The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: Reviews

  • Black Panther pounces on box office expectations

    Black Panther pounces on box office expectations

    The anticipation for this movie has been building since Marvel made its initial announcement. With everything being promoted – the soundtrack, the trailer and the cast – the hype surrounding Black Panther was at stake.

    The opening weekend finally arrives and the movie itself is beautiful and exciting.

    Black Panther is an exploration of afro-futurism disguised as a superhero movie. Afro-futurism is a genre of science fiction that shows the future of the African people beyond colonialism.

    The fictional nation that takes place in the film, Wakanda, is hidden away from the world to protect its resources. Inside Wakanda is a greatly advanced nation with technology far superior to any other nation on Earth.

    Wakanda is the primary source of vibranium, the strongest fictional metal in the Marvel universe. This metal is the source of all technological advancements in Wakanda and makes up the armor of the main character, King T’Challa, who is the Black Panther.

    Black Panther takes the throne after his father’s death, shown in the previous Marvel installment “Captain America: Civil War.” T’Challa must protect Wakanda from the outside world as villain N’Jadaka, also known as Killmonger, tries to take vibranium in hopes of helping the oppressed people of the world.

    T’Challa has to learn how to be a king on his own terms and not take from his father’s mistakes. An ongoing question as the film develops is if it’s possible to share one’s resources without the threat of a hungry nation trying to take from another country.

    The story is an analogy to colonialism, or outsiders trying to take over a country for its resources and knowledge. This ongoing act has been repeated all over Africa, the Americas, Australia and throughout Asia in the film.

    Afro-futurism is a speculation of what the future would look like if colonization didn’t happen and a country was allowed to progress without outside influences. That is Wakanda. Its residents, army and monarchy have strong influences from various African nations in its costumes and through its technology.

    Black Panther’s suit has subtle African designs. The ships look like traditional African masks and creatures. There are even armored rhinoceros that look intense and awesome.

    Wakanda’s warriors are primarily women, which defies Western ideas of an army. The general, Okoye, is a highly trained warrior who is dedicated to her country. One of Wakanda’s spies, Nakia, is intelligent and empathetic.

    T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, is a tech genius who makes weapons and is constantly improving her technology as she’s cracking jokes. None of the women are sexualized or have their abilities downplayed. All the women are equally badass than their male counterparts, if not more.

    Killmonger is a complex villain, as he is torn between his Wakandan roots and upbringing in Oakland. He is angry about his father’s death and takes it out through murder, hence the name Killmonger. Black Panther and Killmonger represent a battle of colonized ideology versus traditional values.

    There are some tidbits that prevent it from being a great film. There are some inconsistencies with the technological capabilities. The story is a little weak and the villain’s motivations are unclear whether the need for resources is either for selfish reasons or the greater good.

    Although the landscapes are beautiful and imaginative, the cinematography was uninspired and didn’t maximize the beauty of the film. However, the vast amount of work and attention to detail on the appearance of the film and its characters overshadow nitpicking observations.

    The future does not belong to Western civilization. The future can have roots in tradition and can honor ancestors. If this film is influential enough, there could be a multicultural future in science fiction and possibly in real life.

     

  • A drinking place with a crafting problem

    A drinking place with a crafting problem

    New beer, wine and craft bar Arts and Drafts opens their doors in Old Town Eureka on Feb. 17.

    An improv acoustic guitar solo and noises of lively voices filled the rooms of the E. Janssen Building in Old Town Eureka on Feb. 17.

    The once hardware store became home to Arts and Drafts, a “drinking place with a crafting problem.”

    The venue is divided into two spacious sections. Couches and large wooden tables geared with puzzles, sketchbooks and watercolor pencils surround the bar. Guests are encouraged to leave an art piece in the sketchbook, similar to a visual guest book.

    A bright mural of purple, psychedelic cats and a four-foot wine glass filled with colorful yarn make up the Kitty Corner of the room. The ambiance of the space is relaxed, open and gives the impression of a cozy living room.

    Through the bar, in a separate room, is an art workshop space filled with supplies and art-lined walls. Here, patrons can purchase pre-made DIY art projects, from paintable stone coasters to string art or bring in their own supplies to craft up while hanging out.

    Owner of Arts and Drafts, Tracy Dorgan, said she wanted her dream to come true in Old Town Eureka. After extensive searching for the best possible venue, Dorgan said she fell in love with this one.

    “When I walked into this building,” Dorgan said, “my entire vision changed and expanded.”

    The space is much bigger than her original plan, which ended up doubling Dorgan’s budget.

    The grand opening of the new bar brought a steady flow of people throughout the day.

    Greggory Allbright, Humboldt State University alumnus, high school teacher and artist, says he often enjoys drinking a cold beer while creating.

    “Sitting down and doing art is a lot harder than sitting and drinking,” Allbright said.

    Allbright is setting up for a surrealist art show at the Wine Stop and sketched at Arts and Drafts on the day of the grand opening.

    Brooks Heaslet from Maple Creek, a bartender at Arts and Drafts, said the crowd was a mixture of locals and tourists.

    For Heaslet, the art and beer bar combined two of his passions. Heaslet said he not only works the bar, but also helped build it with his father at Maple Creek Woodworks.

    “Woodwork and beer are definitely my mediums.” Heaslet said.

    The bar offers 12 different taps, including local beers, ciders, kombucha and nitro coffee, as well as an extensive wine list.

    “The only shot glasses we have are the ones you can paint,” Dorgan said.

    The small kitchen offers diverse snacks, such as cheesy jalapeno bread and local vegetarian Sushi Agogo.

    Dorgan said she worked to make the space welcoming to students.

    “You can come hang out, drink a beer and do a mini project for under $10.”

    In the back of the bar, Mark Talbert and wife Laurie of Eureka, sipped ales while weaving a burgundy string through nails in the shape of a wine glass.

    “She convinced me into it!” Talbert said. “I’m generally anti-social, but I feel totally comfortable walking and nailing nails onto a board.”

    Not only are the employees of Arts and Drafts brew buffs, they are craft connoisseurs as well.

    Amanda Anderson painted a wooden wine caddy in a deep, nut brown to demonstrate one of the crafts available for purchase at the venue.

    Anderson, a wildlife conservation major at Humboldt State University, scored a job at Arts and Drafts thanks to her experience with crafting and teaching. As a statistics tutor at HSU, she felt confident in her ability to guide creatively.

    “The goal here is to spread creativity,” Anderson said. “People are going to love this. It’s Arcata, people love their art.”

    Dorgan said that in the future, she plans to extend the working hours and the kitchen, as well as work on an option to divide the space in order to accommodate kids.

    Arts and Drafts is located on 422 1st Street in Old Town Eureka.

  • 18th annual International Education Week

    18th annual International Education Week

    The 18th annual commencement of International Education Week at Humboldt State occurred last week from Feb. 5 through Feb. 9.

    The commencement began with an annual flag ceremony procession that snaked its way from the Feuerwerker House, up around the quad and meandered its way towards the library – all to the beat of an improvised drum line.

    The International Education Week was hosted by the Academic and Career Advising Center, Center for International Programs, the College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences, the College of Extended Education and Global Engagement, the International Advisory Committee, Library, the Multicultural Center and the Global Connections Club.

    The procession was initially just members of the Global Connections Club and international students, but bystanders were invited to select a flag to represent in the parade by Center for International Studies study abroad coordinator, Christiana Frye.

    Ana Nihalani, an exchange student from Pakistan, was excited at the prospect of showing off the parade on her Snapchat story.

    “It looks so cool!” Nihalani remarked excitedly when shown the video taken of her of the procession. “All of us walking together with our flags on from all over the place!”

    Kate O’Connor, president of the Global Connections Club, touched on the purpose of the group as well as the importance of the week itself.

