Vol. 10, No. 17

Page 1

01.22.14 - VOL. 10, NO. 18 - MAROONWEEKLY.COM

MUTANT MICE And the Cure for Epilepsy



contents

01.23 - 01.29

meet the team PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris Shepperd BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Chris Zebo CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bekah Skinner ASST. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kaitlin Vickers WRITERS

Sara Gilmore Katie Lea Cheyenne Mueller Luke Murray Amanda L. Reynolds INTERNS Haley Clark Katy DeLuna April Elkins Alex Gieger Brittany Holm Megan Ingram Avery Moore Kelly Porter Heydy Sanches Kyla Spaugh Camille Youngblood

Essentials: Listen Play Taste Look Etc.

4 7 10 18 21

DISTRIBUTION Chris Frank Randy Shepperd

Exclusive Interview:

14

Scientists running experiments on mutant mice seems like something straight out of a sci-fi film, but Texas A&M senior Vivek Karun is doing just that for a much nobler cause: finding a way for people to cope with epileptic seizures.

Maroon Weekly is an independent, publication and is not affiliated with Texas A&M University. Maroon Weekly receives no student fees or university funding.

Road Trip 17 - In this week’s

Weekender, we’re taking you to an indoor skydiving facility to challenge your fear of falling.

Listen 4 - Cody Johnson Band

returns to the country music spotlight with the release of their latest album, Cowboy Like Me.

Look 19 - Cheyenne gives a rundown of this week’s top 20 box office films.

Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the editor, publisher or the newspaper staff. Maroon Weekly is not liable for omissions, misprints or typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. Maroon Weekly 707 Texas #207D College Station, TX 77840 ph: 979.574.3200 | @maroonweekly © Copyright 2014 Campus Press LP

1st copy is FREE, additional copies are $0.50 each


By Katy De Luna and Kyla Spaugh

Cody Johnson Band Album: Cowboy Like Me

Release Date: January 14, 2014

Rating: Sounds Like: Cody Canada Pat Green Randy Rogers

Recommended Tracks

Cody Johnson Band returns to the country music spotlight with the release of their latest album, Cowboy Like Me.

Dance Her Home Baby’s Blue Cowboy Like Me

The album hit the market on January 14, making it the first album released by the band since A Different Day in 2011. With three previous records that featured solid hits, the band blends country with rock and avoids the usual, hackneyed pop country stereotypes (hick-hop, trailer park ballads, etc.).

Track Listing:

Dance Her Home Me and My Kind Lucky Proud Baby’s Blue Bottle it Up Cowboy Like Me Hurtin’ If I Were You Holes Give a Cowboy a Kiss Never Go Home Again In the Garden

Cowboy Like Me is currently rated five stars on the iTunes Radio chart. Fans have been waiting for Cody’s long-overdue return, and his diehard following regard him as one of the most authentic country singers in the industry. His lyrics are typically more uplifting than disheartening, and the band’s technique, grounded in Texas music soil, has little of the Nashville flash and pomp. The album features 13 tracks that appeal to older audiences steeped in classic country and to younger country fans yearning for polished Texas country with attitude.

pg 4 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22, 2014 • maroonweekly.com


Jennifer Nettles

“That Girl”

Release Date: Jan. 14, 2014 It’s the first solo album from Nettles, but don’t assume That Girl is an extension of the Grammy-winning Sugarland. Think of her album more as Sugarland’s cousin. That Girl is not the typical country album either; it does have songs that fit right in with modern country radio, but it also has tracks that have slipped away from the country scene and into the pop domain. A few of the tracks have a pure pop sound, but they’re not of the sugary-lollypop kind. Rather, they’re classic pop with twang. Never fear, That Girl still has the charming melodramatic lyrics that Sugarland fans will easily recognize. With this solo act, Nettles has taken advantage of her powerful vocals, melding them with ballads, comedic storytelling, and Nettles’ weighty emotionalism. Whether it’s modern country or pop, That Girl will cross radio stations in both genres.

Young the Giant

“Mind Over Matter”

Release Date: Jan. 21, 2014 Four years after their self-titled album in 2010, with hit singles “Cough Syrup” and “My Body”, a sigh of relief washed over fans knowing that Young the Giant was finally coming back. The indie rock band, based out of California, did well commercially with their last album, which made Mind Over Matter a highly anticipated release. One thing Giant has mastered is how to create a story with potent imagery. They have a way of making snapshot moments anchor whole stories or moods. The self-titled track is a good sample of the little trips the mind can take with thoughtful lyric writing. As a whole, Mind Over Matter has a calming ambiance about it, and their single “It’s About Time” is by far the most aggressive song on the album. The release is sure to set the mind afloat and to please fans pining for the group’s long-awaited return.

