TV shows reluctant to accept sci-fi title


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Brannon Braga, writer and executive producer of the upcoming television series Terra Nova, which is about people who travel back in time, recently said that his show was not really science fiction, even claiming that it has less science fiction elements than the earlier seasons of Lost. Really? A television series about people from the […]

Starbucks adds to portion problem


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Starbucks Coffee will be rolling out a new, gargantuan, 31-ounce “Trenta” drink size to all Starbucks stores in the United States by May 3. Cue the collective groans of every dietician in America. The Trenta release comes in response to the consumer demand for bigger iced drinks perfect for those long, hot summer days. Thankfully, […]

New artists show oddness pervades current rap image


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It’s no secret that hip-hop is constantly evolving. For every Rick Ross-type, the self-proclaimed ghetto MC still boasting about drugs, girls and money over triumphant beats, there’s a Kid Cudi, the self-loathing rapper-singer clad in skinny jeans. Though the Cudi-esque rappers were new and different at one point in recent history, their style has now […]

Music in 2010 ranged from appealing to disappointing


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Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard once whined, “So this is the new year / and I don’t feel any different.” Thankfully, in 2010, things were different from the year before. Sobby emo music like Death Cab was no longer popular, and Kanye West pushed the creative boundaries of contemporary music. Now that it’s […]

Neutrality a bigger issue than you think


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Net neutrality. It’s a term that you might have heard, but the definition probably isn’t clear. Even to those who debate the issue, the subject material is vast and the implications are many. Net neutrality refers to Internet providers offering their services without any sort of restriction that limits access.  With Level 3 Communications’ new […]

Band got knocked down, got up again


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Self-taught guitarist and junior Will Sturgeon was rejected twice from USC’s music industry major before landing in the new pop music program in 2010. Now record labels are pursuing the sophomore’s beachside pop rock group The Smiles. And after their latest show at the Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip, Sturgeon and his indie band […]

Creating a tasty holiday break


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It’s that time of year: the calm before the storm. Thanksgiving is fast approaching, but less than a week from the annual rite of turkey feasting, you get overwhelmed by a mad flurry of exams, research papers and all-nighter induced Red Bull binges. Right after the semester ends and you think relief is in sight, […]

Exploring Haneke’s Hidden themes


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Earlier this week I was talking to a non-cinephile friend of mine who expressed an interest in delving into the beautiful and emotionally charged world of French film. A chance to share some of the best, under-appreciated cinema with someone excited me. I recommended a few directors she should check out if she had a […]