    “When international students come to HSU, either for study abroad or the duration of their education here, they can join the club.” O’Connor said. “Along with some domestic students from around here, we all get together and form connections and friendships and volunteer together for events like this.”

    The keynote address of this year’s international education week was given by Dr. Teresa Wright, department chair and professor of political science at CSU Long Beach on Feb. 6.

    Dr. Wright’s lecture was called “Politics in China: Good Governance Gone Bad?” and focused on the misconceptions many have when it comes to foreign policy.

    Wright encouraged to reject any prejudice.

    “We need to view regime type as a spectrum, not just democratic equates good, undemocratic equates bad.”

    Wright condemned certain actions of the Chinese government over the last few decades. She emphasized that it was fair to be critical of their governance, but not simply because of typical Americanized prejudice that “only a liberal democracy can fulfill functions of good governance.”

    The international film festival screening was held in the Kate Buchanan room on Feb. 7. A variety of foreign student-directed and produced films were made available by Humboldt International Film Fest, a student-run film festival organization founded in 1967.

    The winner of the 2017 festival was “Memory” directed by Ilirjan Himaj.

    “Memory” focused on an elderly Albanian man with dementia trying to find his way home after setting out to buy a toy for his visiting grandson. Despite being only 18 minutes long, the film was profoundly sad and several of the attendants remarked on this aspect when it was revealed that it was this year’s winner.

    If you are interested in participating in next year’s International Education Week, are interested in future international program event or thinking about studying abroad, you can visit the Center for International Programs website or Feuerwerker House on campus for more information.

  • Student bands rock The Jam

    Student bands rock The Jam

    Downtown Arcata music venue The Jam was filled with energy and excitement on Feb. 1. Two bands, Dimboi and NASA, both made up of Humboldt State students, performed at a free show for the community. Local residents and students crammed close together to support their peers, sip on cheap beer and enjoy some tunes.

    This event was put on by the local production group, Your Arts and Music Syndicate, or YAMS. The Arcata-based group, headed by Leo Plummer, sponsors local and touring acts and tries to help expand the music scene in Humboldt County.

    Connor West, a HSU music major and an affiliate of YAMS, says the group tries to put on shows that bring some variety to the community.

    “Were the driving force for the local rock scene,” West said. “Arcata has a lot of funk and reggae.”

    The show was opened by local DJ Venus Milk, real name Cherish Alicia, who is a student at College of the Redwoods. The following act was Dimboi, a three-piece band lead by HSU student Sean Bendon. The show was finished by the group NASA, made up of Michael Freire on guitar, Richard Moog on bass and Matthew Peters on drums.

    Both bands were warmly received, clearly having a lot of support in the audience. Many people were there to see Dimboi. The trio had a somewhat dreamy and meloncholy sound, utilizing simple, punchy rhythms combined with dissonant tones.

    Leader and creator of Dimboi, Bendon, originally from Missouri, says he has played shows at The Jam many times and enjoys playing music in Arcata.

    “Its very supportive,” Bendon said. “Everyone is very open-minded.”

    Dimboi on stage at The Jam on Feb. 2. Photo by Conner West.

    Raquel Pena, a HSU kinesiology student with a passion for music, said she came out to see her friends Dimboi, but also knows the bass player in NASA. She really enjoyed her first experience with the second band.

    “It’s my first time listening to them,” Pena said. “I like the danciness.”

    NASA had a more energetic sound, combining garage and surf rock with a smear of punk. The growling vocals and fast-paced rhythms were enough to coax the crowd into dancing and even starting a mosh pit.

    Members of the crowd kept cheering “Jerry! Jerry!” because of the Grateful Dead shirt drummer Peters was wearing.

    NASA guitar player, Freire, is a HSU student who loves living and playing in Arcata.

    “For such a small town, there’s such a good music scene,” Freire said. “And cool, easy going people.”

    Bass guitar player Moog says it was his first time playing at The Jam and he really enjoyed it.

    “Mistakes were made,” Moog said. “But I don’t think anyone noticed them.”

    You can catch Moog’s other band, The Apollo Era, at The Jam on Feb. 15 for their album release party.

    As for NASA, they don’t have another show booked right now, but Freire says there will be more to come.

    “I want to play as many shows as we can,” Freire said. “Because I don’t know if we’ll all be around next semester.”

  • Restaurant review: The Burger Joint

    Restaurant review: The Burger Joint

    One of Arcata’s latest restaurants launched their soft opening on Feb. 1: The Burger Joint.

    Owners Halleh Paymard and Will Hauser have a good thing going. The marquee above the front entrance grabs your attention. Once you’re hooked, you can’t help but scope the scene.

    The front entrance of The Burger Joint in Arcata on Feb 2. Photo by Matthew Hable.

    The decor has a warm industrial chic look. Once you step inside, the ordering counter, lined with about a dozen draft beers, pulls you in. Communal tables and a bustling open kitchen are apparent, too. The spacious patio is perfect for a burger and a beer on a sunny afternoon. As a bonus, two classic arcade games, Street Fighter III and BurgerTime, are located in the back of the restaurant.

    Michelle Pipitone, mother-in-law of co-owner Hauser, is putting together handmade wreaths on the patio. Pipitone says the wreaths are just some of the adornments they plan on adding to the overall aesthetic of the restaurant.

    Burger Joint employee Loren Palmisano suggests one their signature burgers.

    “I recommend The Classic,” Palmisano said.

    The Classic consists of a little over five ounces of grass-fed beef, Loleta cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and house sauce in between Beck’s Bakery buns. The order arrives with a side of coleslaw, as requested, in less than 10 minutes.

    The burger was love at first bite. The juicy, medium-well patty is savory, accentuated by the buttery brioche-like buns. In addition, the vegetables were remarkably fresh. The freshness of the slaw was no exception, but it tasted more like a lightly dressed cabbage salad than your average slaw.

    HSU alumni and lifelong vegetarian Ariana Hendren is impressed with the house-made veggie burger and her side of sweet potato fries.

    “Compared to other veggie burgers I’ve eaten,” Hendren said, referring to the texture of the veggie patty, “it doesn’t feel like it’s about to fall apart.”

    Paymard, who also owns T’s Cafe North in Arcata, looks forward to the grand opening, which will be announced to the public soon.

    Burger Joint is located at 835 J Street in Arcata, right next to Dead Reckoning Tavern and behind North Coast Co-op. For more information, visit facebook.com/theburgerjointarcata.

     

  • ‘The Shape of Water’ is charming

    ‘The Shape of Water’ is charming

    The Shape of Water is written and directed by Guillermo del Toro. There was a lot of hype leading to the film and it received glowing reviews. It was recently nominated for 13 Oscar awards, making it the most nominated film this year. The film arrived in local theaters a month after national release, and it was worth the wait.

    The lead of the story is Elisa, played by Sally Hawkins, a mute woman who cleans during late hours at Occam Aerospace Research Center with her friend Zelda, played by Octavia Spencer. The center receives a top secret project the scientists must research, a near-human creature no one has ever seen before. By research, they mean torture to see what happens.

    Elisa connects with this amphibian-like animal, and they intimately understand each other without verbal communication. Elisa attempts to rescue the creature with the help of Zelda and her neighbor Giles before the boss of the project catches up to kill the creature.

    It was an exciting and charming story. There are fairy tale elements, like Elisa’s origins. In the beginning, Zelda explains to their superior that she was found by the river as a baby with gill-like scars on her neck and brought to an orphanage.

    With her connection to water and the creature, it was obvious that they were meant to be. This shuts down any beastiality claim, because both of them weren’t humans to begin with. Without the ability to talk, Elisa is still expressive and has a great sexuality to her. She desires love and sex, but doesn’t display her sexuality to the world. If writers are to write a sexy character, it should be for the character and not for the audience, like Elisa.