Mike WiLL Made It

Release Date: “#MikeWiLLBeenTriLL” Jan. 9, 2014 The man behind the recent production of Miley Cyrus’s latest album, Michael “Mike WiLL Made It” Williams self-released his new album #MikeWiLLBeenTriLL on January 9. The album packs 25 tracks into 80 minutes and features various supporting artists, including eight appearances from Future. #MikeWiLLBeenTriLL merges rap and pop and celebrates some of the best (and under-appreciated) singles he produced under different guises, such as 2 Chainz, Jay Z, Rihanna, Juicy J, and the little wrecking ball herself. Ciara’s “Where You Go” and Miley’s “My Darlin” are layered in synths and bare the pop ease he’s patented and smoothed after countless hours behind a mixing board. If there was a wizard behind the metaphorical curtain of today’s most popular pop, Mike would be there, jockeying for space next to Pharell. maroonweekly.com • January 22, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 5


Casey Donahew Band with Sam Riggs at Hurricane Harry’s

© CORDOVA 2012

By Haley Clark

From small acoustic gigs to touring the nation, the Casey Donahew Band has blazed their own path and built a loyal fan base along the way. Donahew, a Burleson native, was once active and interested in the Texas rodeo scene, but it wasn’t until he attended Texas A&M that he started learning to play the guitar and to narrow in on his songwriting skills. Once the band began performing, it wasn’t long until they dominated the small club circuit and were top-billed at larger venues. Soon after they began touring, they released their first album, Lost Days, which included the hit song, “Stockyards”. Their most recent album, Standoff, hit No. 7 on the Billboard charts upon its release. It’s the band’s second top 10 album, following in the footsteps of their 2011 album, Double-Wide Dream. The Casey Donahew Band will be performing with guest Sam Riggs at Hurricane Harry’s on January 24. Doors open at 9pm and tickets are available at harrys. bcsclubs.com.

the scoop Open 11p-2am Thurs-Sun College ID/Dresscode suggested *Northgate* 111 College Main College St, TX

pg 6 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

WHAT: CASEY DONAHEW BAND WHERE: HURRICANE HARRY’S WHEN: JAN. 24 | 9PM


Expanding Your Palatte By Megan Ingram Hemingway once said, “Write drunk; edit sober.” He wasn't the only artist to imbibe frequently to summon the muse. Most of us need a little juicing to get the creative juices flowing. Noor Himani knows this, too. She's the owner of a new paintand-sip venue in College Station called Pinot's Palette, scheduled to open to the public Thursday, January 23.

Aggie grad puts MBA on hold to chase her dream

Reflecting on her first experience again, she said, “I just loved the fact that it was a place you could come and relax, bring a bottle of wine, and come with a friend. Or you could come alone and still have a great time. I just love the atmosphere that we create here. It’s all about having fun; there’s no pressure.”

kindergarten,” Himani says, proclaiming herself not an artist but a “finance girl.”

If you've never had a “paint-and-sip” experience, imagine going to a painting class and sipping beer or wine as you apply brushstrokes to a canvas. Patrons don't need a stroke of experience in the arts, the classes are informal yet professional, and you might actually walk away as a budding Picasso. If you don't, you'll at least be a buzzed one.

But that's the point, she says, implying the inexperienced often have the most fun. “The artists put you at ease. We create an environment where you just do it, you go with the flow. And after a couple glasses of wine, you’re automatically doing Whether it’s a girls’ night out, date night, birthday, a really great job.” or a much-needed study break escape, Pinot’s Palette has options for everyone. You can book a Pinot’s Palette's grand opening is Thursday, class or schedule a private party online (for the January 23 at 4:30pm. For more information and month of January, book through the free Pinot’s to make reservations, visit pinotspalette.com/ Palette iPhone app for 15% off) and show up ready CollegeStation or call 979-696-4300. to let your uninhibited self out for fun.

A Texas A&M alumna (2010), Himani was so inspired by her own experience at a paint-and-sip that she put her MBA plans on hold to chase after her dream. “I fell in love with the concept,” she reminisces. “That very night, I looked up all the requirements for a franchise, and then from there, it’s just been amazing.”

