was difficult for that to fully develop. Maybe it did, but it was difficult to notice as I found the soundtrack very distracting and took away from most of the movie. What really bothered me about “The Internship” was the fact that in the middle of the movie, there was a ten minute interlude where McMahon and Campbell took their fellow Google team members out
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to a California night club. It was very out of place, and little of it made a difference to advance the plot. I could understand a short two-minute clip that gets its purpose across and moves onto the next scene, but dragging it out took away from what the premise was there to suggest. Once again, distracting. Overall, I was very disappointed. Watching the trailer will give you as much comic relief as though you watched the entire movie. If you are looking for a laugh-out-loud summer flick, I’m sure you can Google “good summer films” and “The Internship” won’t be anywhere within sight.
Star Trek Into Darkness: Review Suzanne Pegeuro
Managing Editor
On May 16, 2013, the film “Star Trek: Into Darkness” opened to an enthusiastic audience and positive reviews. It is a thoroughly enjoyable film that is certainly worth your while. J.J Abrams directs the film, and it stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and Benedict Cumberbatch. It is the twelfth installment in the Star Trek franchise, and the sequel for 2009’s “Star Trek.” The captain of the U.S.S. Enter prise, James Kirk, loses his command of his ship after violating a Star Fleet Prime Directive law. He ends up facing larger problems when a preserved war criminal, Khan is woken up, and he must defeat the villain alongside his crewmembers and his best friend and first officer, Spock. While the movie may not have been strong on plot (which, I would like to point out, the Star Trek films never were), it delivers where it is the strongest: the relationships between the crewmembers on the Enterprise, particularly between 10
Kirk and Spock. The exchanges between Kirk and Spock are both hilarious, and at times also touching. Pine and Quinto do an excellent job showing nuances in their friendship, and it is one of the things that makes this movie so wonderful. The supporting actors and actresses also do an excellent job with their parts. The ship’s doctor Bones is suitably grumpy and speaks
in plenty of awful metaphors; Chekov is amusing as always. While the plot may be quite dark (the villain, Khan, wants to resurrect his war criminal “family” so he can wreak havoc upon earth), there is plenty of humor to ensure that it does not become weighed down by gloom. Another thing is certainly worthy to be praised is the cinematography and special effects. Normally, I don’t ooh and ahh over these kinds of things, but in this case, I couldn’t help myself. The colors were brilliant and vibrant, and the world
that Abrams created is stunning. He did an imaginative job with this part of the film, and he certainly succeeded in this aspect. I am going to state this once and for all: Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant in this role. I am not just saying this because I am a fan of his. I am saying this because, all in all, it’s true. His portrayal of Khan was perfect; he was cold, calculating, but not without a soft spot in his hear for his crew, which, although we were all somewhat frightened of him, made him somehow relatable. He had an unemotional aspect that made him unsettling, and played the character in a completely original way. There is one scene in which Kirk has to listen to Khan describe how he loved his crew, how they are his family, and how, more than anything, he wants them back. This scene is beautifully played by both actors: Cumberbatch is sympathetic in his grief over his crewmembers, and while Kirk wants to stay distant from the man’s grief,
he understands the love he has for his c rew membe r s. This scene, perhaps, refers to the real darkness in the title of the film: when you are uncertain of what the right thing to do is. And this makes it place of genuine excitement. “Into Darkness” is a sleek, epic film that offers some popcorn morality questions, along with plenty of action. This is ultimately everything we want in both an action and a Star Trek movie. My grade: A
Sports
June 24,2013
Predicting an Unpredictable NBA Draft Benedict Tagle
Sports Editor
With the postseason of the NBA wrapped up, and a champion for the past season crowned, fans of each and every team can now look forward to the offseason. During this period where fans excitedly predict what moves their favorite teams are
going to make, the annual draft garners a lot of attention. The correct decision by the team’s front office can pave a way to success. On the flip side, a poor decision by the front office can cause the franchise a few years of progress.
Because of the importance the draft can hold on a team, the proper research is paramount. The teams at the top of the draft this year must take even more care with their picks than normal. With this year’s rookie class, the draft can take many twists and turns. This year, there is no LeBron James in the draft. There are no clear, home run players that are obvious number one overall picks. This year, the closest thing to that is Nerlens Noel. However, with the serious knee injury that he suffered this past collegiate basketball season at Kentucky, teams may decide to pass on him because of a health issue. Because of the lack of dominant, clear cut superstars in the draft, this year sets up as a potentially crazy draft, filled with endless possibilities. Numerous teams at the top of the draft may decide to trade their picks in exchange for different assets. Teams that were not in the lottery have been rumored to be interested in trading up, to fill out their roster with the one player they feel is necessary to have a legitimate chance at winning the NBA Finals. Other teams have been reported to be interested in trading to free up salary cap space because of this year’s enticing
free agency class. Chris Paul and Dwight Howard highlight this year’s class, followed by Andre Iguadola and Monta Ellis. Teams planning to make a splash in free agency can add even more intrigue in this year’s
draft via trades. Another interesting tidbit about this year’s draft is the emergence of the international prospects. For the first time in a while, international draft prospects have shot up the draft board. In fact, numerous prospects have been mentioned in lottery picks on mock drafts. Additional names have been added to mid-round picks in the first round. The top international prospects this year are Dennis Schroeder and Sergey Karasev. Any writing about the draft should include a prediction on the first overall pick of the draft. And with that, here are the picks. With the first overall pick of the
