Halloween Edition October 2019 Cooglife

ISSUE 35 // OCTOBER 2019

Editor’s Letter

Entertainment & Spooky Edition

It’s finally fall, which means it’s sweater weather and spooky season. This is our entertainment edition, and it’s got an array of everything. Ranging from music, film, and even anime, this publication gives you recommendations and an interesting take on the category of resolutions.

What’s special about this edition is that it’s incorporating spooky season as well. Get into the spirit with stories that fit into the

halloween theme for the fall.

Putting together this edition was a lot of fun, and I hope that you guys enjoy it as much as I did putting it together.

If you have any comments, suggestions, or just want to say hi, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at cooglife@ thedailycougar.com!

Love, Ambarina Zenab

EDITORIAL:

Layout and Editing

Ambarina Zenab, Executive Editor cooglife@thedailycougar.com

COVER

Juana Garcia, Creative Assist

GRAPHICS

Jiselle Santons, Creative Director

cooglife @cooglifemag

@cooglifemag

Haunted houses around Houston— guaranteed to give you a good scare this spooky season

Students are starting to feel a chill in the air and a shiver down their spine. Not only because midterms are about to start, but because we are around the corner from the most frightening day of the year. As we get closer to Halloween, it becomes more common to see scary movies, carved pumpkins, and people buying pumpkin spice lattes. As many would say, “spooky season is here,” and what better way to celebrate than to go to a haunted house. Here are just a few places around Houston that take pride in bringing a scream to our community.

Phobia Haunted Houses

Phobia offers five main haunted houses plus three separate areas known as Exile. Each of the houses has a different theme. Phobia is open Friday to Sunday from 8 p.m to midnight. However, their schedule does change as Halloween gets closer. If you plan on going, grab 25 of your closest friends and get prices reduced. Unfortunately, tickets are not available online but can be bought at the door; purchases are cash only with no refunds. There is free parking and is guaranteed no rainouts. Prices vary depending on how many houses you plan on visiting. Phobia is located at 5250 S Sam Houston Pkwy E, 770048.

Redrum Fear Park

Starting this year, Redrum now has a Laser tag attraction along with three separate scare houses. The newest feature is called Lazer Fury and has a Mad Max post-apocalyptic theme. The other themes for the haunted houses include Cinegore, Twisted Circus, and Deadwood Asylum. Redrum is open from Thursday to Sunday at 7 p.m to midnight. Tickets are sold online and at the door. General Admission is $35 online and $40 at the door. This ticket will get you into all four attractions, but no VIP speed pass. The Speed Freak pass is $50 online and $55 at the door, and will also include all attractions including the VIP speed pass to bypass

Written by Raven Wuebker

busy lines. Redrum is located at 1800 E. Hwy 90 Alt, Richmond.

Scream World

Scream World is celebrating its 31 years of business with five different attractions. These attractions include The Voodoo Swamp, Jakes Slaughterhouse, Edge of Darkness, Maze of Maniacs, and Zombie Graveyard. The hours of operation are Thursday and Sunday from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m to midnight. On Halloween night, the hours are from 7 p.m to 11 p.m. General Admission is $29 and includes all of the attractions. The VIP fast pass is $34 and will allow you to skip the line at general admission. Scream World is located at 2225 North Sam Houston Pkwy W.

The Haunted Trails

The Haunted Trail is an outdoor adventure that takes guests into the woods. Guests must stay on the trail and will be watched by the employees. The other attraction offered is Psych Hollow 3D. General Admission for both attractions is $25, while the speed pass is $35. Tickets are available online, and there is free parking for guests. The trail is open on Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m to midnight, Sunday and certain weekdays from 8 p.m to 11 p.m and Halloween night from 7:30 p.m to 11 p.m. Strobe lights and fog machines are used and is not recommended for pregnant women, people with heart conditions and those prone to seizures. The Haunted Trails is located at 11500 Antoine Dr. Houston.

There is no better way to spend the Halloween season than getting scared out of your mind with friends or fellow coogs. If getting tricked is your treat, then these places will help you to get your fix of the Halloween spirit.

fall 2019 Anime Guide

Written by Michael Taggart

With the fall anime season upon us there are a slew of new anime shows starting up, over 40+ new shows in fact so I’m here to help highlight some of the biggest and best the anime industry have to offer this fall. This list will feature beloved shows making a return, new comers looking to make their mark and everything else in between from the weird to the wicked. So here’s Cooglife’s 5 Anime shows to watch this fall. Let’s get started!

My Hero Academia (Season 4)

Let’s start with the biggest most anticipated show of the fall, that right Deku and his classmates are back for the 4th season of My Hero Academia. This season will pick up with the members of Class 1-A looking to start their internships with professional heroes. Going off of advice given to him by Grand Torino, Deku decides to intern with All Might’s former side kick. Season 3 ended with the introduction of UA’s Big 3: Mirio Togata, Tamaki Amajiki and Nejire Hado and also a new villain by the name of Overhaul. It’s going to be interesting to see how these four new characters will be integrated into the series. Unfortunately, if things go the way they have in other seasons, the first episode will be a filler/recap episode to catch returning viewers and new comers to the series up with events of the previous season. Judging from the trailers this season will dive even darker than previous seasons, which leads to the question… Will All Might still be alive by seasons end? With his powers gone and a target on his back, will the symbol of peace continue to guide Deku on his journey to be the greatest hero the world has ever seen.