“When you come in, everything’s set up for you – your easels, canvases, paint brushes, paint palette, and a water cup – it’s all ready to go.”

She is the youngest franchisee in the history of the company, and although her store (next to Yogurtland) is corporate on paper, it's also local in character. For example, Pinot’s has partnered with Messina Hoff, a leading local winery, to provide wine by the bottle for guests. “We also have a lot of different wines you don’t normally see in the College Station area,” she explained, referring to boxes of bottles on the floor her and staff members were unpacking for the store opening. “We’ve got some really nice, high-end ones here. And we have beer and soda, too.”

Guests are also welcome and encouraged to bring their own favorite drinks and food for the 2-3 hour sessions. “Most people are like I was when I walked into Pinot’s Palette – they’ve never picked up a paintbrush or haven’t picked one up since

maroonweekly.com••January January22, 22,2014 2014•• MAROON WEEKLY • p 7 maroonweekly.com


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pg 8 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

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By Megan Ingram and Haley Clark

Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War

By Robert Gates

“I’ve said since I arrived here that Texas A&M is a unique American institution,” said Robert Gates, then 22nd president of the university. Often remembered at A&M as an “agent of change,” Gates was regarded highly for his vested interests in minority admissions, his creation of more than 400 faculty positions, and the launching of a multi-million dollar construction program. In 2006, however, right on the heels of his term in Aggieland, he found himself facing an offer which he now refers to as his call of duty. He returned to Washington politics, something he thought he’d left behind after almost a decade of serving in the CIA and National Security Council. Duty is Gates’ brutally honest memoir, a vivid, behind-the-scenes account of his experiences as Secretary of Defense for George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He brings to the table an insider’s sense of historical context and shares his understanding of how and when the government works and fails. The book offers no metaphorical Band-Aids or sugar coating. Instead, it elaborates the details of politics within politics. He takes us backstage and introduces us to the inner sanctum of both presidential administrations; we discover the struggle of working with Congress, the bureaucracy of the Pentagon, and the modus operandi of two vastly different presidents. Duty sheds a bright light on the otherwise veiled critical players and worldshaping negotiations that typically happen behind closed doors.

Promise Land

By Jessica Lamb-Shapiro Author Jessica Lamb-Shapiro dives into the vast publishing world of self-help in her newly penned memoir. Having close ties with the industry, her father is a psychologist and a self-help author himself. When she was very young, her mother passed away and left her depressed and inconsolable. Having grown up in a self-improvement environment, Lamb-Shapiro realized that the self-help industry hadn’t left her fulfilled or palliated; instead, it left her full of grief and critical of the selfhelp establishment.

As an adult, she now peers into the industry that was such a significant part of her life. She begins on a path of self-exploration, documenting her own ups and downs, triumphs, and fears. She relates how delving into the self-fulfillment movement from her own unique angle helped with finally accepting her mother’s death and finally achieving her own self-realization. Though the book is at times silly and lighthearted, Lamb-Shapiro’s surface glossing belies an intelligent writer critical of an industry often sullied by snake oil and hollow sentimentality.

Wooden: A Coach’s Life

By Seth Davis

Famed UCLA coach John Wooden dominated the world of college basketball in the 60s and 70s and reached unimaginable career heights. He took home 10 NCAA championships in 12 seasons and won 88 games straight, a record that has not been beaten since. Wooden also became a highly prominent motivational speaker and writer. Sports Illustrated’s Seth Davis and CBS Sports have joined forces to compile research that includes more than two hundred interviews with players, opponents, coaches, and even Wooden himself to create a biography of his remarkable career. The story of his career highlights how hardworking Wooden started as a high school and college coach, his pinnacle career at UCLA, and the many obstacles he faced along the way. Davis includes how Wooden was on shaky ground with various people in the basketball league and also features interviews with the players that were a part of his infamous winning team. The biography shines a light on his successful career, personal obstacles, and a legacy of coaching that will have a major impact on basketball for future generations.

maroonweekly.com • January 22, maroonweekly.com • November 27, 2014 2013 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 9


Restaurant Review Boneheads 830 University Dr. 979.587.6868

Price - $$ Cuisine - Piri Piri Parking - Shared Private lot Noise Level: Low-Moderate Atmosphere: Clean, Open, Bright Signature Dishes - Grilled Fish, Piri Piri Chicken

$ ($5 - 10) ramen noodle budget $$ ($10-15) part-time job $$$ ($15-20) hard-earned cash $$$$ (Over $20) mommy and daddy are in town

