Then why does it seem that the shows on these channels are drawing in massive audiences of college students and adults? Clever writing?  Terrific animation? Heavily disturbing subtext?

Sometimes it’s all of the above.

A cartoon with one of the bigger followings is “Phineas and Ferb” on the Disney Channel. The show is about two kids whose adventures consist of constructing grand inventions aimed at a singular goal of having fun that day. They also have a pet Platypus named Perry (pictured above). Perry the Platypus also doubles as a secret agent who must stop the “evil” Dr. Doofenshmirtz, whose round about plans on attaining dominance of the Tri-State area occasionally pose a minimal threat.

It’d be difficult to find a residence hall that didn’t have a poster of Perry the Platypus somewhere inside of it. Phineas and Ferb memorabilia and clothing are constantly selling out, and not just in the children’s sizes.

The reason for this show’s popularity is obvious: it’s a show made for kids with the occasional humor that adults would love. The writing is witty and constantly clever. It’s appealing for all ages.

Other shows are a little more perplexing. Shows like “Adventure Time,” “The Misadventures of Flapjack” and “Regular Show” on Cartoon Network have a darker side, and are experts at getting things past the radar. On paper, “Adventure Time” is the story of a boy and his dog and the adventures they share.

It seems harmless, except that they live in a surreal world where bizarre fantasy death traps are around every corner, lonely witches threaten to swallow people with their butts and the dog can stretch his limbs into infinite space. It’s all very hilarious, but it’s also dark.

Parents might find it a problem when they catch their kids watching a show where talking balloons fly into the sky cheering, “Hooray! Finally we can die!”

In “The Misadventures of Flapjack,” a young sailor boy and his friend Captain K’nuckles go on adventures looking for candy. Except that candy is often used as a metaphor for drugs, and that the show has used a creepy old man dressed as a little boy and an eyeless stray cat for laughs. It’s brilliantly hilarious and more than a little disturbing at the same time.

“Regular Show” manages to subtly be even more horrifying (and hilarious) than both the previous shows combined. In it, a blue jay and a raccoon work for a gumball machine as groundskeepers at a park.

The humor is so dry and offbeat that it just doesn’t seem like a children’s cartoon. The characters regularly drink beer and sometimes get drunk, and words like “pissed” and “screwed” are often used. Not to mention talking hot dogs walk around and occasionally eat humans.

Erik Vesnick, the VP of home entertainment of Cartoon Network has claimed that these shows attract two kinds of viewers. “The 6 to 11-year-olds who typically comprise a cartoon audience,” he said, “and older animation fans who grew up with ‘The Simpsons’ and similar shows.”

What about these shows is attractive to college students? The shows have a fair share of humorous pop culture references and many of the jokes are very YouTube-friendly, allowing them to reach new audiences in short periods.

To put it simply, they’re very funny shows for all audiences. One user comment by a parent about “Regular Show” on commonsensemedia.org stated, “Don’t you dare let your kids watch this show!” Another simply said, “Best. Show. Ever.”

Are you watching yet?

Now, it seems like these competitors could be the least of Nintendo’s worries. As it falls into financial trouble, Nintendo is looking to invest in the future.

The company has been through hard times before. After dominating the market with the original Nintendo Entertainment System, the Super Nintendo faced huge competition in the Sega Genesis, and in the past years, the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo Gamecube both failed to outsell their competitors.

The Nintendo Wii however, has sold almost 98 million units worldwide, and was the most successful console of this past generation. Also, the Nintendo DS has annihilated Sony’s PSP in the portable market. So then why the financial trouble?

A little over a week ago, the company released its quarterly earnings, and it wasn’t pretty. The company reported profits of $631 million for the October to December period, representing a 61percent quarterly drop. Forecasts have been significantly lowered to due these reports as well.

Nintendo has predicted a net loss of $838 million (ending in March 2012). If this holds true, it would mark Nintendo’s first annual loss in a full 30 years.

This is the result of a number of things. Nintendo’s newest portable, the 3DS, was launched with an extremely bloated $250 price tag. Along with that, the system had a pretty pitiful handful of launch titles. Its only two first-party releases were re-releases of classic Nintendo 64 games.

Sluggish sales forced the company to admit defeat and implement a premature price drop. After the system’s price was changed to $170, sales for the 3DS skyrocketed. Unfortunately, analysts have reported that they are selling at a loss.

Another reason for Nintendo’s recent struggles is its inability to support its current console, the Wii. Sales for the Wii have dropped, perhaps because there aren’t many more potential buyers, or maybe because a high quality game hasn’t come out for the system in ages.

Besides last year’s phenomenal “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword,” the new releases for the system have been mostly boring collections of mini games and unsuccessful ports of games from other systems. Added to this, Nintendo has failed to import successful Wii games from Japan that have an audience in the United States.

Lucky for all the rabid Nintendo fanboys out there, the company isn’t worried. According to them, the 3DS will start garnering profit soon enough. New big name releases like “Super Mario 3D World,” “Resident Evil: Revelations” and the upcoming “Kid Icarus: Uprising” are finally drawing large amounts of people to buy the system.

Nintendo’s real secret weapon is that its new system, the Wii U, is going to be a revelution in gaming. The system, which is slated for a late 2012 release, is apparently three times as powerful as the Xbox 360, and boasts an interesting new controller.

Just like the Wii’s innovative Wiimote controller, the Wii U comes with a tablet controller, not unlike an iPad, which also is equipped with the standard controller buttons. The graphics on the tablet screen are just as powerful as they will be on your TV, and if you want, the games can be simply played on the tablet. Have to go somewhere but just can’t bear to tear yourself away from your brand new game? Simply change the setting so your game is on the tablet and you instantly have a portable gaming device.

In addition to that, the company has stated that they are entirely committed to bringing in third-party developers to make solid games, which was something the Wii was severely lacking. So far, feedback has been terrific from companies such as Capcom, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts.

Nintendo has also promised an all new online gaming service, The Nintendo Network. The company has infamously been stuck in the stone age when it comes to online play, and this is a huge step forward for them.

The Wii U’s goal is to win back the “hardcore gamer” audience that was turned off by the Wii’s casual attitude, while still maintaining that casual audience.

The future is uncertain for Nintendo. After being unveiled last year with a few awesome technology demos, the Wii U is said to be officially revealed in its final form at this year’s E3 convention. Nintendo is seriously hoping that after this year’s presentation, Wii would like to play.

Ingrid Michaelson is the folk singer/songwriter behind the many songs featured in commercials and television shows. She has done several collaborations with artists like Sarah Bareilles, has opened for Jason Mraz and has released four studio albums.

Michaelson’s fifth studio album “Human Again” was released last Tuesday and immediately took the number one album spot on iTunes.  Upon releasing the news that she was producing a new album, Michaelson warned her fans that “Human Again” would be much darker than her previous work.  After listening to the 13 tracks, this album indeed touches on darker subjects.

The themes that are present on the album have to do with daily life and relationship struggles. Michaelson’s “This Is War,” “Black and Blue” and “Palm of Your Hand” all contain lyrics that suggest romantic or relationship strains. Also in the track “In the Sea,” the lyrics are about the distress of having a lover or friend let you fall and not pick you back up.

There are also uplifting tracks and light-hearted ballads.  The acoustic “How We Love” is a track that reflects how “we love to love when it fills up the room/but when it leaves, oh, we’re cursing the stars.”

