Review: Looper

Imagine a world where a mob rules and wants to get rid of someone. They send the target 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to "close the loop" by transporting back Joe's future self.

What To Know

Director: Rian Johnson

Writer: Rian Johnson

Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt and Jeff Daniels

Rating: R for strong violence, language, some sexuality/nudity and drug content. Parents Guide

Plot: In the year 2042, a man working for a group of killers called "Loopers" (who work for the mob and kill people who are sent back by their bosses) recognizes a victim as himself. He hesitates, resulting in the escape of his older self and a quest for vengeance ensues. (Courtesy of IMDb.com) 

Family Friendly? Well, if the rating didn't clue you in, then I'll go out on a limb, here, and say no. Lots of cussing, drugs, sex, violence, blood and, yes, even a brief view of a woman's bare breasts makes for a not-so-good choice for the family.

Should You See It? Definitely! If you're okay with mob-like violence and a few frightening scenes (such as a child getting grazed on the cheek by a bullet) then you'll be fine. Beyond the violence, the ending has a very unexpected but good side to it.

 

Looper is yet another great movie and is definitely one to look out for at the Oscars. 

Untold Story of the Voter ID Debate

Natalie Butler, a 2012 graduate and former student government president of the University of Texas at Austin, said a Texas law that would prevent voters from using student IDs could have a negative effect on the voting process. (Courtesy: Lizzie Chen/News21)

It's getting harder and harder for students to go to the polls.

At least, that's the case for some states such as Georgia, Texas and New Hampshire where going to the polls has turned into more of a burden than a privilege for college students.

We'll start in Georgia. College students in state colleges and universities can use their student IDs as a form of identification on election day. However, students at private institutions, such as the prestigious Morehouse College, are not allowed to use their student IDs. The reason? Lawmakers claim the "lack of uniformity among school IDs would be a burden for poll workers."

Just for curiosity, I compared the student cards of five different North Carolina schools: Elon, Wake Forest and Duke (private schools) as well as N.C. State and UNC-Chapel Hill (public schools). Have a look for yourself and you see if they all look different. The point is, wouldn't presenting a card from a state institution cause the same "burden" on poll workers (whatever that may be) as a private institution?

Georgia state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan, a Democrat, has introduced three bills since 2008 to accept IDs from all accredited schools, rather than just public schools. Not surprisingly, all three failed. Morgan got the idea in 2008 from one of her office interns, Aubrey Patterson, who was a poll worker. Patterson told Morgan that in the 2008 elections, he saw both private college and state university students told they could not use their student IDs at the polls.

"Accepting student IDs makes voting more convenient," Patterson said, "because many students don’t have driver’s licenses and don’t have a reason to carry another form of ID."

There's an even worse situation going on in Texas. The state legislature passed a law that banned all forms of student ID (public and private) as valid at the polls but still allowed a gun permit to be an acceptable form of identification. The measure is being blocked by the Department of Justice and is under review.

Another problem in Texas and other states is the residency of students. Out-of-state students must choose which state they want to vote in — their home state, where they may have to file an absentee ballot, or at school, where they face scrutiny from local residents.

And the attack on students doesn't end in these two states.

New Hampshire received national attention when state House Speaker William O’Brien, a Republican, mentioned voting restrictions that would affect students, such as same-day voter registration, and then attacked how he presumed students would vote.

“Voting as a liberal, that’s what kids do,” he was recorded as saying. "They lack the life experience and they just vote their feelings.”

I don't know about the rest of my fellow students, but I for one don't vote on my "feelings." What are we in, some kind of therapy session? This ploy by lawmakers in all states is a blatant attack on students and it needs to be stopped immediately.

With the last election showing a record turnout among voters in the 18-24 age demographic, the youth vote will be just as important as it was then. 

You can read more on this story here.

Is Niall Married?

A Twitter story has sent Directioners into a frenzy. But is it true? Here's what happened.

The story claimed that Niall Horan of the hit group, One Direction, secretly got hitched in Germany. He did so by accidentally signing a marriage license slipped in by a devious fan during an autograph session.

