The Commuter: Sept. 23, 2020

T H E

L I N N - B E N T O N

VOL. 52 EDITION 1

C O M M U N I T Y

C O L L E G E

SEPT. 23, 2020

Stay Connected

https://www.linnbenton.edu/

Lucy Britt Tara Reyna Brent Easton Laurie Abbott Martine Snider Demi Mathews Olivier Cooley Efa Barajas Noor Rivers

Olivier Cooley

Rebecca Fewless

Rebecca Fewless

12:00 PM

Inside this Edition

GRAPHICS: FREEPIK.COM

WELCOME STUDENTS

SEE PAGE 2

WILDFIRE EVACUEES

SEE PAGES 4-5

ILLUSTRATION: REBECCA FEWLESS

DISPLACED LIVESTOCK

SEE PAGE 6

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CAMPUS NEWS

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

LBCOMMUTER.COM 

Get To Know

The Editor

The Commuter is the weekly student-run newspaper for LBCC, financed by student fees and advertising. Opinions expressed in The Commuter do not necessarily reflect those of the LBCC administration, faculty and students of LBCC. Editorials, columns, letters, and cartoons reflect the opinions of the authors.

LBCC is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Letters Welcome The Commuter encourages readers to use its “Opinion” pages to express their views on campus, community, regional and national issues. The Commuter attempts to print all submissions received, but reserves the right to edit for grammar, length, libel, privacy concerns and taste. Opinions expressed by letter submitters do not represent the views of the Commuter staff or the College.

Deliver letters to: Address: The Commuter Forum 222 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW Albany, OR 97321 Web Address: LBCommuter.com Phone: 541-917-4451, 4452 or 4449 Email: commuter@linnbenton.edu Twitter @LBCommuter Facebook LBCC The Commuter Instagram @LBCommuter

Our Staff Adviser Rob Priewe

Editor-in-Chief Katie Littlefield Layout Designer Rebecca Fewless Marketing/Advertising Isaieh Heiken A&E Steven Pryor Joshua Bloedel Photography Editors Hikari Kawai Arianna Stahlbaum Web Master Marci Sischo Copy Editor Bowen Orcutt Contributors Kinsley Stone Karen Canan Josh Green Erika Donner Becky Burger Brenda Autry

Hello! I’m Katie Littlefield and I'm this year's appointed editor-in-chief of LBCC’s award-winning newspaper, The Commuter. When I first started my journalism degree at Linn-Benton Community College a year ago, I never would have guessed I’d soon get to experience this exciting yet challenging role.

Journalism plays an important role in our society from sharing news accurately to bringing our communities closer together. At The Commuter we strive to share with our readers accurate, meaningful, and community-oriented stories in each edition and online.

During my Fall Term last year, I originally found out about The Commuter newspaper during Rob Priewe’s photojournalism class. The editor-in-chief at the time, Caleb Barber, would come into class often to encourage our involvement whilst showing off that week's newspaper edition. I explored it further and found that it was a fluorescent lit office space full of intelligent, funny and creative people. They wrote stories, covered breaking news, and took amazing photos. I mean, what was not to love?

Editing and writing stories every week inspired me to get involved with our community here at LBCC. It gave me a way to explore clubs on campus and

meet interesting people while conducting interviews. I want our readers to catch that inspiration and find new ways to get involved. It might seem impossible given the circumstances, but we are a strong and adaptable group of individuals here at LBCC.

Along with engaging with the community, I plan to make the students'

voices heard loud and clear as the appointed editor-in-chief of the paper this year. I plan to have The Commuter be a space to share your ideas and have them seen by faculty members and students.

During my first year of college in 2019, The Commuter was a place for me and my peers to build off of each other's creativity and drive. I want that to show through our work and contributions to our readers.

It goes without saying that The Commuter has gone through some changes since March. The pandemic took everyone by surprise and it forced newspapers everywhere to change their medium. Moving away from paper prints on LBCC’s campus to switching our focus to more digital approaches will continue to be a challenge this year, but I along with everyone at The Commuter are more than willing and enthusiastic to take it on.

The Commuter is always open to and would love to see new contributors such as photographers, editors, reporters, student voice advocates and so on. Please email me at katherine.littlefield.5238@ mail.linnbenton.edu or at commuter@ linnbenton.edu if you would like to get involved. Our metaphorical door is always open!

