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(12/02/09 11:20pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tomorrow we bring you our top 50 television programs of the decade, but there are obviously a number of good ones that didn’t quite make the list for various reasons. So here are 20 programs you won’t find on our list tomorrow and just to spice it up, we’ve included the best episode of each. Hopefully this list gives you an indication of what did make our top 50 – and maybe even angers you a little bit. “Heroes,” “Company Man” – Though it was already a phenomenon by this effort aired near the end of season one, this “Lost”-riffing HRG-flashback episode proved that “Heroes” could deliver more than just snazzy marketing lines. It’s too bad that every episode after this one proved the exact opposite. “Sex and The City,” “Ex and the City” – Even as HBO program fell into the creative depths of hell in later seasons, “Sex” was always about two things: Carrie’s relationship with the girls and her relationship with Mr. Big. At the heart of the season two finale was the latter where Carrie realized that Big would never “get it” thanks to the Barbara Streisand flick “The Way We Were.”“Damages,” “There Is No We Anymore” – The penultimate episode of “Damages” first season featured all the best parts of the series: timeline screwiness, thrilling twists and powerhouse performers. “Big Brother,” “Season 11, Episode 18” – Summer’s soapy and addictive reality program isn’t as respected as its other CBS brethren, but this one – featuring the expulsion of Chima, one of the worst human beings to participate on a reality show outside of MTV and Vh1 – proved that watching talentless people scheme against one another is too great to pass up.“Smallville,” “Covenant” – Sure, it’s been uneven and ridiculously disappointing at points, but when “Smallville” is good, it’s damn good. At the height of its quality all the way back in season three, this episode capped off the previous 21 dark and depressing hours of analysis into the minds of Lex Luthor and Clark Kent in thrilling fashion.“Psych,” “An Evening With Mr. Yang” – USA’s underrated procedural comedy delivers goofy, pop-culture-infused laugh week-in and week-out, but the season three finale took a much darker direction, proving that “Psych” could be entertaining no matter what.“Fringe,” “There’s More Than One of Everything” – While “Fringe” didn’t quite live up to expectations during season one, the final round of episodes showed that it was more than just an “X-Files” rip-off. The best of those was the finale, which took a number of ballsy risks that have sadly yet to pay off in season two.“Desperate Housewives,” “Pilot” – “Housewives” first hour filled us with hopes that the show would be able to straddle the fine line between a smart parody of soaps and the genre’s over-the-top conventions – while being generally awesome. Sadly it spiraled out of control so quickly that only a five-year time jump in season five could make things interesting again.“Entourage,” “Sorry, Ari” – Remember when we thought “Entourage” was good and Jeremy Piven’s Ari wasn’t tired? Though it’s devolved into a pointless and out-of-touch 24 minutes, back in season three, Vince’s “struggles” in the industry and Ari’s positioning to keep him happy were still interesting. Hell, this one even had a cool cliffhanger. “Everwood,” “A Mountain Town” – Though it was waaaaaaaaay too earnest, “Everwood” worked as small town family drama. This effort features a whole lot of father and son heart-to-heart conversations, some hugging and even a little crying. So exactly what all the great “Everwood” eps did.