Category: Columns

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Arts & Life Cooking Corner Uncategorized

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

58 calories, 3 g fat, 8 g carbs, 2 g protein

The holidays might be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this classic holiday cookie–and in a healthy way! The average peanut butter kiss cookie has 123 calories, 7 grams of fat, 13 grams of carbs and 3 grams of protein. This recipe cuts down by using light peanut butter, Truvia and egg whites, as well as a mini muffin tin to ensure perfect portioning.

Ingredients

2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter

4 Tbsp Better’n Peanut Butter

1/4 cup Truvia Baking Blend

1 egg white

15 Hershey’s Kisses

 

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 F.

2. Beat all ingredients (except Hershey’s Kisses) together until well mixed.

3. Spray mini muffin tin with non-stick spray and add 1/2 tablespoon batter to each cup.

4. Bake for 10 minutes.

5. Press in Hershey’s Kisses as soon as cookies are done and enjoy!

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Arts & Life Rees' Pieces

Rees’ Pieces: The Secret Life of the American Male

Man is most insightful when he is in privacy. Most men are neither orators nor performers of artistic crafts for the world to see. But there is one location where the average male can express his emotions anonymously for the rest of the population to contemplate and critique. This location has gone unnoticed and possibly repressed for at least a century. Following a month of uninterrupted contemplation during winter break, I wish to present my readership with a thorough, albeit unconventional, analysis of man’s most private artistic pursuit–bathroom graffiti.

While the bathroom may provide a private bastion for men, it also gives them a space to create art. I say men, as this is the only position I can reasonably infer from experience, but I truly hope that women engage in this same manner of intellectual expression. The stall is utilized not only as a studio, but a canvas. The stall may appear trivial for the artistic process, but in reality, it was the first form of social media. It is a private space while in use, but once the artist abdicates his throne, countless individuals can view his work. This pre-technology blog enables men to post their thoughts about innumerable relevant topics, and then, as Facebook emulated, the men can leave comments about what the others thought. No idea goes unevaluated. The portrait of each artist as a young man lies inscribed upon a universal easel; one man’s etched penis is simply a starting point that begs for myriad of additions by other craftsmen.

Many may find it hard to digest the societal relevance and importance of this realm. In response to their disdain and confusion, I declare the bathroom an area in which creativity is lauded and no “number-for-a-good-time” goes undialed. It is a place for unabashed indulgence in the most basic syntax; yet, it is also a haven for raw emotion. The restroom is exactly that: a place for rest and intellectual cathartic release. The modern day men’s restroom is akin to the French Salons, the British Pub and the powder rooms of the Industrial Revolution (although this term had a brief resurgence in 1960s discos, go figure). Criticism is encouraged, as evaluations of people, sports franchises and institutions abound.

So, the next time you begin to bubble with rage when reading crude stall lingo, remember that some creative avenues, although unconventional, are entirely pure and unadulterated. This leads to a more honest, pleasant and relaxed society, without which we would all develop repressive hysteria and desire to have sex with our mothers anyways.

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Arts & Life Columns

The Lying Bison: Your Daily Dose of Satire: Change Coming to University Seal

396478_212593725502142_100002545471885_428775_640922124_n - CopyBy Ethan Weber

Contributing Writer

One semester after the University stirred up a bit of controversy with the launch of its “We Do” campaign and the erection of a semi-permanent tent/dining room on the academic quad, the school is taking its fundraising to the next level with a planned change to the University’s seal. This week, administration and members of the board of trustees announced that the book that has hovered safely above the waves of “the storms of life” since 1849 will be replaced with an iPad.

The decision to bring the antiquated seal into the 21st century was not met without opposition. Following an outpouring of emails from concerned alumni, Nicholas Barrett, chairman of the University’s Seal Reformation Committee, issued this response:

“It is the opinion of the University that the seal should reflect Bucknell’s goals. The book has served the school well, but it is time our seal show the world who we are and who we want to attract. The sad truth is that printed books are just too cheap when compared to tablet devices. Yes, it’s cheaper to download a book to a tablet than to buy the print version, but the device itself is much more expensive. I mean like, ‘ka-ching ka-ching!’  That’s what we’re trying to attract: status, specifically Apple users. We want the new seal to be in keeping with the new campaign. It should send the message, ‘WHO HAS NICE THINGS? WE DO.’”