The ballad “Keep Warm” is about having someone in your life that can keep you warm and return your affection.

“Human Again” showcases a much bolder and mature side to Michaelson.  Since her debut as an artist, she has been given a cutesy and quirky persona. But in her newest installment, that persona has dissolved to reflect her growth as a singer and a songwriter.

This new album doesn’t just feature the ukulele or piano ballads. The choices of instruments and new musical elements add more depth and darkness to the album. In some tracks, electronica, a full orchestra and synths are used as a new style that Michaelson has never tried before.

The first track, “Fire,” begins with rapid strings and builds to a full orchestra powerhouse. A later track, “Black and Blue,” uses synths to create different sounds and a new-wave vibe. But she still does include emotional piano ballads like “Ghost” and acoustic tracks like “How We Love.”

This album shows Michaelson’s growth as an artist. But I do miss some of her up lifting quirky songs like “Everybody” or “Be OK.” All artists try different genres and styles to show a different side of their talent.

However, sometimes too much change isn’t a good thing. Michaelson should have included one or two more lively tracks that were similar to her older work. The dark and bold tracks are just as memorable but they dampen the entire mood of the album.

Michaelson accompanies her album release by announcing her “Human Again” spring tour. The concert dates run from April 9 until May 17.  She will be making appearances in cities across the United States and Canada.

“Human Again” is a breath of fresh air in the redundant pop music industry. It is a fuse of love ballads, up beat tracks, and acoustic classics.

There is a familiarity to Ingrid Michaelson’s music. Her amazing  vocals and relatable lyrics make her fifth album one of her best. Some of her songs may just show up in the next commercial or television show you watch.

4/5 Streaks

No more should you trudge across campus in an outfit reminiscent of the winter apparel “A Christmas Story’s” Randy was smothered in. Instead, bundle up in something equally as warm as it is fashionable.

Although the new year is a time to start fresh, think twice before throwing out that scarf that you clung to during the autumn months, the oversized sweater from H&M that you basically lived in, or that staple item stitched with faux fur.

Many of the winter fashion trends taking center stage in 2012 are being carried over from the fall.

A classic item for both gals and guys alike that will seemingly never go out of style is the signature pea coat. Although black and navy are colors that will always remain timeless, ladies should be challenged to step of their element and try a bold color, such as red, to brighten up the dull winter months.

A new trend in coatwear is the increasing popularity of collarless coats. As the name suggests, these coats come without a collar, which makes for a clean and simple look with a vintage attitude.

If you have a favorite beanie hat that you wear religiously, try thinking about a new trend that is slowly circulating around campus. The ever -so-comfy deerstalker hat, lined with real or faux fur. This furry hat hones in on the previous fall trend of fur-lined clothing, while adding a winter flare to the equation.

Deerstalker hats can be purchased from high-end department stores such as Barney’s or Nordstrom, or from other stores more accessible to the Ramen-noodle-budget college studen” such as H&M, American Eagle Outfitters and Forever 21.

Other accessories, which are essential to add to your winter wardrobe, range from fingerless gloves to infinity scarves.

No more should you risk staying warm by removing your gloves in order to reply to a text. Fingerless or hobo gloves provide the means to accomplish tasks while still remaining warm.

Stores such as Target have even begun to sell “texting gloves” as a solution to the “texting outside in the cold dilemma.”

For guys, you can never have too much plaid flannel in a winter outfit. Add some durable hiking boots from brands such as Timberland and Red Wing and you have the perfect lumberjack look.

Attention ladies: just because it’s frigid outside doesn’t mean you can’t wear your favorite summer skirt anymore. Add a pair of warm leggings underneath, and your summerwear can become a winter staple.

The 2011 fall fashion legging trend has evolved into a style fit for the bitter morning walks to 8 a.m. class. Sweater tights, which are essentially made from the same knitted material of sweaters available in both solid colors and patterns, and are a warmer alternative to leggings.

Fur vests are another way to warm yourself up without sacrificing your outfit. You can even do some layering and wear it over your coat for extra coziness.

Don’t forget about scarves as well. They may seem insignificant, but a clutch scarf can make your entire outfit. For ladies, fur scarves called Snoods have become quite popular. They essentially look like fluffy pink collars. If you have a daring personality, be sure to try these out.

Boots and wintertime will forever go hand and hand. Although the ever-popular UGG boats are still a common trend on campus, knee high boats in black or tan are also hot item hailing from the inspiration of the Chanel runway.

These boots provide a finishing touch to the perfect winter outfit, making the outfit both polished and eye-catching.

Patterns such as small polka dots, hound’s-tooth and hippie-inspired floral prints are expected to take prominence in the coming months of 2012. Feathers too appear dominant on the racks of accessories storewide.

There is no excuse viable to step into the winter months of 2012 freezing and frumpy. Instead, start the new year right by putting your best boot forward and bundling up in something trendy.

The Carroll News Staff:

Sports Editor Zach Mentz:

To be more like

Bob Seeholzer.

Editor in Chief Emily Gaffney:

To not sweat the small stuff.

Campus Editor Dan Cooney:

To be more organized.

Diversions Editor Ben DeVictor:

Be more like “The Cooooon.”

Managing Editor Jenn Holton:

To go tanning for 12 minutes every day.

Arts & Life Editor Claire Olderman:

To find a positive in

everything that happens.

Photo Editor Taylor Horen:

I want to learn patience.

Campus Editor Brian Bayer:

To live with gratitude,

humility and love.

Editorial & Op/Ed Editor Kaitlin Gill:

To go with the flow

Editorial & Op/Ed Editor  Nick Wojtasik:

To live a more rounded life.

World News Editor Mike Reiser:

To be the Republican

candidate.

Business Manager Gloria Suma:

To procrastinate less.

Freshman David Brill:

To get jacked in Corbo.

#HappyNewYear

Sophomore Joel Baker:

To lose 25 pounds.

Alumnus J.J. Kuczynski:

Seek to learn something unique about someone on a daily basis.

Sophomore Mike Moccia:

To quit smoking.

Senior Brian Pestotnik:

To find a real job.

Sophomore Chris Thomas:

To skip class less.

Senior Maria Westcott:

To attend church more often.

Freshman Drew Kostiuk:

To work out every single day and maintain my G.P.A.

Rec. Desk Supervisor Vern Hall: To stay healthy and be

thankful.

Junior Sarah  Sciviat:

To be more compassionate towards others.

Junior Rich Mazzola:

To live in the moment with friends and family. Develop a strut.

Senior Mark Ehrbar:

To become a vegetarian.

Sophomore Matt Burke:

Have a better year than 2011.

#HappyNewYear

Freshman Meghan Ellrich:

Go to the gym twice a week.

Junior Ben Rossi: To gain 5 pounds.

Sophomore Bence Toth:

To become a better-known DJ on campus.

Sophomore Luke Walkow:

Go to the library more often.

For most students, those words resonate heavily with them this week as they embark on the dreaded “Finals Week.” From Dec. 12 until Dec. 16, students will be deep into their studies, but there are a few things they can do to relieve some of the stress and be prepared.

First, do not panic. Panic will only cause more chaos. Experts suggest organization to keep panic out of your life. Know what has to get done and make a plan for when and how to complete everything.

Try an alternate study place if the usual spots are busy or distracting. The Dolan Reading Room or any empty classroom are good alternate locations.