Boneheads Brings Fresh Fast Casual to College Station By Amanda L. Reynolds Last Wednesday, College Station welcomed its newest fast casual restaurant to University Drive. Fast casual (you order at the register, they deliver it to your table—like Grub Burger Bar and Fuego) is one of the fastest growing segments in the restaurant industry. While these restaurants don’t offer traditional table-side wait service, they tend to offer an upscale dining environment and healthier menu options than a standard fast food establishment.

a beautiful white on the inside, and flaked apart easily with a fork. You also get a choice of a black bean and corn salsa, cucumber dill sauce, pineapple salsa, or sautéed mushrooms to sit atop the fish. The mushrooms were beautifully sautéed in an herb based piri piri sauce and complemented the moist fish incredibly well.

Most of the dishes at Boneheads focus on grilled fish or chicken, their signature Boneheads spice blend, and their piri piri sauce. “Piri piri” literally means “pepper pepper” in Swahili; the tiny pepper originally grew wild in South Africa and was made popular by Portuguese explorers who began consuming them frequently in the 1500s. A traditional piri piri sauce contains the spicy peppers, citrus juice, and seasonings such as garlic and onions. You can find the ingredients (all of which you can pronounce, no additives, no preservatives) of Boneheads’ sauce located on the back of their sauce bottle.

For the indecisive person, one of the best deals is their taco combo. You get to select three tacos (in any combination) of grilled chicken, tilapia, or shrimp on either flour or corn tortillas. Naturally, we tried all three. The chicken is diced into manageable, bite-size chunks, which makes eating it significantly easier than trying to eat a chicken tender or strip taco. The grilled shrimp taco was our favorite. Tender shrimp, perfectly spiced, topped with cilantro slaw on a warm and slightly charred (just like we love it) tortilla. The tacos are standard size and, with a side, make a hearty meal.

Boneheads offers a variety of grilled fish for the fish lovers, ranging from everyday fish like catfish and tilapia to salmon, mahi mahi, and ahi tuna. We sampled the Mahi Mahi and it was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The fish had a darkened crust on the outside from the spices and grill, was

Speaking of sides, Boneheads offers an eclectic selection of side items. Traditional sides like French fries make the list but are also accompanied by items such as chilled broccoli and grilled sweet potatoes. The chilled broccoli is marinated in sesame oil and soy sauce and, served cold, produces a

pg 10 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22,27, 2014 • maroonweekly.com November 2013 • maroonweekly.com

very different flavor profile than you’d expect. It’s a very mild flavor and could have used a hint of acidity, but we’re sure that broccoli lovers will be fans. The grilled sweet potatoes are not to be missed! The grilling of the sweet potatoes makes them incredibly tender and also brings out the sweetness. However, they sprinkle a little of their Boneheads seasoning to give it just a tiny bit of heat and the perfect amount of salt. In addition to fish and chicken, Boneheads also offers sandwiches, burgers, and salads. Their main focus is grilled foods, but they do offer a few fried options, such as crispy calamari or fish and chips. For those who like to add zing to their meals, Boneheads has a bottle of their standard piri piri sauce on every table as well as a lemon and herb sauce that contains no peppers. (TIP: For the extra zesty clientele, bottles of Hot and Extra Hot piri piri sauce can be found by the soda machine. The extra hot might make you sweat around your eyeballs, but we dipped everything in it.) Boneheads is a welcome addition to the restaurant scene. In a town that loves burgers and fries, we’re happy to see a fresh, affordable, healthconscious option on the block.


Spicy Salsa Chicken

Easy to Make, Easy on the $

Cheap Eats Easy to Make and Easy on Your Green

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By Katy De Luna

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Salsa Chicken Unpredictable Texas weather can confuse the mind, body, and soul on several levels, but most importantly, it confuses what the taste buds crave at this time of the year. Spicy is always the solution to this problem. Spicy is an annual flavor in the Lone Star State, and you can be daring and make this salsa chicken dish as hot as the Texas sun... or as mild as our confusing “winter” days. Ingredients: 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

4 teaspoons taco seasoning

Put chicken in a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish.

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1 cup salsa (your choice of heat) 1 cup of cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons sour cream (optional)

Sprinkle taco seasoning on both sides of the chicken and pour salsa over all.

2.8.14

Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is tender and juicy. Sprinkle chicken with cheese, then continue baking for an additional 3 to 5 minutes Top with sour cream and serve.

