05 | opinions
Sept. 23, 2015
OPINIONS CAMPUS EVENTS
STAFF OPINION
Nickelodeon to bring back 90’s favorites
From Malaysia to Des Moines: a transfer student’s journey
Ellen Converse Staff Writer ellen.converse@drake.edu @EllenConverse
My favorite mornings as a kid were always on Saturdays. Coming downstairs to the scent of breakfast and hearing my brothers already watching our morning cartoons — just thinking about it sends a feeling of nostalgia through me. Like all good things, those relaxing Saturday mornings didn’t last. Soon enough, our Saturdays began to consist of sports tournaments, work or even worse — homework. All too soon we changed the channel and forgot about our Saturday morning cartoons. Ready to relive these mornings? It’s called “The Splat,” a block programming all your favorite classic 90’s Nickelodeon cartoons. There isn’t much information being released at the moment, but it has been confirmed that cartoons ranging from “Hey Arnold”, to “CatDog”, to “Rugrats” will soon be available to be enjoyed all over again. According to tvline.com, “The Splat” will not just be showing reruns, but will also be creating
all-new episodes to be watched! Finally, being able to watch cartoons with your little brother or sister that you can both agree on, or having a better option than “Doc McStuffins” when babysitting. Who am I kidding? We don’t need to have a younger sibling to enjoy these new programs. These are our cartoons! “The Splat” is launching in October, so I know exactly what I will be binge watching all of fall break. You might be wondering: Why now? These shows haven’t been broadcasted or even popular for many years. Why is there all this sudden interest? As much as I’d love to say that the TV producers are doing this purely to make us happy, there is an ulterior motive. Kids” programming has been losing viewers more and more each year because younger viewers are streaming shows from tablets or smartphones, according to variety.com. This maneuver is in hopes of regaining their audience and increasing views. There are some people that are wary about the decision to bring back our old favorites, especially if there are new episodes being made. What if the shows aren’t as good as we remember? Or worse, what if all the new episodes are horrible, and ruin the show’s reputation? I’m not worried about this. I have full confidence that our shows will continue to be hilarious and entertaining, and now they will be more up-to-date with current times. My advice: keep an eye out for “The Splat.” Even if you end up disliking the newer episodes, rewatching some of your favorite cartoons will not only provide a great sense of nostalgia, but also be a great stress relief between study sessions.
Yee Hoi Mun Staff Writer hoimun.yee@drake.edu
“There’s nothing here,” These were my first thoughts on an Iowa highway linking Ames (where I had stayed for a day at my sister’s place) to Des Moines, my eventual destination. It was a 180-degree turnaround from Chicago, where I had visited for a week prior to coming to Iowa. The tallest building I have seen so far (apparently named the 801
Grand Tower) would have been dwarfed on a David to Goliath margin when compared to the Willis Tower or the Petronas Twin Towers back home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. That is not to say I didn’t like what I saw. The cornfields were an eye opener. I have never seen such vast golden cornfields nor the isolated barn houses. I believe they call this the first stage of culture shock, the honeymoon stage. I would have stepped out of the car and ran in slow-motion among the cornfields if I could. The cornfields disappeared as we approached Des Moines and Drake University and the view was no longer as grand. In all honesty, I still don’t quite know why I chose Drake. Despite being Malaysian, I am not an actuarial science major nor a finance major, but an anthropology and journalism undergrad. Perhaps the location and the population played a part. So far, I have yet to encounter any distractions from my academic obligations and extra-
curricular activities, the best fun I have had with my mates so far has been posing for photos with retail guns at Scheels (firearms are illegal in Malaysia). The relatively small number of students also means that I have bumped into the same people more than once on campus. It’s easier to make acquaintances. However, the best thing I have found so far about studying and living here in campus has been the size of the campus. It isn’t small enough to be labelled a glamourous high school, nor is it big enough for me to have to take the bus from one class to another. In other words, commuting in and around campus hasn’t been a problem. I can walk to the library just as easily as walking out of campus for weekly half-priced wings at Jethro’s. As far as logistics go, it’s all nice I would say. But it’s only been three weeks, and I assume studying abroad usually isn’t just smooth sailing with no tides. Come fall and winter I might find myself in more unfamiliar situations.
