While the plot is nothing new (plane crashes, a few survive, they’re goal afterwards is to survive, blah blah blah), I still decided to see the movie. After all, seeing Liam Neeson go one-on-one with a wolf like the trailer leads you to believe was going to be entertaining no matter what the rest of the movie was like.

I’ve been wrong before, and this was one of those times. If you don’t want me to spoil it for you stop reading now.

That epic battle between man and wolf? It doesn’t happen. That’s where the screen goes dark. I haven’t been more disappointed in a movie’s ending since I realized the aliens were killed by water, but somehow decided it would be a good idea to invade the only planet that had any in Signs. Unfortunately, The Grey doesn’t have the excuse of being directed by M. Night Shyamalan to explain its downfall.

After two hours of watching Neeson and six others brave Alaskan wilderness and fight off an obscene amount of vengeful timberwolves, I expected some kind of closure. Instead I get a rip-off of the ending of The Sopranos.

I’m being harsh though. The characters in the film were well developed and interesting, and the acting was excellent. After a while you begin to feel for the characters, even if you are trying guess which one will go next. I was honestly surprised by how much I liked the majority of the movie, it’s upsetting  that it was ruined by the ending.

If you go in without expectations, this movie could be great; but if, like me, you want what the trailers promised, you’ll only be disappointed.

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is giving teens a positive role model to look up to, showing boys and girls that a positive self image is everything.

When told by her manager that she needed to lose weight her response was quick, “I don’t make music for eyes. I make music for ears.” And with that her platform was made.

Adele was born and raised in a family that wasn’t exactly musical, but the support she gained from them was outstanding.

When she was little she would put on small concerts for her mom and friends using lamps as stage lights.

“As soon as I got a microphone in my hand, when I was about 14, I realized I wanted to do this,” said Adele.

Since then she hasn’t stopped.

Starting with singing Destiny’s Child and then moving on to be known as a soul singer, Adele has really changed the way music is thought of.

She appeals to not only teens but adults of every age as well. I think it’s safe to say Adele has made a whole new genre of music all on her own terms.

You have stars like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry for whom part of their music is their look, showing a little too much skin.

Adele has changed the way that people see themselves by realizing she doesn’t need to show herself to others in order to sing well.

“My life is full of drama and I don’t have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like.” Adele said.

If everyone saw it the way she does I can only image how happy this generation would be.

It might be only music but to so many people out there it is much, much more than just music.

Adele is more then just a singer, she’s a role model, she’s a fighter and she’s an inspiration.

But hopefully, that can change.  Being different doesn’t consist of wearing the same old thing that everyone else wears and shopping where everyone else shops.  It means branching out and wearing something you personally think looks good and not what looks good on other people.  It means trying out new patterns, colors and fabrics and not sticking to the basics.

So, to solve this problem, when you get dressed for school in the morning don’t think about what others are going to think about your outfit.  You’re overlooking who matters most when picking out an outfit–yourself. 

It’s not a bad thing to go along with current trends, because that’s why trends are there, to be followed.  But if you want to take part in a trend, make it your own.  Accessorize your ensemble unlike anyone else to make it truly different and trendy.

Personal style expresses who you are, and if everyone dresses the exact same, how can anyone be noticed at all?

The story follows former Jeopardy! champion Thomas Horn as Oskar Schell, an intelligent, albeit odd, nine-year old on his quest for answers after his father’s death on 9/11.

After a year of grief and growing disconnection from his mother, played by Sandra Bullock, Oskar reenters his father’s room for the first time and finds a key in an envelope labeled “Black”.

From there the audience accompanies Oskar all over New York City in search of the right Black, sometimes joined by the mysterious and silent “Renter”, played by Max von Sydow. Sydow’s performance, while silent, is easily one of the best of the film. His silence is intriguing and his expressiveness more than makes up for his lack of words.

Between the subject matter, the people he meets, and the ending (I won’t spoil it for you), Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is most definitely a tear-jerker. However, the movie doesn’t just play on the audience’s emotions; it is legitimately moving.

What I witnessed at the end of the film is a testament to that. As the movie ended and the screen went to black, the theater remained completely silent. Throughout about 5 minutes of credits, not a single person moved. I sat there grasping everything I had just seen, thinking on the movie’s messages and drying tears, and I can only assume everyone else was doing the same.