The Grasselli Library starts its Finals Week hours Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m to midnight, Sunday from 11 a.m to 2 a.m and Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m to 2 a.m.

Students should also try to stay healthy this week. Eating healthy and sleeping well will make finals easier to deal with.  Losing  sleep will result in a loss of focus and it will be more difficult to retain as much information, making it harder to stay awake during exams.

According to Jan Krevh, director of the JCU Health Center, “During finals sleep is a low priority, but very much needed. A power nap of 20 minutes (not much longer) will re-energize. One should still aim for six or seven hours of sleep for optimum test performance.”

Also try to exercise this week. Go for a light walk or fit in time to go to the gym. This will keep energy up and allow for a better night of sleep.

Finals Week can be an excuse for late night fast food runs or dinner from a vending machine, but eating unhealthy foods will not give the body and brain the nutrients they need. Students may need some coffee to get them through the day, but do not drink in excess or chug too many Red Bulls because sleep may never come that night.

In fact, Krevh said there is a healthier option to stay focused.

“An apple is actually more beneficial than caffeine to help stay focused. The crunch of biting into an apple and the vitamins from the skin are released slowly, making you feel more awake. The natural glucose found in the apple sustains your energy, preventing the ‘crash’ or mood swings that you feel with caffeine found in coffee or energy drinks.”

Although, it is important to study and complete work, a break is always necessary. Students should schedule in small study breaks that will allow them to refresh. These breaks will allow students to study more effectively.

“When I feel super overwhelmed, I just need a break to calm down and get back on track. I think it is important for students to know it is okay to take a breather,” said sophomore Erinn O’Rourke.

Krevh agreed.

“Stretching and moving after about two hours of studying is a must,” she said.

The John Carroll Health Center sponsors free massages in the LSC Atrium on Wednesday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. Not only will that give you a much needed break, but it will also be helping students’ health.

Ask for help. Students sometimes forget about all the great resources that are here for them. All professors have office hours which students can utilize. Departments also have student tutors who are willing to help.

The Writing Center located in O’Malley 207, offers students free consulting by trained assistants to help them with papers or assignments. Make an appointment by calling 216-397-4529 or emailing .

Senior Lindsay Derda, who works for The Writing Center, encouraged students to use the Center for help on papers.

“Students do not realize how much we can help them improve their papers,” she said. “We are trained to consult with students on how to edit and develop them.”

The Carroll News: What made you want to start a record company?

Thomas Fox: Adam [Wagner] and I were friends at John Carroll. We met living in the dorms in Hamlin Hall and just had similar taste in music. We played some tunes together at JCU open mic nights. Adam, even at that time, was          really into recording and had years under his belt tinkering with home recording software. I had some previous experience recording at that time too, having spent time working on my own music and I took some audio engineering classes at Lakeland Community College prior to coming to JCU. Outside of music, we studied marketing [in the Boler School of Business] together, which is a huge part of how we decided to start a business together years later.

We met James Kananen in 2010, he was running the sound at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights, and had done a ton of live recording for bands from all over the country. At that time Adam had become very serious about audio production and collaboration with James only seemed to make things move faster. We got some warehouse space on the west side, started recording  and named the space Bad Racket in early 2010. When we recorded the first Live From Bad Racket music video that fall, we realized we were onto something good and filed paperwork to form the partnership.

CN: What kind of music is recorded at the studio?

TF: The studio itself doesn’t specialize in one particular genre as much as individual producers do. Indie rock, alternative country, grunge, Irish folk, punk, hip hop, metal; we’ve had bands in all of these genres come through. We actually love the diversity and hope to see things continue to branch out.

CN: Any obstacles you’ve had to overcome?

TF: Running any business [involves] non-stop obstacles and problem  solving. No part of it has been easy, and I don’t expect it will get easier. Gear breaks, sessions get canceled, money gets tight, clients become unhappy, rumors start, over booking, hardware crashes. The list goes on. This is the music industry [and] it’s crazy. That’s what is so awesome about it.

CN: What skills did you acquire at JCU that helped you start up this business and continue to run it?

TF: I took some diverse classes at John Carroll: strategic management, the history of Christmas, religious experience in literature, business law. Since I transferred [to John Carroll] I was only [there] for three years but I learned a ton. For me, most of what’s useful now aren’t hard skills, it’s, the situational stuff that helps me figure out how to make decisions.

CN: Tell us about Bad Racket’s recent one-year anniversary party.

TF: We decided that the “Live From Bad Racket” video shoot on Oct. 17, 2010 marked our official anniversary even though our LLC wasn’t filed until December 2010. We threw a party and invited all of our friends and clients to come and celebrate our first year on Oct. 21. Laine Seliga, Known as Ladybird, played some tunes for us with her boyfriend and our good friend Max Stern of Signals Midwest. Humble Home, a local folk rock group, took the stage for over an hour. They even played some new music which had not yet been played outside of their practice space.

We only had the two groups on the menu for the night but Thaddeus A Greene grabbed the microphone and a guitar to play a set with his drummer, Anthony Foti. It was probably around midnight when Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money strolled in to catch the end of Thaddeus’ set. They decided to unload their amps and keep the night going at Bad Racket. It was magical.

CN: What part of your job do you enjoy most?

TF: I meet a lot of incredible people on a regular basis, that’s what I like the best.

The now Shaker Heights resident is an author and human rights activist who will be speaking at John Carroll in a lecture sponsored by First Year Seminar, The Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the East Asian studies program.

Ung’s books chronicle her life’s journey from her experiences in Cambodia up to her life now.

“First They Killed My Father,” the first of her three books, is a detailed account of her life in Cambodia and the daily struggle for survival in the 1970s during a time of horror.

Ung’s second book, “Lucky Child,” is about her first few years of adjusting to life in America.

Her newest book, which will come out in April  2012, is about Ung’s life after college, falling in love with her husband, and the start of her activism career.

“To all [of] those 1 million and more people, they are somebody’s mothers, fathers and sisters, so I wanted to write a book that takes people into what it is like to live through a war, what it’s like to wake up every day and try to survive that when your rights have been taken away. What it is like to go through that,” said Ung.

Her lecture will focus on her life’s story as well as her activism dealing with the removal of landmines in Cambodia.

“It’s really important for me that people know what happened in Cambodia. 1.7 million to 2 million people died out of a population of 7 million people,” said Ung.

The author and activist has traveled back to Cambodia over 30 times since escaping 30 years ago. She uses this time to bring awareness to the country’s past, present and future.

“Cambodia is a beautiful country. It is a very vibrant, cultural, colorful country. It’s a country that is thriving and working really hard to thrive in peacetime.”

Ung wishes the people of Cambodia peace, prosperity and justice, and will continue to spread the word to other countries.

Prior to coming to America, her view of the country was that it was a place with “boring food.”

English became her fourth language and growing up in a whole new culture and country was difficult at times. When she decided to become an author, she found that people were unsure of how well she would fair.

“There were people who told me I couldn’t do it,” said Ung.

To everyone who has a dream Ung said, “Work hard, persevere, and do not give up.”

As a Cleveland resident, Ung also mentioned that despite all of her travels to over 35 countries around the world, Cleveland still holds a place in her heart.

“I love Cleveland,” she said.

Ung will speak in the Donahue Auditorium from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

In a recent study conducted at the National Institute in Environmental Studies in Stockholm, Sweden, researchers have found that women who have approximately two chocolate bars per week have a lower risk of having a stroke.