    Like all fairy tales, there should be a villain, and her boss, Colonel Richard Strickland, played by Michael Shannon, is a decent villain. Strickland is not necessarily maniacal, but he tortures the creature without regret and talks down to everyone around him.

    Strickland goes home in his new car to adoring kids and a loving wife that asks for sex, but he acts like it’s a chore. He clearly has a good life, but has no appreciation for it, making his defeat all the more satisfying.

    If you like fairy tales with more bite than the average Grimms tale, or nostalgia for black and white musicals, this is worth catching before it leaves theaters.

     

  • Theater review: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

    Theater review: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

    The dark comedy “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by Edward Albee opened this weekend at Fernadale Repertory Theatre. The play, with only a cast of four, managed to leave a big impression on the audience and ended with a well-deserved standing ovation.

    Eureka resident David Cobb, 55, said he felt the cast really brought this story to life and made it believable.

    “It was a psychic punch to the gut,” Cobb said.

    The story takes place entirely in the home of George, a middle-aged history professor, and his wife, Martha. After a party, the two invite a younger couple, Nick and Honey, over for a nightcap and end up exposing them to an alcohol-fueled display of marital drama.

    The three-act play, which ran about three hours, may be long for some, but the clever, provocative dialogue kept it interesting. Met by (often uncomfortable) laughter and shocked gasps from the audience, it was well-directed and captured perfectly the tension of a marriage riddled with resentment and spite.

    All of the actors were a joy to watch. Honey, played by Holly Portman, was adorably meek with well-timed, humorous outbursts. Nick, played by Travis J. Morris, seemed dull at first. Despite that, he became more dynamic as the story progressed, showing his own dark side.

    However, the standouts of this production were Daniel Baer as George and Ruthi Engelke as Martha.

    Those who have seen the 1966 film adaptation starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor would know that the actors had some big shoes to fill. Baer and Engelke did not disappoint and delivered performances as potent as the liquor their characters imbibed.

    A newcomer to the Ferndale Repertory Theatre, Engelke has been involved in theater since the age of four. She said to play the role of Martha, she had to dig deep within herself to find how she identified with the character.

    “It’s like opening up a vein and letting it bleed,” Engleke said.

    “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” will be at Ferndale Repertory Theatre until Feb. 4 and at the Arcata Playhouse Feb. 9 through Feb. 18.

     

  • Movie review: The Post

    Movie review: The Post

    The Post is a well-made film.

    The film is set in the early 1970s and details the leak of the Pentagon Papers. These classified documents revealed 20 years of the U.S. government’s involvement in Vietnam’s government. In addition, the documents uncovered our government’s knowledge of the Vietnam War’s poor state. It was one of the biggest scandals in the U.S. before the Watergate scandal. What’s more is that the Watergate scandal was exposed by writers of The Washington Post.

    After The New York Times published parts of the Pentagon Papers, the Nixon Administration sued them and began threatening other news publications. If they published any classified information from the Pentagon Papers, they would face litigation.

    The film focuses on The Washington Post’s dilemma of whether to publish the Pentagon Papers for the sake of informing readers. The other option is to play it safe and not face litigation from the Nixon Administration.

    Tom Hanks portrays Ben Bradlee, a veteran editor for The Washington Post. Meryl Streep plays Kathrine Graham, who is trying to get used to leading The Washington Post after inheriting the company from her deceased husband.

    Bradlee is eager to publish the Pentagon Papers in protest of the Nixon Administration’s silencing of the press. Meanwhile, Graham must decide if she should risk tanking her family company by allowing them to be published.

    The film starts off slowly. The first half of the film focuses on Graham’s character dealing with the process of going public with The Washington Post. However, the film becomes engaging when the backstory is over. The plot thickens when The Washington Post gets their hands on the Pentagon Papers.

    The strongest part of the film was when the Pentagon Papers were introduced. From there, the film becomes an interesting political thriller. The characters question the legitimacy of the government’s power to censor the press. They also consider what risks they are willing to take in order to inform the public.

    The Post sets a relevant theme of today’s political climate. In particular, the Trump Administration’s manipulation of the press, withholding information from the public and the overall negative attitude towards the press.

    One thing that worried me about the film was that it might have gotten a bit technical with the audience. The film “Spotlight,” while still being a very good film, had a lot of technical terms that might have gone over the heads of average movie goers. However, The Post felt easy enough to follow for the laymen who might not be familiar with journalism terms.

    The cast was excellent in the roles they portrayed. Hanks and Streep did a fantastic job. The side characters were great as well. I was excited to see Bob Odenkirk, who stars in Better Call Saul, in this film. He did an excellent job of portraying his role as writer Ben Bagdikian.

    There are some focusing issues in the beginning, but it picks up in the later part of the film. I would recommend giving The Post a watch.

     

     

  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi against angry fans

    Star Wars: The Last Jedi against angry fans

    Star Wars: The Last Jedi was a fun, complex and beautiful movie. When I got home from the theater, I was confused when some of the posts on various sites said that it was the worst movie since the prequels. I haven’t seen the Star Wars prequels, so I didn’t know what they meant. There were a lot of complaints, but some are boiled down to a few key ideas.

    One of the main complaints on these sites involves millennials. The cast in the current movies are more diverse from the first Star Wars movies. According to Vox and Forbes, there is also a concern about The Last Jedi trying to push a political agenda. However, I couldn’t find definitive posts on Reddit backing that claim.

    The closest I found was a video of conservative radio host Alex Jones going off on how The Last Jedi was full of “lesbians” and “It’s the same story over and over again and it’s a formula. It’s state-sponsored. It’s brainwashing.”

    A more frequent concern about The Last Jedi was the disregard of any fan theories and interconnectedness in the story. Any questions about the main characters’ background, namely Rey and Finn, was dismissed as irrelevant. They shouldn’t have to prove that they were related to anyone important in the story in order to be worthy of the fight against evil. It showed that anyone in the vast universe can be important and special.

    Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, even disagreed with director Rian Johnson about his character in movie saying, “He’s not my Luke Skywalker.”

    The Last Jedi showed a more pessimistic Skywalker, filled with regret. Skywalker was also mischievous and caring. It was a realistic development of the character.

    There were a lot of high expectations from fans. The director took numerous risks with the plot line of the story, some good and some flawed. Overall, it’s a decent movie.

  • Food review: Kebab Cafe

    Food review: Kebab Cafe

    By Bryan Donoghue

    To me, there’s nothing compared to a greeting full of warmth. Whether it be the humid sun of the Mediterranean or the staff of Kebab Cafe, genuine warmth is the type of feeling that makes someone feel right at home. Kebab Cafe’s warmth is akin to nostalgia, and you can feel right at home at 5000 Valley West Blvd in Arcata.

    BDDKebab03
    The cooking station in Kebab Cafe | Photo by Bryan Donoghue

    Their lighting in the front of the restaurant is fluorescent leading into a dim casual setting in the back of cafe, and the staff welcomes me with a similar brightness as I tell them it’s my first time at the Kebab Cafe. Every team member is open and amiable as they show me the menu, their cabinet display full of fresh food, and even the open grill where the kebabs are made. In their presentation about what’s on the menu, the highlight I chose was the gyro sandwich, and before starting me off with that, I ordered a few dolmas.

    I need to attest to the flavor of the dolmas Kebab Cafe makes in house. Dolmas are a unique appetizer among any cuisine. They are seasoned rice and herbs that are tossed together before being formed, and ultimately, wrapped with a grape leaf. It reminds me of a vegan burrito, but with a harmony of Mediterranean tastes, and much smaller in scale. Dolmas tend to be finger food, but Kebab Cafe’s freshly wrapped dolmas feel relatively too small in comparison to dolmas I’ve had previously.