Overall, I would definately recommend going to see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. It’s good acting paired with a good story and absolutely worth a watch; just don’t forget tissues.

1) The Weeknd, House of Balloons

The Weeknd released a series of three mix tapes this year including House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence. From Abel Tesfaye’s (the Weeknd’s) Michael Jackson cover on Echoes of Silence which eerily recalls Jackson’s voice, to the despondent and pessimistic, yet captivating lyrics, Tesfaye’s mix tapes are the best thing I’ve listened to all year.

House of Balloons is by far the best of the three. While Echoes of Silence builds on lyrics and melodies from the previous two, House of Balloons is an entirely unique work. In it Tesfaye’s character struggles with his lustful desires, releasing all of his socially unacceptable thoughts and vengeful, self-satisfying behaviors.

The album lacks the discretion that many artists have when creating an album, and that’s one of the qualities that makes this mix tape so exceptionally good. Through the heavy bass patterns reminiscent of early R&B and his smooth, seductive vocals, Tesfaye creates this miserable, brooding, dispiriting sound that somehow always leaves me wanting more. *Listener discretion is advised.*

2) Thursday, No Devolucion

When I first listened to Thursday, I was hardly a fan. Their past albums were just too serious and full of screaming. However, No Devolucion seems to get it right. The perfect combination of  harsh and smooth vocals, lyrical content and instrumentation make this their best work.

The lyrics themselves are the key ingredient that enticed me to repeatedly listen to the record. There’s this tranquillity and serenity in the way singer Geoff Rickly sings and in the layered, smooth guitar lines, despite the poetic and complex ideas presented in the lyrics.

Standout track, A Darker Forest, takes on qualities of existentialism, questioning whether life’s choices matter, and reflect the lost and let-down theme of most of this album. The use of echo and repetition, and even the minor key it’s in, work together  to even further the idea of life being a lost cause, and never being satisfied with the mediocrity of our lives.

This was a great step for them. Sadly, Thursday won’t be releasing anything further because they announced their break-up mid-November.

3) Real Estate, Days

Easy, the first track off the album, sets the mood for the rest of the record. It falls somewhere under the category of beach-folk-indie music. Every time I listen, I lose myself in the nonchalant, laid-back, summer-esque tracks. The group seems to take delight in simple things from the surrounding world.

In, It’s Real, singer and guitarist Martin Courtney sings, “skated across the frozen sea.” Interestingly enough, he talks of things that aren’t even feasible, but in this dream world that Real Estate has created, anything is possible.

Given the description of the style, it would be easy to assume that Days is bland, but that is far from the case. There are so many layers of melodic, acoustic, upbeat guitar that it’s hard to determine how many parts are actually going on at any given time.

The rolling, cheery rhythm pulses through each song and it’s just a magnificent blend of harmonizing, lulling vocals and intertwined, crisp, clear guitar.

4)Gotye, Making Mirrors

It seems that some of the most creative and inspired albums are made during periods of desperation and depression. Wouter De Backer, who performs under the stage name Gotye, delivers a multifarious collection of songs that seem about as bipolar as the albums on this list.

The album begins on a more solemn note with tracks like, Somebody That I Used to Know, the first single off the track (and by far the best), evoking hidden but indelible memories, recalling the strange emptiness of a broken relationship. Backer’s own battle with depression shaped the more passionate songs on the album. But then, as Backer overcomes this, he shifts gears and writes songs like, I Feel Better, which could easily be disguised as a mo-town song from 50 years ago.

With a drumming background from his previous band, Backer made the album interesting, making the beats, rhythm and percussion (many of which were sampled) very diverse and atypical from song to song. The album sounds like a mix between Beck’s albums Odelay and Sea Change but with more powerful vocals than Beck could ever muster up.

Because Backer’s introspection was the idea behind most of this album, it’s very easy to empathize with because we all experience these emotions. It’s something many artists attempt to achieve but never really master.

Sadly, Bachmann announced that she is no longer running for president after finishing sixth in the Iowa Caucus. So, what are the American people supposed to do for entertainment now? Sure, she had absolutely no chance of winning, but it was nice to have her around.

So now we are left with six Republican candidates. I have given each candidate a special nickname and my own personal opinion of them.

Rick… I Forgot His Name…. “Oops.”: Rick Perry has made a fool of himself many times and to put it delicately, his mind just isn’t all “there”, if you get what I’m saying.