Welcome Back!

Resources for LBCC Students

STORY BY

KATIE LITTLEFIELD

Welcome back Roadrunners! Hope you all made the best out of your summer and are staying safe. 2020 has taken a lot of twists and turns, but alas, we must go on. This school year is kicking off very soon with Welcome Day airing virtually on Sept. 23 and the first day of classes beginning Sept. 28.

Everything is a little different this year to say the least. LBCC’s Bookstore is available online and is available for pick-up orders here. If you run into issues at any point there’s an email on their website to assist you and answer questions. LBCC’s Library building is closed at this time, but along with checking out books you can find all the resources you miss such as the student help desk on LBCC’s website.

This is an extremely difficult time for everyone given the circumstances of west coast wildfires, the global pandemic, and the stress

that comes with election year. If you’re in need of assistance with assignments please reach out to your professors. It’s understandable to find your classes more overwhelming than usual. LinnBenton Community College cares about your wellbeing as they provide personal health and wellbeing services here and also provide CFAR. CFAR or Center for Accessibility Resources is a service that provides academic accommodations for those who qualify.

Start here if you’re interested to see if you're eligible.

If you want to stay updated with all things LBCC, consider subscribing to The Commuter's newsletter and downloading the LBLive app.

GRAPHIC: FREEPIK.COM

LBCC has a Safety Committee whose goal is to identify and eliminate risks on our campus, and to prevent accidents and illnesses through the involvement of employees, managers, and students in an effort to provide a safe and healthy place to both work and learn.

A "Safety Suggestion Box" is available to provide a way for you to communicate your safety concerns, hazards spotted, and suggestions for promoting safety. Please email your suggestions, comments, concerns to: safetycommittee@ linnbenton.edu

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

 COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU

CAMPUS NEWS

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Takena Hall is left bare since most students are attending online school in place of on-campus learning. You could hear a pin drop in this desolate environment.

Lights Out Coronavirus Forces School to Keep Most of Campus Closed STORY AND PHOTOS BY HIKARI KAWAI

As summer comes to an end, the Linn-Benton Community College campus is still closed and will continue to be so, as they will continue doing mostly online learning. The usually bustling community college is deserted and just about the only people on campus are the public security and building staff.

Loss Prevention Coordinator Adam Weaver said that there has been a few changes to the Public Safety Office due to COVID-19, such as sanitizing shared work spaces, ranging from the vehicles to offices, and other spaces that are often used. Officers also have been taking daily temperatures in their department as well as a daily health survey.

He also mentions that, as the campus is mostly closed, the majority of the buildings have been off-limits to the public at the present time. As a result of this, they have been seeing significantly fewer people around campus except for a few staff or faculty.

Weaver says, “There are less people, however, our mission to protect the people and property of LBCC hasn’t changed.”

So all in all, LBCC looks almost as empty as it could be, with unused buildings and parking lots containing fewer than ten cars.

If you need to find any resources or reach out to the college, check out the

LBCC website.

LBCC hallway tables are usually filled with studying or sleeping college students.

With the unprecedented campus closure, these seats are now barren.

Typically booming this time of year, the Advising Center is closed and is providing assistance virtually.

If you’re in need of the Advising Center's help you can find them here.

Classrooms appear abandoned with faculty and students operating from home due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Seems as though Summer break hasn’t come to an end for the campus just yet.

Closed campus has left LBCC looking uninhibited with the exception of a few trees and LBCC security.

Everything seems to stand still when walking around the courtyard.

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LOCAL NEWS

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

LBCOMMUTER.COM 

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

Thomas Winn and his sons Roger and Jordan Winn who were evacuated from Holley, and are staying in their camper at the shelter enjoy their lunch.

LB Culinary Arts Serves up Hope

Linn County Wildfire Evacuation Shelter Receives Aid from LBCC Students and Staff STORY BY BRENDA AUTRY

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 8, Idahna residents David Stevens and JoAnn Serdy were awoken by a pounding at their front door.

“The fire department was telling us we had to evacuate now,” Serdy said.

“We had no time, so we just grabbed our medication and jumped in our car. By the time we reached the Detroit dam [just 15 minutes away] the fire was everywhere.”