Senior Stephanie Czaplenski said that she doesn’t have a huge sweet tooth in general.

“If it was proven that it lowers the risk of having a stroke, I wouldn’t force myself or go the extra mile to eat more chocolate,” she said.

The study consisted of more than 33,000 women between the ages of 49 and 83, in which they were asked how often they ate chocolate along with 95 other different kinds of food in a year.

The reasoning behind why chocolate lowers the risk of a stroke has yet to still be determined, though it is thought to have to do with the amount of cocoa. The more cocoa, the lower the risk.

Cocoa and chocolate contain flavanols found in plant-based foods, and also aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Dark chocolate can have up to 90 percent cocoa, making it most likely the healthier choice over milk chocolate, which contains milk solids, milk and butterfat. This is especially in comparison with white chocolate which by law must contain a minimum of 20 percent cocoa, but also allows for a maximum of 55 percent sugar.

Dr. Javier Provencio, an intensive care doctor at the Cleveland Clinic’s Neurological Institute, did not participate in the study but did comment on the effects.

“For right now, it seems that chocolate is not bad – it may be helpful. But it also has risks to consider, such as weight gain and diabetes control, and everybody should think about that carefully before indulging too much,” Provencio said.

Other students are also a little skeptical.

“There are always new studies coming out saying one thing is good for you and then in a week it changes again. I think that having a balanced healthy diet can do nothing but help you in having a healthy future,” said junior Rebecca Secula.

By combining the contemporary with the conventional, Sawyer has brought famous Tokyo fare right here to Cleveland, opening  his newest restaurant, Noodlecat.

One of the city’s newest hidden gems, located on the corner of Euclid and East 4th, Noodlecat features many “slurpalicious” noodle bowls reminiscent of Toyko-style street food.

The décor is reminiscent of an elementary school art studio. The tables are wooden rectangles surrounded by small stools, fit for a fifth grader.

The menu consists mostly of unique, exquisite noodle dishes. You have to go to Noodlecat with an open and adventurous mind-set.

To start your meal off right, you can choose from amusingly named salads, like the Choy n’Soi for $7 or the Old School Salad for $6. Try the Twice Cooked Crispy Chicken Wings that range in flavors from miso BBQ to porky garlic, either of which will open your eyes to how a chicken wing should taste.

For the main course, college student curiosity may have you wanting to try the College Ramen for $9, but be cautioned: it will not taste like the pre-packaged ramen one may be used to. Ramen made in a dorm room microwave is tastier than Noodlecat’s College Ramen.

Noodlecat features an extensive list of “special” noodles. Some of the best specials include the seafood ones, such as the Udon noodles in seafood broth with shrimp and pork gyoza. An interesting combination of flavors, but prepared just right that you will want to slurp until sufficiently stuffed.

Other noodle dishes like the Fried Chicken Ramen or the Ohio Beef Brisket and Matzo Ramen have become instant hits.

Noodlecat is also famous for their “steam buns.” These are miniature sandwiches, which range from BBQ Pork or Japanese Fried Chicken and even Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana. Steam buns will only set you back about $4.

The menu features an assortment of teas along with cocktail specials such as the Long Thailand Ice Tea or the SoJu Margarita.

Sawyer’s restaurant is a popular spot for Happy Hour or for a lunch break. The restaurant offers lunch specials that include your choice of a noodle bowl or two steam buns and a salad all for $13.

The service was impeccable and every question about the interesting dishes will be thoroughly answered along with suggestions on what to try for stumped visitors.

To finish the meal, the dessert options are equally as interesting as the rest. Try one of the sorbets for a dollar. They are refreshing and just the right amount of sweet to end a salty meal.

The menu features vegetarian noodle bowl specials, but also vegan and gluten free dishes. The restaurant creates traditional dishes using local ingredients and gets all of their pasta from Ohio City Pasta.

Noodlecat is surely as unique as its name, which is why it is worth a visit.

It is not for everyone, but those who are craving Asian cuisine and are daring enough to think outside of the “Chinese takeout” box should take a trip to 234 Euclid Ave.

Luke Sebbens, stand-in for Taylor Lautner in “Abduction”

“Neighborhoods” is a pretty big deal. It’s the pop-punk trio’s first album in eight years, and the expectations have been mounting since the band announced that they intended to end their indefinite hiatus.

Fans looking for a return to the good old Blink-182 days of fart jokes, sex humor, and incessant juvenile behavior will be disappointed.

Those days have been over since the band’s 2003 self-titled LP. Unfortunately, those who are hoping for an effective, matured album similar to that one will be disappointed as well.

Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker try to recapture that spirit, but while their efforts in experimentation are admirable, they ultimately fall flat.

While “Blink-182” the album may have been a drastic new direction for the band, it was still undoubtedly Blink-182. Almost every track on “Neighborhoods” is less like Blink-182, noticeable influences by Angels & Airwaves, DeLonge’s side project.

The synthesizers have been over-utilized, and many of the songs open with overly long instrumental introductions that are rarely engaging and usually repetitive.

DeLonge also continues to use reverb on his voice to an unbearable extent. This is especially noticeable on the track “Love is Dangerous,” in which he sings about the negative repercussions of an empty relationship.

Luckily, drummer Barker is just as good as he’s ever been. Easily the most musically talented member of the band, Barker has no problem setting the pace for the other members.

His beats in the album are fast and furious as usual, and their energy pulsates through every song.

“Wishing Well” is typical catchy pop-punk, but it’s a relief when you realize it’s just that. The familiar “nah nah nah nah” chorus will get stuck in your head, and you’ll be singing along if you’re seeing them live.

The album’s first single, “Up All Night,” is classic Blink-182, with DeLonge and Hoppus harmonizing perfectly like old times.

The strongest track, “Natives,” is just plain awesome. Everyone is in full form here, with Barker’s chaotic mosh-pit inducing drumming meeting with DeLonge and Hoppus’s guitar riffs perfectly.

It’s a shame that the song is brought down by the biggest weakness of the album: the song-writing has gone down a tier or two since their last album.

“I’m just a waste of your time/maybe I’m better off dead,” Hoppus sings in “Natives.” The lyrics in their last album were mostly downers, but they were well done and mature.

The word “heart” is mentioned at least once in every song, and so are trite clichés of the genre. It’s the most disappointing part of the album.

“Neighborhoods” is still an enjoyable easy listen. Hardcore Blink-182 fans will add a few tracks to their favorites, but no new fans will be gained from this album.

After a hiatus of this length, it could have been a lot worse. Hopefully, the boys are just warming up.

Wendy’s was in heavy pursuit of enhancing its menu, increasing revenue and combating constant competitors McDonald’s, Burger King and the like.

When other fast food chains incorporated line extensions and added new items, Wendy’s failed to keep up with the growing process.

According to Technomic, a research firm located in Chicago, in 2010 McDonald’s had 49.5 percent of the fast-food burger market in the U.S., up from 41.6 percent in 2002. During the same period, Wendy’s share fell to 12.8 percent from 14 percent. Burger King’s fell to 13.3 percent from 17 percent.

Concerned with its economic state, Wendy’s set out to makeover its hamburger. The 2 1/2 year project dubbed Project Gold Hamburger involved the company consulting over 10,000 customers via polls. The results from its surveys revealed that people enjoyed Wendy’s food but thought that the brand had failed at keeping up with the times.