“Glee,” “Wheels” – 11 episodes in and still hotly uneven, “Glee” is still teetering on cultural phenomenon status – and for good reason. This effort dials it down a bit and realistically analyzes the lives of two of the program’s better characters, Artie and Kurt, while giving villain Sue Sylvester a whole new side. “Grey’s Anatomy,” “It’s the End of the World” [Part One] “As We Know It” [Part Two] – The decade’s most popular medical drama was simply toiling away on Sunday nights before ABC gave it the post-Super Bowl slot in 2006. This one had a ridiculous premise – guy with a piece of homemade ammunition inside him – but thanks to powerhouse performances from Ellen Pompeo and guest star Kyle Chandler, this was the moment that hooked a slew of viewers to Shonda Rhimes’ brand of quirky, melodramatic writing. “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Born to Run” – After unspooling a complex, dense and sophisticated second season, the finale (and final episode of the series) was nothing short of mind-blowing with each twist followed by one that was even nuttier. “Modern Family,” “The Incident” – Though only nine episodes in, “Family” nearly made the top 50 – and this episode shows why. The comedy mixes the uncomfortable tension of the decade’s best comedies with the familiar heart of sitcoms past to create one hell of a half hour.“Ed,” “Prom Night” – NBC’s quirky early decade dramedy was eventually soiled by the stupid “will they or won’t they” between Ed and Carol, but in season one it was still charming. Mix in some humorous hi jinks from Michael Ian Black’s Phil in attempt to get a television show and the S1 finale was simply a delight. “Criminal Minds,” “The Big Game” [Part One] and “Revelations” [Part two] – As one of CBS’s endless procedural crime dramas, “Minds” surprisingly provided interesting analysis of well, the criminal’s mind. The post-Super Bowl two-parter featuring the best performance of James Van Der Beek’s career was compelling and surprising – which isn’t always the case for the genre.“Dollhouse,” “Epitaph One” – Though it never aired on television, this handheld look into the future showed us the ultimate effects of the Dollhouse technology while deepening the series’ theme of identity. It also helped that it didn’t feature Eliza Dushku’s “acting” for most of the episode. “The Big Bang Theory,” “The Terminator Decoupling” – As sort of an anomaly in the time of “The Office,” “Big Bang” provides broad laughs backed by a laugh track – and people seemingly love it. This effort combined all the best parts of the series – namely Jim Parsons as Sheldon – with a funny guest appearance by Summer Glau. Or maybe we just love this one because of Glau. Either way.“Saturday Night Live,” “Reese Witherspoon/Alicia Keys” and “Seann William Scott/Sum 41” – It’s hard to pick out the best episode of “SNL” because we tend to think about the show more on a sketch-level, but the first episodes after 9/11 were just so emotionally charged that everything felt so much funnier. There were probably funnier episodes, but these were the most important.“Weeds,” “Pittsburgh” – The second season of “Weeds” was already incredible, but the season finale launched it to a new level. Nancy’s path of perpetual deep shit continues when Silas ruins her big drug steal by stealing her stash. By the end of the season, viewers were left with Nancy and Conrad standing over an empty safe with about six guns pointed at their heads and nothing to do.
(11/30/09 8:06pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you’re wondering what to get your grandmother for Christmas, look no further. Susan Boyle reaches out to elderly adults everywhere with her debut album, “I Dreamed A Dream.” While Boyle’s voice is certainly refreshing, warm and distinct, the target audience seems to be forty-plus, maybe even fifty.The album is basically all covers well suited for Boyle and the way she sings. Her two most well known performances — “Wild Horses” and “I Dreamed A Dream” — lead off the album as attention grabbers. The studio recordings are virtually the same as her performances on Britain’s Got Talent, which doesn’t mean they disappoint, but it’s not as if we haven’t heard them before.Boyle’s tendency to stretch syllables and slow it down doesn’t mesh with some of the tracks, including “Daydream Believer” and the contemporary composition “Who I Was Born To Be.”The album provides some interesting material, but without anything too exciting, what’s more fascinating is what she will do in the future.