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    Four dolmas neatly arranged in a plate | Bryan Donoghue

    That being said, size isn’t a testament to how they taste. The ratio of flavors is the key impact this dish had. At first bite, my taste buds note a splash of lemon as I bite into the leaf, until the herbs combine with the citrus flavor. The chewy texture of the rice along with the prominent flavors of herb and citrus make these little wrapped bundles delicious. Kebab Cafe’s dolmas are 90 cents each, and I recommend getting more than one.

    After I devour the dolmas, I move into the gyro sandwich. Kebab Cafe’s gyro meat is a blend of ground beef and ground lamb that’s first seasoned seasoned until being grilled on a vertical boiler. The meat is thinly sliced and served inside a warm pita with a combination of raw onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce. You choose your sauce, with the choices being either tzatziki or red sauce. I chose tzatziki, a sauce made from yogurt and cucumbers that have a tangy kick. In accompaniment to the dolmas, this was the absolute best follow up I could have chosen as my main plate. As I chew, I notice it’s soft, chewy, and plays a trick on my perception of temperature because of how it’s layered. The pita is warm, as well as the meat in the middle. The contrast is in the vegetables, as they’re cold and smothered with tzatziki sauce. This contrast makes each bite different from the last, as the temperature of the sandwich is trying to find an equilibrium. This is one of the few meals I’ve had in recent times where not only did I finish my plate at the restaurant, but I couldn’t think of a single piece of criticism. It’s a remarkable dish at $8.35.

    From Santorini to Turkey, Kebab Cafe captures the essence of the Mediterranean, but condenses it into a small cafe where customers can feel at home. Open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., or Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., Kebab Cafe is cooking up food six days a week.

  • “13 Reasons Why” review

    “13 Reasons Why” review

    By Liam Olson

    The first two episodes of “13 Reasons Why”, “Tape 1, Sides A and B” are a strong and well done start to the story of high schooler Hannah Baker. What makes this show so great is the diverse cast of characters, well thought-out plot, and emotional and convincing acting. “Tape 1, Sides A and B” is so heart wrenching and intriguing, it will keep audiences pressing play to find out each reason why.

    The Netflix show “13 Reasons Why” was released on March 31. The show is adapted from the young adult book, “13 Reasons Why” which was written by Jay Asher. The show was created by Brian Yorkey and the first two episodes were directed by Tom McCarthy. Another well-known public figure who had a hand in the making of the show is Selena Gomez as an executive producer.

    The show’s engaging and thorough plot is one of the many reasons this show is so great. The show follows along each of Hannah’s reasons for committing suicide, but shows some of them out of order causing some differentiation from the book. Furthermore, while the book only goes into the tapes and each reason why Hannah ended her life, the show expands beyond that. It explains how the characters are reacting to Hannah’s suicide, such as her parents searching for the reasons Hannah ended her life and her friend’s interactions with people who are on the tapes Hannah left behind.

    “13 Reasons Why” begins with Hannah’s friend, Clay Jensen, finding a package at his door full of cassette tapes and a map. Clay puts the first cassette tape into his parents’ cassette player and begins to listen. He is shocked to hear the voice of his friend Hannah Baker who ended her own life not long ago. The recording of Hannah tells Clay that the set of tapes contains the 13 people who influenced her decision to take her own life, one side for each person, and that everyone who is on these tapes must listen to all 13 tapes. Not only does each person have to listen to the tapes but they must pass it on to the person after them on the tapes. Also, if one person refuses to pass on the tapes or refuses to listen to them, then a person Hannah entrusted with a second set of the tapes will release them publicly. After hearing the instructions, Clay begins to follow the tapes and find out the answers to why his friend ended her life.

    One of the reasons that “13 Reasons Why” is such a powerful show is the fact that it brings awareness to issues such as bullying, suicide, and other issues that are prevalent in the dark side of high school social culture. In the first two episodes alone, the viewer learns that one of Hannah’s classmates cyber bullied her and that one of her close friends betrayed her and isolated Hannah from her peers. This is just the beginning to the bullying that Hannah Baker experienced.

    Another reason why the show is so amazing is the wide variety of characters throughout the show. Even though there are many characters within the show, it does an amazing job at introducing each character and gives the audience enough background and time to understand each character. Some of these characters include Hannah Baker’s grieving parents, played by Kate Walsh and Bryan d’Arcy James, Clay’s calm and collected friend Tony, played by Christian Navarro, and popular girl and Hannah’s former friend Jessica played by Alisha Boe.

    With so many actors and actresses in the show, all of them gave outstanding performances but it is best to focus on the performances of the actors who play two main characters, Clay and Hannah.

    Dylan Minnette does a phenomenal job of bringing Clay Jensen to life. He perfectly captures the lost and confused feelings that Clay has after finding out that he is one of the 13 reasons why Hannah chose to end her life. In one scene, Minnette was able to show the mixed emotions Clay was feeling while he was riding his bike listening to one of Hannah’s tapes.

    The one person who by far has an outstanding performance in the show is Katherine Langford as Hannah Baker. Langford marvelously narrates the tapes explaining the tragedy contained in each one. Not only that but she perfectly captures the emotions Hannah feels after being betrayed by her close friend.

    “13 Reasons Why”, “Tape 1, Sides A and B” are an amazing start to the tragic and heart wrenching story of Hannah Baker. With outstanding acting, interesting plot, and a wide variety of characters, “13 Reasons Why” will keep audiences wanting to press play to find out each reason.

  • This week in entertainment

    This week in entertainment

    By | Liam Olson

    Movies and Television

    “Venom” possibly to be a Horror/Sci-fi Film

    Sony Pictures is currently planning to film a new movie centered around one of the most famous villains in the Spiderman universe, Venom. Not much is currently known about the film. All that is known is that according to the casting website, myentertainmentworld.com, the film is listed as an action/horror/sci-fi film and that it will be filmed in the fall of 2017. It has also been confirmed by Sony that the movie will not be connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which the new upcoming “Spiderman Homecoming” movie will take place. It is currently being speculated that the “Venom” will be R-rated due to the precedent of R-rated superhero movies with “Logan” and “Deadpool”. “Venom” is set to release in theaters on October 5, 2018.

    Source: ScreenRant

     

    Popular Anime Shows Returning in April

    For all those anime fans out there. Multiple popular animes are returning for their second seasons in the month of April. After three years, the long-awaited season two of the popular action, post apocalyptic anime “Attack on Titan” airs on April 1. On the same day, the successful 2016 superhero anime “My Hero Academia” airs. Two other well-known animes “Berserk” and “Eccentric Family” will air their second seasons in the second week of April.

    Source: IGN

     

    Music

    Adele might not tour ever again

    During her Auckland, New Zealand performance for her 15-month “25” tour, Adele said that she may not tour ever again. The Grammy winner told the crowd that she was not very good at touring but she tours for all of her fans. She thanked the crowd and her fans for their support but she is excited to return home to England.

    Source: TIME and The Guardian

     

    The Growlers Performing at Humboldt State

    On March 30, The Growlers will be performing in the Humboldt State University West Gym as part of their City Club Spring Tour 2017. They are going on tour after the release of their most recent album, City Club. This is not the first time The Growlers have performed at Humboldt State University. The Growlers have performed in Humboldt during the 2015-2016 school year.

    Source: AS Presents

     

    Video Games

    “Destiny 2” Announced

    Well-known video game developer Bungie confirmed that the sequel to their popular action, first person shooter game “Destiny” will release in 2017. The title of the sequel was revealed in a tweet featuring a poster/logo picture. The game, “Destiny 2”, is set to release in the fall of 2017. So far it is known that character powers and equipment from the game, “Destiny” will not transfer over to “Destiny 2” and the planets that players are able to explore will be larger than the previous game. Although “Destiny” is a console only game, it is speculated that “Destiny 2” will release on both consoles and PC.

