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Posts published in “Arts & Entertainment”

Cloning Around with Paul Rudd

Review: Living with Yourself

By Nicholas Papini
Observer Contributor

In a world where genetics and cloning are advanced and common enough that the FDA has a division dedicated to related crimes, Paul Rudd delivers an emotional tale of the bitterness and depression that settles into a person in their mundane life.

Living with Yourself is a new Netflix show released on October 19. It contains 8 episodes of approximately 38 minutes for a total of 215 minutes. The show is created and written by Timothy Greenberg and stars Paul Rudd and Aisling Bea. read more

(Archive December 2019) The Richard Michelson Picture Show

Artist Recalls Early Days and Inspiration

By Nicholas Papini | Observer Contributor

Richard Michelson, artist, author, and owner of the R. Michelson Gallery in Northampton, MA, stated that western Massachusetts is the center of children’s book illustrations in the United States.

Michelson is an award-winning children’s book author and acclaimed poet, and his gallery features 240 artists. He held a gallery talk in the East Wing Gallery which featured work from several of the artists under his banner, including Jules Feiffer, Mordicai Gerstein, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and Mo Willems. read more

(Archive November 2019) Film: V for Vendetta

November 20, 12:30 p.m., North Café.

Great Britain has become a fascist state. Now, a shadowy freedom fighter known only as “V” (Hugo Weaving – the Matrix trilogy) begins a violent guerrilla campaign to destroy those who have embraced totalitarianism. In his quest to liberate England from its oppressive ideological chains, “V” recruits a young woman (Natalie Portman – Star Wars: Episodes I-III) he’s rescued from the secret police to join him on an epic adventure to execute a seemingly impossible task. read more

(Archive November 2019) Down the Rabbit Hole

Doctor Uses Stories to Explore Alzheimer’s Disease

By Maya Douglas | Observer Contributor

Dr. Dana Walrath is the author of the graphic novel Aliceheimer’s: Alzheimer’s Through the Looking Glass – a collection of stories about her mother’s battle with dementia.

Aliceheimer’s: Alzheimer’s Through the Looking Glass is laid out as a collection of short stories. Each page has a new story and a new drawing so that if a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia loses their place or forgets what they have read, it doesn’t matter. They can still enjoy it without confusion. “Telling stories restores humanity,” said Walrath. read more

(Archive October 2019) More Mercenary Mayhem: Review of Borderlands 3

By Anna Allen | Observer Web Editor

On September 13, Gearbox Software released its bang-up video game sequel, Borderlands 3. In a series known for its fast-paced action and childish but endearing humor, the third installment doesn’t disappoint.

As usual, the opening scene shows the planet of Pandora, a wasteland full of Psychos and spiderants (which are supersized, hybrid, armored bugs).

However, this story doesn’t end on Pandora as the earlier games do. Instead, the adventure travels to five other planets. From a world covered in a jungle, to a world covered in an urban jungle, this game is larger than any of its predecessors. Zany characters send the player on zanier missions – such as the foul-mouthed Lorelei who just really wants a good cup of coffee. Don’t we all? read more

(Archive May 2018) The Crazy Life of a Self-Published Author

Part Two: Taming the Amazon Jungle

That euphoric feeling when your dream materializes…photo by Chele Pedersen Smith

By  Michele Walsky | Assistant Editor

Have you always wanted to publish a book? My dream came true last year when I published my romantic spy mystery, Behind Frenemy Lines, and a collection of mini-miracles, The Pearly Gates Phone Company, under the pen name Chele Pedersen Smith. I had some help along the way and I am happy to pay it forward to anyone who has the same dream.

Part one, The Whirlwind of Writing and Promoting,” appears in May’s print edition of The Mount Observer and covers the creative process of writing, unlocking writer’s block, editing and conjuring up promotional ideas. Part two will follow the technical side of publishing and contains links to the Amazon sites. read more

(Archive November 2017) Wind Turbines Not Speaking After Turbulent Disagreement.

Disagreement is in the air today, as the two wind turbines that provide green energy to MWCC have turned their backs to each other.

For those that pass these wind current carousels on their way in to school, it may have come as a shock today to find that the turbines, normally facing triumphantly in the same direction, charging forward into renewable power generation, were in fact facing opposite directions.

“I don’t know what my partner is thinking,” the west-facing turbine said, “the wind is blowing from the west!”

“The wind is obviously blowing from the east.” said the east-facing turbine, “Look at him, spinning like an idiot.”

Gale Whirlwind, a psychologist majoring in tempest perception (how one understands the wind) has been called to work out the issues between the two feuding turbines.

Stay tuned to the Mount Observer for updates as the story develops!

(Archive October 2017) In/Transit Art Exhibit

By Desire’ Jackson – Crosby | Observer Contributor

Lines etched on simple, ripped-out-of-the-book sketch paper. Colors – pastel blue, hazy yellow, and earthy brown decorate some pages while heavy thick lines of defined color trace upon others. Simplicity sings a soft note of abstractness, telling a whimsical story that changes the more you look at it.
This is the work of Julia Morgan, titled “In/Transit”. For some reason, upon hearing the name of these pieces, I was taken to a much more figurative view of the art. I began the famous process of contemplation that comes with observing art. I thought to myself: “Maybe Julia created the messy strokes on the page when she was feeling cloudy and confused over a situation in her life”. I turned over instances and searched for situations inside the colors of the pages. Although art is open-ended, after reading the display bearing Julia’s explanation of her work, I was struck. Of In/Transit, she said “these paintings were made on buses and trains, in desert jeeps, taxis, rental cars, buses and carts across Egypt, India, Morocco and France using watercolor, pens, ink, and paint markers” I stood puzzled, but by then very intrigued. read more

(Archive September 2017) Asphalt Apocalypse

By Michele Walsky | Observer Contributor

Aghast, no space in sight!

“BBQ fair,” my carpool squealed in delight

“Cone,” I groaned, circling in plight

Diagonal, sideways, angled, no use

Every spot was taken, it was becoming obtuse

Forget it, I’d say if it wasn’t for class

Good gravy, so jammed, students parked on the grass!

“Hurry”, I prayed, following walkers afar

Instead, they tossed books and grabbed more from their car

Just as hope dipped, we spied a spot

“KIDDING!”

Laughed the bike in its slot

“Motorcycles”, we cursed under our breath read more

(Archive September 2017) Eclipse

By Michael Young | Observer Contributor

A Shadow crossed before the sun,
while some of us have just begun to shine.

We do not need free speech
with flags of hate out in the street to shine.

Have we all lost our way
or just the ability to say the words that shine?

No need to plead or whine.
Just know that it’s the time to shine.

Be prepared to blaze
and cut through all this haze to shine.

It’s what is in your heart
that sets you apart and lets you shine.