(11/30/09 8:00pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After the enormous success of “Good Girl Gone Bad” and the allegations between her and Chris Brown, there was a great deal of intrigue surrounding Rihanna’s comeback effort. What seems to have emerged is a more developed artist who is eager to try and take her music to another level.“Rated R,” Rihanna’s fourth studio album, has a consistent, darker sound that deals with more meaningful subject matter. We hear her edgier, more mature persona on almost every track. She is not jaded or scorned on “R,” but seems to have taken something from all of her recent experiences, good and bad, and she has created a voice that is slightly determined, slightly sad and certainly older.The album is full of ballads at a variety of tempos that utilize many different instruments, and perhaps the most surprising aspect of “R” is that few are radio-friendly.Young Jeezy, Will.i.am, and Slash — yes that Slash — are each featured on a tracks that have the subject matter or sound to garner some radio spins. “Hard” with Jeezy is a self-description of this new Rihanna, who is now big girl fully capable of handling herself: “that Rihanna / rain just won’t let up.”Some of the issues with “R” are the overly predictable nature of many of the rhymes and the profanity that seems to be a hollow, misplaced token rather than true anger. Songs like “Wait Your Turn” and “Rockstar 101” are more juvenile, more pop, and don’t fit with the rest of the album.The album gets better as it progresses, and the end of “R” has many of its best tracks. “Te Amo,” “Fire Bomb,” and “The Last Song” are some of the better efforts that achieve what Rihanna has said she wants: subject matter with intrigue and positive ambiguity and a sound that stays consistent and genuinely resonates.Because of the surprising difference from “Good Girl Gone Bad,” “Rated R” might take some getting used to. Fortunately, it is an impressive example of an artist still affected by tragedy yet determined to improve herself and her music, both of which she has done successfully.
(11/22/09 9:19pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When a band from nowhere drops an overspun mega-hit like “Apologize,” they often fall off the map, or at the very least, produce a woefully inadequate followup.Fortunately for OneRepublic, this is not the case. This sophomore album, “Waking Up,” shows some musical progression on the whole. The band seems to have taken some cues from working with Timbaland previously.The album’s title track is a galloping guitar riff set against cello and organ, while the vocals evoke memories of U2 early in the decade or Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida”.Some of the songs, like “Marchin On” and “Secrets,” have an almost military feel. They churn forward with purpose and concrete melodies. “Secrets” has all the makings of a hit.Progress is noticeable though; hooks are varied and creativity is evident. OneRepublic has not fallen off the map and it wouldn’t be surprising too see the next album be a breakthrough for the group.
(11/22/09 8:53pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After “Curtis” versus “Graduation” turned sour for him, there hasn’t been much coming out of 50 Cent’s camp. His latest album, “Before I Self Destruct,” is minus the fanfare and build-up that “Curtis” had, and “Fiddy” actually brings fans his best album since “Get Rich Or Die Tryin.’”“Self Destruct” is a return to his roots, showing a rough-around-the-edges growl over heavy beats and a deliberate flow about his gangster roots and his inability to like people. While this makes for inherently stale material, the album never loses steam.But the album has to sell, so 50 has his obligatory few tracks about the bedroom, collaborating with crooners R. Kelly and Ne-Yo on “Could’ve Been You” and “Baby By Me,” respectively. However neither are throwaway tracks and allow for a nice change of pace.This is the kind of trend that fans have hoped to see from Jackson and he delivers. His aggressive style is as rugged as ever and fans are sure to enjoy this vintage 50 work.
(11/18/09 8:27pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When I was 10 years old, we had a big family Thanksgiving in Texas with all eight siblings from my mother’s side. During the celebratory dinner, one of my cousins dangled his napkin over the dinner candles and was so surprised when it caught fire that he dropped it and in turn, lit the drapes on fire.Fortunately, the drapes were put out before any major damage was done, but these kinds of things always seem to happen when family gets together. Comments can be just as inflammatory as my cousin’s napkin and make for a poor holiday. There are, however, some steps that can be taken to prevent such calamities.The easiest solution is to stay home for Thanksgiving. Just having you and your immediate family might not be such a bad thing; at least it removes most of that awkward extended family interaction.While this might not be the most exciting idea ever, removing alcohol from the picture can solve a lot of problems. Not having one extra drink might be able to stop Uncle Stan from reminding Uncle Bob just how much more money he made last year. Probably the most logical and effective way to prevent family drama is to strategize beforehand. Coming up with a list of things to talk about and things to stay away from with your family can actually work wonders for morale on the holidays.So there it is. Here’s to hoping that these ideas can help your Thanksgiving with those cousins you don’t really know become a little more bearable.