    Source: GamesRadar

     

    “Mass Effect Andromeda” Animation Issues
    Mass Effect Andromeda released on March 21 with multiple animation issues. Developer of Mass Effect Andromeda, BioWare, is aware of the issues and are currently working on fixing the issues. Some of the issues include squad members spawning on top of players and not listening to player instructions. Not only that but audio is known to cut out and when the player runs in a zigzag pattern, there is a chance that the player can end up in an “unintended animation state”.

    Source: GameSpot

  • Review: Time After Time

    Review: Time After Time

    By | Liam Olson

    The pilot episode of “Time After Time”, a new show on ABC, is a great introduction to the story of H.G. Wells’ pursuit to stop Jack the Ripper. Filled with lovable and interesting characters along with intriguing plot, the first episode shows promise for future episodes. Even though the show starts well it does have a few issues with rushing various points of plot.

    “Time After Time” first aired on March 5 on ABC. According to IMDb, the show is based off the 1979 book and movie of the same name. The book is written by Karl Alexander and within the same year was made into a movie which was directed by Nicholas Meyers. Marcos Siega directs the television version while Meyers, the director of the movie version, writes the teleplay. Kevin Williamson develops the show.

    The show begins in 19th century England where H.G. Wells is discussing his work with some of his colleagues. Around the same time, Jack the Ripper, also known as Dr. John Stevenson, murders a woman on his way over Wells’ home. After Stevenson arrives at Wells’ house, Wells shows Stevenson and his colleagues the time machine that he is building. Soon after, the police come to Wells’ house to do a search to investigate murder of the woman Stevenson killed earlier. The murder weapon is discovered in Stevenson’s bag and Stevenson uses Wells’ time machine to escape to the modern day. Wells follows Stevenson to the future to stop him and bring him back to past where justice will be served.

    Upon arriving in modern day, Wells is taken by the security guards of the museum in New York where his time machine is displayed. There he meets assistant curator, Jane Walker, who at first does not believe who Wells actually is but after Wells proves that he is from the past, Walker joins Wells quest to stop Jack the Ripper. In the first episode, Jack the Ripper begins his murderous rampage killing women at nightclubs. With the time machine as his advantage, Wells  is able to prevent some of the murders.

    Altogether the plot of the show is interesting but the plot points feel too rushed and forced in the first episode. Giving each point more time would add great character development and backstory to the main plot. It would be interesting to have spent more time in the 19th century learning more about Dr. Stevenson and why he became Jack the Ripper.

    Furthermore, the romance between Walker and Wells is introduced too early making their romantic chemistry seem forced and underdeveloped. The scene where Walker and Wells share a moment together in the moon exhibit seemed awkward and ungenuine.

    Another plot point that would make the first episode even better would to focus on the adjustment that Wells goes through to modern day. Providing more time on this would open up so many opportunities for comedic plot points. Not only that but it is hard to believe that Wells became so well adjusted to modern technology within a matter of days.

    Throughout the episode, all the actors gave performances that make the characters interesting and likable. The one who gives the best performance is Freddie Stroma as H.G. Wells. Stroma is amazing at making Wells a lovable character. He perfectly captures the intelligence and naiveté of Wells. He is able to show Wells as the brilliant writer and inventor while also showing that even the most intelligent people can get lost and need to learn more.

    Genesis Rodriguez does well at playing Jane Walker. Her characterization of Walker as a no-nonsense and driven person is a great addition to the show. She is the best person to play as the guide for the modern world for H.G. Wells.

    Finally, Josh Bowman gives an outstanding performance as Dr. John Stevenson or better known as Jack the Ripper. Bowman is able to perfectly capture the ruthlessness and violent nature of Jack the Ripper. In every scene with Bowman as Jack the Ripper the viewer can tell his malicious and intimidating presence.

    “Time After Time” shows promise with its lovable, interesting characters and intriguing plot. Although it has some issues, the pilot episode is sure to keep audiences wanting to see what the future holds for H.G. Wells and Jane Walker in “Time After Time”.

  • “Logan” movie review

    “Logan” movie review

    “Logan” is the final story of Wolverine, the claw wielding mutant reprised by Hugh Jackman for the last time. The movie  is based on an original story written by director James Mangold, who directed the previous 2013 Wolverine movie, “The Wolverine.” Wolverine’s final chapter is more like a Western than another installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, taking a slower pace to show the tragedy of aging heroes.

    The movie shows Logan (rarely ever mentions Wolverine) as a broke and drunk Uber driver in El Paso, Texas that hides out on the other side of the Mexican border with the former leader of the X-Men Charles Xavier (reprised by Patrick Stewart). A former nurse pleads Logan to take a girl up north from the experimenting facility she was raised in, Transigen. The nurse gets killed by the people pursuing the escaped mutant children and wants the girl that the nurse took. It is quickly revealed to be Logan’s daughter Laura (Dafne Keen), who was bred with his DNA. Being chased by Transigen, Logan takes Laura and Xavier on the pursuit for a safe haven for mutants called Eden.

    “Logan” is the second R-rated comic book movie 20th Century Fox released since the release of the largely popular, “Deadpool”. This rating really shows in the fights, often criticized as being sanitized for a PG-13 audience. Instead of deep cuts from the past X-Men movies, “Logan” shows many decapitations, amputation of limbs, and direct head shots. You want claws through the brain? You get claws through the brain. Laura does not spare anything less, being trained as a weapon since birth, and kills many people with her tiny claws.

    Unlike the previous Wolverine movies, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” and “The Wolverine,” “Logan” follows closer to a Western movie. James Mangold has some experience in the Western genre with directing the “3:10 to Yuma” reboot and the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line.” There is no singular definition of a Western movie, but “Logan” references classic Western tropes. Taking place on the Texas/Mexico border, later on the country road, this movie shows the decline of Logan. He still has great strength, but he gets tired after fights. He is apprehensive of fighting others and has many regrets of all the people he has killed. Logan does not heal as fast as he did in the past, showing his scars and the infected pus where his claws come out of his hands. Xavier is frail and ill, occasionally suffering from seizures that affects everyone within several hundred feet with temporary paralysis. Logan has to help Xavier take his medication and get in and out of his wheelchair. Logan and Xavier talk about the dead members of the X-Men, sounding similar to any mention of dead friends or partners in previous Westerns. Seeing these men fragile, aging, and regretful follows the likes of classics like “True Grit” and “No Country for Old Men.”

    The movie directly refers to Western classic “Shane,” about an aging gunslinger who stays with a family and a young boy who looks up to him. A clip of the movie appears in “Logan,” where Xavier reminisces watching it as a child with Laura. While on the road, Logan, Xavier, and Laura stay with a farming family after saving their horses and truck, similar to the family in “Shane.” If Logan is Shane, then Laura is the young boy who cries out Shane’s name as he leaves into the sunset. That young boy can also be anyone that loves Wolverine, in the story and in the audience. The tragedy is seeing Wolverine, a symbol of masculinity and hero to many people, not being able to fight with his mutant strength that everyone praised him for.

    Comic book fans will enjoy “Logan” as a formal send off of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine after 17 years of donning the claws. People who don’t follow every X-Men movie could understand the characters’ regrets of the past. Anyone who like Westerns, or any movie about the humanity of heroes, will understand and relate to the story and Logan himself.

  • Tandoori Bites Indian Cuisine

    Tandoori Bites Indian Cuisine

    By Bryan Donoghue

    Strong aromas mixing in with contemporary Indian music fill the dining area of Tandoori Bites Indian Cuisine with plenty of charm.  Tandoori ovens are cylindrical clay or metal ovens that are used in many Asian cuisines, and they’re used to create a variety of unique dishes. Typically, marinated meats are put into these ovens on skewers and cooked at high temperatures. It’s an efficient way to cook the meat the thoroughly, from every angle. Indian cooking incorporates these ovens in many of their meals, and recently, I had the pleasure of eating my fill at Humboldt’s own Tandoori Bites restaurant.