Quick Show Plot: Think anime MCU, in a world of heroes one boy (Deku) tries to become a hero even greater than his hero All Might (basically Superman) .

Premiere Date: October 12

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu

Continued on Page 7

COOG$ave o ers students, faculty/sta , and alumni a wide range of discounts and promotions from local & national businesses. We have partnered with PerksConnect to help build our discount network. Membership with PerksConnect is FREE and doesn’t expire. PerksConnect is giving away one $50 Visa gift card and ten $25 Restaurant.com gift cards. Winners will be randomly selected.

Click on where you will be redirected to PerksConnect’s site. Click on above the login bar. Fill out the form and press submit!

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Food Wars! The Fourth Plate

Last season saw a major change at Totsuku Culinary Academy, with the headmaster being over thrown and Azami Nakiri taking control of the academy and forcing his totalitarian rule of precise by the book cooking. The season saw Soma and his classmates band together and fight for their right to stay in the academy. However, this season Soma and his friends go on the offensive and try to take control of the ruling student body in hopes of reinstating the former headmaster and restoring peace and individuality back to their beloved academy.

Quick Show Plot: Think Iron Chef but in high school, a young boy named Soma Yukihira goes to a cooking school to learn to be the best chef in the world.

Premiere Date: October 11

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

Psycho-Pass 3

Making its return after a 5 year hiatus, season 3 of the futuristic cyberpunk cop series is sure to delight its devoted fan base. Little is known about the upcoming series so far but what we do know is that the new season will focus on two new rookies, Arata Shindo and Kei Mikhail Ignatov. With Akane Tsunemori (the protagonist of the first two seasons ) becoming the head of Unit One at the end of the second season, it still remains unclear how much the new series will focus on her storyline.

Quick Show Plot: Think Minorty report meets Blade Runner. A special of unit of law enforcement try to deal with criminals before they commit major crimes.

Premiere Date: October 24, 2019

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

Fire Force

While this may not technically be a fall release, the show being about firefighters battling fires and death. The show runners decided it best to delay the release schedule due to the fire at Kyoto Animations which took the life of 33 individuals at the hands of an arsonist early this July. Fire Force follows rookie fire soldier Shinra Kusakabe as he joins Company 8 an elite unit of fire fighters who battle fires with powers and religious prayer However, the twist in this series is that the fires aren’t just normal fire but people who spontaneously combust and become Infernals (Demon like monsters with fire powers).

Quick Show Plot : Think Anime Backdraft with heavy religious undertones. Shinra Kusakabe is a pyrokinetic firefighter who hopes to become the best and also solve a mystery of his past.

Premiere Date: July 5

Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation

No Guns Life

A show about a soldier who wakes up only to find that his head has been replaced with a revolver might sound insane but this is the plot for Madhouse’s newest anime adaptation. Madhouse famous for other anime such as Death Note and One Punch Man are bringing the gritty cyberpunk world of NO Guns Life to reality.

Quick Show Plot: Think Frank Miller’s Sin City meets Blade Runner. Private detective with a gun for a head….nuff said!

Premiere Date: October 10

Where to Watch: Funimation

And that is a wrap to our anime guide. If you have been watching anime for a while, hopefully these are new recommendations on your list. If you are new to the game, hopefully something interesting caught your eye!

Spooktacular dates for you and your boo

Written by Autumn Kirkman | Title graphic by Juana Garcia

Story graphics by Jiselle Santos

Spooky season has arrived, and it is time to break out the candy, costumes and comradery! A big “fad” that always arises during this festive time of the year is going on fall or October themed dates with a significant other. Unsure of what to do or where to go? Here are a few spooky date ideas:

Pumpkin Patch Date: Exploring a garden of gourds and finding your way through cornstalk mazes is a great date to start off the fall with. Hayrides and cut outs for pictures will create memories that will last for a lifetime (or at least till next spooky season). Wear a cute sweater with some jeans and maybe a beanie and go find the perfect pumpkin with your partner.

Pumpkin Carving Contest: What better way to follow-up your pumpkin patch date then to host a carving contest. Gather friends and family and think of a cool design. Freehand carve or get a stencil. Then after creating your personal masterpieces, roast the seeds and cozy up as you admire all the hard work by lighting your jack-olanterns.

Decorate Your Homes: After carving jack-olanterns and eating seeds, you have to have some spooky decorations to go with your pumpkins. Find some cute decorations at a store or make them yourselves. Decorate in a cute manner with little ghosts and bats or go all the way and make your place a house of horrors with clowns and zombies. Either way, string up the ghouls, spiders and skeletons to show your spooky spirit!