RECIPES
Microwave munchies: Pizza-dilla
STAFF OPINION
Netflix hidden treasures Be prepared for your new addiction
Ellen Koester Staff Writer ellen.koester@drake.edu
Everyone has their favorite show to binge watch on Netflix, be it “How I Met Your Mother,” “Bones,” “Supernatural” or any number of popular shows available on the streaming service. However, with new content added monthly, subscribers may miss out on some hidden gems. Many high quality shows go unnoticed among the thousands of titles. “Malcolm in the Middle” aired from 2000-2006, and while it was popular in its prime, its viewership is declining. Starring a pre-“Breaking Bad” Bryan Cranston before his ‘breakout’ in the dramatic side of TV, this is the perfect comedy, especially for those missing their families back home. It is a silly comedy focusing on a dysfunctional family told through the eyes of the boygenius son. The show pushes the boundaries on ‘dysfunctional families’ and viewers will laugh during every episode because of either the shock value or because they find an aspect of family life they can connect with. While Netflix originals are becoming more popular, Tina Fey’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” deserves a larger audience. This show has a lower viewership since it only started streaming in March 2015. It stars Ellie Kemper as optimistic
cult survivor Kimmy Schmidt. Although the premise may sound dark (cults are usually not played for laughs), it is a light and feelgood show. At one point in the pilot, Kimmy admits to “weird sex stuff” going on in the bunker but it is played off as a joke rather than for drama. Some of the humor falls flat, but there is always a constant stream of jokes coming at the viewers and everyone will find something that tickles their funny bone. Another show that deserves some attention is the British drama “Peaky Blinders.” This is not a comedy like the others listed; this is a dark, dark drama starring Irish and Romani gangster, Thomas Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy and his exquisite cheekbones). Set in the roaring 1920’s, the show follows the criminal expansion of the Peaky Blinder Irish gang. What sets this show apart is the intelligence of it. Everything happens for a reason and everything ties together in the end. Besides smart writing, the characters are incredibly intelligent. There are many points in the show where it may seem that Tommy Shelby has met his match but he thinks his way out of every situation. Other captivating characters include the amazing Aunt Polly (Helen McCrory), the creepy Inspector Campbell (Sam Neill of “Jurassic Park” fame) and, last but not least, the terrifying Tom Hardy, who becomes a series regular in season two as Jewish gangster Alfie Solomons. If one doesn’t already have too much on their watch list, give one of these shows a try. Be aware of addiction. Netflix marathons may seem gratifying at first but can harm the study habits of viewers.
This savory recipe takes pizza and a quesadilla and smashes them into one delicious microwaved creation
Ingredients: 2 flour tortillas (mini or regular size) Shredded cheese Your favorite pizza toppings Marinara/pizza sauce (optional) Lay one tortilla flat on a microwave-safe plate and sprinkle the entire surface with shredded cheese (use more or less depending on personal preference). Sprinkle the remaining toppings right on top of the cheese—I used mushrooms and black olives, but you Hallie O’Neill can also try pepperoni, tomatoes, chicken, peppers, Staff Writer whatever your pizza-loving heart desires! hallie.oneill@drake.edu Place plate in the microwave and heat for 45-60 seconds or until the cheese is mostly melted. When the cheese is significantly melt-y, stick another tortilla on top of the first one and continue to microwave for another 30 seconds. Remove pizza-dilla from the mic, cut into triangles, and enjoy! This makeshift pizza pie is delicious dipped in red marinara sauce or just on its own. Also, it’s a lot healthier than greasy takeout. Score!