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Buzzsaw Presents…
The Obsession Issue
“Boy, why you so obsessed with me?” sings Mariah Carey in her most recent single, echoing many previous songwriters’ thematic preoccupations with obsession. But obsession is more than just fodder for lyricists—obsessions are prevalent among individuals and institutions. With the advent of the Internet, people are given new forums for indulging in their obsessions. Some people latch onto a celebrity, a book, a movie, a game or a TV show and spend their late-night hours feverishly perusing fan sites and message boards. This isn’t to say obsessions are inherently negative. Sometimes they give people drive and motivation to accomplish goals. We all have certain things that get us up in the morning. And hey, who are we to judge fangirls who spend their time reading anime and pretending to date the characters?
News & Views
“I Want to Be in America”
The Effects of Migrant Workers in Upstate New York
By Julissa Trevino
Despite some negative perceptions of illegal immigrants, undocumented migrant workers play a large role in the upstate New York economy.
BuzzSeXxX: The Cold, (Not-So) Hard Truth
By Samantha Brucker
Even if the mood is perfect, sometimes too much alcohol prevents guys from rising to the occasion.
Obama, Osama, Yo Mama
How Islam is Being Used as an Insult
By Emily Stoner
Obama’s opponents have frequently called him a “Muslim” as an insult, but in reality he is a Christian. Ithaca College professors weigh in on why Islam has become a derogatory term and the racial implications of these misguided criticisms.
Restaurant Review: Xeo’s Cafe
By Keith Hadad
Ithaca has plenty of restaurants, but few feature as fresh, interesting ingredients as the new Vietnamese restaurant Xeo’s Café in Collegetown.
Growing New Roots in Education
New Roots Charter School Opens in Ithaca
By Emily Miles
New Roots Charter School has opened in downtown Ithaca, offering an alternative educational model and a curriculum emphasizing sustainability.
Upfront
Father, Sun and the Holy Stars
Why astrology and religion aren’t really that different
By Amanda Riggio
Astrology is often dismissed as silly and coincidental because there’s a supposed lack of evidence that it’s real. So why does religion get a free pass?
The Age of Anti-Aging Products
By Cassandra Leveille
Manufactured beauty is readily available in our society – youth is now for sale…but please, no refunds or rainchecks.
Cleaning Up OCD Stereotypes
Monk producer advocates for accuracy of disease portrayal
By Kacey Deamer
Mainstream TV shows and movies often portray obsessive compulsive disorder inaccurately. A producer from Monk explains why the seven-year-old show is different.
A+ in Academics, D in Sanity
The line between grade grubbing and being studious
By Gena Mangiaratti
We’re taught to work as hard as we can and put grades above all else – to get into college, to get into grad school, to best represent ourselves as people. But in the end, do they really matter? And can fixations on getting every possible point be damaging?
This Story is Not Objective
Yours isn’t either. And if you say otherwise, you’re lying.
By Shaun Poust
Seek the truth, inform the public and tell both sides to every story, even if the other side is bullshit: these are the tent poles of news journalism. Here’s why that foundation is illogical.
Superstition Ain’t the Way
(But really, they’re not hurting anyone, so don’t knock it.)
By Sarah Craig
Superstitious people get a bad reputation for being crazy and fixated on the negative. But they’re not hurting anyone, so really, haters back off.
Do Work, Get Money
A workaholic strives for the perfect resume, but at what costs?
By Alyssa Figueroa
Working hard in life is good for you. Working so hard you miss out on happiness…arguably not so good for you.
Proud to Be an Ameri-Fan
Europeans love American Culture…and they’re not afraid to show it.
By Briana Kerensky
Europeans, South Americans, Asians and other citizens of foreign countries idolize American culture. So why do they care about McDonald’s, U.S. pop music and Friends?
Nobody’s Perfect, You Better Work It
How quests to be the best and look the hottest wreck lives
By Qina Liu
In capitalistic America, the Dream has always been wealth, power, beauty and fame. But how far is too far in pursuit of this?
Aren’t You Uncomfortable in That Suit?