Visit a Haunted House : (Not for the faint of heart) Bundle up with your partner and find the scariest house to wander into. Watch out for the ghosts and clowns that may pop out. Beware of the asylum patients and creepy children that will try and grab you. Be careful not to trip or the zombies might get you. But don’t worry, you and your partner will protect each other and then you will go home and cuddle up after surviving 2 hours of ghouls and goblins.

Netflix and Thrills : After all the excitement outside, time to cozy up and watch some classic spooky movies. Indulge in the thrills of Tim Burton and hang out with Jack Skellington, Victor Van Dort or Beetlejuice. If you really want the full experience, spend some time with Jason, Freddy or Michael Meyers to get your adrenaline pumping. Grab some blankets, snacks and pillows to hide behind and enjoy a night of chills.

Costume Shopping : As Halloween draws near,

parties and trick or treaters will start to prepare as should the both of you. Find a couple of good Halloween stores and gather up your ideas because it’s time to costume shop. Dress up as your two favorite characters from that one movie or be creative and make up your own costumes. Be peanut butter and jelly or be Lucy and Charlie. You might win a prize at a party if you have the best costumes.

Bake up some Fright : Another way to stay at home and have a cute fall date is to bake up some spooky cupcakes, cookies and cakes. Make some creepy crawler crispy treats. Decorate cupcakes with guts and brains. Make Frankenstein and his bride pop out of a two-tier cake. Gingerbread men are out; gingerbread skeletons are in.

Party Time : Halloween has finally arrived (or pretty close to arriving because it’s in the middle of the week) and it’s time to party! Gather all those baked goods, decorations and costumes to celebrate the spookiest night of them all. Brag about your jack-o-lantern or talk about the chilling movies you watched. Show off you and your partner’s costumes and win that first prize.

Written by Donna Keeya

Norman F**king Rockwell! — An album commentary

With the release of Lana Del Rey’s highly anticipated album, Norman F**king Rockwell!, critics and fans alike agree that Del Rey has outdone herself while continuing to foster a musical style unmatched by modern artists. NFR! maintains a cohesive sound, but each song has its own unique energy, which proves Del Rey’s musical growth from earlier projects.

“Norman F**king Rockwell” (title track): 8/10

“Norman F**king Rockwell” opens up the 14 track album with the nostalgic mentality of “cause you’re just a man, it’s just what you do”. Patriarchy aside, it lays the foundation for the rest of NFR!. The song and the album are focused around the romanticization of stereotypical American life. The love story being described isn’t about finding prince charming, but about a guy who writes bad poetry, which really stands true to America and Del Rey as an artist.

Notable Lyrics: “You act like a kid even though you stand six foot two”

“Mariners Apartment Complex”: 9/10

What sets Mariners Apartment Complex apart from a lot of Del Rey songs is that the main subject of the song is herself, and not her love interest. While he is mentioned, the song is firmly from Del Rey’s perspective and just features his interactions with her. The song asserts Del Rey’s power as a woman, and is an honest reflection of her thought process.

Notable Lyrics: “Kind of girl who's gonna make you wonder Who you are and who you've been”

“Venice B*tch”: 7/10

The lyrical merit of Venice B*tch is similar to Del Rey’s past works, but the pitch of the song is higher and sharper than other tracks. The song is authentic and a valuable asset to Del Rey’s discography, but felt dragged as the song is nearly ten minutes. This is the type of song you love to play, but can never get all the way through without skipping.

Notable Lyrics: “You're beautiful and I'm insane We're American-made”

“F*ck It I Love You”: 9/10

F*ck It I Love you features multiple changes in speed and pitch that accompanied by vulnerable

and exposing lyrics makes the song both catchy and relatable. The song is emotional, but significantly more lighthearted than similar songs on previous albums. The lighter take works in Del Rey’s favor by capturing her audience’s feelings without exclusively being played in times of desperation.

Notable Lyrics: “You moved to California, but it's just a state of mind And you know everyone adores you You can't feel it and you're tired ”

“Doin’ Time”: 7/10

To preface, Doin’ Time is not an original Lana Del Rey song, but a cover of a song by Sublime. Regardless, Doin’ Time is one of the most high energy songs on NFR!. It’s the kind of song that would work well in a promotional video, because it’s easy to pick up on and generally uplifting, but not overwhelming enough for it to become a distraction.

Notable Lyrics: “Oh, take this veil from off my eyes My burning sun will, some day, rise”

“Love Song”: 10/10

As one of the slower songs on the album, Love Song is definitely mellow and even borderline tranquilizing. Del Rey’s smooth vocals are met with a very simple piano background that greatly enhance the track. Love Song fits a variety a different moods and in my opinion is the perfect song for a contemporary dance routine. Above all, the song contains such a high artistic value that mesmerizes listeners.