Well, ladies, you can put down your torches and pitchforks because the "marriage" was invalid under German law (and probably most other countries too). The law states that the license must be signed at the registrar's office in the presence of at least two witnesses. 

Niall beat everyone to the punch with his response to the story: “Hahhaha I was gettin' mentions and dm's last night askin' me if I was married! Hahahahah heard it all now! People actually believe this stuff.”

Rest assured, ladies, Niall is still on the market but don't think you'll have a chance with him anytime soon. The pop star told Fabulous magazine: “I’d rather go to sleep than find a girl.”

Needless to say it looks like Niall will not be having a wedding anytime soon. And let's hope the girl who thought she was clever (but really wasn't) will be smarter in the future.

ENG 316: The Story Behind The Refs

Referee Wayne Elliott (28) speaks with field judge Richard Simmons (102) before making a ruling on a call between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field. (Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE)

The replacement NFL officials have posed big problems for the players, fans and the league. 

The referees have not only made mistakes in calling the games, they have also endangered players. One instance happened just this past Sunday when a referee tossed his hat as a signal during a play. Normally, the hat would land right in front of the official's feet but it landed in the endzone instead, right in the path of a sprinting Dallas Cowboys receiver, Kevin Ogletree. Ogletree slipped on the hat but was, fortunately, not harmed.

Then came Monday night. The close game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks came down to the final play. Former N.C. State quarterback, Russell Wilson, threw a Hail Mary to the endzone. It clearly looked as if the Packers defense had caught the ball for an interception but the referee signaled touchdown for the Seahawks; and that is how the game ended: with the Seahawks winning.

This game was the last straw for many fans, including those who were not necessarily fans of the two teams involved. The game also gave an opportunity for many news outlets to investigate the origins of these replacement referees. One such news outlet, Fox Sports, gave a revealing report on the exact back stories of the officials in this game. 

We find out that some of the referees have had, at least, a little bit of college officiating experience. Some have even had a little bit of NFL experience. What stuck out was how the official who made the call Monday night, Lance Easley, had no real experience in officiating big games such as this. In fact, Fox reports that Easley is Vice President of Small Business Banking at Bank of America and has only officiated high school and junior college games.

Although we do not know who exactly, Fox also reported that two of the officials on that crew were fired from the Lingerie Football League for the very thing they are being accused of now: poor officiating. It is hard to say who should be blamed for all this but one thing is clear: the NFL needs to have its original referees back for the sake of its players, fans and itself.

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NMM: Melanie Amaro

Who is this Melanie Amaro you ask? She is the first winner of the U.S. version of "The X-Factor." Amaro almost didn't even get to the live shows, being let go then brought back by Simon Cowell. That decision paid off as Amaro wowed America and was crowned the champ. She has now released two songs off her new album, one entitled "Don't Fail Me Now."

Much like its title suggests, the song is uplifting and tells the story of Amaro's journey to fame; all with a great beat in the background. Overall it's a really great song that will become a favorite for pop music listeners.

Do They Care?

To put it nicely, I was appalled to learn that Senate Republicans blocked a measure that would open up $1 billion over five years and create 22,000 new jobs for military veterans, according to the New York Times. This begs me to ask one question: do Republicans even care for Americans anymore? I mean, you have Mitt Romney saying earlier this week that he basically doesn't care for the 47% who "depend on the government" and now Senate Republicans obviously have little regard for the 1 in 4 young vets who are unemployed.

Acording to the Times, the bill was opposed by, among others, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) who has also been seeking amendments on bills that would cut off funding to Egypt and to Pakistan until Pakistan freed Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the United States find Osama bin Laden.

The vote was met with a strong rebuke from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Paul Rieckhoff, director of the organization, said “Once again, this Congress let partisan bickering stand in the way of putting thousands of America’s heroes back to work. Lowering veteran unemployment is something both parties should be able to agree on – even in an election year.”

When I see this, I think about a couple of my friends who are in the military. Will they be able to get jobs when they are veterans? Why not lay out some framework now instead of continuously putting it off? So, back to my original question: Do Republicans (or Congress in general) care? No, I guess they don't.