(11/17/09 10:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Well, no one can accuse Bon Jovi of not being consistent.On their latest album, “The Circle,” the band sounds the same as they did 20 years ago, cranking out sing-along rock songs that should be played at only the highest of volumes.“We Weren’t Born to Follow” leads things off in typical Jovi fashion. The song reeks of corny inspiration and a call to be yourself, but when it comes to Bon Jovi, those things are positives.Most of the tracks are like this, some kind of inspirational message melded with power chords. Songs like “Live Before You Die” and “Superman Tonight” remind listeners that in today’s world of cynicism and whatever other evils might be ravaging the planet, life still has a lot to offer. At least if you’re Bon Jovi it does.But all kidding aside, Bon Jovi still has managed to maintain their identity after 20 years in the industry, and “The Circle” is a testament to that. They might not be what they once were, but the band can still certainly bring it.
(11/11/09 5:44pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Remember Shwayze? Those guys who gave us a million annoying Facebook statuses from girls about Corona and lime? Well, they’re back and still singing about girls. And parties. And alcohol.The duo of Aaron Smith and Cisco Adler return with their reggae-rap style on “Let It Beat” to bring us some songs about the most important things in life: alcohol, parties, rough sex and nice dinners followed by more rough sex.Success of groups like 3OH!3 obviously have had an influence on albums like this, lending a more fast-paced, electronic dance approach to many of the songs on “Let It Beat,” including “Get U Home” and “Maneatrr.”The best song on the album, “Sally Is A...,” actually has some musical value and lyrical creativity, something that cannot be said in any way for the rest of the album.While they’ll probably pop up at parties all over, you shouldn’t have to subject yourself to this voluntarily. At least there won’t be any bad Facebook updates this time around.
(11/11/09 4:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The “Red Album” was bad, “Make Believe” was worse and now “Raditude” has set the bar even lower. Weezer officially sucks. Weezer’s newest album does nothing to change many fans’ recent opinion of them. The band that transcended alternative music with its dork anthems and awkward love songs is simply no longer good. The radio-friendly pop sound that has ruined them for the last four years kills “Raditude” as well; they even enlist today’s preeminent mainstream whore, Lil Wayne, on “Can’t Stop Partying.”Lyrically, the album brings very little to the table. Frontman Rivers Cuomo is still singing about how chicks don’t dig him, the same thing he was singing about 16 years ago -- only with even less depth.The few bearable tracks on the album like “Prettiest Girl in the Whole Wide World,” are ruined by the awfulness of tracks like “The Girl is Hot.” Bands are certainly allowed to evolve, but the band that is now giving us “In the Mall” is a much lesser band than the one that gave us “In the Garage.”
(11/05/09 1:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the latest edition of the WEEKEND Watchers Official Podcast host Cory Barker and Adam Lukach plead people to watch the criminally-underrated (in their minds) 'Smallville.'Check out the pod on the WEEKEND multimedia page.
(10/28/09 11:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At WEEKEND we love three things: Halloween, lists and creepy children. And anytime we can combine those three things, we just have to do it. Thankfully, a list of the best horror/scary/Halloween/whatever else you want to call them films does the trick. Below, WEEKEND staffers give their two cents on cinema’s scariest. “Psycho” (1960) - Arguably the greatest psychological thriller of all time, this Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece based on real life serial killer Ed Gein has the same effect that it had during its release nearly 50 years ago. – Doug Evans“The Shining” (1980) - The very definition of “psychological horror”. Stephen King’s sometimes boring novel was perfectly adapted for the screen by a renegade Stanley Kubrick who is at his most creatively vital here. Not only the greatest horror movie of all time, but a candidate for the greatest movie. – Brad Sanders“Let the Right One In” (2008) - In a decade when Edward Cullen and the men of True Blood are dominating the main stream as today’s perception of vampires, the Swedish film “Let the Right One In” challenged American audiences by being a film that took being a vampire seriously. Some remarkable special effects and even an eerily touching romance will make this film one of the all-time greats. – Brian Welk“The Exorcist” (1973) - Um, it’s a fucking exorcism. – Adam Lukach“Night of the Living Dead” (1968) - Walking zombies seem so commonplace today, but if it were not for this George Romero classic, there would probably be no walking dead. This movie gave us the formula for how many times you need to kill someone before they are really dead: twice. – D.E.“Halloween” (1978) - This movie is fantastic because there’s ultimately very little to it. There’s barely any origin story. We don’t know much about Michael Myers. What we do know is he kills teenagers. Turn up the awesome. – B.S.“Blair Witch Project” (1999) - Maybe it’s because the kids I went and saw it with convinced me that it was real, but this movie scared the hell out of me. The amateur documentary style was really original and helps to lend a more real, close to home element to the movie. – A.L.“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968) - Roman Polanski showed what will happen if you make a pact with the devil: you will have his baby. – D.E.“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974) - Trumps every other backwoods redneck murder movie by a long shot, a truly terrifying genre masterpiece. – B.S.“Poltergeist” (1982) - Directed by Tobe Hooper, this film exemplifies haunted house horror. A family is tormented by ghosts, and their only savior is a midget woman who is just as scary as the spirits she tries to rid. – D.E.