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maroonweekly.com • January 22, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 11


By Haley Clark

The Graffiti Run puts a colorful twist on the typical 5K. Participants will finish the threemile run looking very different than when they first started. Crossing the finish line are runners of different ages, splashed with colors, smiling and laughing. The run is supposed to be a fun experience where participants don’t necessarily have to run; they can walk, jog, frolic, or bounce their ways to the finish line. First, make sure to wear white from head to toe. A white shirt is mandatory and any other white you wear will become part of the colorful masterpiece you become as you cross the finish line. As participants take off from the starting line, they'll encounter “Graffiti Zones” where they will be dusted with lots and lots of, you guessed it, color. The color powder is non-toxic and hypoallergenic.

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find our current media kit at www.maroonweekly.com/advertise for current rates and schedules contact one of our friendly ad reps at advertise@maroonweekly.com

pg 12 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

Andy Stephens, one of the Run’s organizers, tells runners who are new to the experience, “If this is your first Graffiti Run, you are in for a treat! There are very few experiences out there that can match the feeling of having a lot of fun while being completely covered head to toe with color. Weird to say, but true.” If you’re not in the best shape and your New Year’s exercise resolutions have been postponed until next year, Stephens says not to worry. “The race is a 5k that can be run at your own pace,” he says. “It is not very physically demanding, meaning anyone can run it and enjoy it.” If you’re still reluctant to try out a color run, Stephens says, “No special knowledge is required to participate. Prepare mentally to enjoy yourself; don’t let midterms, friend drama, or anything else hold you down. The mix of fun and exercise will make you feel better, which will help you take on any of life’s problems.” Whether you’re looking for an intense workout or a fun escape from the fitness norm, the Graffiti Run is for anyone looking to add some color to their lives. To register for the event, visit thegraffitirun.com.

the scoop WHAT: GRAFFITI RUN WHERE: WOLF PEN CREEK PARK WHEN: FEB. 2


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maroonweekly.com • January 22, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 13


By Katie Lea

Mutant Mice Sized Up for Science of Seizures Scientists running experiments on mutant mice seems like something straight out of a sci-fi film, but Texas A&M senior Vivek Karun is doing just that for a much nobler cause: finding a way for people to cope with epileptic seizures. Now we may not be talking about giant mutant rats plaguing our sewers, but nonetheless, Karun’s little mice could prove to be the key to unlocking the secrets of a very serious medical condition.

Roadtrips and Getaways Within a Day’s Drive Catch Some Air: Indoor Skydiving at iFLY

Some evidence suggests that a partial cause of epilepsy in humans may be mutations of the Purkinje cell, a type of nerve cell. The mutations cause the By Kelly Porter neurons in the brain to misfire, resulting in a seizure. Fortunately, a similar mutation exists in mice. According to Karun, there are two different mice Ever been double-dog dared to go skydiving? Too afraid of heights to take the leap? Well, iFLY useful for studying seizures: leaner mice and tottering mice. Funny names, is the first indoor skydiving facility in Texas, located in Austin and Dallas. Unlike the usual sure, but what makes these little guys special is nothing to laugh about. skydiving experience, at iFLY, jumping out of a plane isn’t required. Instead, you’ll be placed in a wind tunnel that suspends you in midair as gusts of wind propel you upwards. If there’s any part of you that’s always wanted to experience skydiving but you’ve been too scared to jump, this is your chance to sample the leap without leaping. Before you chicken out, know that children as young as 3 and adults as old as 103 have experienced indoor skydiving. If they can do it, you can too (don’t let granny show you up). If it’s motion sickness you’re worried about, iFly’s website says that there’s not even a falling sensation, so it’s not an issue. The most basic, beginner package starts at $59.95. The package includes two “flights,” a comprehensive training session, a rental flight suit, a helmet, goggles, personal assistance from a flight instructor during your flights, and a personalized flight certificate. Make sure to arrive one hour before your flight time is scheduled to check in and to complete your waiver, to attend your training session, and to change into your flight gear. Leaner mice exhibit a substantial loss of the Purkinje cell neuron compared to other mice, while tottering mice do not exhibit this same loss. However, both mice display absence seizures and overall loss of muscle coordination, with the leaner mice’s symptoms being more severe. By studying the abnormality in these tiny rodents, scientists can discover the Purkinje cell’s relation to epilepsy.