“It will be interesting to see if it helps revamp Wendy’s image,” said senior Maddy Martucci.

After reviewing its findings, Wendy’s executives set out to embark upon a cross country burger tasting frenzy. They measured such hamburger characteristics as fatty flavor, salty flavor and whether the bun held its shape during consumption.

Wendy’s also measured its own hamburger’s, ingredient by ingredient. Each time researchers implemented a tweak, they asked for feedback, visiting research firms across the country to watch through two-way mirrors as members of the focus group sampled the variations.

Wendy’s even enlisted a pickle chemist, with thoughts of enhancing the taste of its hamburger. It also tried green-leaf lettuce, but customers preferred keeping iceberg for its crunchiness. The company considered making the tomato slices thicker but didn’t want to ask franchisees to buy new slicing equipment.

“I think this will be a good change, considering all of the energy they have put into research with what customers want in a burger,” said senior Erika Port.

The chain did the unthinkable and tested a round burger.

“It’s hurting them in the long-run,” said senior John Reynolds. “That was one of their signature styles. No square patties takes away from their identity.”

In the end, Wendy’s changed everything but the ketchup. It switched to whole-fat mayonnaise, ditched the mustard, cut down on the pickles and swapped the existing onions for red ones all to accentuate the flavor of the hamburger. The chain also started storing the cheese at higher temperatures so it would melt better, a change that required federal approval.

The Y-Haven Program is a program for men in recovery for drug and alcohol addiction that provides transitional housing, recovery services, treatment for mental illness, educational training, vocational services and permanent housing placement. Since 2000, they have been working together with the Cleveland Public Theater to help the Y-Haven residents recover through the writing, producing, and performing of plays.

However, these aren’t your standard plays. The performances these 15 to 25 men create each year are based on their personal struggles with addiction and recovery. This year’s production spotlights family issues and the struggle to do right within the community.

The group will be making a stop on their cross-Cleveland tour at John Carroll on Friday, Dec. 2 at noon.

Chris Seibert, director of education at the Cleveland Public Theater, said their stop at JCU last year elicited a strong response.

“I think students got a lot out of seeing people who were homeless at one point,” said Seibert. “It puts a different face on a population that is very poorly represented in the media.”

The project gives audiences a peek at what it is like to be in recovery. Seibert noted this is a unique aspect of the program.

“It can be a mysterious process since most projects are anonymous. This is a group of men openly talking about their recovery,” she said.

The men have been hard at work since August, and as opening day approaches, they will ramp up their rehearsal schedule to five days a week.

The project has helped over 200  men since its inception in 2000, and the participants themselves have responded positively to the project.

“Many of them cite this as a great opportunity to finally show their family and friends that they can do something that they’re proud of,” said Seibert.

The men are paid for successfully completing their work on the project, which adds an element of job training as another facet of recovery. They are actively involved in each aspect of putting the production together, from story and character development to running lights and sound.

“They talk a lot about how it supports their work in recovery, having to learn the teamwork, compromise, and support needed to make and perform a play is the same thing they’re practicing in the recovery process,” said Seibert.

Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the production occurs after the performance is over, and the men have a “talkback” with the audience, which Seibert calls “a structured feedback session.”

Aside from its JCU stop, the project will travel to various Cleveland locations. It will open on Nov. 17 at the Cleveland Public Theater, where there will be four performances running until Nov. 20, one of which will be a large benefit for Y-Haven.

“We’re really excited to be back at John Carroll,” said Seibert. “It’s a really intelligent and caring community that is both ready for this message and open to it.”

After its blander 2009 outing, “Wilco (The Album),” Wilco has come back with a diverse, monster album in line with both its experimental tendencies – like 2002′s “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” – and its roots – as in 1996′s “Being There.”

“The Whole Love,” which came out Tuesday, has a wide variety of different, yet similar tracks that go off in yet another new direction for one of America’s best bands of the past 15 years.

“The Whole Love” starts off with the epic, two-part “Art of Almost.” With heavily distorted, almost ambient guitars the song is reminiscent at times of “I am Trying to Break Your Heart,” the group’s opener for its 2002 critically acclaimed album, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.”

Drummer Glen Kotche, who has been busy contributing to Andrew Bird’s album “Helpless Creatures” and Radiohead drummer Phil Selway’s solo effort, “Familial,” between Wilco albums, comes back to the band with a percussional masterpiece on this track.

Perhaps the best song on the album, “Art of Almost,” pulls in listeners of all kinds and prepares them for what else is to come.

The main single from the album, “I Might,” is an instant Wilco classic. With more heavily distorted guitar, “I Might” stands out among other classics with it’s Doors-esque keys and distinct melody.

“Dawned on Me” will be one of the band’s best live songs. With guitars on guitars, and the rolling, refrain, “I can’t help it if I’ve fallen in love with you/ I’m callin’ just to let you know it dawned on me,” sang in a momentous beat by Tweedy will be screamed by the many different types of Wilco fans as the group tours this fall (a spring/summer tour for 2012 is also expected).

“Black Moon,” a track with a folk taste, is backed by a strong strings section (which seem to pop up all over the place in “The Whole Love”) along with Tweedy strumming along on his acoustic guitar. This track along with, “Rising Red Lung,” give the album the folk aspect that many fans will be looking for.

“Born Alone” – automatically one of Wilco’s catchiest songs – has a very identifiable guitar riff that will be recognized by all Wilco fans as another instant-classic upon first listen. With multiple guitar layerings, this song will also be one of their best live songs.

The happiness of the music contrasts with the somewhat depressing lyrics, a Tweedy tactic we’ve seen before. With lyrics like “Sadness is my luxury,” and “I was born to die alone,” the song takes on a whole new meaning.

Yet juxtaposed with the inherently fun music, the saddening feeling is instantly assuaged, and perhaps instills a degree of hope for the singer.

The title track echoes their sounds from 1996’s “Being There,” a salute to fans of their early work.

The final track, “One Sunday Morning,” is vintage Tweedy pulling at your heart strings with softer, rolling acoustic guitar, piano and simple drums, focusing more on what he wants to tell the listener lyrically than musically.

Tweedy sings of a strained relationship with an over-bearing father, and dealing with growing older. At 12 minutes long, it may drag at times, but remains a solid closer to a fantastic album.

Not surprisingly, Wilco has yet another fantastic outing with “The Whole Love.”

His new movie “50/50” has all the makings of your typical Judd Apatow comedy, with the exception that the main character has cancer. It’s heavier in the drama department, and Judd Apatow is in no way involved in the project. Don’t worry, Seth Rogen is in it, so there’s that.

Speaking of Judd Apatow, many will probably compare “50/50” to his last film, “Funny People.” Both films have main characters with cancer and are billed as comedies.

But these two movies could not be more different. For one, “50/50” is actually funny.

It’s not just funny, it’s hilarious. It’s also more dramatically effective. “50/50” is the rare movie that succeeds fully as both a drama and a comedy.

“50/50” follows the story of Adam (played by the excessively likable Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an average Joe who works at a radio station.

Adam plays everything extremely safe. He doesn’t smoke or drink, and is so overly cautious that he refuses to even drive a car. His overly cautious lifesytle makes it all the more surprising when he is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer.

The story follows him as he deals with his predicament, aided by his therapist Katherine (Anna Kendrick), and his womanizing best friend Kyle, played by the omnipresent Seth Rogen (seriously, that man is in everything).