    Tandoori Bites is located in Eureka off Highway 101 on Fourth Street. Inside is a natural wooden bar, a row of golden buffet displays, and Indian artwork covering the walls. It provides a peaceful and quiet atmosphere for the person who’s in a hurry, or who likes to stop and enjoy their tea. As the latter, I indulged in a full course.

    Aside from tea, I first ordered my drink, the mango lassi. Maintaining the thick texture of a smoothie, the highlight of the drink is its smooth consistency. The yogurt and cream are pronounced in the flavor of the lassi with subtle hints of the mango pulp. It’s a suitable pairing for anyone who wants contrast to the spice that’s cooked with in Indian food. The mango lassi is $3.

    Mango lassi
    Photo | Bryan Donoghue

    From there, I ordered naan bread. Naan bread is a white flour bread baked in a tandoori oven. It adorns a fluffy texture and is nearly weightless, but Tandoori Bites’ naan is especially complex. There’s an added layer of flavor from the tandoori oven that gives it a smoky taste. The original is delicious in it’s simplicity, as my focus was on the smoky undertones. Although, Tandoori Bites has multiple options on the menu that are centered around naan. I also ordered the keema naan, which uses the same baked bread and is stuffed with spiced minced beef (or chicken). The basic naan is $2, while the keema naan is $5.

    Naan and Keema Naan
    Photo | Bryan Donoghue

    A balanced meal always needs vegetables. Examining the menu, the best option to complement the rest of my meal had to be the vegetarian samosa. A crispy turnover, fried until golden brown and then stuffed with seasoned potatoes and a green pea filling. This dish was the highlight of my experience, as it showcased the complex spice seasoning that went into each dish. Spicy and savory, the samosas alone have plenty of flavor. The component that accentuates the dish are the sauces brought out to be paired with the samosas. One is a dark maroon sauce made from tamarind, and the other is a light green sauce made from mint. Encapsulating almost every type of flavor, this dish loves to play with your taste buds. The vegetarian samosas are priced at $4.50.

    Vegetarian Samosas with the Mint and Tamarind Sauces
    Photo | Bryan Donoghue

    Finally, I ate my main course, the seekh kabab. True to their name, Tandoori Bites cooks many of their menu items in a tandoori oven, and the seekh kabab is one option known for being prepared in such an oven. The kebab consists of minced lamb, onions, and bell peppers that are seasoned with various herbs and spices. It’s served in a similar style to Mexican fajitas, on a piping hot platter, so it’s meant to be eaten immediately. The lamb is set with the perfect balance of spices like coriander and garam masala to even out out the dish, making it intriguing with at every bite. The seekh kabab is $14.

    Not stemming far from tradition, Tandoori Bites improves upon classic Indian recipes and makes them their own. There are plenty of menu options, and their hours of operation actually differ between a lunch buffet and dinner. Lunch buffet is 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. while dinner is from 5 to 9:30 p.m.. You can find Tandoori Bites in Eureka at 1735 4th St. If you’re interested in deep, complex flavors, along with a contrast of subtly sublime flavors, Tandoori Bites is a restaurant where you can reach that equilibrium.

  • “Legion” review

    “Legion” review

    By | Liam Olson

    “Legion”, “Chapter 1” brilliantly introduces audiences to the world and mind of David Haller, one of the most powerful mutants in existence. With interesting and in depth characters, great acting to bring these characters to life, and unique story progression, “Legion” will make the viewer want to delve deeper into David’s mind.

    The first episode of “Legion” aired on FX on Feb. 8. Noah Hawley directed “Chapter 1” and also assisted in creating and writing the show. The show is based on the “Legion” comic book series which written and drawn by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.

    From the beginning to the end of “Chapter 1”, reality and fantasy are hard to discern going back and forth between the mind and world of David Haller, played by Dan Stevens. However, the back and forth create pieces of the story that all come together at the end of the episode. Although some pieces of the first episode are to be connected later episodes, the parts that you are given generate interesting discussion with friends at the end of the episode.

    The plot of “Legion” begins in the mind of David Haller where you learn about the memories of his youth. In his youth, he slowly begins to realize his telekinetic powers until his breaking point during his college years where his powers came in at full capacity.

    After his breakdown,  he was admitted to a mental hospital where doctors misdiagnose him with schizophrenia, but in reality he is a powerful telepath that cannot handle his abilities. In the hospital, David spends his days in his daily routine with a fellow patient and friend Lenny, played by Aubrey Plaza. However, everything changes as soon as a mysterious new patient named Syd, played by Rachel Keller, arrives at the mental hospital and Danny immediately falls in love with her. Keller is able to show versatility in her acting by switching between the various sides of her character Syd with ease.

    For some viewers, the story of the hospital seems like the main plot, however, these are just the memories of Danny. The actual plot of the main story begins in an interrogation room. In the room, Danny is monitored and questioned by government agents to determine how much of a threat he actually is to the world.

    In the first episode alone, Stevens does a phenomenal job at bringing the character of David Haller to life. He conveys the instability and insanity that David’s character represents in fun and interesting ways. Plaza channels the laid back and oblivious characterization of Lenny. Plaza’s choice to play Lenny is a great change from the more comedic roles that she has played in the past such as April from the show “Parks and Recreation”.

    The show itself is well done, however, there is one issue that needs to be mentioned. The lighting was overbearing in some shots and, at some points, got in the way of the visuals. One example that stood out among the rest is the scene where Syd walks in on David’s group therapy session, in the background behind Syd there is lots of light that causes Syd’s face to not be visible. Due to the length of this scene, the light was so bright that it made it hard to look at the scene.

    “Chapter 1” of “Legion” is complex and intriguing. Through the unique and interesting characters and storytelling, audiences will want to delve deeper into the insane mind of David Haller.

  • Vampire Penguin celebrates one year of bringing snow to Humboldt County

    Vampire Penguin celebrates one year of bringing snow to Humboldt County

    By | Erin Chessin

    It is unusual to see snow in Eureka. Thanks to Vampire Penguin Shaved Snow and Desserts, the business has brought a unique treat for HSU students, families, and locals to enjoy. Since their grand opening on Feb 13, 2015, Vampire Penguin has made it possible for people to enjoy the taste of ice cream in a low calorie and non-dairy way.

    Sophia Linklater is the supervisor at Vampire Penguin.

    “It’s the perfect combination of ice cream flavor and freshly fallen snow,” Linklater said. “Customers enjoy the taste and how the desserts are served to them as a work of art.”

    Vampire Penguin is a popular chain restaurant created by two brothers according to Linklater. There are seven Vampire Penguin locations in California. The first one opened in October of 2013 in San Luis Obispo. Because it opened on Halloween, the brothers found the name Vampire Penguin suitable.

    Snow Tiger, another customer favorite at Vampire Penguin. Thai tea shaved snow topped with crushed Oreos and condensed milk. Feb. 10, 2017.
    Photo by Erin Chessin.

    It’s not shaved ice, nor is it ice cream. The dessert is ice cream tasting, however it doesn’t weigh heavy in calories and the flavor of the snow is derived from non-dairy cream. The snowball is decorated with toppings such as fruit, condensed milk or candy. Then either chocolate, caramel or fruit sauce is drizzled over.

    “Once you have your first bite, it melts in your mouth just like fresh, powdery snow would,” Linklater said.

    Prices of the shaved snow ranges from $3 to $9, depending on how elaborate the dessert is. Customers can either order a small or a large size, which differentiates in price too.