ENG 316: 'Go On' Makes Audiences Feel The Love

Courtesy: NBC

New primetime sitcom is attracting audiences for its witty take on human misery.

Matthew Perry is mounting a real television comeback eight years after the end of Friends with his new show Go On (Tuesdays 9/8c on NBC). The sitcom is centerd around Ryan King, a sports radio host, who recently lost his wife and isn't ready to deal with his grief. He is sent unwillingly to a support group full of interesting characters who have unique problems of their own. 

The show aims to deal with heavy issues in a mostly lighthearted way. For instance, Ryan leads the group in a tournament-style game to find out who has the worst problem (aptly titled "March Sadness"). Throughout its first few episodes, the show's writers and producers have done a wonderful job addressing their characters' miseries with humor and witty one-liners without insulting the viewers.

The show did take a more serious turn in the pilot episode when it hit on a subject so prevalent in our society today: texting while driving. We find out that Ryan King's wife was killed in a car accident while she was doing that exact thing.

It was a serious turn that was unexpected from the comedic elements seen earlier in the episode. With that, Go On really seems to hammer home the point that it is okay to laugh a little even during your toughest times.

I noticed from watching that the show gets to the core of its very being when it taps into the emotions of its audience. Because of that, the show gives its audience hope that they can get through their own personal struggles as well.

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Are You Kidding? Part 8

After a long break, the Oops Awards are finally back with one straight out of the idiot book. GOP presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, and his wife, Ann, taped an interview for Live! With Kelly and Michael that is set to air on Tuesday. The couple sat down with hosts, Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, and talked about some typical subjects: the economy, health care, etc. 

But then the interview took a lighter turn as the Romney's played "Romney Rapid Fire Round." Mitt was asked a multitude of questions but one in particular stuck out: "Who would you like to see play Mitt in a film?" The former governor responded by saying Gene Hackman. He also suggested Michele Pfeiffer for Mrs. Romney.

Really? Gene Hackman? Michele Pfeiffer? Have you noticed they don't look anything remotely close to you or your wife? Not to mention, Hackman is retired now?!?

NMM: Between The Raindrops

It's been over two years since we've seen new material from Lifehouse. The "You and Me" stars are back with a new song featuring Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. The song, called "Between The Raindrops," has a very interesting and, almost, infectious vibe to it. 

It took a while for me to really like the song because it has a different feel than most of the Lifehouse songs I'm used to. However, after listening to it a few times, I've grown to like it a lot. I would even venture to say it's one of my favorite Lifehouse songs ever. Have a listen!

Business As Usual

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal leaves the locker room after the team's informal workout on Friday. Staal was taking his gear, which is normally stored in the lockers, with him as players will not be allowed to use the facility during the lockout. (AP Photo/The News & Observer, Ethan Hyman)

At midnight, the NHL officially went into lockout mode. This marks the third work stoppage of Gary Bettman's tenure as commissioner. Fans saw the entire 2004-2005 season go down the toilet because of a lockout and it's not looking good for this season either. Bettman is steadfast on getting what he and his comrades want out of a $3.3 billion pot. The players are fighting as well, claiming they deserve more money than the multi-millions they are making now.

Owners are asking players to take a 10 percent decrease in pay, from 57 percent under the just expired CBA to 47 percent, double that of the cut NFL players took during their labor disputes a few months back. The players, just as stubborn as Bettman, are not willing to take that steep a pay cut. The league and the NHL Players' Association have not even had formal negotiation talks since Wednesday of last week.

"We spoke [Saturday] and determined that there was no point in convening a formal bargaining session in light of the fact that neither side is in a position to move off of its last proposal," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "I'm sure we will keep in touch in the coming days and schedule meetings to the extent they might be useful or appropriate. We are sorry for where we are. Not what we hoped or expected."

You can argue for or against either side. But, in all actuality, both are at fault. What really is concerning is how both sides had a lackluster attitude toward coming up with an agreement of some sort when they knew all along they were on the heels of the start to the preseason. To be honest, it's quite ridiculous how a couple of five-year-olds could agree on something quicker than a bunch of grown, "professional" men. 