(10/28/09 8:09pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After Season 1 of their television series catapulted them into the spotlight, Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement had to sit down and grind out new material for the first time in years. They had spent almost the last 10 trying to break onto the scene.“I Told You I Was Freaky” collects the highlights of their sophomore season, and after a successful debut, follow-ups are never easy.There are several very witty tracks; the band is at its best when it’s satirizing casual observation with slightly ridiculous story ideas. “Hurt Feelings,” the single and opening track, is a rap about the unfortunate events that have transpired in their lives, however trivial. The soft wail on the hook is what makes the song possibly the best on the record.Besides that, the Conchords’ new album at least flashes some versatility to make up for the diminished quality from Season 1. They range from their trademark synth-pop to reggae to hip-hop, and while “Freaky” fails to reach the same quality as the debut, the best tracks make sure it will be enjoyable for fans.
(10/18/09 8:51pm)
The follow-up to Jim and Pam’s wedding episode featured hardly any
Jim and Pam at all; they were away on their honeymoon. Thursday’s
result was, not surprisingly, full of irrational mayhem with little to
no reason from anyone else on the show. The
episode starts with an Italian man coming in, trying to sell Michael
insurance. Michael turns down the offer, but the salesman says some
things that make Dwight, Michael, and Andy, in all their infinite
wisdom, paranoid that he might have ties to the mafia.
(10/13/09 9:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When a comedy has as much promotion as “Couples Retreat,” most of the time the movie fails miserably to live up to the hype.Fortunately for “Couples Retreat,” that was not the case.The movie has plenty of old television star-power – Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Jason Bateman – backing up the movie’s sole A-lister, Vince Vaughn. Every character plays a part of the movie and they play it well.For each couple, there is a very believable story that accompanies them, and this really aids viewers’ understanding of how a guy like Jon Favreau could get with Kristen Davis. They all are easy to relate to because they all have their own problems. Obviously there are some typical far-fetched comedy sequences, but for the most part, the film flows seamlessly from scene to scene, and the plot stays on track the entire time. It was worthwhile to watch, a good comedy and a good story, both of which were a pleasant surprises.