(And other questions for Furries.)
By Keith Hadad
The Furry Fandom, a rather recent social movement involving humans dressing up or identifying as animals, is blurring the lines between fetish and lifestyle.
Ministry of Cool
Avatars Made me Do it: When Virtual Becomes Reality
By Liz Kloczkowski
Gamer fall prey to highly addictive games and begin to feel the world of the game is more important then their actual lives. They allow the game to take control, to the danger of fatal consequences.
Women on Wheels: Local Roller Derby Team Expands With Increased Popularity
By Jacquie Simone
The underground sport of roller derby gains substantial popularity in Ithaca. Members of the Ithaca team, the SufferJets, talk about their love of the sport and their plans of starting a new team to foster to the growing interest in the sport.’
For the Love of Dracula!: He’ll Suck Your Sanity
By Catherine Fisher
Vampire obsession has existed for centuries in cultures all over the world, but only now with its reemergence in the mainstream media is it depicted as romantic and desirable. It’s just as addicting as it once was, but let us not forget that once vampire obsessed humans were killing others and drinking real blood instead of dumping their boyfriends for not being more like Edward or Bill.
Sensational Expression: Why We All Resemble Fishing Lures
By Amy Obarski
Chemical and psychological reasons as to why piercing and tattooing are so addicting. Once you start, you really can’t stop!
No Day Like Today: …And Tomorrow, And The Next Day and Next Week
By Lauren Mateer
Dedicated fans see Broadway shows upwards of 10 times, and with the high cost of tickets, how practical a guilty pleasure can this really be?
Cult of the…Lost Lovers?: The Ritual of Television
By Anne Northgraves
Television shows fosters cult following due to its high attachment rate in its story lines and characters. With DVDs, fans can watch and re-watch as many times as they want.
Kites In Spaces Kites in Space album review
By Bryan Cipolla
Local band Kites In Space put out self-titled debut. This passionate, melody-driven, indie-folk rock album includes dashes of synth/prog elements and a unique recording style.
Addicted to Beauty TV series reivew
By Mara Hileman
Oxygen’s skin-deep reality show about beauty freaks delights, confuses and even disgusts viewers, but all in the name of entertainment!
Capitalism: A Love Story film review
By Shaun Poust
Capitalism: A Love Story doesn’t live up to influential political theorists such as Marx and doesn’t seem to motivate the action Moore so deeply desires.
The Temper Trap, Conditions album review
By Sam Schles
The Temper Trap’s music moves past movie trailer status with their debut album Conditions. Drawing from influential styles of the past, they are labeled for success.
Where the Wild Things Are film review
By Amelia Blevins
Spize Jones’ Where the Wild Things Are creates an emotional world not necessarily meant for children, but a nice look back on our experience with Maurice Sendak’s book.
Q & A: The Onion
By Chris Giblin
Onion writer Seth Reiss spoke to students about satirical news writing and comedy in general at Emerson Suites Oct. 21. Reiss went over the storied fictional history of The Onion, which, according to his presentation, has been a trusted news source since colonial times.
Outside his writing, Reiss performs in an improv group called Pangea 3000 at Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater in New York.
Prose & Cons
Cake Poem
By C.R. Willsie
Fireflies
By Dylan Emmons
Sawdust
Area Man Still Believes He Is Living in Matrix, Close Friends worried
By Noah Burd
The Matrix is more than just a movie for some people. For this local man though, it’s life.
I’m Fun, Outgoing and Overly Trusting-So Just Stalk Me Already?
By Anne Northgraves
IC student Des Parrote is young, sexy, and enjoys late night walks alone down poorly lit paths. Why isn’t anybody stalking her?
Local Man’s Enthusiasm For Movie Drinking Games Getting out of Hand, Say Friends
By Chris Giblin
An IC student’s affinity for movie drinking games has gone too far.
Plastic Surgeon, Town, Reeling After Chick with Sweet Rack gets Breast Reduction Surgery
By Liz Kloczkowski
Buzzsaw Asks Why…Whalen is the best place to go to the bathroom
By Kacey Deamer