“It was like we were in the movie ‘Volcano,’” Stevens added.

This scene was the terrifying reality for many Santiam Canyon residents who fled their homes, narrowly escaping the flames of the Beachie Creek Fire, which spread rapidly overnight. The evacuees, many of whom have lost their homes entirely, have sought shelter with friends, family or, like Serdy and Stevens, at the Linn County Evacuation Shelter set up at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany.

According to County Commissioner Will Tucker, the Linn County Evacuation Shelter is currently housing around 450 people and more than 1000 animals.

PHOTO: JOSH GREEN

Second-year Culinary Art student Andrew Hulcy preps food in the kitchen.

“Most people aren’t actually staying in the shelter,” Tucker said. “They are staying in tents or campers in the parking lot. But even those who aren’t staying inside come in for snacks, meals or medical care.”

The shelter is run completely by volunteers. Tucker said that Samaritan Health services has sent several nurses and doctors to volunteer in the shelter’s medical area. Many people from the community have also signed up to volunteer with everything from registration to sorting through the thousands of donations that have come pouring in.

One of the biggest jobs on site, the kitchen, is being run almost exclusively by volunteers from the LinnBenton Community College Culinary Arts program.

Fifth-year Culinary Arts instructor Josh Green grew up in Lyons, a town in the middle of the Santiam Canyon evacuation zone. His parents, who still live there, were among those evacuated from their homes.

“I wanted to help,” Green said.

“So, when a friend of mine posted on Facebook that the Salvation Army was looking for volunteers, I told him ‘Just tell me where I need to be!’”

When Green arrived at the shelter the next morning, there were two people serving breakfast out of the Salvation Army’s food truck with no plan

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

Volunteer Greg Balck along with second-year Culinary Art students Andrew Hulcy and Soren Skinner prepare to hand out lunch.

for lunch.

“They had no idea what to do, so I just went in and started running it like it was my own thing,” Green said. “I got on Facebook and asked if there were any other chefs or students willing to come help. Next thing I knew, I had 10 present and former students along with almost the entire culinary arts faculty coming to help.”

One of those faculty members was Gretchen Manning, who is now sharing the responsibility of running the kitchen with Green.

“I was on vacation in Jackson

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

Instructional Specialist Stacy LeBar cutting carrots for lunch.

Hole, Wyoming when I saw Josh’s post,” Manning said. “I texted him I was on my way, and I turned around and drove straight back.”

By the time Manning arrived the next day, Green had moved his operation out of the food truck and into the fairgrounds’ professional kitchen.

He had also started inventorying food, setting up menus and filling the shift schedules for the next week.

“The Salvation Army told me to just tell them what I needed and they would make it happen,” Green said.

They provided money for the first food order but now the food for the kitchen is coming largely from donations.

“Businesses have donated a lot of food items,” Manning said, pointing to the racks of bread donated by Franz.

“We also get a lot of food items from the donation center. Large items like big bags of rice, watermelons, food servicesized cans of food that people can’t really take back to their campers, we take to incorporate into our meals.

“Several local restaurants have donated entire cooked meals. The lunch today [Sunday] came from La Roca, Papa Murphy’s donated pizza for dinner last night, Gambaretti’s catered a full meal, and Subway is doing a sandwich lunch later this week.”

Frankies Restaurant, Little Caesars, University Hero. and Five Pies

Continued on Page 5...

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LOCAL NEWS

Continued...

Pizza also donated meals and the LinnBenton Culinary Arts Club donated money for food and supplies.

Green and Manning are in charge of running the kitchen, which is no small task, but the actual food prep and serving is being done mostly by present and former students of the LB Culinary Arts program.

Andrew Hulcy and Soren Skinner, both second-year students and Corvallis residents, have worked about eight hours a day since Thursday, Sept.

10.

“Being stuck inside because of the smoke was so nerve-wracking,” Skinner said. “I’m glad to be able to get out and do something that helps others.”

“I plan to keep volunteering until school starts in a couple weeks,” Hulcy said.

When the students and faculty return to the classroom -- mostly virtual -- at the beginning of fall term, the running of the kitchen will fall on other volunteers.