Notable Lyrics: “Would like to think that you would stick around You know that I'd just die to make you proud"

“Cinnamon Girl”: 10/10

Cinnamon Girl sounds like what the entire Honeymoon album strived to be. Del Rey’s raspy harmonizing works exceptionally well on this track as it highlights the explicit nature of the lyrics. The slight electronic influence blends with the piano to make the song sound modern and is a reminder of why Del Rey

is the face of the alternative music genre.

Notable Lyrics: “There's things I wanna say to you, but I'll just let you live Like if you hold me without hurting me You'll be the first who ever did”

“How To Disappear”: 7/10

When How To Disappear was initially leaked, I believed it would be the album frontrunner- a solid 10/10, but the official release was underwhelming at best. The lyrics are beautifully heartfelt, but hidden behind the jazz music. The lyrics are not able to tell the story to the best of their ability with the distraction of the music that fails to match the tone.

Notable Lyrics: “But I love that man like nobody can He moves mountains and pounds them to ground again”

“California”: 7/10

California returns the album back to NFR!’s central theme of the American romance. Despite relating to the theme, the track serves as an outlier, sounding more like it belonged in Lust For Life. California is less vivid compared to the album’s other songs, making in turn less memorable. As always Del Rey’s vocals are

what makes the song relaxing and enjoyable to listen to, but they are not as groundbreaking as its counterparts.

Notable Lyrics: “You don't ever have to act cooler than you think you should You're brighter than the brightest stars”

“The Next Best American Record”: 6/10

As a whole. NFR! is Del Rey’s strongest album lyrically and vocally, but the best way to describe The Next Best American Record is the elevator music of this album. There’s nothing specifically wrong with it, but it’s not interesting enough to devote your whole attention to. The sound is overdone and nothing sets it apart from other alternative music.

Notable Lyrics: “He was '70s in spirit‚ '90s in his frame of mind”

“The Greatest”: 10/10

“The Greatest” reminds me of the style of songs Del Rey’s often creates for movie soundtracks. Fighting for the slot of the most romantic song on the album, The Greatest multi-tasks by exploring nostalgia from Del Rey’s personal life. It dives into modern day America and how it parallels what is traditionally thought of American values. The song is candid and pure, and I could definitely see it being involved in future films.

Notable Lyrics: “Kanye West is blond and gone /

"Life on Mars" ain't just a song”

“Bartender”: 8/10

Bartender is an example of a simple and well done song. The structure and sound is pretty plain, but accessorized with stutters and repetition. The track is more targeted towards storytelling than emotional value, which helps NFR! Keep a relatively even balance of both.

The detailed lyrics elevate the song above average and conclude its timeless feel.

Notable Lyrics: “But sometimes, girls just want to have fun The poetry inside of me is warm like a gun”

“Happiness Is A Butterfly”: 10/10

As a teased fan-favorite, Happiness Is A Butterfly lived up to its hype when the official version was released. The song focuses around having nothing to lose and allowing yourself to be free. This metaphor can be seen with how butterflies are the definition of happiness through their freedom and inability to be caught. Del Rey wants to give up all the stigmas and pressures and live a carefree life with her love interest, much like a butterfly.

Notable Lyrics: “If he's as bad as they say, then I guess I'm cursed Looking into his eyes, I think he's already hurt”

“Hope Is A Dangerous Thing For A Woman Like Me To Have- But I Have It”:

10/10

Released as a single prior to “NFR!”, this track concludes the album on a literal hopeful note. The entirety of the song feels necessary for its completion, wasting no time. As the title reflects, Del Rey’s proves her emotional maturity by maintaining her hope throughout rough times. From Born to Die up until Lust For Life, Del Rey was known for being the token sad girl who is consumed by her emotions. This track emphasizes her change in character and leaves listeners eager for more music to come.

Notable Lyrics: “Servin' up God in a burnt coffee pot for the triad Hello, it's the most famous woman you know on the iPad Calling from beyond the grave, I just wanna say, "Hi, Dad"

Venusian: a short story

Written by Morgan Host | Graphic by Juana Garcia

Surface pressure from atmosphere: 90 bars

Thick and toxic clouds trap everything on the planet, including our knowledge of “out there.” If we have a satellite, we cannot see it. Just as we cannot view the sphere of fire and gas around which we move, or the other burning orbs in the invisible galaxy. How do we know these things exist? We do not. They are simply legends, the origin of which we do not remember. We often wonder if the dark rotating sulfuric fluff piles up to infinity and there is nothing beyond. It is a sad thought. The pile is heavy, and we cannot go out into the open after being in the caves without feeling the weight on our limbs. This is good for when we need a reminder that we exist. But it can also be dangerous staying out too long. Because every cloud is shadowy, every cloud’s belly is full, the storms come without warning.