Each flight in the vertical wind tunnel lasts 60 seconds, compared to jumping out of an airplane where the free fall portion lasts for 45 seconds. The entire first-timer experience lasts one hour and fifteen minutes. Once you’re trained, outfitted, and situated inside the chamber, you’ll be suspended in mid-air by four fans generating a combined 1600 horse power. There are more options for the hardcore adrenaline junkies out there who crave additional flight time. You can also fly with another person or your whole family (talk about a family outing). Keep in mind that the price increases as you add people or flights. If you return within 3 months, you don’t have to be trained again and can just “jump” right in. In addition, experienced fliers have the option to buy more time in the wind tunnel and work on their skills. (NOTE: If you’re under 6 feet, you must weigh less than 230 pounds, and if you’re over 6 feet, you must weigh less than 250 pounds.)

Despite epilepsy’s high prevalence (1 in 3 adults either have seizures or know someone who does), it is “among the least understood disorders”. Because of this, there are no reliable cures at this time. Karun says understanding seizures on the “cellular and molecular level is crucial for developing effective treatments to cure, rather than simply alleviate” them. His article on the subject was featured with many other promising After your flight, check on iFLY’s website to find pictures and videos of your adventure. Pics students in Explorations, the Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal. and videos are available for purchase.

pg 14 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22, 2014 • maroonweekly.com



3 APPS YOU WON’T REGRET DOWNLOADING

By Kyla Spaugh

YAHOO! NEWS DIGEST Unless you have limitless time in your daily life to read or watch every news story, the Yahoo News Digest app will be just the tool for you to carve out what you want from the 24-hour news stream. Useful for retrieving your on-the-go headlines, this news app will keep you in-the-know with just a few taps of your finger. It distributes local, national, and global news right to your phone. It not only provides convenient, on-the-go news, but also a summary of significant information in just a matter of seconds. With an animated interface comparable to the Yahoo! Weather layout, this app organizes numerous stories onto a single feed to deliver a comprehensive and effortless reading experience. — FREE NIKE TRAINING CLUB In a perfect world, training, fitness, and working out would not be crucial to being healthy. But in our imperfect world, we must be motivated to stay healthy. Now that the Nike Training Club app is here, you can have a personal trainer right in the palm of your hand! The app works as a coach for beginners, intermediates, and even expert fitness gurus. It also plans out certain workouts for each day of the week, making it easier for those starting from the bottom. And for those at the top of their workout game, Nike Training Club is like a personal workout assistant, helping you achieve new levels in your training regimen. — FREE IMDB MOVIES & TV Movies, along with television shows, can sometimes disappoint our standards. But if you download IMDb Movies & TV, you can find critics’ ratings and read reviews of movies and shows right on your cellphone. IMDb features over 2 million movie and TV titles as well as more than 4 million profiles of celebrities, actors, actresses, directors and crewmembers. The app has so much more than just ratings and reviews, though. You can also look up movie showtimes in theaters near you, and you can skim TV listings for your time zone, and recap TV shows that already aired. In addition, you can explore the lists of the most popular TV shows or best-rated movies of all time that are assembled by amateurs and critics alike. — FREE

pg 16 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22, 2014 • maroonweekly.com


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maroonweekly.com••January January22, 22,2014 2014•• MAROON WEEKLY • p 17 maroonweekly.com


By Cheyenne Mueller

Her

DRAMA (R)

Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) is a geeky introvert who incessantly sports a disheveled, somewhat distant guise and listens to “melancholy” music. Vivid flashbacks of his ex-wife, Catherine (Rooney Mara), happen frequently: in elevators, while he’s lying in bed, at work. His heartbreak makes him easy bait for our sympathy…until the audience realizes Theodore has been avoiding signing his divorce papers for over a year. In turn, the loss of a lover has made Theodore retreat into himself and become a shell of who he used to be. Her is set in future Los Angeles, though it’s almost unrecognizable, having transformed into a New York-LA hybrid, with lights shimmering 24 hours a day and a wall of skyscrapers lining the beach. In the future, instead of technology taking control over humans in scary, dystopic ways, technology becomes the operational mechanism of society. Think less Terminator and more Jetsons. Theodore discovers a new tech innovation thanks to an advertisement he sees after work. Intrigued, he takes the new processor home, and that is when the audience is introduced to Samantha (Scarlett Johannson). “Samantha” is an artificial intelligence that learns over time, one that adapts to its subject, so much so that it seems real. “Her” interactions with Theodore develop, as do her feelings. During the day, she’s supportive, almost maternal, giving advice and cracking jokes to alleviate the stress of everyday life. But in the evening, the loneliness of both Theodore and Samantha lingers and demands to be sated. Theodore wants to consummate their “relationship,” and that’s when things begin to unravel. Her isn’t just about love in the im-personals age of online dating, or about an age of digital assistants like Siri; it’s a cautionary tale of society’s unchecked attachment to technology. Written and directed by Spike Jonze, Her is dialogue-heavy with little action. The futuristic tone of the movie doesn’t have flying cars or humanoid robots either. Instead, Jonze focuses on the monotony of everyday life and what we’re using to satisfy a new emptiness created by quasi connectivity. In the film, and more and more in real life, the inability to connect with people creates a socially awkward population that finds itself connected by isolation.