Katelynn Omete, a culinary arts alum, has volunteered to take over the kitchen’s oversight.

“So many of my family and friends have been affected by this,” Omete said. “So, when I saw there was a need I could fill, I did.”

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PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

Second-year Culinary Arts student Andrew Hulcy sifts through donations for perishables to be used in the kitchen.

Adrienne Ewanchyna, a culinary arts alum who owns and operates Indulgence Personal Chef, is volunteering in her off time.

“A few years ago my family was affected by the wildfire in Corvallis so I understand what these people are going through.” Ewanchyna said. “This

has given me a lot of anxiety and I’m happy to be able to direct it in a positive direction.”

If you would like to volunteer at the evacuation shelter you can signup online through the City of Albany website or at signupgenius.com. If you would like to make a monetary

donation, please refer to the Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active Disaster (ORVOAD) verified disaster relief organization list at www.orvoad.org.

For physical donations, please refer to the Linn County Wildfire Donations page for a list of current needs.

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

Chef Gretchen Manning helping to clean up at the Linn County Evacuation Shelter.

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

Volunteers Emily Balck (left), Courtney Mallow and Sharon Grace prepare to serve lunch.

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

LB Culinary alum Adrienne Ewanchyna preps watermelon for lunch at the Linn County Evacuation Shelter.

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

Second-year Culinary Arts student Andrew Hulcy retrieves food from the refrigerated truck donated by Sysco.

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

LB Culinary faculty and staff volunteer at the Linn County Evacuation Shelter (Chef Josh Green, IS Jesse Jones, Chef Gretchen Manning, IS Stacy LeBar.

PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY

Chef Josh Green retrieving supplies from the refrigeration truck donated by Sysco.

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LOCAL NEWS

FARM A N I MA L S

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

LBCOMMUTER.COM 

Horses and Livestock Find Temporary Home Wildfires Cause Local Communities to Come Together in Time of Need

STORY BY HIKARI KAWAI

With Oregon in flames, the local community has been coming together to help. Many barns and local fairgrounds have opened their places for those needing to evacuate their horses.

This year has been an extremely crazy year, from COVID-19 to huge wildfires rampaging through Oregon.

Many people and families have had to evacuate their areas. Though the communities around here are mostly rural, many have been affected because they have their own farm animals or horses.

Those in the level one evacuation areas started loading up the horses and livestock in order to leave in time because it can be a long process. It is better to load early and get them to a safe area than to wait last minute and end up endangering the horses.

Many however don’t have the capacity or resources on hand to be able to evacuate all their animals. Which is why Akin’s Trailers in Harrisburg has been graciously loaning livestock/horse trailers to anyone who needs it. Currently, they stated that they are still lending trailers because some are able to return home and need help moving back.

Becky Burger has been tag teaming with a few people to go back and forth loading and evacuating horses and a lot of livestock to a safer area. She has ten horses right now safely residing at her barn but has been continuously going since Tuesday, Sept. 8 loading animals from all areas. Now she said that they have been helping take a few of the livestock or horses homeward.

Jenny Strooband at the LinnBenton Community College Horse Center

is actively involved in taking in horses and has also been a big help for the local communities. They have taken in a handful of horses from places affected by the fires such as Scio, Mill Creek and Estacada. She said that though they have been helping out as much as they can, that there are literally hundreds of others who

FA R M A N IMA L S

PHOTO: HIKARI KAWAI

Jenny Strooband is actively involved with the Oregon wildfires relief by taking in horses in need at Linn-Benton Community College’s Horse Center.

have dropped everything and stepped up to help in one way or another. She also said that though there have been quite a few articles calling them heros, they are just doing their part to help out in any way possible.

Another small barn on RaEl Farms in Tangent, Oregon has also begun taking in animals. Lisa Tuttle, the barn manager, said that starting Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 2 a.m. she was on call for anyone who needed help evacuating their horses. They now have three horses at their barn, from Scio and Mill Creek. The 4-H group based at Ra-El Farms has also been helping out at the local fairgrounds.

Of course this is but a few examples of the locals who have been actively helping out in any way possible.

To also just name a few, Benton County, LBCC and Linn County have all opened up their facilities, and people who aren’t even necessarily animal/ livestock people have volunteered.