Precipitation: Sulfuric acid droplets

The legend that the planet’s rain is poisonous and deadly has been proven false. When we get trapped in storms, the smell the acid brings into our space, kept close to the surface by the clouds, is enough to make all five of our stomach sacks fill with bile and our three nostrils leak, but there is no pain, corrosion, or burning taking place on our bumpy flesh as we blindly move towards shelter in the mountains. We must, however, prevent the droplets from touching the taste buds on our neck, for they are bitter and permit further bile production. The rain is never tame. The plump clouds cry in unforgiving acidic sheets. Sometimes the dense atmosphere is distraught for four heartbeats. Other occasions we must hide in the mountains’ mouths for ten super rotations.

Spooky movies to get into the spooky season spirit

Written by Autumn Kirkman

Graphic by Jiselle Santos

Now that everyone has dived into the Halloween spirit, a great way to celebrate is to watch movies that capture the essence of spooky season. Whether it’s a kid-friendly film or a movie that send chills down your spine, we all love to bundle up and watch Halloween movies. Here’s a list of the 10 best films to watch during October.

Coraline

This dark horror stop-animation film follows Coraline on her journey through a magic portal in her new house. Now in a different realm, her “new family” appears to be everything she wants, but there’s a darker force at hand as her “new” mom wants to sew buttons into her eyes. After watching this film, you will be terrified at the sight of buttons for a while.

Corpse Bride

Directed by Tim Burton, this dark fantasy focuses on Victor van Dort, a bachelor who’s preparing to get married to save his fiancé's family from bankruptcy. While practicing his vows, he places the ring on the finger of deceased Emily, who gladly

takes him as her groom. Now married to a corpse, Victor must find a way to get back to the realm of the living or his betrothed will be married to another man. It’s not a slasher but a good film to watch with the kids.

Monster House

Trick-or-treaters D.J and Chowder are convinced Old Nebbercracker’s house is a toy and man-eating house after they witness the house eat Chowder’s basketball. After watching two police officers get eaten by the house, D.J. and Chowder enlist the help of candy-seller Jenny to go inside and find a way to destroy the spirit that controls it, which they believe is in the furnace. Monster House definitely puts a spin on the beloved “haunted house”.

IT

Based on Stephen King’s novel, Pennywise the clown is finally challenged by seven misfit children, who call themselves “The Losers Club”. It’s up to them to put an end to his reign of terror.

The movie is spilt into two chapters: the first being The Losers Club against Pennywise as children, and the second is The Losers Club returning to Derry as adults. A deadly spirit who takes on the form of a clown and consumes children every 27 years just screams “spooky season.”

Hocus Pocus

Three witch sisters consume the souls of children in Salem, Massachusetts in order to regain their youth and are cursed by a father of a child whose soul they stole. 300 years later, three children visit their cottage, now a museum, and light a black candle, subsequently resurrecting the witches. Now, the children must kill the witches before they kill all the children of Salem. Black cats, witches and spell books, oh my!

Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! The 1988 film features Adam and Barbara, a deceased couple, who are upset a living family is moving into their home. They enlist the help of “exorcist” ghost Beetlejuice to get rid of the family, but

Beetlejuice has alterior motives. The couple, with the help of the daughter of the family, must send Beetlejuice back before he takes lives to enter the mortal worlds. What’s a better way to celebrate Halloween than watching a perverted ghost and a family perform a séance?

These iconic spooky movies give life to the holiday and they give children and adults costume ideas and maybe even a few nightmares.

Austin City Limits 2019: Weekend Two Overview

Written by Ahmed Gul and Omer Shaikh

The weekend cold front that hit Texas brought Friday morning rain upon the city of Austin. For Austin City Limit attendees, the rain could either make or break their weekend at the festival. As the clouds moved away, and the sun shined, the gates opened to an unforgettable experience. From the music, to food & drinks, to the fashion, and most importantly the vibes— ACL successfully took on the challenge of putting together an action-packed and memorable festival experience.

Title photo by Ahmed Gul

Every year, thousands of people travel to the city of Austin to experience a nationally recognized music festival that puts recognizes the creative arts and fulfills the need for a weekend of fun and excitement. From little kids playing in front of the ACL Fest sign, to college students reuniting with their friends after exams, to families basking and appreciating the good weather; ACL really does cater to a diverse pool of people.

Friday evening, the Honda Stage was filled with anxious fans curious to see whether Lil Uzi Vert would show up after failing to show up Weekend One. Better late than never, Lil Uzi Vert took the stage 20 minutes late with a thrilling and smoke-filled entrance opening with "Sanguine Paradise". His passion throughout his performance truly empowered his fans to see his true intentions behind making music. During his final song, Lil Uzi chose to put the mic down and smile as he watched his fans sing his song for him. This really showed the deep appreciation he has for his fans.

Photo by Ahmed Gul

Photo by Ahmed Gul

On Friday, as the sun set and the night rose, the festival came to life as Guns N' Roses took the stage at 7:30pm electrifying the crowd with their captivating performance. They performed hits like "Sweet Child O’ Mine", "November Rain", "Knocking on Heaven’s Door", and "Welcome to the Jungle". They finished off their 90-minute set with fireworks.