Velvet Thunder: Mitt Romney is a smooth talking man and has the best chance of getting the nomination, but he has to make sure he doesn’t put his foot in his mouth like he has done in the past.

Rick Sanitarium: It freaked me out when Rick Santorum placed in a close second behind Romney in the Iowa Caucus. His views on everything social are crazy, such as introducing amendments that would allow creationism to be taught in schools and comparing gay marriage to polygamy. If he were to become President, I would move to Canada. (NYtimes.com)

Scared Puppy: Ron Paul has your run of the mill Conservative views. He could be a viable candidate, but I don’t see him as an assertive enough person to lead our country.

Black Kettle: Newt Gingrich had a $500,000 Tiffany’s bill, so no, I do not want him in charge of fixing our economy. He has also been married three times, but wants to “defend marriage.” I am sorry Newt, but you give hypocrite a whole new meaning. (businessinsider.com) (CNN.com)

Forgotten Child: Out of everyone running, Jon Huntsman is my personal favorite. It is nice to see a candidate that agrees with science, unlike his opponents. He believes in global warming and evolution, which sets him apart from the other candidates. But sadly, he is in last place out of the six people running. It would be nice to see him run as an Independent in the election, because of his moderate views. (Washingtonpost.com)

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s face it, this pool of candidates is a joke. Think of the 2012 Presidential Election as a marathon between Obama and the six candidates: Obama is in first place, in second place is Mitt Romney with a broken leg, Newt Gingrich is in third with two broken legs, Rick Santorum is missing a leg, but is still hobbling around the track. In fifth place is Rick Perry, running around the track the wrong way. In sixth place is Ron Paul, but it doesn’t look too good for him since he fell asleep on the track and in last place we have John Huntsman, who is missing both of his legs, but just will not give up.

Although it is entertaining to make fun of the Republican candidates, it is still very frightening that this is the best we have to offer. Out of all of the Republicans eligible to run for President, we get stuck with these six clowns? You could say that I am being harsh, but if you plan on running this country, you better be the best of the best. And sadly, these six are the complete opposite.

After getting a Spotify account, I can honestly say I’m an addict. One may ask how someone can be addicted to simply listening to music on the computer. I still haven’t quite figured it out, to be honest. But with Spotify, you’re always wanting more. I constantly find myself browsing albums I’ve been planning on listening to, stumbling upon new artists or browsing the 90′s radio station. With each new find, I think to myself, “I’m glad I have Spotify.”

Another interesting feature with Spotify is that you can easily see what your friends are listening to. It’s convenient to be able to find out what everyone else is listening to and is connected with Facebook to ensure that you can easily share your music to everyone, not just other Spotify users.

Many of my friends and family are skeptical. They don’t understand the general purpose of Spotify. To all of those who wonder why they need to get Spotify: I don’t know about you, but every time I hear a song that I love, it makes me a little bit happier. Same with finding old music from when I was a kid. Wouldn’t it be great to have all that music in one place, no purchase or 90-second demos.

So what are you waiting for?

I will be straight up with my stance on this issue. I am completely 100 percent against Prop. 8. I believe that everyone deserves the right to love who they want to love and to marry who they want to marry. Allowing gays and lesbians to marry each other is in no way going to damage families or tarnish marriage.

Saying that you are trying to protect marriage makes you look like a four year old that doesn’t want to share. Marriage is only for you, and not for the other kids. This mentality is childish.

Or the ridiculous argument that you are trying to protect families. Please tell me what is damaging to a child that has two dads or two moms. Is your argument that you would rather have a child stay orphaned than get adopted by two loving parents? Or are you the four year old kid that doesn’t want to share being a family? If that is what you believe, then all you are is selfish.

There is also the religious argument. The argument that God doesn’t accept gays, that he doesn’t like them and that he thinks they are an “abomination.” Well, if that is what he thinks, then he should really stop creating gay people, because he is really just causing his own problem.

But wait, are you one of those people who believes that people choose to be gay? If someone “chooses” to be gay, there are many things to look forward to. You will most likely be bullied by your peers. You may be disowned from your family. You may be told that God hates you. Or the most obvious one being that you won’t be legally allowed to marry in 43 of the 50 US states. And, lets not forget the suicide rate. According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), gay teenagers are one and a half to seven times more likely to commit suicide than straight teens. 