There is still work yet to be done and help is desperately needed. Reach out to your local community and see if there is anything you can help out with!

PHOTO: BECKY BURGER

Becky Burger is taking in livestock refugees from all areas affected by the wildfires.

PHOTO: HIKARI KAWAI

Oakley is safe from the wildfires in Scio thanks to Ra-El Farms in Tangent, Oregon.

PHOTO: BECKY BURGER

Eager to return, these cows will be glad to hear Becky Burger is already beginning to take a few livestock back home.

PHOTO: HIKARI KAWAI

Cash from Mill City is currently residing at a small barn at Ra-El Farms to escape the wildfires.

GRAPHICS: FREEPIK.COM

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A&E

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

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Dunder Mifflin: A Little Deeper REVIEW BY KINSLEY STONE NBC’s The Office wrapped up its final season in 2013, but the demand for more has been on a steady rise in recent years with viewers watching 52 million minutes of the show in 2018 just on Netflix alone.

The Office has become something special in my household. I have watched the series enough times that I can jump in on any episode and know exactly what is happening, and even guess the name of the episode based on the cold-open, which I consider to be a special talent.

When I heard there was going to be a podcast dedicated strictly to The Office, I was elated because I would be able to get more insight and knowledge about my all-time favorite show.

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, who acted on The Office together, have created a podcast that gives insight on every episode from start to finish and answers all of fans’ burning questions.

The Office Ladies podcast streams on Earwolf, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, with a new episode added weekly on Wednesdays. Co-hosts Fischer and Kinsey often bring in special guests such as John Krasinski, a fellow actor on the show, Phil Shea, the prop master, and Greg Daniels, creator and writer of The Office, to give even more insight on what life was like on set.

If you are like me, you may have questions about The Office that aren’t answered on websites like Dunderpedia, a website that contains all-things The Office. Fischer and Kinsey’s podcast answers real fan questions by researching and interviewing people from the show.

Fischer and Kinsey take great pride in answering fan’s questions to the best of their ability.

The podcast is accessible to everyone with no subscriptions or fees, but there are advertisements. Listeners can pay for premium Earwolf to avoid advertisements, and Spotify and Apple Podcasts premium listeners can skip through advertisements as well. Otherwise, the podcast is free to everyone and is available on any streaming device.

On any given episode of Office Ladies, Fischer and Kinsey begin with a short summary of the episode they are discussing, usually followed by “fast facts” from Fischer.

These fast facts are usually pieces of trivia or important details about the show that the viewers are usually not aware of.

Following the summary and fast facts, Fischer and Kinsey begin by dissecting the episode and answering fans’ write-in questions as they come throughout the episode. They will also talk about things fans, or they themselves, catch in the background. It could be anything from a character’s computer screen, one of the actor’s “breaking” out of character in the back of a scene, or a sticky note that has a funny picture posted on a character’s desk.

Some episodes have guest stars or important people who helped with that particular episode. Fischer and Kinsey will often bring in these guests to talk on the podcast and give insight on what it was like to be a part of that episode.

The podcast usually wraps up with the ending of the episode being talked about.

Fischer and Kinsey often remind listeners what episode they will be watching and discussing for the next week’s podcast before signing off.

It’s a good idea to watch the episode being talked about the night before the

podcast airs to be refreshed on what’s going on.

In her own review of Office Ladies, featured in Catholic University’s newspaper The Tower, Caroline Morris writes that the “podcast is a funny, informative, and an engaging listen, good for huge fans to learn more about the show they love or a great opportunity for people to watch the show through for the first time and learn as they go.”

The podcast has allowed The Office fans to ask questions about the show and get those questions answered. Fischer and Kinsey’s podcast has focused on more than just the show itself, but what was going on behind the scenes.

If you follow Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey on social media, you’ll know that they are best friends, even though their characters on The Office disliked each other for the majority of the series. Their friendship is what sparked the idea of the podcast and is what makes it work so well.

On the downside, Fischer and Kinsey being best friends means that they

sometimes get off topic during their podcasts and talk about other things like what’s going on in their lives or Game of Thrones, and less about The Office. This may make some listeners mad, because they want strictly The Office talk.