The statement was sent from Barrett’s iPad, and then re-sent once he noticed all the touch-screen and auto-correct typos.

As for how the iPad will appear on the seal, it will simply be a blue rectangle with a white Apple logo in the center. On the flag, it will be an orange rectangle with a blue logo.

“There’s no need to see the screen,” Barrett said. “The important thing is that people see it’s an iPad and not a Galaxy Tab.”

“We’re keeping it simple, so it will always look like the most fashionable, up-to-date model,” Laverne Rowland, designer of the new seal, said.

Students, faculty and alumni have asked how the University intends to pay for the rights to Apple’s iconic logo, but Barrett assures the campus community that the University has planned ahead.

“It all goes back to the success of the ‘We Do’ campaign,” he said.

Should all go as planned, students can expect to see the transition begin sometime in Fall 2013.

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Arts & Life Columns

Trend Report: Faux Furs & Faux Pas

By Kate Jansen

Before we spring into spring fashion, or at this rate, slide into spring fashion, I’d like to discuss one of winter’s most sought-after looks. Fur has again made a major statement this season in the fashion world. Designers have given us fur-lined hoods, headbands, earmuffs and gloves. My favorite fur look is the vest.

My first, dare I say, fashionable piece was a faux fur vest gone horribly wrong. For my 12th birthday, my mom bought me a white faux fur vest. It was a shag rug with armholes that was equipped with a faux leather tie. When I put it on, I thought I was Coco Chanel herself.

I thought it would be wise to pair the vest with a lime green polka dot shirt and a pair of pink corduroys. Yes, I also resembled a watermelon. I strutted into school the next day, expecting girls to whisper enviously about my ensemble. This was my first fashion faux pas.

My peers smirked as I pranced ito my first period math class. A boy sauntered over to my desk and, without waiting for me to acknowledge him, he said, “How many Yetis did you have to kill to make that vest?”

I suppose the moral of my story is to take fashion risks, but not the kind that leave you looking like a creature out of “The Wizard of Oz.” The other moral is that middle schoolers are cruel. Needless to say, I have recovered from that incident. I picked up a faux fur vest at Manhattan’s newest Aritzia over Christmas break and found that the piece could be paired with dark jeans and a long sleeved tee for a casual look, or layered over a mini dress for formal get-togethers.

If your closet lacks a fur piece, it would be wise to buy one now. Department stores are beginning to push out sweaters and jackets via final sale to make way for tanks and bikinis. This leaves us in the inevitable No Shopper’s Land, a phrase that I have just made up to describe the awkward in-between-winter-and-spring-phase that we face every year. Do we choose to buy short sleeves and sandals that we cannot wear until April? Or do we protest against designers for denying us our inalienable right to buy cashmere in the dead of February? That’s for you to decide.

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Arts & Life Columns

Trend Report: Snow Boots

Trend Report: Snow Boots

By Kate Jansen

Writer

This November has been unseasonably chilly. I’m sure this week’s snow episode was a rude awakening for those who have not yet had the privilege of bearing Northeastern winters.

After nearly four winters of warmth, I officially retired my Uggs this season and decided to look for a more reliable pair of snow boots. So, amidst Black Friday chaos, my mom and I traveled to the nearby L.L. Bean store.

I must admit, I have wanted a pair of duck boots–commonly known as Bean Boots–since they became wildly popular last spring. When we had finally meandered our way to the outerwear section of the store, a pair of tan Bean Boots immediately caught my attention. Needless to say, I was sold in an instant. And, in case you were wondering, I’m wearing them as I write this article.

L.L. Bean, however, is not a duck boot monopoly. J. Crew is currently selling an exclusive line of Sperry Top-Sider Shearwater boots. They come in a variety of preppy two-tones, including navy blue and pink. They’re also fur lined, making them perfect for Pennsylvania winters.