    Vampire Penguin’s most popular dessert is the Strawberry Cheesecake, which is strawberry and vanilla shaved snow, decorated with fresh strawberries, raspberries and graham crackers. Strawberry and white chocolate sauce is draped over the dessert, the last step to decorating the snowball. Other customer dessert favorites include the S’moreos and the Twix.

    The process of creating the shaved snow takes time Linklater said. Scott Merriam, the owner of the Vampire Penguin Eureka location, comes in once a week to take the pre-made ice blocks and infuse the different ice cream flavors. The flavors Merriam makes are just like regular ice cream flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, coconut, green tea, taro, cookies and cream, and coffee.

    Linklater learned how to make the desserts from Merriam along with her co-worker Becca Scholte who is an HSU alumni and supervisor at Vampire Penguin.

    “Each of us have our own creativity, and the job allows our inner-artist come out,” Scholte said.

    Once the ice blocks have been infused with the flavor, the ice is shaved down to a snow-like consistency, then put into smaller individual molds. The ice is then taken out of its mold and put on a plate when ready to be decorated with dessert sauce or other toppings.

    When a customer walks into the store, they have a large menu with many different dessert options to choose from. From the menu, a customer can pick a Menu Special or create their own. If a customer creates their own dessert, they pick the flavor and get one free topping when they order a small size or two free toppings if they order a large size dessert. Customers also have the option to buy a thai tea boba drink on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

    Mia Pambianco, a freshman at HSU and a Humboldt County local, said Vampire Penguin is one of her favorite places to go for a treat. “I go every time I have a chance,” Pambianco said. “I think it’s an awesome place for dessert because it’s unique.” Pambianco suggests the Coffee Crush, which is made of coffee flavored snow, topped with crushed pretzels, and cocoa powder with chocolate and caramel sauce drizzled all over.

    The Vampire Penguin menu, including the Menu Specials. Feb. 10, 2017.
    Photo by Erin Chessin.

    Vampire Penguin is located on 3144 Broadway Suite C5 in Eureka, CA.  They are open Tuesday through Sunday and are closed on Mondays. Tuesday through Thursday they open at noon and close at 9 p.m. On the weekends they stay open till 10 p.m.

    You can visit Vampire Penguin’s website to check out their dessert menu and hours at http://www.vampirepenguin.com.

  • A review on “Tickled”

    A review on “Tickled”

    When I first read about “Tickled” on a random online movie list, it sounded so unusual that I knew I had to see it. What I didn’t know when I bought my tickets at the Richard’s Goat Tavern’s Miniplex was that the film is a strange conspiracy thriller about a fetish.

    David Farrier, a journalist from New Zealand, is the director of the film. Farrier usually covers lighter stories. He has interviewed young Justin Bieber, Trent Reznor and has made a small documentary about the national anthem of his home country.

    Farrier came across a video on Facebook about competitive endurance tickling. The video featured men in Adidas jerseys tickling a clothed man strapped to a repurposed doctor’s chair. He is then shown being tickled with an electric toothbrush in slow motion.

    Farrier immediately messaged the tickling talent agency responsible for the video, requesting an interview in hopes of procuring the next great story. However, he was quickly met with homophobic slurs and a request to stay away from the company and its participants. He later received multiple lawsuits and threats. This only fueled Farrier’s curiosity about the history of tickling fetish videos and who the talent agency truly was.

    Lawyers from the tickling talent agency were aggressive and told Farrier that he could not film them in the New Zealand airport even though it was legal. The only person who was willing to talk about the tickling industry seemed to be mildly off-putting.

    The documentary doesn’t necessarily focus on the people being tickled because it was very difficult to find interviews of the participants due to their fear of their mysterious bosses.

    Many of the participants responded to the tickling talent agency’s ads in hopes for quick cash and paid travel expenses. However, these people were later humiliated and threatened in their outside lives by the same company who hired them, similar to the threats and lawsuits Farrier received from the tickling talent agency. One ex-participant, a former high school football coach, was threatened by the tickling talent agency to have his tickling videos sent to his family and his workplace. The tickling agency later sent the video to the school the man was working at anyway, causing him to lose his job.

    Seeing this movie in a full theatre of about 20 people highlighted the audience’s reactions to each twist of the film.

    “Tickled” is the perfect movie to show your friends if you’re looking for something a bit different with hints of thrill, peculiarness, comedy, and uncomfortableness.

  • A “Taboo” to talk about

    A “Taboo” to talk about

    By | Liam Olson

    First impressions are important when it comes to a new television series. “Taboo” is a new program produced by FX and BBC One that gives a great first impressions in their first episode, “Shovels and Keys.” The episode is an introduction to different portions of the plot and the characters give the viewer many reasons to keep watching.

    The first episode of “Taboo” aired on FX on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Kristoffer Nyholm directed “Shovels and Keys” and Steven Knight wrote the script for the show. Knight worked with actor Tom Hardy and his father, Edward “Chips” Hardy, to create the script.

    Right from the start of the show, there is an eerie and dark tone. The show opens with James Delaney, played by Tom Hardy, riding in on a horse through the rain in order to bury an object in the middle of nowhere. This is just the start to the mysteries this show contains.

    The plot of the episode is complex with the various parts of the overall story being introduced. However, the base of the story is that James Delaney returns to London in 1814 after the death of his father, who left him a piece of land called the Nootka Sound. James had been presumed dead for more than 10 years but was actually in Africa for unknown reasons. James must navigate through the cutthroat business world of London to run his father’s shipping company and protect the Nootka Sound from his half-sister’s husband and the East India Company.

    The snippets of each part of the story is what makes the viewer even more enticed to find out answers to the questions this episode creates. What did James do in Africa for 10 years that gave him supernatural abilities? What is the importance of the Nootka Sound? To what extent will the East India Company go to take Nootka Sound from James? These are just some of the questions created by “Skulls and Keys.”

    One major point of the show worth mentioning is the relationships that James Delaney has with other characters. Throughout the episode, James finds himself face-to-face with old friends and acquaintances, as well as enemies old and new.

    With characters such as the loyal family servant, Brace, played by David Hyman; James’s half-sister Zilphia, played by Oona Chaplin; and the ruthless East India Company Chairman, Sir Stuart Strange, played by Jonathan Price; this diverse cast of characters will play essential parts in the story of James Delaney.

    Since a majority of the first episode was introductions, there was not enough screen time  to give a fair review of the actors’ performances, except for Tom Hardy. Hardy gave an excellent performance as James Delaney. He perfectly captured the brutal, composed and mentally unstable characterization of James. With his portrayal, he effortlessly went through scenes as though he was the character himself.

    “Shovels and Keys” is a slow but great start to “Taboo,” with the introductions out of the way. Viewers will want to dig deeper into the many mysteries and characters “Taboo” has to offer.

  • The Lighthouse Grill: a review

    The Lighthouse Grill

    By: Bryan Donoghue

    If you find yourself getting hungry after a long day of wandering through Trinidad and are looking for something that hits the spot, consider setting your sights on The Lighthouse Grill.

    The Lighthouse Grill’s philosophy is all about using fresh, local ingredients and serving homemade recipes to a community that has grown to love the restaurant. Bread is made in-house every day; homemade ice cream and sodas are at your fingertips to order. Employees pride themselves in the fact that nothing is processed or artificial in any of the restaurant’s recipes.

    The atmosphere can be compared to that of being in a cabin by the sea. Gentle gusts of wind grazed my cheeks as I stood outside; I breathed in the fresh scent of seawater. Inside the establishment, I felt as though I was standing under the sea, surrounded by various murals depicting marine wildlife.

    The organization behind the counter was impressive. The employees were all very friendly and helpful.

    I focused on the scent of rosemary and chives being infused into a waffle cone before I decided on what to order. Thankfully, there wasn’t a long line.