Even before the lockout became official, many fans decided to lockout the NHL themselves by boycotting everything that had to do with the league: watching NHL networks, buying merchandise and so on. This in hopes to show the league they are tired of its selfish ways. It probably won't do any good as the league turns a deaf ear to the very people it depends on.

As an example, the typical NHL team relied on ticket receipts for half its revenues. That compared to a mere 33 percent for the NBA and 25 percent for the NFL and MLB, according to Mike Ozanian of Forbes.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this latest drama on the ice. But for many fans (including myself) it's seems like it's just "business as usual" for the league, which is not a good sign for its survival.

ENG 316: Back From The Brink

Marred by alcoholism, drummer is coming back.

Courtesy: Christianity Today

When you hear the name, Jim Sonefeld, you probably are cluless as to who that is. Sonefeld (or "Soni" as he is nicknamed) is one of the founding members and drummer for the band Hootie and the Blowfish.

Along with lead singer, Darius Rucker, Sonefeld and his bandmates traveled the world and performed for millions of fans. As young millionaires, the guys of Hootie could have anything they wanted — girls, alcohol, drugs; and Sonefeld wanted it all.

He struggled with alcoholism for about a decade in which he fathered two children and divorced his first wife. But ultimately he started attending 12-step meetings, gave up booze, remarried, and recommitted himself to God and family.

Sonefeld has now decided to give Christian music a try releasing an EP entitled Found earlier this year. With a Hootie reunion in the works, "Soni" is hoping to tell the world of his long journey back from the brink with music.

Reflection: The article, written by Mark Moring of Christianity Today, was well written. The part that made the article great was how the writer made it into a Q&A session with Sonefeld. That made the article easier to read and it gave deeper insight into Sonefeld's long journey to recovery.

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Lack Of Communication

Courtesy: Natalie Claunch/Technician

When word broke out about the shooting at Cameron Village, I was very concerned for my own personal safety. Heck, I didn't even know about what happened until I saw it online in my first class, a good hour or so after the incident ocurred. 

While schools all around N.C. State's campus were locked down, State students did not even receive a WolfAlert text until the afternoon. In the past, N.C. State has been very good with communicating pertinent information through its texting system. However, when a gunman was on the loose not even a half mile from campus, the school neglected to inform its students on the possible threat. 

According to a story in today's Technician newspaper Lt. David Kelly, operations manager for Campus Police, said an alert was not sent out right away because there was no “immediate or imminent threat on campus.” Obviously, this was not a random shooting but the suspect could have, very well, gone on a shooting spree out of anger. 

Many students, including myself, have voiced concerns over this situation. Kelly went on to say that Chancellor Woodson's policy on these alerts "only covers the campus and areas adjacent to campus." When Cameron Village is not even one mile from my class near the Bell Tower, I think that is close enough. It will be interesting to see if anything is done to correct this policy.

NMM: Ingram Hill

In the summer of 2000, fresh out of the University of Memphis, childhood friends Justin Moore (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Phil Bogard (lead guitar) joined with Shea Sowell (bass, background vocals) and Matt Chambless (drums) to form a band. The band, named Ingram Hill, toured throughout the south and southeast before releasing an EP.

After a stint in the alternative rock genre, the group now has three permanent members and is going back to its country roots with a self-titled album. The new album has a nice track called "Behind My Guitar." The song incorporates some great country melodies and adds a little hint of rock as well. It's definitely worth listening to!

Ramping Up

As the 2012 presidential election cranks into full gear, I want to make you guys aware that this is the time I become really passionate about my beliefs and opinions. Over the next few months, you will more than likely see posts on this blog, Facebook, and Twitter that clearly display my opinions on the politics of this election. That is the beauty of this blog and other tools I use: I can make my opinions known without any real conflict.

First off, in case you didn't know, I am a proud Democrat. That does not necessarily mean that I agree with every part of the Democratic Party's platform but I do believe in many of its core ideas. I have seen how Republicans want to run this country and I believe it will only degrade our standard of living instead of improve it.