Also along for the cancer ride is Adam’s girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard), who may or may not be ready to help Adam through his difficult journey.

The story moves along with a brisk confidence that is not often seen in films this small.

The smart, semi-autobiographical script by Will Reiser is consistently funny and moving, and gives the actors room to give their characters depth.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt proves that he is one of the great actors of his generation. He has an amazing talent for playing the everyman. His performance is relatable, subtle, and real. Specifically, a scene in which he reaches a breaking point, showcases an Oscar-worthy performance.

Anna Kendrick is adorable as usual, playing a therapist who hasn’t even graduated school yet, but assures Adam that he is not her first patient (he’s actually her third). Bryce Dallas Howard works out of her usual comfort zone, playing a nauseatingly unlikable character who you feel sympathy for.

Seth Rogen gives a terrific performance as usual. But this time, Rogen gets to play a womanizer, instead of a dork who can’t get the girl.

As someone who’s grown incredibly sick of his overexposure in the past couple years, he’s great in the film and as goofy and hilarious as he’s ever been. Rogen’s performance was the biggest surprise of the movie.

It should be noted that even though this movie is about cancer, it is also raunchy as hell.

There are scenes of nudity and countless jokes about the male anatomy. They work 100 percent of the time and never take away from the character development or otherwise serious tone of the movie.

“50/50” is a movie that demands to be seen. Despite its few flaws (why can Adam ride in a car but not drive one?), it’s one of the better movies of the year, featuring a breakthrough performance by Gordon-Levitt.

Last July, the company announced their 60 percent price increase which proved upsetting to loyal customers. The company also introduced two other options to their membership: the DVD by mail only, and streaming only, individually priced at $7.99. This was in addition to their $9.99 price for both. Still, this left options.

Sara Stashower, a communications professor, was one of the customers to receive a letter.

“The tone and manner [Hastings] chose just didn’t fly,” she said. “After I read it, I just had more questions, when I should have had answers,” Stashower said.

This mistake made by the CEO resulted in Netflix splitting into two completely different companies. No longer will Netflix customers receive one of three options as easily as before.

If customers want to stream movies from online, they have to use Netflix, but if a customer wants a DVD by mail, they must use the new service, Qwikster.

This means there are two separate websites and two separate billing systems. Though the prices have not changed from the recent increase, it does make it less convenient for those who want both services.

According to Hastings,  the name Qwikster was chosen to reference fast delivery.

For someone who has been writing press releases for years, Stashower did not believe that the letter was written to its full potential.

Considering it did not address why the decision was made, the exact date and time that this change will be made, and most importantly, according to Stashower, it did not reference the companies mission that the customer comes first.

Had Netflix done more research, they also would have noticed that @Qwikster was already taken on Twitter. Jason Castillo is the owner of that Twitter account whose picture is of “Sesame Street” character Elmo smoking marijuana.

Castillo seems to primarily tweet about women and smoking weed. The amount of followers grew quickly, as Netflix customers assumed it was the real company, only to be disappointed at the realization of who they were following.

Hastings rebutts the assumed bitterness of the customers by saying the separation will make each company better, since each will now have only one focus. For example, for avid videogamers, the new Qwikster will be launching videogames for Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 to rent via mail.

Though the questioned arised quickly after the e-mail was sent out if places like Gamefly, a video game rental company, will be threatened by this new option of videogames. Qwikster’s new option does not seem to be a threat since Gamefly has expanded throughout the years and offers over 8,000 games for 10 different console and handheld systems.

When the unlimited streaming was launched last year, instead of communicating with customers, it went ahead and assumed DVDs would be something of the past, making them a $2 add on.

Quickly the company realized DVDs have not lost their popularity, and that is what initiated the separation of DVD by mail and streaming.

Senior Lauren Grys thinks that her family will still be users of the new company. “My parents use Netflix, and probably aren’t aware of the changes yet. I think that demographic will continue to use the DVD home service.”

Andy Rendich, who was running Netflix’s now extinct DVD service for the past 12 years, will be the new CEO of Qwikster. He and Hastings will announce the official release of the separated companies when they decide the exact date.

“I imagine we will keep the Qwikster DVD delivery, much as I stumble over that name,” Stashower said. “It’s possible we’ll keep the streaming, too, but I’m not inclined. No real improvement in content or ease of delivery.”

Other JCU Netflix users may not be so forgiving. “I’m not cool with paying two prices,” said junior Katie Largent. “I’ll probably end up canceling one of the services.”

Some online bloggers have mentioned that those who do see this split as problematic are not understanding that these two different services are seen as apples and oranges. They see it as the fact that the two companies now have one parent company is just a way to stick to perfecting one thing.

Keeping a very similar story line, the new version is easier to follow and more heartfelt, drawing the audience in.

Set in the fictional town of Bomont, Tenn., newcomer Ren McCormack (Kenny Wormald) finds his loud Boston way of life colliding with the traditional values of the South.

In a town where dancing and loud music is illegal, Ren has trouble settling into Bomont, but is quick to make friends with the beloved Willard. Soon after, the pair sets their sights on throwing a school dance.

Ren also sets his sights on Ariel Moore (Julianne Hough), the good girl gone bad after a terrible car accident which killed her brother. Since the accident, the Reverend and members of the town set a strict rule for the people, more specifically the young crowd, that requires them to lay low in their activities, especially with public dancing.

Professional dancers Hough and Wormald give spectacular performances as young actors in their first major motion picture. Their strong chemistry on screen showcases their confidence as young actors, which left the viewers in the theater in applause.

Dennis Quaid delivers an amazing performance as Ariel’s father, showing true emotion and passion in his part as a Reverend dealing with the loss of a child and his daughter who tests her boundaries.

Brewer incorporates updates into the remake as well.

While the original “Footloose” had two characters engage in a tractor fight, Brewer’s remake changes it to a bus race.

Music in the film is also modernized. While some old-time favorites like “Quiet Riot” are kept, modern-day favorites like Wiz Khalifa are added.

Brewer also creates an edgier vibe with the use of drugs, alcohol and death in the film.

This edgier vibe can also be seen in the dance style of the characters. Dancing in the remake is more provocative than that of the 1984 original. The more provocative dancing  is used in the movie to relate to teens today because – well, let’s face it – people just aren’t dancing like they used to. However, there are still scenes of good old country line-dancing that mirror that of the classic.

The dancing in the movie is not over-the-top, and as professional dancers, Hough and Wormald settled into what could be a very bright future in acting for both of them. A native of Boston, Wormald did not have to try too hard when it came to the obvious accent he had in the film.

There are a few let downs in the film. Unfortunately, the infamous “Let’s dance!” quote from the original does not live up to its potential. Then again, the line was originated from Kevin Bacon’s Ren and it’s hard to beat Kevin Bacon. There are also a few corny lines throughout the film that serve as minor setbacks in what is an otherwise must-see movie.

“Footloose” gets two thumbs up. It was a diificult endeavor to recreate the ‘80s dance flick as Brewer faced an onslaught of criticism for daring to remake the film, but “Footloose” lives up to the standards moviegoers hoped it would.

Julianne Hough: If I wasn’t confident, we wouldn’t be promoting this movie the way that we are.  I really am so proud and I think the people that saw the original are going to be impressed and I think people that for those who haven’t seen it, they’ll be surprised.

