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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Songs college students should not be listening to

By HEATHER SKRIP | October 21, 2008

A couple weeks ago, I was sitting in the Psych Building minding my own business when a strange sound came to my ears. At first, I could not recognize the music coming from the headphones of the guy sitting next to me. A couple seconds later, I realized...

Sex Drive, although funny at times, lacks originality

By JEN HANCE | October 21, 2008

With a new teen comedy based on sexuality coming out seemingly every month, it is hard to believe that there are any ideas left that haven't already been used in previous films. However, since there seems to be no end in sight for the production of these...

New ‘W’ film leads to different interpretations

By NYSSA BULKES | October 21, 2008

I'm not sure what Oliver Stone wants me to think. After seeing "W", I, as a viewer, walked away with many different impressions, none of which was very clear in comprehension. The storyline stipulated that the main reason behind George W. Bush's race...

An open letter to moviegoers

By ORLANDO LARA | October 20, 2008

Dear moviegoer, Listen, I know your life is pretty busy. You've got work, family, friends and a bunch of other stuff going on. So I understand you wanting to go to the movies to relax. But I don't think you realize you're not the only one in the theater....

Five things that ruined my childhood

By DAN STONE | October 20, 2008

5. "Saved By the Bell: The College Years"

This terrible attempt at keeping a show alive taught me the world loves sequels. They like to milk as much as they can from anything with a fan base. Appreciating a show for the good times and letting it die gracefully just doesn't happen. If there's still money to be made, it just keeps on going, even if it's at the fans' expense.

4. "Doug"

This show taught 5-year-old Nyssa that if she did something wrong, all would be well if the "Doug" theme song were played after the inevitable scolding. If I dropped a plate, I'd play the "Doug" theme song in my head, imagining that my mom would react like the characters on "Doug" did whenever he screwed up. If I just imagined a fuzzy outcome, I assumed everything would turn out fine. Yeah, life doesn't work that way. Wow, was middle school a rude awakening.

3. "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion"

This movie prematurely scared me out of enjoying high school. Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino were just so cool, I knew I couldn't possibly be a member of the A Group. If they were outcasts, then I wanted to be an outcast too. In reality, I wish I hadn't thought of high school that much as a kid. It totally took the fun out of hating it when I actually attended.

2. "Are You Afraid of the Dark"

This show cost me nights of sleep. My parents were ready to ban the channel from our living room, but every time I pleaded with them to still let me watch it. I was getting older, I argued. I could totally handle it, I said. Every time they obliged, and then every time I'd watch it again and proceed to be totally freaked out. By the time I was older and watched "The Exorcist," I fell asleep. I'd already lost too much sleep over scary stuff.

1. The Spice Girls

I wanted to be Posh Spice. It's taken years to be able to admit it in public, but I'm stepping out of my box of shame. In the fifth grade, I owned countless pairs of platform shoes, had perfected the two-fingered peace sign for any impromptu photo shoots, and took it upon myself to own every piece of Spice Girl memorabilia ever manufactured. My obsession made them all filthy rich.

Palin, SNL fail to be funny Saturday

By CHRIS KRAPEK | October 20, 2008

After much not-so-secret speculation that vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin would be appearing on "Saturday Night Live" this week, her overall role in the show was about as exciting as the Cubs in the playoffs. Palin appeared during a sketch within...

‘Max Payne’ better left to videogames

By ORLANDO LARA | October 20, 2008

Insert "Max Payne" pun here. The worse it is the better it will describe the movie. The latest videogame-to-film venture is just as disastrous as any of its predecessors, except for the perfectly done "Mortal Kombat." The action-film follows NYPD Detective...

Batman doesn’t kill – or will he?

By ORLANDO LARA | October 20, 2008

Even after just watching the trailer or a commercial for "The Dark Knight," the most Batman-challenged person could have figured out that there is a line the Caped Crusader does not cross. But it looks like he's about to deliver a batarang to that line's...

Music industry delivers so far this fall

By NYSSA BULKES | October 17, 2008

New music this fall has far surpassed summer selections. Bands like Kings of Leon and Oasis and individual artists, like Ingrid Michaelson, have proven that this summer was indeed a dry spell in the music industry. The only summer album worth anticipating...

Top 5…with communications teacher Marjorie Askins

By DAVID MATZ | October 17, 2008

The Northern Star asked communications teacher Marjorie Askins her top five items in each of the categories below. Top 5 Books 1. "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers 2. "Me Talk Pretty One Day" By David Sedaris 3. "The Bean Trees"...

Ringo Starr gets grumpy with age

By NYSSA BULKES | October 17, 2008

It's official: Ringo Starr is the grumpiest man on the planet. In a video to his fans - not that they'll call themselves ‘fans' for much longer - the ex-Beatle announced that after Oct. 20, he'll no longer sign anything sent to him. In essence,...

Your DeKalb zombie survival guide

By TONY MARTIN | October 17, 2008

The TV goes off the air, and a faint voice on the radio says "The bodies of the recently deceased are coming back to life and attacking the living." And as if things could get worse, you are stuck in DeKalb. Could you make it out, or would you eventually...

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