Photo courtesy of Charles Reagan Hackleman

With the free spirit of dancing and singing around ACL, Tame Impala wowed a crowd of passionate and lively fans with his Australian charm and thrilling light show. His most notable song performance was “The Less I Know The Better” where the entire venue sang along. As the vivid rainbow lights streamed across the park, attendees sought to capture these moments through his unforgettable set.

photos by Ahmed Gul

Saturday morning fans rushed through the gates to return to yet another day filled with even more action than the first day. There were many things to look forward to on Saturday, including Billie Eilish, Gary Clark Jr, and Childish Gambino. People waited for upwards of 6-8 hours to claim front row seats to Saturday night’s premiere of Childish Gambino.

Saturday afternoon started with heartbreak as Megan Thee Stallion failed to show up for her set. Fans eager to see her perform, some even attending ACL only to see Megan were truly heartbroken at the news that Megan was not performing. Megan quickly took to Twitter to apologize for her shortcoming, but fans angrily refused to accept her apology. “I apologize to my Austin hotties for not performing at my 1pm set at ACL today. Megan tweeted: “I did not make it in time from my show in another state the night before. I tried to still perform and they just told me my set was cancelled. I will do a make up show for my atx hotties soon.”

The somber mood of ACL was at the mercy of Billie Eilish to help fans reignite the energy back into the weekend. Being the youngest performer at ACL did not take away from her being the most creative and energetic stage performer during that day. The crowd sang their hearts out to hits including "Bad Guy", “Lovely", and "When the Party’s Over".

As she utilized the stage to its maximum potential, she took a moment to recognize her fans for enabling her career to takeoff so quickly at such a young age.

21 Savage quickly took the stage immediately after Billie Eilish. Fans ran across to park to secure a spot close to the front of the stage. Despite a few hiccups and technical issues during his set, the crowd continued to sing along and appreciate his setlist.

With the night still young, the main event of the weekend took the stage - Childish Gambino. Fans faced the stage, waiting for his entrance, only to be surprised when Gambino entered from behind on a raising platform. Gambino’s performance was brilliantly choreographed, with moments where he run through the crowd, embracing fans, taking selfies, and signing memorabilia. Gambino’s 90-minute set was filled with great music, dancing, finishing off with a spectacular fireworks show to end the night.

Photo courtesy of Greg Noire

Sunday was a slow winddown from an actionpacked weekend full of great music. Great food, and great people. Lizzo and Mumford & Sons were the highlights of the day. As the ACL weekend came to an end, attendees made sure to appreciate the good weather and atmosphere. Yet another weekend of memories in the books as fulfilled fans exited the venue with smiles on their faces.

Photo by Ahmed Gul

Photo courtesy of Charles Reagan Hackleman

Topography: Rolling plains, mountains, volcanoes

It is important we do not stray from the ranges. If we venture too far into the plains (which legend says have craters so deep we will never escape if our feet misstep, and we will be exposed to the rain forever), we could get lost in their endless sameness. We do not know what lies on the other side of the flat sands. Maybe there is more like us, and we would not be so lonely if we were to find them. But we cannot take the risk of losing our mountains. Their dry caves and impenetrable shells keep away the rains and winds and, for the most part, the nauseating smell of the storms. Our favorite mountain is the second highest from the surface. The opening of its safe space lets in the view of more volcanoes than any other. We used to fear the flying red liquid bursting from the secret pouch beneath our planet’s sands and rocks. It is by far more deadly than the rains, according to more legends. But we have learned where the volcanoes on this side of the plains are, and the red will not reach our skins if we use caution. So it is no longer frightening. It is beautiful to see our planet give birth to the red.

Life: A single creature known

There was a time when there was no we. This one body was an I. Then it was decided that I was too lonesome of a term. We was created so long ago, it’s hard to remember we ever were an I.

Sometimes, we lay on our back at the line marking the dangers of the plains that roll out as far as our eye can see. We put our arm behind our head and watch the super rotations. We wonder if our planet is spinning in circles this rapidly, or if it is the depressed, fat clouds traveling in a hurry. They never seem to stay in the same spot, but they never go away. We forgive them for keeping us down here while there is a possibility of unknowns they are not letting us see, because maybe they are being protective. We forgive them for their unpleasant smelling rains, because the precipitation from our eye has a bad odor when we are sad, too. We have been here for billions of heartbeats, millions of super rotations. Perhaps soon the dark masses will believe it is time for us to find another body, a friend, and break apart for us. We anticipate this with much excitement, because then we will not have to feel like we are so alone.

But we also are frightened. Legends have been proven false before. What if the clouds part, and we discover that we truly and incurably are alone?

Photo from Pexels

Unseen beings: the existence of the Jinns from traditions of the Islamic world

Writing and Graphics by Ambarina Zenab

As a Muslim with Pakistani-Indian roots, I have grown up with hearing stories and tales about the existence of an unseen being called a “jinn” or “djinn”. From a religious perspective, these jinn are referred to in the Quran. Yet on a cultural level, they’ve become woven into Middle Eastern and South Asian folklore and superstitions. Some believe in their existence and others don’t. I most definitely do, credits to my very superstitious mother. Nonetheless, Jinns as a being have an interesting backstory, and there are quite few tales about them that will either leave you in awe, or spook you into sleeping with your lights on at night.