(10/08/09 12:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you’ve ever had an insatiable curiosity for UFOs , there may be a career choice for you yet.While The History Channel recently canceled “UFO Hunters,” the profession itself still exists. However, it is not an easy one.“The idea of a professional UFO hunter is an odd one, since ‘ufology’ is an amateur pursuit without academic or professional credentials,” said Thomas E. Bullard, who has a Ph.D. from IU in folklore and continues to study abduction phenomena. “The field does have many followers, and at its best, operates as a true meritocracy, since those people who have skill, ambition and ability rise to the top as recognized authorities.”But since there are few official credentials granted to people within the profession, it is particularly susceptible to fraud, Bullard said. Often there are people who claim to have made discoveries with little or no investigation and who are later exposed. Unfortunately, this adds to the profession’s perceived illegitimacy, Bullard said.“The disproportion of bad investigations to good, or talk and speculation without any investigation at all, handicaps ufology as a meaningful inquiry into a potentially interesting phenomenon,” Bullard said.The closest a person can get to formal education in the study of UFOs is to enter the field investigator training program sponsored by the Mutual UFO Network, known as MUFON. Participants are trained by a certified field investigator in the ways of interviewing and case investigation. At the conclusion of the training, a test is administered, and if passed, that participant then becomes a certified investigator as well.The idea behind training is to create a nationwide network of field investigators, so when a potential alien phenomenon does occur, there can be someone nearby to conduct appropriate research to help determine whether or not it is truly alien.The system is a good idea, but it rarely works as effectively as one may think, Bullard said. Being a volunteer group, many people can’t simply step aside from their lives to conduct an extraterrestrial investigation, so the majority of cases are hurriedly examined or are not investigated, Bullard said. There are other efforts to raise awareness and help protect alien investigations. Aliensandchildren.org is a Public Service Announcement Web site founded by Michael Menkin, who formerly wrote tech briefs for NASA. His Web site helps inform people about the possible danger aliens pose to children and also features a link to his other site that teaches people how to make telepathically protective helmets.There is little money to be made, however, from this kind of career path.“Most investigations are done, if they are done, on the time and money of the person motivated to investigate,” Bullard said. “With a few exceptions, then, making money from UFO chasing comes down to selling something – books, stories to TV documentaries and the like.”Difficult though it may be, UFO hunting and investigating still maintains a strong following and level of interest. Thanks to inherent human curiosity, it is certain that investigation into the uncertain will be around for a long time to come.
(10/07/09 10:05pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Disney keeps churning out child pop stars, and Selena Gomez’s debut album “Kiss and Tell” follows the likes of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers. It’s exactly what one might expect, with its youthfully clever lyrics and bubbly sound. However, it is actually a respectable pop work. There is certainly something to be said for the energy that Gomez brings to the table. She is vivacious on every track, and that lends more to the album than any aspect of her musical ensemble.The title track has an interactive cry of “Hey!” after each chorus along with hand claps and deep drumbeats that make the song particularly bouncy.“I Won’t Apologize” borrows from the school of Kelly Clarkson: soft verses with a jaded, scream-sing chorus. And Gomez actually executes it well.While no one expected a musical classic, “Kiss and Tell” is at least a promising debut album that features some decent versatility and fun songs for the target audience.
(09/24/09 1:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In what would seem like an unlikely combination, Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson collaborate to make “Break Up” a duet album about, yes, the downfall of a relationship.The album is actually a surprisingly strong effort from both. Most of the tracks contrast a cheery background tune with the unfortunate dialogue in their lyrics, a la the Postal Service’s “Give Up.”“Realtor” is a swift opener and a paradigm to the rest of the material. Johansson imitates Norah Jones’ sound while Yorn accompanies her with some of the catchiest tunes of his career.The soft drawl of Yorn is pitted beautifully against Johansson’s equally tender vocals, and the album’s tone deteriorates to sadness by the last track “Someday,” emulating their figurative relationship.This album is really quite fabulous, as Yorn stays true to his craft while Johansson proves to be his ideal partner. Hopefully this isn’t the end of their relationship.
(09/18/09 1:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At this weekend’s Children’s Health and Safety FUN! Fair, the focus will be on the well-being of children and a continued healthy lifestyle through free tests and screenings.The fair will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church. The fair, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of South Central Indiana, will offer free lead poisoning tests and glucose screenings for children, in order to promote good health.“A lot of children are exposed to lead in different areas, even in their toys,” said Vanessa McClary, chair of the event and Kiwanis Club of South Central Indiana president. “In the hospitals, they’re paying for those lead screenings, which are really pretty expensive.” To lend parents a hand and raise awareness, bike helmet and car seat fitting safety demonstrations will also be offered.Tests will be available for the parents as well, including blood pressure screenings, McClary said.The fair, which is in its third year, will feature the Windfall Dancers, Bloomington’s oldest community modern dance collective, and David’s Magic Show. Hot air balloon rides will also be available before the fair, starting at 7:30 a.m.Door prizes will be among the festivities, and all are “geared toward staying active,” McClary said.“Last year a couple of our teachers did kind of an impromptu workshop with some of the people in the crowd, and they really had a great time doing it,” said Kay Olges, president of the Windfall Dancers. Shirley Stumpner, director of South Central Community Action Program, Inc. and one of the sponsors of the event, is excited to take part again.“It really provides a great opportunity for families to receive health and safety info in kind of a fun and festive environment,” she said.