Personally, Fischer and Kinsey’s offtopic discussions are what makes the podcast so great. I feel like I am listening to them talk, and it gives the podcast a more personal feel.

The Office is a show that we all feel that we can relate to, so it only makes sense that Fischer and Kinsey could do the same for their podcast.

In an interview with Phoebe Lett from The New York Times, Fischer and Kinsey discuss what sparked their interest in doing a podcast together.

Kinsey talks about how she and Fischer were reminiscing about The Office when Kinsey found a bunch of boxes filled with memorabilia from the show. Kinsey said that the upcoming 15-year anniversary of The Office would be “a great opportunity for us to rewatch [The Office] and talk about our memories, our behind-thescenes moments and share it with the fans,” (The 15 year anniversary was March 24, 2020).

When asked why a podcast, Fischer said that “Rainn Wilson [who played Dwight Schrute] used to say we should have our own talk show. That was what morphed into the idea of a podcast — we wanted to be storytellers and tell our stories out loud.”

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey’s Office Ladies podcast has made watching The Office even more exciting for myself and other fans alike. My Wednesday drives are always more enjoyable with the Office Ladies.

PHOTOS: IMDB.COM

Student Voice Editor Needed!

The Commuter staff is currently looking for a STUDENT VOICE editor who would earn TALENT GRANTS each term and gain great work experience.

For more information please contact: • Editor-in-chief, Katie Littlefield:

•

Katherine.littlefield.5238@mail. linnbenton.edu Commuter Advisor, Rob Priewe: Priewer@linnbenton.edu

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S T U DENT LEADER

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S H I P COUNCIL

A&E

S T U DENT LEADER

S H I P COUNCIL

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

LBCOMMUTER.COM 

SLC Update

JOIN US ON WELCOME DAY SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2020 The Student Leadership Council is looking to talk to students who want to get involved with clubs, events, volunteering, student advocacy, student government and more. We

are hosting a zoom room during Welcome with our Zoom rooms and giving away book day activities and would love to talk to you. store gift cards (Also we will be holding drawings each hour of Welcome day for students who check in

STUDENT LEADERSHIP STARTS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO:

ð&#x;Œ&#x; Boost Resume and Improve Job Prospects ð&#x;Œ&#x; Develop Skills ð&#x;Œ&#x; Make Connections ð&#x;Œ&#x; Lead More Balanced Lives ð&#x;Œ&#x; Earn LBCC tuition (Must meet specific volunteer goal requirement)

Are you looking for a job?

Student Leadership has multiple positions open. To find out more click here

Then LBCC's Volunteer program is for you!

To sign up you can join us in our Zoom room on Welcome day and get entered in raffles for bookstore gift cards - or you can click here

GRAPHICS: FREEPIK.COM

Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3x3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit.

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 COMMUTER@LINNBENTON.EDU

A&E

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

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'Tenet' Takes Back Theaters REVIEW BY

STEVEN PRYOR

@STEVENPRR2PRYOR

“Tenet” is the latest film from director Christopher Nolan. With the film finally seeing release in theaters (after being pushed back from its initial July release date due to concerns over COVID-19), it’s not only a great film to help welcome audiences back; but another spectacular film from a talented filmmaker.

The story follows an unnamed CIA operative (John David Washington), who is part of a unit tasked with trying to prevent World War III from breaking out. Armed with the word “tenet” as part of their skill set, the race is on to stop a deadly weapon from being unleashed with the help of a knighted MI6 contact (Michael Caine); a charming arms dealer (Robert Pattinson) and an enigmatic woman (Rachel McAdams) in what’s easily Nolan’s most mind bending and unique film since “Inception” ten years ago.

In many ways, the film can be seen as a spiritual successor to “Inception” while also recalling “The Prestige.” The method of “inversion” presents a unique take on time travel and provides a myriad

of impressive action scenes over the span of 150 minutes. The film opens on a pulsepounding skirmish at the International Opera House in Ukraine, and the intensity continues throughout the film.

From a high-octane car chase on the streets of London to a multi-tiered final battle in a Poland rock quarry; this $200 million production shows that practical action is alive and well in a post-CG age.

One notable scene features a plane being crashed into a hangar on land.

Above all, “Tenet” is another fantastic film from Nolan and a great choice to help ease back into theaters.