CN: You had mentioned earlier that this new production modernized the film a bit, how true is the film in terms of the original?

JH: It’s very true. Craig Brewer had on his script blue tabs and white tabs. And everything that he kept from the original was tabbed blue, and then things he changed were tabbed white. And you would be surprised how much of the script was actually blue, literally word for word.

CN: Lori Singer originated the role of Ariel that you’re playing. How did you go about looking at the character to make it your own?

JH: One thing that I felt like I missed from Ariel in the original film was, I felt like she was just kind of a bad girl and she was a trouble-maker. But I really wanted it to be my own. When we were shooting this movie, we really felt like it was our own movie, that this was the first time we were ever shooting this movie, and the scene, and these characters.

CN: How would you describe the on-screen relationship between you and Kenny compared to Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer’s of the original film?

JH: I felt like Lori Singer was a little bit [nasty]. She was kind of a bratty teenager. But the one thing that Kenny and I had that kind of just helped us right from the get-go was our chemistry because of our dancing.  We kind of just got together [in our audition] and freestyled.

The Carroll News:  What anticipation do you hold for the release “Footloose”?

Craig Brewer: I had to make peace with the fact that there was going to be a wall of hate coming my way. But to some extent, that’s the prayer that I gave to “Hustle and Flow” and “Black Snake Moan” on every day of my shoot. I’ve known people coming up to me later and saying, “I saw your movie on TV,” or, “I saw your movie on DVD, and it was really good. Had I known that it was going to be like that, I would’ve gone to see it in a movie theater.” To some extent, that gives me a little bit of peace with “Footloose” because I have never been more confident in my life as a director that I nailed a movie.

CN: What was it like working with two main characters that are very talented in dancing.

CB: I didn’t feel like there had to be a learning curve or that there had to be too much discussion. I don’t want these guys to look like they’ve been dancing their whole lives. And I don’t want there to be choreography where everybody’s moving in unison, as if to make it seem like this isn’t real.

CN: What were some of the creative decisions you made as a director in terms of adding elements to the movie that you modernized to make it appeal to today’s audience?

 CB: We’ve done one major change, which is we really show everybody why these laws were put into place. Dancing inappropriately is one of them. So, in terms of the changes, I think that, other than that we’ve moved the accident up front, not many kids from Boston come down and switch up with some kids from Georgia, which is a refreshing thing to explore.

CN: Did you have any reservations about doing this remake?

 CB: I passed on the movie twice. But, I passed on it because I was like a lot of other people; I saw how they were going to be making it. They kind of got the same team that had made “High School Musical” and I shook my head saying, “I don’t know what they’re going to do with that.” But, “Footloose” is more than a dance movie, and I think I was particularly worried that a spoof was going to be done, that it was just going to be like a dance movie that somebody threw the name.

Claire Olderman and Mitch Quataert both contributed to this article.

Packed with the impressive creative power of Oscar-nominated director Bennett Miller (“Capote”) and Oscar-winning screenwriters Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network”) and Steve Zaillian (“Schindler’s List”), the film tries to be unique by focusing on statistics rather than playing the game. It skips the climax we’re used to, and doesn’t hit any of the traditional sport beats.

With this unique approach, it challenges why we watch sports films. Sadly, while it does deliver one of the more intelligent cinematic tributes to baseball since “Field of Dreams,” “Moneyball” mainly fails at being enjoyable, emotional, or even particularly memorable.

Based on Michael Lewis’ book, weary Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is faced with creating a championship team with $39 million against the Yankees’ $125 million.

Things look hopeless until Beane meets Yale graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), who tells him that changing the conventions of how teams evaluate players’ potential could save the A’s, Beane attempts to build one of the most unorthodox baseball teams of misfits ever assembled.

Like the “2002 Athletics,” “Moneyball” may be ballsy in its ambition to change the way we view baseball, but it’s also highly erratic in how its main goal succeeds and fails in turn.

When things are running smoothly, the result is undeniably appealing. But when things get rough, it gets almost painful to watch. The film isn’t a bad one, instead it simply underwhelms considering the raw talent and aspiration involved. So many ill-timed, boring, or downright bad moments occur that they hinder us from establishing a genuine emotional core for the characters or the film. From an atrocious musical score that viciously detracts from every scene it’s in to the bland and sluggish variety of filler scenes, that gives the film its “blah” moments.

Even stranger, nothing remotely resembles the memorable Oscar-worthy brilliance of Sorkin’s earlier work. There is no discourse I remember enough to write down. The scenes that remind us why we’re still enjoying ourselves are the ones when Beane is putting his negotiation tactics in overdrive. These scenes are funny, witty, engaging, and not nearly as often as I’d like. Ultimately, “Moneyball” isn’t so much about Billy Beane or the Oakland A’s as it is about the elusive integrity of baseball.

Its moments of greatness occur when it asks tough questions no other baseball movie has asked, like in Beane’s final monologue. Other films may show baseball, but “Moneyball” tries observing baseball’s iconic stature and asking why it means so much to so many. It asks a seemingly simple question: Can the magic of the game be based on statistics rather than intuition?

The question is relevant. If you’re someone whose reverence of the game approaches an understanding impossible to express, “Moneyball” might just be the baseball film you’ve been waiting for.

But for me, the film is oddly never as engrossing as it should be. Since its creation, the term ‘moneyball’ has entered baseball lexicon as an alternative way of viewing baseball. It may not have changed the game, but it has become something worthy of remembrance.

Unfortunately for this film’s creators, their passion just doesn’t pan out as being worthy of the same benefit.

Cosmopolitan magazine recently did a feature on seven mistakes women often make at the gym without even realizing it, which can diminish the effect of their workout.

Often times, while doing crunches women use their neck muscles rather than their abs, which strains the neck and does not work the abs as much. A simple fix to this problem is pressing one’s tongue to the top of the roof of the mouth, which relieves stress from the neck and focuses the work on the abs.

When freshman Christine Varricchio tried this, it seemed unnatural at first.

“…I was thinking about it too much. But the more I did it later, I found the tip helping when I wasn’t focusing on it,” she said.

Another mistake many make is stretching before a cardio workout. Cosmopolitan suggests doing the cardio workout at a low level for five minutes. This allows the muscles to loosen, but is still a workout in itself.

“Before I run I stretch and do a warm up because my muscles are cold. If I don’t move while I stretch, my knees will lock up,” said freshman Liz Malloy. “I learned in track that dynamic mobilities are the right way to start a workout and people who don’t do them should start to. It’s healthier for your body.”

Most women also tend to lift the same amount of weight during each workout because they fear upping the weight will lead to bulky muscles. However, it’s important to slowly increase weight as muscle resistance is built if weight training is part of a weekly workout routine. To avoid bulky muscles, increase weight slowly until the muscles feel fatigued, but not so much so that it makes the arms shake.

Women also will force themselves to do “real” push-ups because they think modified push-ups don’t work. As long as the arms are in line with the shoulders, planting knees on the ground is still a productive workout.

“I know I don’t do my push-ups right, I just never learned how to do it the correct way,” Varricchio said. “When I did push-ups from my knees, I thought it was easy at first. But after doing 10 of them the right way, I found out that it was hard. I will definitely not take those for granted anymore.”

Another common issue is thinking energy bars help with working out. in truth the energy it takes to digest the energy bars can detract from your workout.

