The Wake

Students studying mainly on the St. Paul campus are not, in many ways, typical college students. Many of them spend time in barns and with sewing machines, rather than books and computers. But they, like all students, need to eat.Strangely enough, while leaving my comfort zone in Minneapolis and visiting the foreign land that is St. Paul, I had one of my most unusual dining experiences ever.My lunch at Muffeletta Café was pleasant, but unremarkable. …

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I always knew Naomi Watts was talented, but I never could have imagined she’d be this good. We saw her in David Lynch’s 2002 psychological thriller Mulholland Drive, where she played the role of a woman fascinated by Hollywood glamour and stardom, mystified in a neurotic dream. Then, in Gore Verbinski’s 2003 horror flick The Ring, Watts again took on an artistic role as a reporter tangled up in the eerie mystery of a VHS …

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“The Hills Have Eyes” is the second film directed by horror legend Wes Craven. Although it has become a cult classic, I do not see how this film is not recognized for its brilliance beyond the cult horror audience.The Carter family is on their way to California. They stop at a gas station and are told not to proceed on the highway they intended to use. It is a bomb range and “strange things” have …

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The day the Babylon Arts and Cultural Center caught fire, a piece of the Twin Cities’ arts community burned down with it. The center was renowned for its unique art exhibits and for being one of the only all-age, alcohol-free music venues in Minneapolis. Obscure punk bands and artists considered too political by other galleries could count on the Babylon to give them a voice.Gustavus Adolphus Hall on Lake Street, in which the Babylon was …

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I remember four years ago when an unknown band from England named Coldplay dropped their first hit in the States called “Yellow.” The song was played constantly on radio stations across America and later became background music for teen-driven dramas on UPN and the WB. At that time, Coldplay was still considered the underdog to another Brit-rock band that was making a bigger dent in the charts: Starsailor. As a champion of Coldplay, I hated …

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On February 24th, Cannibal Corpse will unleash upon the world The Wretched Spawn. Cannibal Corpse is the ultimate brutal death metal band, for those sorry individuals not yet aware of this fact. Cannibal Corpse are just as brutal and pummeling as on 2002’s Gore Obsessed, but they have stepped up the technical level of the material on this one. This is generally non-melodic, utilizing instead much more complex structures and riffing than melodic death metal. …

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Imagine your grandmother sporting an AK-47 automatic machine gun with bullet belts slung over both her shoulders and a Bowie knife clenched between her teeth. With grenades strapped to her waistline and a rocket-launcher adorning her back, she’s a picture of pure evil…right? I mean, aren’t all gray-haired old ladies the living end of Western civilization?Well, I hate to spoil the headlines (”Wrath of Angry Senior Citizens Destroys L.A.” would be darkly comical), but unless …

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My girlfriend said it before I thought it. The ‘80s are coming back. She uttered those prophetic words last summer, as we strolled down Hennepin across from Calhoun Square. Those five words stopped me in full stride. Flashes of bright florescent colors and excessively large hair interrupted my peaceful state of consciousness.“The ‘80s?” I asked, a bit taken aback. I then uttered a sound that defies the English language. Something like, “iiihhhhg.” I instantly realized …

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Irish bands seem forever doomed to recreate those sounds made popular by groups such as The Cranberries, U2 and even The Pogues, those sounds that immediately mark them as Irish. That’s not to say Irish music isn’t beautiful and diverse, but sometimes it becomes a gimmick, an obstacle some groups can’t get past. That’s not the case with The Thrills. Their first full-length album, So Much for the City, is packed with sunshine and sandy …

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Jazz and blues have always been present in Norah Jones’ work, but in her second major label album, Feels Like Home, Jones moves her focus away from jazz to mellow guitar driven blues. The jazz that made her famous still has a large presence, but songs like “Creepin’ In,” which includes a duet with Dolly Parton, take country by the reins. “Creepin’ In” strums and bops to a different beat then what is typical of …

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Although a controversial topic for the light-hearted or light-headed, marijuana is something worth laughing about. Written and performed by Arj Barker, Doug Benson and Tony Camin — three pot-loving comedians — The MarijuanaLogues pokes fun at a drug we love to love, hate to love, or love to hate, all while paying “respectful homage” to the amazing theatrical experience of The Vagina Monologues. According to Doug Benson, each comic has something of their own to …

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For the most part, overnighters and stressing out for finals came to an end for one group of ‘U’ seniors Valentine’s Day night with the close of the “10 La Femme” fashion show.“Every year, the seniors majoring in fashion design must have one public exhibition,” said fashion design senior Cassandra Willms. Each student displays her senior line, a group of outfits that portray a similar theme throughout the many pieces of clothing. As usual, …

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Jeff Siple, 20, needed to replace his U Card twice in little more than a year and a half as a student at the University of Minnesota. The first time the U Card Office replaced the card for free, which was only a year after receiving his first card; the horizontal stripes showed normal “wear and tear.” The second time his card quit working, the ‘U’ wasn’t so generous about the vertical wear stripes. It …

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In the height of the McCarthy era, beat poet Allen Ginsberg asked, “America, why are your libraries full of tears?” It was intended to be a metaphor for American history books lining library shelves. However, Ginsberg probably couldn’t foresee what his metaphor would mean 50 years later.Since the USA Patriot Act was passed in October 2001, librarians across the country haven’t been telling people to stay quiet with the snap of a ruler. They’ve become …

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The first Greek organization appeared on campus in 1874, and since then, 38 different fraternities and sororities have settled at the University of Minnesota to invite more into their fold. Today, roughly 1,500 students are members of the Greek community. This might not be significant compared to the 49,400 students who were enrolled at the University last semester, but it does show many people are interested in the Greek community. What are the reasons for …

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