People have asked the question multiple times, "Are we better off than we were four years ago?" The president inherited a tough situation. There is no way our situation could be completely fixed in four years. Heck, it may take longer than eight years if the president gets reelected. And, while I am at it, do not say I have no right to blame the previous administration for what happened. There is still a multitude of people who blame President Clinton for things that happened so it is fair game.

That is such a ridiculous question. Who in the world could answer it? I know I could never answer that question completely if I was president. I believe, instead of asking questions of the Obama campaign, the GOP needs to focus on the issues at hand. At the end of the day, Americans care more about the issues and if they will be solved rather than the finger pointing game being played in Washington and beyond.

My mom has also been receiving emails from a Republican friend that are just dead wrong on the facts. One such email questioned souvenirs being sold at the DNC depicting President Obama as the "Messiah" and a stained glass window backdrop being used on the main stage inside the arena. The email argued that the president and/or DNC officials themselves were endorsing these things for this purpose, especially the souvenirs. In all actuality, the email had zero facts as to what the real purposes of those things were and who might have been behind them. 

More than likely the souvenir seller is some person on the side of the street, tapping into people's emotions and looking to make a quick buck. That happens a lot during events like this convention. As far as the stained glass, that can be used for a multitude of things. Keep in mind, "Amazing Grace" was sung at the GOP Convention and they had a daily prayer. I am sure some of the same things are going on at the DNC as well.

Those are my views on some recent events and the election. If you do not agree with them, that is fine but don't correct me on the issues when I am right!

ENG 316: Trouble At 'Today?'

Courtesy: Getty Images

Hit morning show facing possible cutbacks.

Today show staffers are bracing for possible layoffs and are wondering if host, Matt Lauer, will give up any of his $25 million salary to save jobs. A similar situation happened on The Tonight Show where host, Jay Leno, took a paycut to save the jobs of some of his colleagues.

This is just the latest in a string of problems for the morning show which has experienced a constant drop in its ratings over the past few years. The show had seen a ratings increase with its coverage of the 2012 Olympics but are now seeing its ratings drop below that of arch-rival, ABC's Good Morning America.

A source told the New York Post about the possible cuts, “It will be the little people who go first: makeup artists and writers but these people have families and it will put pressure on Matt to do the right thing.”

Today used to be at the top of morning television but, due to some changes with the hosts as well as the show's four-hour-long daily broadcasts, the show is quickly losing its footing in the industry.

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NMM: Conor Maynard

We are going across the pond for this week's look at new music. Conor Maynard rose to fame in the U.K. and is now taking America by storm. The singer won MTV's New for 2012 Award and will release a debut album, entitled Contrast, in October. In the meantime, Maynard released a couple singles from the album including "Vegas Girl."

I first heard this song on the radio and instantly liked it. It's got a great beat to it and will, soon, become a hit.

Review: Premium Rush

Remember the movie Angels In The Outfield? Do you recall the kid who played Roger in the movie? Well that kid, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, has blossomed into a big time movie star and has a new film, Premium Rush.

What To Know

Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon and Dania Ramirez

Director: David Koepp

Writers: David Koepp and John Kamps

Rating: PG-13 for some violence, intense action sequences and language. Parents Guide

Plot: Wilee is one of 1,500 messenger bikers in Manhattan that rides on the edge by not having a brake. When he is given a valuable envelope to carry, a corrupt and desperate NYPD detective chases him around the city to take it before it can be delivered.

Family Friendly? Although it's an action packed movie that most kids would like (especially boys) I wouldn't recommend it for kids under ten or eleven. There's quite a bit of cussing in it for a PG-13 movie and some intense scenes as well.

Should You See It? Even though the plot starts off slow, it picks up in a heartbeat and leaves you on the edge of your seat throughout. What adds to the film is that Levitt did many of the bike stunts himself and the sound effects while he's weaving in-and-out of traffic are perfect.

(SPOILER ALERT!!!!) What's more is the movie makes you think there's some kind of secret drug deal or something bad going on with the envelope storyline but the woman who sends the envelope with Wilee is actually trying to get her very young son over to America from oppression in China.

This is, by far, one of the best movies I've seen this year and I highly recommend it!