(09/17/09 12:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In 2001, “The Blueprint” hit stores and soon became a timeless hip-hop album, further solidifying Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s legacy as a legend in the rap game. Now, eight years later, Jay-Z is a married man whose name permeates the business world as well as the music industry. He has become hip-hop’s elder statesmen but remains one of its strongest contributors. With “The Blueprint 3,” Jay brashly reminds us that when at the top of his game, he is at the top of hip-hop as well.While the album definitely falls short of being an enduring work of art like the original “The Blueprint,” it is certainly a significant addition to the Blueprint series.Like “The Blueprint 2,” there are several high-caliber guests on the album, including Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Rihanna.The album’s leadoff track, “What We Talkin’ About,” serves as a guide to Jay’s lyrical content. While the background might be too psychedelic for some, it’s certainly an appropriate intro to the album. Soon after that are the two popular singles, “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” and “Run This Town.” “D.O.A.” is quintessential Jay-Z. It makes a statement about the place of auto-tune in the rap genre; apparently there isn’t one. And when a respected artist like Jay holds a metaphorical funeral, peers would be wise to listen.“Empire State Of Mind,” which features Keys, is quickly ascending the charts and could possibly be the best track on the album. Jay-Z’s flow is smooth and rhythmic, while Keys belts out a strong chorus about the wonders of New York City.The rest of the album includes its worst tracks: Swizz Beatz’s “On To The Next One,” Kanye’s “Hate” and “Venus vs. Mars.” “On to the Next One” has Swizz’s usual bouncy, redundant rhythms that are more obnoxious than catchy. The other two songs have choppy flows and poor beats.“Already Home” with Kid Cudi and “Off That” with Drake are both superior showings that represent the fusion of a veteran with two up-and-comers.The finale effort, “Young Forever,” is a soft synthetic beat about Hova’s life, simply said. Featuring Mr. Hudson, it is a surprisingly faultless finish to the album.Overall, “The Blueprint 3” is a solid conclusion to the “Blueprint” trilogy. Jay-Z proves he’s still got that lyrical flair, but he says it best: “I’m in the hall already / on the wall already / I’m a work of art / I’m a Warhol already.”
(09/10/09 1:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s time to get your diagnosis on as “House” approaches its sixth season. The premiere is Sept. 21, and a party to properly honor the dawning of the new season needs a few things.For attire, it’s easy to dress like House – just wear a dark blazer, button-up shirt or T-shirt, dark jeans and Nike Shox. Guys should also try not to shave to honor House’s perpetual five o’clock shadow. For girls, a skirt and a flattering top will help you channel your inner Cuddy. Both sexes could easily use scrubs or lab coats as sufficient substitutes as well.Music is a must at any party, and “House” has a good soundtrack. Any playlist should definitely include Massive Attack, who composed the show’s theme, and “MMMBop” by Hanson, which is House’s ringtone. Simply search for more “House”-related songs online, but these are a must.Decor is usually pretty bland at a hospital, so options are limited. However, House and the team always sit at a long table and use a standing white board for their diagnoses – two items that are easily obtainable. Since Vicodin doesn’t work for everyone like it does for House, white jelly beans or white M&M’s are a better option to imitate House’s habit. You might also want to use old, empty prescription pill bottles as shot glasses, but make sure to fill them with bourbon, House’s favorite drink.Season six will hopefully be high-quality, and these ideas can make its premiere even more enjoyable.