pg 18 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

The Return of The Walking Dead What’s synonymous with The Walking Dead? Happy endings? Definitely not. Misery? That sounds about right. The show’s writer, Scott Gimple, said Season 4 would be like a “remix” of the comic books. In the comics, after the prison battle that ended the first half of the season (TV version) and which left everyone's jaws dropped, a main character headless, and the future of the survivors (the “good” ones, at least) hanging in the balance, Rick and the survivors meet three new survivors (comic version) and follow them on the road to Washington D.C. While they don’t actually make it to D.C., the crew ends up at an Alexandria safe zone in Alexandria, Virginia. But, as you know by now, there is no such thing as a “safe zone” in The Walking Dead. It'll be interesting to see how Gimple interprets the comic narrative and remixes it on Sunday, February 9, when the second half of Season 4 returns to AMC. Rick's son, Carl, will receive even more scrutiny this season, as he has since the end of Season 3. He's the tacking sail of the series' moral ship, and depending on how the wind blows, his actions influence whether morality and ethics have a chance in the postapocalypse. When he's the “good son,” we know there's hope; when he's blowing people's head's off with little remorse, we start feeling like things are going south— and they usually do. In the season teaser poster, that tells us not to look back, Carl does exactly that, ignoring the walkers in front of him. Judging by the show previews, it remains a mystery if we’ll catch up with the other survivors, though we at least know of a trio of new faces to enter the drama.


1. Ride Along

Fast-talking security guard Ben joins his cop brother-in-law James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta in order to prove himself worthy of marrying Angela, James’ sister. PG-13 (100 min)

2. Lone Survivor

Based on the failed 2005 mission “Operation Red Wings”, four members of SEAL Team 10 were tasked with a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd. R (121 min)

3. The Nut Job

Surly, a curmudgeon, independent squirrel is banished from his park and forced to survive in the city. Lucky for him, he stumbles on the one thing that may be able to save his life and the rest of park community as they gear up for winter. PG (86 min)

4. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Jack Ryan, as a young covert CIA analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack. PG-13 (105 min)

5. Frozen

In a kingdom cursed to endure permanent winter, a young girl voiced by Kristen Bell teams up with a mountain man to rescue her sister and stop the curse in the latest Disney animated adventure. PG (102 min)

6. American Hustle

A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive British partner, Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso. DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and the mafia. R (138 min)

7. Devil’s Due

After a mysterious, lost night on their honeymoon, a newlywed couple finds themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy. While recording everything for posterity, the husband begins to notice odd behavior in his wife that they initially write off

as nerves. But, as the months pass, it becomes evident that the dark changes to her body and mind have a much more sinister origin. R (89 min)

8. August: Osage County A look at the lives of the strongwilled women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. R (121 min)

9. The Wolf of Wall Street Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall from gold-plated grace, this Scorsese film is like The Godfather for investment bankers. R (180 min)

10. Saving Mr. Banks

Author P.L. Travers reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her novel, Mary Poppins. PG-13 (125 min)

all-star season of the hunger games, but something’s different this time around. Revolution is in the air. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, and Amanda Plummer join the cast. PG-13 (146 min)

15. Anchorman 2 The Legend Continues

With the 70s behind him, San Diego’s top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York’s first 24hour news channel by storm. PG-13 (119 min)

16. Gravity

A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space. PG-13 (91 min)

17. 12 Years a Slave

In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. R (134 min)

18. Paranormal Activity

11. Her

A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with his newly purchased operating system, one that’s designed to meet his every need. R (126 min)

Jessie begins experiencing a number of disturbing and unexplainable things after the death of his neighbor. As he investigates, it isn’t long before he finds he’s been marked for possession by a malevolent demonic entity, and it’s only a matter of time before he is completely under its control. R (84 min)

12. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

19. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Bilbo Baggins is in possession of a mysterious and magical ring. PG-13 (161 min)

