Category: Reviews
Though originally receiving a slightly overshadowed response, Stephenie Meyer’s “The Host” has been steadily gaining attention since the premiere of its film adaptation last month. I originally read the book back in 2008. Because the book was released before the fourth installment of the Twilight series, it was readily overlooked. However, for me, it provided [...]
In hindsight, there were a myriad of signs pointing to “Iron Man 3” being a complete trainwreck. Ben Kingsley, while a fine actor, has gained a reputation for appearing in awful big budget blockbusters. Jon Favreau has hung up his director’s cap and is replaced by Shane Black, who has only directed one other film, [...]
Armed with a similarly scathing wit as George Carlin, and screaming at about half the volume of Sam Kinison, comedian Lewis Black has made numerous appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, starred in his own HBO specials, and has written three books. His first book “Nothing’s Sacred” was released in 2005, and while [...]
There is a scene in “The Evil Dead” where its protagonist Ashley (Bruce Campbell) wanders down into a basement to look for shotgun shells. The spiderweb criss-cross of pipes that before dripped water, now drip blood. Electronics begin turning on, with an old record player providing a jovial, old-timey soundtrack for the bizarre tableau. Electrical [...]
In all the time that I have been writing book reviews for The Sounds Newspaper, I have never once used the word “masterpiece” to describe someone’s work, but George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones more than merits the term. As a writer, it gives me a headache just to think of all the planning [...]
The only thing I didn’t like about this album is that it wasn’t released sooner. Although these songs have been around for decades, they were released and compiled into an album only recently. Hendrix was a musical genius, and it certainly shows on People, Hell & Angels. The rhythm used on this album is excellent. [...]
Helms Alee is a band from Seattle, WA. Night Terror is their first studio album and is very unique. Helms Alee don’t seem to fit into one particular genre of music, but Night Terror sounds like grungy-shoegaze. “New Roll” is my favorite track on the album; it has an uneasy feeling to it at some [...]
Alternative Rock band, My Bloody Valentine, have finally returned after two decades with their new album, mbv. This album is not my favorite from My Bloody Valentine, but there are a few good tracks. The first track, “she found now,” is very ambient. It is not particularly interesting musically, but I did find it relaxing [...]
Coming to downtown Olympia in late April is a new “grab-and-go” deli: Peace, Love, and Raw, which is currently a wholesale business. Everything on the menu is gluten-free, corn-free, soy-free, vegan, and organic. When the business opens, it will be selling an assortment of raw juices, smoothies, bars, and other simple snacks and desserts. The [...]
For a debut novel, Kalayna Price’s Grave Witch was a surprisingly fun read. It featured unique world building and mythological creatures, a rare find in the urban fantasy genre. The main character, Alex Craft, is a grave witch. Her power allows her to raise “shades” of the recently deceased and communicate with ghosts. Unlike other [...]
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Student Spotlight: Hongna Svay
Hongna Svay, 29, is currently studying computer programming at South Puget Sound Community College. He came to Olympia from his native country Cambodia to attend college and to be near his friends and relatives in the Olympia area. Svay first came to America in Aug. 2010. He started attending SPSCC right away, enrolling in English [...]
Student Spotlight: Hal Schrieve
After two years of frustration, new Running Start student, Hal Schrieve begins school in the hope that SPSCC will provide a more realistic transition into adulthood. “I felt as if I deserved more autonomy within my own education,” said Schrieve. Schrieve’s decision to participate in Running Start spawned, in part, from previous conflict with his [...]
After experiencing challenges at SPSCC, student Rebekah Hutson turns things around
Rebekah Hutson faced and overcame many challenges while at SPSCC. Graduating with an associate of arts this quarter, she said she started at the college unenthusiastically, feeling isolated as a black student on a mostly-white campus. Hutson said since then, she gained a passion for making the school more diverse and became very involved [...]
Mainstream media: biased and skewed
Recently, there was an ExxonMobil oil spill in Arkansas, according to NPR. However, there was very little media coverage on it. ExxonMobil threatened to arrest journalists who enter the area of the oil spill, because they didn’t want media coverage of the damage the oil spill has done. From Exxon’s point of view, it makes [...]
In 1997, the United Kingdom enacted strict legislation effectively banning almost all firearms across the country. This was in the wake of the Dunblane school massacre, which sent the entire nation into a panic over gun control. So, how did this ban affect gun crime in the United Kingdom? It rose, dramatically. The number of [...]
People are more likely to use a gun for harm if it is available to them. The easy accessibility of firearms, rather than people themselves, causes rising gun violence. Think of corruption in government. Politicians are more likely to abuse power because of their position. Their actions are not necessarily malicious. They are presented with [...]