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THE SAGA CONTINUES: POGS ARE BACK! MAINSTREAM THE BUZZ 3 F E B R U A R Y 2 3 , 2 0 0 6 T H E B U Z Z @ D A I L Y T I T A N . C O M A CHEAP WAY TO BE

IN THE MOVIE OF YOUR DREAMS

By

Daily Titan Staff Writer

With all of today’s high tech video games, who would have thought just over a decade ago, kids would entertain themselves for hours using tiny plastic and wood discs?

This simple obsession, known as pogs, quickly caught on in schools across the nation, and teachers were constantly collecting these prized possessions in return for their students’ attention.

A pog, about the size of a bottle cap, came in assorted colors with different emblems and pictures.

The game of pogs is pretty simplistic in nature and easy to play.

Friends would gather around in a circle and stack 10 to 12 pogs facedown in the center.

Each player would then take a “slammer” and hit the stack, trying to flip over as many as possible.

Only the pogs that landed face up belonged to that player.

Whoever collected the most pogs won the game.

Pogs became as cherished to people as valuable trading cards.

Every popular company, movie, television show, or music group joined in the craze and released limited-edition pogs.

Star Trek pogs were a popular choice among favorites.

Many pog fanatics also had pog carrying case, a plastic tube, in which to stack and carry their precious pogs on them at all times, incase the opportunity for a good swap with another pog player presented itself.

Many played the game of pogs, but are unaware of how the game even came to be.

Legend has it, that over 600 years ago, the Japanese used to play a game called Menkos. They used round pieces, similar to the shape of pogs today, but they were made of clay, ceramic or wood, and had colorful images of sumo wrestlers and samurai warriors.

Some school systems banned the game because of the dangers of slammers being thrown with overly zealous force, and kids had to keep pog-playing outside of school. By 1995, the pog craze had reached its popularity peak.

Nowadays, a company called Funrise is trying to get the pog craze up and running again.

The company introduced a new line of pogs in January and hopes to get the ball rolling again.

We will have to wait and see if the saying that history repeats itself is true, and if our nation will re-live the pog obsession that once was. Over 600 years ago, the

Japanese used to play a game called menkos, which is very similar to pogs.

By Jackie Kimmel

Daily Titan Columnist

This week’s topic is a rare and exciting entertainment idea. Movies are a top choice when it comes to low cost entertainment, but to make your movie experience uniquely yours, be an extra in a movie.

Every movie needs extras and I know from first hand experience that being an extra is hard but gratifying.

There are many studios, directors, and film students always on the look out for a set of fun loving people to be part of a movie.

Plus, if you go looking for a specific movie it is more than likely you will be able to volunteer for that movie as apposed to filmmakers pulling random

people off the streets.

Most movie extras are unpaid because it may not be in the film’s budget to pay for that many people to shoot on any given day, but there are a few instances where being a movie extra could pay off not only in entertainment or experience but it could help fatten your wallet.

To find movie extra work you can search the internet for movie extra casting calls.

This allows you to pick and choose what type of film, what genre, and a preferred shooting location. I know this entertainment idea is somewhat out of the ordinary, but it is worth the time.

Still, as a word of caution be sure to research the film(s) you wish to be apart of to make sure they are legitimate movies.

There is no better feeling than seeing yourself in a finished film product knowing that you were part of film making history.

Not to mention you can earn major brownie points on a date or to just show off with your friends. So for those who become extras, I’ll see you in the movies.