After working out for an hour some women overindulge in treats and snacks because they think it cancels out. It’s great to grab a snack with carbs and protein afterwards, but it’s common to eat more calories than were burned off.

The final mistake Cosmopolitan highlights is that women avoid weighing themselves. While obsessive weighing may be unhealthy, regularly stepping on the scale can keep women motivated. Watching the number on the scale go down is a concrete motivation and can be a helpful reminder about the consequence of unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise.

These mistakes can hinder a workout, but following simple tips like these can boost it, making it worthwhile to get off the couch and hit the gym.

As a John Carroll senior majoing in communications, she has a lot on her plate: including winning a ballroom dancing championship.

Stark said she has been dancing for her entire life. She dances everything from ballet and tap to jazz and hip-hop, and figure skates as well.

At age 16, she took a hiatus from it all, but at the age of 20, she decided to take up ballroom dancing.

“When I decided to come back to it I wanted to try something different,” Stark said. “‘Dancing with the Stars’ was just starting to become popular on television in the United States, so I was intrigued by the dancing style.”

Though she is the only dancer in her family, they show her constant support by their attendance at her competitions.

In 2008, Stark’s mom brought to her attention that there was a ballroom dancing studio nearby, and that is when her interest sparked.

This year, Stark competed in Florida in June and Virginia in July, and has upcoming events in Cleveland and Columbus.

Next year, she plans to do a bit more traveling, as she will be dancing in Boston, New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Hawaii.

“The most stressful time for me is always a few days before the competition – I am nervous, I tend to make a lot of mistakes while practicing, and I just cannot stay focused,” she said.

“Thankfully, I am at the top of my game during the competitions and even the day before. The adrenaline, excitement, and my determination keep me going.”

Those nerves paid off because in Florida, Stark and her partner made it to the finals in all 27 rounds, accepting several first, second and a few third place awards.

Though the dancing couple did not do as well in Virginia, they still competed in 27 rounds, and took home some first, second and again third prize winnings, continuing to beat some of their biggest competitors.

Stark’s favorite thing about ballroom dancing is not even the dancing itself.

In fact, it’s that her Russian instructor, Slava Polubnev, who’s been dancing for 11 years, is her best friend.

“I truly believe that it is the people that make something or an event worthwhile – I would not do ballroom dancing or compete if it wasn’t for him,” she said.

Stark said she had the opportunity to learn from those who inspired her to become a ballroom dancer.

“I have had the rare opportunity of [taking lessons] with professionals from ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ namely Karina Smirnoff and Mark Ballas.”

Even though her best friend is what makes dancing worthwhile, nothing can compare to the feeling after winning a competition.

“When we found out how well we placed at each competition thus far, we felt accomplished – it is a wonderful feeling, being recognized and awarded for something you enjoy doing so much,” Stark said.

What used to be Jillian’s Billiards Club in the Cedar-Fairmount area has undergone a substantial transformation to become a 9,600- square-foot up-and-coming restaurant and bar called Myxx.

Owner Kim Lisboa and friends came up with the catchphrase “Drink. Dine. Dégagé;” dégagé coming from the French term meaning to “relax and unwind.”

Myxx is open from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

A range of patrons come and enjoy dining options including small appetizers and entrees and, as the night advances, make their way to the dance floor. Currently, a DJ is providing the music, but starting in October, live bands will perform.

Myxx is a place that is off the map right now, but noise is starting to get out about the new place.

The dish that I was lucky enough to try was the Boursin stuffed chicken.

As if I wasn’t already completely impressed by the atmosphere of Myxx, when the dish came out of the kitchen, the presentation was beautiful. There in front of me lay a perfectly cooked chicken breast covered in a mushroom marsala sauce on top of rich and creamy risotto with diced grape tomatoes. The Food Network would have been impressed with this dish as it not only looked beautiful, but also maintained a strong, flavorful taste.

If you are looking for something different to eat, Myxx has a variety of different foods that span from $10 up into the mid-$20 range.

The sweet sausage stuffed banana peppers start out $10. Penne a la Vodka with roasted tomato cream sauce is $12. The blackened grouper with garlic mashed potaoes, sautéed green beans and fresh tomato salsa is on the more expensive end at $26.

Although the main dishes may be a little pricey, the quality of the food is well worth it.

Myxx is about more than just food – it provides entertainment and a fun atmoshpere for customers.

For all of you Cleveland Browns fans, Myxx has an offer that you won’t be able to refuse: every Sunday that the Browns are home, there will be a shuttle leaving from the bar at noon to take up to 40 people to the stadium and back to Myxx. The shuttle is sponsored by Budweiser.

Tailgating is encouraged, and the shuttle will be stocked with drinks for you to enjoy during the trip to the stadium.

As for the rest of you who are looking to enjoy the game in a more comfortable setting, Myxx offers five flat screen televisions as well as a projector in the back room showing the game.

Myxx has another twist that most other bars and restaurants around this area can’t compete with: the walls are covered with artwork from local students at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

For those 21 and older, the bar offers Great Lakes Brewing Co. beer as well as a variety of over 35 other great selections. As we roll into the fall season, each month there will be new flavors of infused vodka martinis being released along with tequila, habañero, basil, jalapeño and cilantro mixed drinks.

Conveniently located between downtown and campus, it is the perfect place to be if you are in need of a satisfying dining experience.

But with their latest LP, “The Rip Tide,” Beirut has managed to put together a fine album that plays off their strengths, but is also their most accessible yet.

After one listen, no one would ever guess that Beirut’s front man, Condon, is from New Mexico.

Beirut’s Balkan folk rock sound has no problem being stuck in the past. Its worldly European aesthetic is what has made the band stick out so far.

With each new album, they have added more and more instruments to their repertoire, but with “The Rip Tide,” they have stripped down to just the bare Beirut necessities (piano, strings and horns). The worldly influences are still heard, but Condon and company have managed to forge their own unique voice, a record that is Americana at its heart.

In this small record, clocking in at just over 30 minutes, Condon packs just about everything the band has to offer.

If you want a sunny, more pop-oriented song, look no further than the opening track, “A Candle’s Fire.”

This is Beirut as you’ve come to expect them. Bouncing drums and flaring horns accompany one of Condon’s best vocals on the album. If you’re in the mood for a melodramatic ballad, you’ll want to listen to “Goshen” or the title track.

Both feature haunting piano melodies and beautiful vocal harmonies. Some may still find themselves dozing off during a listen, but they can be certain to wake up once the next song comes on. As an album, “The Rip Tide” is an energetic, baroque-pop-rock affair.

The first single, “Santa Fe,” is the best on the record, and represents one of “Rip Tide’s” biggest strengths. It wouldn’t sound too out of place on pop radio.

Condon sings of his hometown, backed up with beautiful string and horn arrangements, and an awesome keyboard part that breaks down barriers and demands that everyone nod their heads, or at least tap their feet.

Condon’s voice is probably the strongest aspect of the record. He’s grown up since the band released their first album in 2006, when he was only 19.

His voice has matured and become fuller and strong enough to counter the sometimes overpowering strings. It is sweet, sincere, and inviting, and its best friend is a mandolin.

It’s a short-listen album that packs the same punch as a long one.

It is both a terrific stand-alone effort and an important stepping stone for the band as they come into their own.

On the album’s gorgeous penultimate track “The Peacock,” Condon repeats “He’s the only one that knows the words.” After “The Rip Tide,”

I imagine a lot more people will come to know them.