So what are the Jinn?

They are basically an unseen, invisible being that powers and the innate ability to be good or bad, according to Islamic traditions. In terms of the Quran, they were made of a fire substance, which leads me to a fun fact: Satan was originally of the Jinn from a Muslim perspective. Jinns live parallel to our world and dimensions as well, and are said to occupy human spaces as well. They have the ability to take a physical seen form of different living beings as well. In Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures, the evil eye protection symbol for nazar the prevalence of religious Quranic script on jewelry and up on walls are believed to be a means to keep humans protected and bad spirits away.

The stories of Jinns go way back to even pre-biblical times. For instance, during the prophethood of Sulaiman (Solomon from the Bible), a Jinn was responsible for bringing the throne of the Queen of Sheba in the blink of an eye, according to Quranic tradition.

Kingdoms and Communities

In Middle Eastern and South Asian folklore, there have been stories of Jinns and their kingdoms; a reflection of the power they seem to hold. A rather informative Twitter thread by Ali A Olomi, an assistant professor and writer on Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, has a whole list of these kingdoms and places inhabited by Jinn communities. Ranging from old ruins, caves, mountains, valleys and ancient cities all the way from Yemen to Afghanistan, are stories of Jinns and their mystical societies. Some of these jinns have surreal characteristics to them like wings and bodies of colors, and they are said to reside in palaces and abodes made up of precious stones and metals. As per tradition, some jinns even have the power to control water and earth elements as well.

Spooky Activities

It might appear that there are jinns who are ethereal and full of positive wonders, but there have also been countless stories on bad spirits as well. Some cultures say that some jinns have a tendency to occupy spaces like abandoned buildings and dark alleyways, and even the shadows beneath trees. Some traditions also say they can have an affinity for spaces in homes and public places as well, and their presence there can be known by a range of paranormal activity. Some of these factors are a random change of temperature and lighting, moving of items, and even scaring human beings as well by either appearing in forms or to the extent of “possessing” them. People

say that some jinns typically leave human beings alone unless they are disturbing their peace and presence, but others claim that some beings have it in their nature to spook out mankind as well.

Some of the most common jinn stories consist of these spooky happenings.

I’ve heard countless stories of people falling asleep or waking up, and seeing a creepy figure in their field of vision while being unable to speak or scream out of fear. Maybe it’s sleep paralysis, but this is a common phenomena attributed to jinns in my cultural background. Spirit possession is another; where human beings suddenly have a voice that’s not their own and start performing actions outside of their control. Hearing footsteps, random knocking, sudden warm or cold spots especially when moving into new homes are also common parts of spooky jinn stories as well. A rather out there jinn story I’ve ever heard was that a man in Pakistan claimed to be married to one of these jinns, and he having upset her was haunted by her presence for the rest of his life.

Whether or not you believe in jinns, they are a big cultural component for stories and religion throughout the Middle East and South Asia.

Five documentaries to watch during LGBTQ History Month

Written by Anna Baker

October is LGBTQ History Month. While pride month is a celebration of being queer today, history month is a celebration of past achievements by the LGBTQ movement. However, many of us were not taught LGBTQ history school, so it’s hard to know what to even celebrate. Here are some documentaries that educate on certain aspects of LGBTQ history.

Wednesday, October 30

Doors open at 6:15pm Student Center South, Theater Room 103

1. Before Stonewall

The 1969 Stonewall Riots is thought of as the beginning of the LGBTQ rights movement, but the lives of queer people before then are not as talked about. The 1984 documentary Before Stonewall, directed by Greta Schiller and Robert Rosenberg discusses the gay community before Stonewall, all the way back to the 1920s. The film tells a history of gay people we don’t often hear about. A history of not having the word “gay”, and underground communities and clubs. The documentary interviews people who describe their experiences as gay people before there were gay rights. Learning about queer people in a time where their existence was basically illegal, is important to since it puts in perspective how far the LGBTQ community has come. Before Stonewall is available for rent on Amazon Prime.

2. How to Survive a Plague

Directed by David France, How to Survive a Plague, follows the 1980s AIDS epidemic and the various activist groups who fought to make the government fund research for HIV drugs. The 2012 documentary features footage of demonstrations and past and recent interviews with activists. At the time, people were dying left and right from HIV because a majority of them were gay males, a cure wasn’t a priority for the U.S. government. The film showcases the bravery and heroism of LGBTQ activists who rose up to fight to find a cure and fight a system that was killing them.

To understand LGBTQ history, understanding the AIDS epidemic is critical. How to Survive a Plague is available for rent on Amazon Prime.