Enough of my ranting and instead a history lesson about Proposition 8. It was introduced in 2008, and was passed Nov. 5. In 2010, Prop. 8 was overturned in the case  Perry v. Schwarzenegger. U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that the proposition violated constitutional rights.

Walker’s ruling was appealed when he revealed that he was gay and in a long term relationship with his partner. Many supporters of Prop. 8 argued that Walker’s sexual orientation made him biased.

This accusation makes no sense to me at all. As a judge, he took an oath to serve the constitution, his rulings are what are best for the country, not himself. He made this ruling because he believed that Prop. 8 was unconstitutional, not because he would benefit personally.

This accusation is also very hypocritical. If a straight Christian judge had said that the proposition was constitutional we would not be having this conversation. People could make the argument that he wanted marriage to be between a man and a woman because of his religious beliefs, and what his sexual orientation was.

This appeal is simply an excuse for an attempt to make what he ruled false. It is just another attack by prejudice and hateful people against love.

 How would you feel if you were not able to marry the person you loved? No matter what your religious or political beliefs are, we are all people, and we all deserve the same rights.

I knew that I should be angry at either…

A. Pujols for leaving a team that JUST WON THE WORLD SERIES for more money after saying that he would take less to remain a “Cardinal for life” many times or…

B. The Cardinals for not doing everything possible to keep one of the greatest players in the history of baseball and the most beloved athlete ever in St. Louis.

Someone had to pay.

But after chewing on it throughout the day and then chewing some more, I realized that I can’t blame either side for the decision that they made. All of our irrational feelings aside, both sides did what they thought was best.

I can’t blame the Cardinals for drawing a line in the sand and not getting sucked into a bidding war for Pujols. They know how much he meant to the team and the city, but decided that a nine-year, $200 million deal was the most they wanted to offer.

Any more than that and the Cardinals would end up kicking themselves down the road. Sure, having Pujols absolutely makes them a better team this year and probably the next two years after that.

But what happens if his notoriously bad elbow gets worse, he starts hitting .270 and can’t even play first base in the fourth year of a ten-year deal. Those are legitimate possibilities that would leave throwing $25 million away for years.

Then what?

At the same time, it’s hard to knock anyone for turning down an extra $50 million. It’s easy for us as fans to turn on Pujols for this, but how many of us wouldn’t also take more money and play somewhere where it doesn’t snow in April?

We overestimated the value of playing in “Baseball Heaven” and that’s on us. It’s unfortunate and it probably means that Pujols lied at times, but it’s the truth.

So maybe the best thing we can do is move on, because if we are true fans of the Cardinals, we won’t let the ghost of Albert Pujols get in the way of supporting the team. And more importantly, we can never let this tarnish the memories of his 11 years as a Cardinal.

That would be the worst loss of all.

As the host of Peabody Energy’s Christmas Party, my family and many other employers’ close ones gathered to celebrate the holidays at the Opera House. The venue had multiple ball rooms, two including smaller stages, where attendees were treated to a buffet h’orderves styled dinner. Alongside the dinner food were dessert stands with a variety of cupcakes, cake balls and hot chocolate.

Other than the food, I was pleased at how visually striking the Opera House was. Even after restoring many elements of the theater, every room remained in its original, ornate state from the 30s. My favorite detail was the ceilings, which were extremely rich in color and design.

My first complaint is the seating. Inside the theater, which I find gorgeous, the seats did not appear to be new. I was sure of that after sitting in them for the first 30 minutes of the show; my legs went numb. It was also very stuffy and close-knit.

Even though the seating was uncomfortable, the show made the numbness worth my while. The show included several special effects, which surprised me as I assumed the show wouldn’t be especially spectacular.

Stefan Karl, star of Nickelodeon’s LazyTown, plays the Grinch. In my opinion, he did an outstanding job with the character. What made his acting come across so well was his improve; the show had a personal element as Karl interacted with audience members throughout the play.

Like most non-regular play goers, I would assume the repetitive music becomes obnoxious during the play. While the “Whos” squeaky voices did get to be a little much for my taste, I enjoyed the production and its amusing sense of humor.

Attending Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas put me in the holiday mood for December and makes me excited to go back to the Peabody Opera House. I am looking forward to attending future productions.