13. The Legend of Hercules

Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom. PG-13 (99 min)

14. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Katniss and Peeta are thrown into an

A day-dreamer escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism and romance. When his job, along with his co-worker’s, are threatened, he takes action in the real world, embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined. PG-13 (114 min)

20. Philomena

Steve Coogan plays a serious journalist who decides to write a human interest piece, the story of Philomena, who is trying to track down the son she put up for adoption years ago. PG-13 (98 min)

maroonweekly.com • January 22, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 19


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pg 20 • MAROON WEEKLY • January 22, 2014 • maroonweekly.com


“Don’t Look down”

- you’ll get nightmares by Matt Jones

Across

Down

1 On the ___ (like a fugitive) 4 Satisfied sounds 8 Slow, sad song 13 Historical period 14 Rorschach test pattern 15 Bakery chain 16 Foil material 17 ___-Honey (chewy candy) 18 First half of a Beatles song title 19 Completely disheveled 22 401(k) relatives 23 Patron saint of sailors 24 8 1/2” x 11” size, briefly 25 Cambridge campus 26 Post-game complaint 31 Subscription charge 34 President Cleveland 36 100 percent 37 Planking, e.g. 38 Chicken ___ king 39 Abbr. on a tow truck 40 The Grim ___ 42 In an even manner 44 Inseparable friends on “Community” 47 Actress Saldana of “Avatar” 48 ___ Maria (coffee-flavored liqueur) 49 East, in Ecuador 53 Liven (up) 54 2013 Eminem hit featuring Rihanna (and inspiration for this puzzle’s theme) 57 Lowers (oneself) 59 After-bath attire 60 “I’m down to my last card!” game 61 Tarnish 62 Be positive about 63 What three examples of 54-Across are hidden under 64 Sports star’s rep 65 “Don’t change!” to a printer 66 Sault ___ Marie, Mich.

1 Leave alone 2 “The Little Mermaid” title character 3 Coated piece of candy 4 “Dancing Queen” group 5 Sacha Baron Cohen alter ego 6 Stuck fabric together, in some craft projects 7 Eric of “Pulp Fiction” 8 “Lost” actor Daniel ___ Kim 9 Left hanging 10 Bringing back, as computer memory 11 Bunch 12 Where buds hang out? 15 Prof’s degree 20 “That was a catty remark!” 21 Make a mistake 27 “Wow, that’s ___ up, man...” 28 ___ smile (grin) 29 Lewd looker 30 Shout heard over the applause 31 Egypt and Syria, from 1958-61 32 Loathsome person 33 Give all the details 35 2004 Jamie Foxx biopic 38 Concert site in “Gimme Shelter” 41 Looks through a keyhole 43 Peeping pair 45 Degree in mathematics? 46 Country music star ___ Bentley 50 Paycheck pieces 51 Basic principle 52 Carve a canyon 53 Bearded Smurf 54 Airport org. 55 Reed instrument 56 Little salamander 58 Talking Tolkien tree �2014 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com)

maroonweekly.com • January 22, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 21



ANSWERS from page 21

Brazos Valley Symphony’s Serendipitous Serenades By Megan Ingram From Denmark to the West Indies, Brian Lewis has braved the world from corner to corner with a 151-year-old, roughly 3-foot-tall companion: his violin. The duo is returning to College Station on January 26 where Lewis will be performing with his significant other, his Grand Frères violin made in Paris in 1863. He is widely acclaimed for his diversity in orchestral programming and for his unique way of playing straight into the hearts of audiences. Lewis will be featured as the evening’s guest star soloist as the BVSO celebrates their 32nd season with string performances of Riegger's Romanza, Foote's Serenade, and Barber's Adagio for Strings, topping it off with Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade (After Plato’s “Symposium”). Bernstein's landmark concerto, made of five movements, was inspired by Plato's timeless philosophical text on the nature of love. Join Lewis and BVSO on Sunday, January 26 from 5-7:30pm for a night of romance and intrigue in Rudder Theatre. Patrons are encouraged to attend the 4pm pre-concert lecture to learn more about the music and its composers. On sale now, tickets are $34 for adults, $12 for students and children, and can be purchased at the MSC Box Office in person, online at boxoffice.tamu.edu, or by phone at (979)-845-1234.

the scoop WHAT: BVSO WHERE: RUDDER THEATER WHEN: JAN. 26 | 5:00 - 7:30PM maroonweekly.com • January 22, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • p 23


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