3. Paris is Burning

The documentary, Paris is Burning, touches on a specific part and time of LGBTQ history: the New York 1980s Ball scene. This film, directed by Jennie Livingston, shows

The documentary follows his campaign, his busy and successful political career, its tragic end, and aftermath. Harvey Milk’s work to protect gay rights in the state of California and San Francisco leaves a mark on LGBTQ political history in the U.S. The Times of Harvey Milk is available to rent on Amazon Prime.

5. The Life and Death of Martha P Johnson

If you want to be familiar with LGBTQ history, then learning about Martha P. Johnson is a must. A black trans sex worker, Johnson had a huge influence on the LGBTQ

a community that came together and put on events called balls. Balls are events where gay and trans people compete in costume categories. They are places where queer people could be themselves among people like themselves. The documentary features footage of these balls and interviews with numerous participants talking about difficulties of being LGBTQ, but also about Ball culture’s influence.1980s Ball culture came up with the dance move voguing and the phrases “throwing shade” and “realness” which are still used today by the LGBTQ community. 1980s Ball culture still has influence on the current queer community. In fact, the Balls still happen today, so it’s important to learn about them. Paris is Burning is available on Netflix.

4. The Times of Harvey Milk

The Times of Harvey Milk directed by Rob Epstein, talks about the first openly gay elected official. The documentary interviews friends and coworkers Milk and talk about his political career. He served the Castro district, and gave a voice to gay people in his city, something that hadn’t happened before in America.

rights movement, being a leader in the 1969 Stonewall riots and providing housing for homeless queer youth and sex workers. The 2017 documentary, The Life and Death of Martha P. Johnson, directed by David France, follows Anti-Violence Project worker, Victoria Cruz who tries to solve the mystery behind Johnson’s death. While deemed a suicide by the NYPD, many believe she was murdered. Cruz interviews family and friends of Johnson to discuss her life, death, legacy, and the problems facing the transgender community today. The Life and Death of Martha P. Johnson is available on Netflix.

These documentaries cover a wide range of subjects regarding LGBTQ history, but they barely scratch the surface. They are however a good starting point into the stories, struggles, and figures of queer history, and hopefully will make you want to learn more about it. Happy LGBTQ history month!

What to vibe while you drive — soundtracks to listen to on the road

Writing and photos by Tyler Campbell

Martin and sound engineer Sam Okell re-mixed the collection with additional unissued tracks, as well as unused additions to the existing records. “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” has an additional three minutes of Billy Preston’s edited-out organ solo from the original version. “Something,” is given new life with a restored piano track from George Harrison. If you are a fan of The Beatles, this is the perfect record to begin your day. It will help the rest of your day come together.

The New Pornographers – In the Morse Code of Brake Lights

The New Pornographers eighth studio album is one of my personal favorites on this list. I have already started a few days with this record. It’s an album full of melodic cuts that are easy to sing along to. The album is written mostly by A.C. Newman and has uplifting vibes from the very beginning. This makes for a perfect start of a new day.

Driving to and from school every day can get repetitive. Large cities like Houston are known to have an overwhelming number of vehicles on the road at any given time. This leads to accidents and traffic jams, which can make your commute intolerable. For students that live off-campus, this is a part of a daily struggle. Some of us have to drive for up to two hours to get to class on time. For those who live on campus, the battle is walking from your dorm to your classes. Whatever your situation may be, music can be a great way to pass the time and get your day started right. There are several ways to listen to music. Most students listen through streaming services like Apple, Tidal, and Spotify. CDs are still around somewhere, and if you’re like me, then you love listening to music on vinyl. Listening to music can help to make your commute more endurable. Here are a few records that you should consider listening to on your daily commutes.

The Beatles – Abbey Road [50th Anniversary]

On September 26th, 1969, The Beatles released the album Abbey Road. 50 years later, producer Giles

Tegan & Sara – Hey, I’m Just Like You

Tegan and Sara Quin went back to high school with this album. They had a large number of unrecorded songs that they thought it time to work on. These are

the earliest tracks ever written by the pair. The sisters strategically tore down and stitched up their old material to make it new and fresh. What may be a trip down memory lane for the duo can be great for a road trip to class for their fans.

Bodega – Shiny New Model

This is by far the shortest record of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t pack a punch. It is unlikely that you will make it all the way to school with this album alone, but it won’t hurt to throw it in the mix. This sleek album is the musical equivalent to your neighborhood convenience store. Try something new on your next commute and give it a listen.

John Coltrane – Blue World

This jazz record is nicely paired with your morning cup of joe. This is another album full of unissued

material that was begging to be used. If you are a fan of jazz music, you are sure to enjoy this one. The beautiful saxophones will have you feeling at peace and fully able to tackle the future challenges of the day.

“Morning is wonderful. Its only drawback is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of the day,” Glen Cook. Music can help you to start your day on a much more positive note. These tracks are sure to put you on the right track.

Albums to look out for

• B ob Dylan – The Bootleg Series, Vol. 15: Travelin’ Thru

• Jimmy Eat World – Surviving

• Ringo Starr – What’s My Name

• Kanye West – Jesus Is King

• Green Day – Father of All…