Stallone’s Expendables unites action film elites


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There was once a time when action films ruled cinema. But these were not the action films of today, which safely harbor a PG-13 rating. These films glorified their R rating and ushered in as much on-screen violence, sexuality and as many cheesy one-liners as possible. The 1980s showcased these over-the-top action films best. And […]

Hackers break rules to spur progress


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The other day I was listening to some friends discuss how to get around USC’s ban on peer-to-peer file-sharing. One advocated simply going off-campus and finding another Internet connection, but the other talked about creating a program to go around USC’s firewalls that would allow him to download songs from the comfort of his dorm […]

To cure what ails you, check out your pantry


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When they say you shouldn’t medicate with food, what they really mean is that you shouldn’t medicate with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia. In reality, your grocery store can be a go-to spot for many common ailments. People have battled hangovers since we discovered hops, and PMS is in no way a […]

Record Store Day spurs vinyl comeback


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Saturday, April 17, 6:59 a.m.: A line of bleary-eyed yet eager shoppers snaked along the sidewalk adjacent to Fingerprints, an independently run music shop in the Belmont Shore section of Long Beach. The throng, a shoddy assortment of teenagers and adults donning jeans and sneakers, plaid button-downs and band T-shirts, was a somewhat unusual fixture […]

Strange Days found couple before Oscars


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When it came down to either James Cameron or Kathryn Bigelow for best director at last month’s Academy Awards ceremony, what is usually a formal battle between multiple talented directors became something quite personal. Not only are the two directors former husband and wife, but they have also collaborated on more than one film within […]

Web-based activism seeks to keep e-masses in the know


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It always seems the Internet is under attack. Every week some fresh outrage breaks out over something that has appeared online. Sometimes it’s a morality issue stemming from some indecent website or video. This time the website in question is WikiLeaks.org. The site recently leaked footage from 2007 that shows an attack by American helicopters […]

Vegetable co-op takes root at USC


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From battered apples to mangled cabbage, Superior Grocers is not a hotspot for great produce. Ralphs has better quality, but woe to the student who doesn’t check the price until the register. For USC students, however, this barren plane of near-campus veggies does not go on forever. Since February, USC has had its own vegetable […]

Coachella underdogs worth the early trip


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April in Southern California brings three certain, oft-dreaded events: rainstorms, tax day and Coachella. Currently in its 11th year, the formerly two-day-, once one-day- and now three-day-long Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual mecca for area music fans. In its relatively short tenure, Coachella has become a local staple. But what started […]