2013 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select: Nerlens Noel. Despite the issue with the knee, Cleveland takes the big man from Kentucky to pair with Tristan Thompson and try establish something similar to San Antonio’s big man combination of David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Predictions in a draft are always difficult, but in this year’s edition, it is nearly impossible. Because of the many possibilities, these predictions are made on the basis of no trades occurring in the top 10 picks. Pick, Team #1, Cleveland Cavaliers #2, Orlando Magic #3, Washington Wizards #4, Charlotte Bobcats #5, Phoenix Suns #6, New Orleans Pelicans #7, Sacramento Kings #8, Detroit Pistons, #9, Minnesota Timberwolves #10, Portland Trail Blazers Player, College #1, Nerlens Noel, Kentucky #2, Ben McLemore, Kansas #3, Otto Porter, Georgetown #4, Anthony Bennett, UNLV #5, Alex Len, Maryland #6, Victor Oladipo, Indiana #7, Trey Burke, Michigan #8, Shabazz Muhammad #9, Cody Zeller, Indiana #10, Gorgui Deng, Louisville
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Sports
The Long Road to the Stanley Cup
Greg DeAugustine
Contributing Writer
The Stanley Cup finals are now underway for the National Hockey League. Eight
teams each at the beginning of the playoffs represent the two conferences that the league separates into. The Western Conference teams include the Chicago Blackhawks, the Minnesota Wild, the Anaheim Ducks, the Detroit Red Wings, the Vancouver Canucks, the San Jose Sharks, the St. Louis Blues, and the LA Kings. The Eastern Conference was represented by teams such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, the NY Islanders, the Montreal Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, the Washington Capitals, the New York Rangers, the Boston Bruins, and the Toronto
Maple Leafs . Each round of the playoffs is a seven game series, each team needing four wins to advance to the next round. There are no ties, and overtime will continue until the next team scores. Eventually, there will be only two teams left in the Finals. These two teams are the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins, one team for each conference. The Blackhawks were not surprising in making it this far . This season they broke the record for highest win streak, going 24-0, before finally losing their first game. The Bruins, on the other hand, managed to soundly defeat what was considered the best team in the East, the Pittsburgh Penguins , with a 4-0 sweep in the semifinals . They were somewhat of a sleeper team going into the playoffs; nobody really knew how good they were. As I am writing this article, the first game of the finals has just finished with the Blackhawks winning in triple overtime with four goals to Boston’s three. If this game is any indication , the rest of the final games are going to be very well played, and fun to watch . No matter who wins the Stanley Cup at the end of the day, these finals are going to
be quite interesting. Now many of you might be wondering why the Stanley Cup finals are taking place this late in the year, even going into the summer. Well at the end of last year’s season, the contract between the players and the team owners on who gets what percentage of the profit expired. Now normally, discussion would continue
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throughout the summer and then a deal would be finalized before the start of the next season. However, this year they could not come to an agreement and refused to compromise. This led to arbitration going through what would have been the start of the season. Finally after government intervention, the players and owners signed the new contract. At this point it was already January and half the season had been missed including the All-Star game. This means that instead of playing 96 games as per usual, each team only played 48 games. Another stipulation of this half season was that teams only played other teams in their conference with the majority of those games being played between teams in the same division. That’s why the playoffs have gone on for so long leading into the month of June, and maybe even July.
Golf: Mid Season Standings Benedict Tagle
Sports Editor
This year, the golf world has seen numerous headlines. Halfway through the year, it’s a good time to look back on the main events of the season so far and what
lies ahead. Rory McIlroy was supposed to have his real breakthrough season this year. After winning the PGA Championship in another show-stopping style, everyone expected big things out of the youngster from Northern Ireland. With the number one ranking in hand, this was the year he was supposed to definitely challenge Tiger Woods for dominance. However, this year has been the complete opposite of what has been expected. Signing a massive endorsement contract with Nike, McIlroy has seemingly faced a lack of confidence in his new clubs. He has switched putters from his Nike back to his Scotty Cameron. He has missed multiple cuts and hasn’t been able to build any real momentum this year. If this trend continues, this season will have been a wasted one for McIlroy. Tiger Woods, on the other hand, has 12
had a strong season. He has won multiple times already in this short season and has posted an absurd winning percentage. It seems that he has captured a little of the spark that began Tiger-mania. The success he’s had on tour has not translated in the major championships this season. Most recently, after playing poorly at Memorial, he looked forward to Merion to return to his strong play. He had a forgettable tournament showing at Merion, and was never in contention. However, apart from the two outliers found at his most recent tournaments, look forward to Tiger continuing his strong play for the remainder of the season. In addition, don’t be surprised if he takes one of the two remaining majors. The first two majors of the year have both resulted in first-time major champions. Interestingly, both champions
waited a long time for their first wins. Both Adam Scott and Justin Rose were predicted to do incredible things during their careers. Scott and Rose took a long time to realize the success they had been destined to achieve, and finally with both in their 30’s won their first major championships. Two of the mostlikeable players in golf have finally won their long-awaited majors. In both the British Open and the PGA Championship, it is likely that another first-time major champion is crowned. Like Scott and Rose, the champion probably will have been knocking on the door for a while. With that, it would not be surprising if Jason Day or Sergio Garcia pick up their first major championships later this season. Both players have been so close to being crowned champion, to only have the titles slip out of their fingers. Day and Garcia have played very well this season, and look as if the momentum can carry on to majors. Matteo Manassero of Italy may be the
next breakout star if he continues his play from earlier this season. Already having four professional wins on the European Tour at the age of 20, he recently added a win at Wentworth to his incredible resume.
He has played consistently throughout the year, and a strong showing for the rest of the season would not be surprising. With all the drama of the first half of the golf season, the second half should be one heck of a show to watch.