Articles from December, 2007

squid 12.28.07 Person of the Year 2007

Impressed by TIME’s unexpected selection of Vladimir Putin as 2007’s person of the year, the Bureau Staff considers some alternative nominees for the dubious distinction.
arts 12.26.07 Best Films of 2007

The Bureau Staff picks the top movies of the year, proving, once again, that they are better than the Academy Awards.
arts 12.24.07 Best Albums of 2007

After much heated deliberation, writers of the Bureau Staff select their favorite albums of the past year.
travel 12.21.07 Czech Republic: Christmas Time is Here

This is the eleventh installment in a series of essays by globe-trotter Kevin Nguyen, who is currently studying at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. With good holiday spirits, Kevin attempts to wrap his head around Czech Christmas traditions, which involve rope, blackface, magical pigs, and the Second Coming.
humor 12.19.07 The Smaragdine Jiboya

Jordan Barber, known as “The 20-year-old Tony Kushner” in some circles, takes into the depths of the jungle in the first half of his off-the-wall short play.
arts 12.17.07 Mario Kart Koinages

Attempting to escape the gloomy weather of Washington state’s finest city, Jeff Merrion finds comfort in one of our fondest childhood memories–Mario Kart. The game also proves to be a fertile breeding ground for useful neologisms.

travel 12.14.07 Czech Republic: Bankrot

This is the tenth installment in a series of essays by globe-trotter Kevin Nguyen, who is currently studying at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Suffering from the falling U.S. dollar, Kevin goes Christmas shopping at the country’s strangest chain of bargain stores.
personal 12.12.07 English 345: The Strangest Hour in My Day

College inevitably breeds pseudo-intellectualism, and almost as inevitably is that single annoying student in your English class. Caitlin Boersma endures five of these ignoramuses in one class.
humor 12.10.07 Sensational Headlines Force Writer to Create Zombie Pigs

Exaggerated tabloid and website headlines often lead to stories that can’t live up to their promising titles. Nick Martens turns the tables on this situation and produces fittingly sensational tales for sensational headlines.
travel 12.07.07 Czech Republic: Rock ‘n Roll Revolution or How a Psychedelic Rock Band Freed a Country from the Tyranny of Communism

This is the ninth installment in a series of essays by globe-trotter Kevin Nguyen, who is currently studying at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Many bands sing about change, but few ever really impact the country’s political climate. Inspired by a simple desire to make music, Czech psychedelic rock outfit the Plastic People of the Universe accidentally became directly responsible for the Velvet Revolution.
humor 12.05.07 My Father Reviews My Liberal Arts Education

Concern is often raised when discussing the practicality of a liberal arts education. Student Jordan Barber solicits a review of his curriculum from his father, who expresses certain misgivings regarding his tuition payment’s return-on-investment.
arts 12.03.07 How to Start a Post-Rock Band

Are you the only person in Canada who owns a guitar and hasn’t appeared on a Broken Social Scene album? Jeff “Mogwai” Merrion reveals his step by step guide to becoming a successful post-rock star.