If you’re able to make it, it’s highly recommended to check out.

'TENET' DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan WRITER: Christopher Nolan STARRING: John David Washington, Michael Caine, Robert Pattinson and Rachel McAdams RATED: PG-13 MY RATING:  PHOTO COURTESY: IMDB.COM

A Hat That Will Stand The Test of Time?

REVIEW BY JOSHUA BLOEDEL I barely play collect-a-thon platformers but the ones that I have played, I loved.

Games like “Banjo-Kazooie” and “Super Mario Odyssey” were extremely fun and had great music. So why are collect-athons so hard to come by? A certain N64 game called Donkey Kong 64 injured the reputation of the genre. Since then, there haven’t been many games of that genre until recently with games like Super Mario Odyssey and Yooka-Laylee (which is a game that I haven’t played yet).

Before those games were released, however, the shortage of this genre was very noticeable, however, so Jonas Kærlev started a project in August 2012. As the project was in development, it grew into Gears for Breakfast. The game was on Kickstarter for the goal of $30,000 but got about $296,360. On October 5, 2017, A Hat in Time was released for macOS and Windows. A few months later, it was released for the Playstation 4 and Xbox One on December 5 and 7 respectively, as well as the Nintendo Switch on October 18, 2019. The game was nominated for Best PC Game in Destructoid’s Game of the Year, Best Platformer in IGN Best of 2017 Awards, and Game, Original Family in the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards (NAVGTR). So, is the game a hat that will stand the test of time? Or do I hate it?

You play as Hat Kid, a little girl who is riding her spaceship to home. Her trip was interrupted by a member of the mafia who demanded money as a toll for passing the mafia’s planet. After she refuses to pay, the mafia member breaks the window in the ship which sucks Hat Kid and all her Time Pieces, the fuel for her ship, out of the ship and into the planet.

Your goal is to find the lost Time Pieces

throughout the planet in order to get home.

As you explore the many parts of the world, you will encounter fun and interesting characters like DJ Grooves, the Snatcher, Mustache Girl, etc. The interactions with Hat Kid and these characters are so cute and funny; I just love it. In fact, this entire game is just so cute (well most of it). The characters are charming and some of their backstories are really interesting. In time rift levels, you can collect storybooks that detail more on these characters. My favorite one is Queen Vanessa’s backstory. I give the story an A-.

As Hat Kid, you can use special abilities depending on the hat you're wearing. As you explore multiple parts of the planet like Mafia Town, Subcon Forest, etc. you will collect yarn pieces where, if you collect enough, you can craft new hats. With these hats, you can run faster, transform into an ice statue to ground pound, throw explosive potions, etc. Similar to Super Mario 64, the more Time Pieces you collect, the more worlds you will have access to.

You can also buy badges with the pons, the game’s currency, you collect along the way. Similar to hats, you can equip them for special abilities like a camera to take pictures, shoot projectiles, becoming an item magnet, etc. Unlike hats, however, you can equip more than one.

In order to reach certain areas, you will need to perform dives, homing attacks, and many other tricks. I really enjoyed the platforming in this game. There are also time rifts that can either be platforming challenges (aka the blue time rifts) or collecting rift pons to continue further into the rift (aka the purple ones). After completing a rift level, you will get to use the Roulette which you can get skins for your hat, new colors for Hat Kids clothing, or remixes of songs in the game. Overall, I had a ton of fun with the gameplay. I give it an A+.

'A HAT IN TIME' DISTRIBUTOR: Jonas Kærlev PLATFORM: Nintendo Switch ESRB RATING: T MY RATING:  PHOTO COURTESY: IMDB.COM The music in A Hat in Time is great.

Pascal Michael Stiefel (and a tiny bit from Grant Kirkhope) composed the soundtrack. It has great songs like “Your Contract Has Expired,” “Train Rush,” and “The Battle of Award 42.” Not to mention it has some sweet unlockable remixes composed by other creators like Qumu, AdulescensFMusic, Insaneintherainmusic,

and Cameron Munoz. I give the soundtrack an A+.

To conclude, I LOVE this game. It has cute and charming characters, fun gameplay, and a great soundtrack to boot.

While the story may be lacking, you will probably find something to love in this game. I give it a 9/10.

10

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

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