    I first ordered a homemade lemon mint soda. The lemon syrup is crafted beforehand and club soda is poured over the top before being garnished with mint leaves. There wasn’t any sugar added to the drink, giving it a tart and bitter taste at first. Take advantage of the carbonation and pour in about a teaspoon of sugar if you’re looking for a bit of sweetness to balance out the overall taste. All in all, the drink was immensely refreshing and complimented each meal I ordered. The lemon mint soda costs $3.

    I then had a mashed potato cone with everything on it, earning it a name in the restaurant as an “all the way” cone. The waffle cones are crafted by pressing fresh cornmeal, garlic, rosemary and chives and then rolling them around in a mold the shape of a cone. Mine was packed to the bottom with a mixture of mashed potatoes, bacon bits and mushrooms. The top of this ensemble was garnished with beef brisket that had been roasting for 12 hours and smothered in gravy, melted cheddar cheese and more bacon bits.

    I know a heart throb when I see one; this is one dish that may have captured my heart. Everything comes together perfectly, with the gravy encapsulating each ingredient and melding each taste together. The price for this “all the way” waffle cone is $6.

     

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    The “All the Way” Waffle cone of the Lighthouse Grill in Trinidad, California. Photo by | Bryan Donoghue

    The “All the Way” Waffle Cone of The Lighthouse Grill in Trinidad, California.

    The last dish I decided to try was a beef brisket on a waffle cone on a sandwich. Though this barbecue beef brisket sandwich was delicious, the bun was cut unevenly with a large top bun and a smaller bottom bun. Due to this, the sauce the meat had been soaking in eventually got absorbed by the bottom bun, completely saturating it. I couldn’t eat it as a sandwich, so I picked apart the sandwich using a fork. The beef was complimented by pickles, onions and a single leaf of lettuce. It’s delicious and slightly soothing since you will melt along with the tenderness of the meat. The price of the beef brisket sandwich is $8.

     

    The Lighthouse Grill is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Whether you’re heading to the beaches of Trinidad at dusk or dawn, The Lighthouse Grill will always be a beacon of culinary light offering a savory experience.

     

  • A good start to “A Series of Unfortunate Events”

    A good start to “A Series of Unfortunate Events”

    By: Liam Olson

    “A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Bad Beginning: Parts 1 and 2” are definitely a good start to the new Netflix series. From the wide variety of different characters to the beautiful sets of these episodes, “The Bad Beginning” definitely will make the viewer not want to look away from the rest of the season.

    The first season of the show was added to Netflix on Friday, Jan. 13. Barry Sonnenfeld directs “The Bad Beginning” and Daniel Handler (who plays Lemony Snicket) adapted the books for television.

    The adaptation stays true to the book, however, some plot points that make the book more dramatic are replaced for comical scenes. To a person who read the book series, this may be disappointing, but for those who have not, it is enjoyable.

    In order to make the show more lighthearted, comical tropes were added such as defining vocabulary words to explaining the difference between literally and figuratively. Although these pauses are fun, they become more excessively used as the show goes on and create unnecessary pauses in the plot.

    Most of the plot follows the books with the Baudelaire children, played by Malina Weissman (Violet), Louis Hynes (Klaus) and Presley Smith (Sunny), escaping the grasps of Count Olaf, played by Neil Patrick Harris, who wants their parents’ fortune.

    With the extra time the show had due to each books being split up into two parts, plot that was never mentioned by the books is explained in the show, making it more interesting for fans of the book series.

    As far as the acting goes, a majority of the actors do well. Patrick Warburton gives an amazing performance as the solemn narrator, Lemony Snicket, for the story of the Baudelaire children. K. Todd Freeman’s performance as Mr. Poe seems to be the weakest of the main characters. Much of his acting makes the character feel fake and unbelievable, and the coughing gag for Mr. Poe becomes excessive over time.

    Weissman and Hynes do well as Violet and Klaus Baudelaire; they perfectly capture the clever and sincere personalities of the characters. However, they do sometimes fall flat in their interactions with Neil Patrick Harris’s Count Olaf often looking lost on how to respond to him. Harris’s performance as Count Olaf gives a humorous take on the character compared to Jim Carrey’s darker version of Olaf in the 2004 film. Although Harris’s Count Olaf is not very intimidating as a villain, he does make up for it in his outrageous and entertaining antics on screen, though they sometimes drown out the other characters who struggle to react to his strong personality and actions.

    One of the most prominent elements worth mentioning in the show are the set designs. There is a wide variety of set designs from the dark and dreary mansion of Count Olaf, to the peaceful and colorful house and library of Justice Strauss. All the different locations in the show add to the overall atmosphere to the scenes.

    “The Bad Beginning: Parts 1 and 2” are good starting points for “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” While there were a few issues with the first two episodes, the series shows promise. Viewers will want to keeping looking to see what happens next in “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

  • A taste of Bim – Review

    A taste of Bim – Review

    By: Bryan Donoghue

    Picture yourself reclined in a lounge chair on a beach in Barbados. Directly above you, coconut trees lightly sway in the wind, as the sun breaches between leaves and streams of light shine through. Many can imagine the way this feels, but in stark contrast to a country near the equator, we live in Humboldt County. Although both are regarded as beautiful locations internationally, it’s difficult to find an authentic experience can that represent that essence of the Caribbean. That is, until I stumbled upon a restaurant off of G Street in Eureka.

    A Taste of Bim is run by a mother and daughter duo who have brought their own experience from cooking in Barbados (also known as “bim”) to the United States, using traditional spices and recipes. The atmosphere walking in is ambient, yet illuminated in certain areas with low white and yellow lighting. In the open kitchen beyond the bar, splashes of fire rise into the air as you can see food being made from the comfort of your seat. The festive theme centers in on Barbadian culture, while a cheerful playlist of multicultural music assures you, as the customer, that you’re about to have an experience reminiscent of paradise. The restaurant was continuing to serve one family as I walked in; all other seats were empty.

    The waitress Debbie, who conducted herself to be both calm and cordial, immediately sat me and we briefly went over the menu. She started me off with Caribbean lemonade; a sweet drink that is made from fresh lemonade, raw cane sugar, and dried hibiscus leaves. It was absolutely delicious and served as a perfect counterbalance to reset the palate every time you try a new dish. I first ordered the doubles, an appetizer consisting of curried chickpeas that are topped and sandwiched over two pieces of flatbread. The curry began to overpower the dish at first, and the flatbread wasn’t sandwiching the chickpeas, but it began to gradually become more mellow as you eat it in unison with everything else. Even for an appetizer it was a lot of food, and mid-meal digestion became necessary.

    From there, I ordered the green banana salad. Refreshing and sweet, this salad was tossed together with diced cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, and bananas. A little hard to grasp with a fork, and possibly easier to eat with a spoon, this salad was a challenge to eat with one utensil. However, the taste was mouthwatering, and the banana pantomimes something akin to a dessert, while still giving it the health benefit any salad would.

    The finale of my experience had to have been a magnum opus for short rib. The meat was braised to cook slowly, and as the food reached my table, I immediately realized I would not need a knife to cut into it. Tender, lean, and just barely held together; this meat was perfectly cooked. It surrounded rice pilaf that had been cooked with beans, and then a thick savory gravy was poured over the top of the entire plate. The taste was refined yet so complex that I couldn’t even think of a single spice used to create that symphony of flavor. To me, it was impeccable. Through the entire experience, more customers began to come in; and even still, Debbie was entirely accommodating.

    I have to admit, I left with a smile. The pricing is anywhere from around $15-20 for a main dish, and around $10 or less for an appetizer or salad. Now picture yourself in that lounge chair again, but this time in Humboldt. The sun might not be shining every day, but if you’re looking for that warm Caribbean feeling, consider having A Taste of Bim.