Bean Boots also look adorable when paired with calf-high wool socks and black leggings. On days when I want to feel extra-outdoorsy, I throw on a plaid flannel and Patagonia vest to complete the look.

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Arts & Life Columns Cooking Corner

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Apples

Katie Mancino | The Bucknellian

Katie Mancino

Writer
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Apples
150 calories, 0.5g fat, 39 carbs, 1g protein
For the holidays this year, you can forget the apple pie with this incredibly delicious treat. This is one of those fantastic recipes that tastes phenomenal and just happens to be more healthy for you. You can also try adding nuts or dried fruit to the filling (golden raisins are my favorite). I topped a few of mine with a half teaspoon of chopped pecans. You can bake the apples longer to make them more soft so they fall apart, or cook them a little less so they still have a bite.
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 6 large apples
  • 2 Tbsp Truvia Baking Blend
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp Land O’Lakes Light Butter
Directions
  1. Heat oven to 400 F.
  2. Core apples–make sure not to cut through the bottom. You can use an apple corer or carefully use a paring knife.
  3. In a small bowl, mix together sugars and spices.
  4. Cut butter into 6 cubes and put one cube into each apple along with 1/6 of the sugar spice mixture (you can also top with chopped nuts if you’d like).
  5. Place in a casserole dish and add about 1/2 inch of water to the dish as well.
  6. Bake 30-40 minutes until browned and soft.
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Arts & Life Columns Movies Review

Skyfall deemed one of the best Bond installments, a possible Oscar contender

Carolyn Williams

Writer

As the Bond franchise celebrates its 50th anniversary, director Sam Mendes delivers a terrific reboot to the series with “Skyfall.” Engaging, modern and lovingly self-referential, “Skyfall” is a definite contender as one of the best 007 movies of all time.

“Skyfall” opens, in traditional Bond fashion, in an exotic locale (Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar) as our hero (Daniel Craig), in all his perfectly tailored glory, knocks over some fruit carts in his attempt to catch the “bad guy”–in this case, he’s stolen a flash drive loaded with valuable information. Rooftop chases and a fight on a train ensue (Bond stopping to adjust a cuff link before reentering the fray); it’s all in a day’s work for 007–until it’s not. When the villain in question uses Bond as a human shield and his fellow agent cannot get a clean shot, M (Judi Dench), via earpiece, commands she take the shot, and Bond apparently dies.

Shockingly, 007 does not die 20 minutes into this film. While he’s presumed dead, some serious dilemmas arise at MI6. M is subjected to her new, deeply bureaucratic boss (Ralph Fiennes), who thinks it is about time she stepped down, and is seriously questioning the role of secret agents in an increasingly digital world. Shortly after this dressing down, M is made the target of a terrorist attack on MI6 itself, and is told to “think on her sins.” All this, and she has to write Bond’s obituary, too?

Happily, Bond returns to London soon enough, but this is a tired and aging Bond. Forced to retake his physical and mental exams, he scrapes by and returns to active duty, gunning for the cyber terrorist targeting M. With the help of the latest Bond girl, he finds the perversely amiable Silva (a blonde Javier Bardem) living on a creepily abandoned island. It turns out that Silva’s an ex-MI6 agent who has major Oedipal beef with M. In an exciting and somewhat expected plot twist, Silva is not so well-caught as MI6 had hoped, and both Bond and M must run for cover until they are able to face Silva on Bond’s home turf.

“Skyfall” is hands down the best action movie of the year, which is already saying something unusual about a Bond movie of late. This film is the rightful sequel to 2006’s “Casino Royale,” and firmly sets up Bond movies for years to come. (Let’s just pass over the blip that was “Quantum of Solace,” shall we?) A super-creepy Bardem is a terrific baddie–always a good sign in the world of 007 successes. With the help of fresh, new cast members (Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw), this Bond screams 21st century, a place some weren’t sure he belonged. Specifically great is a sardonically nerdy Whishaw as the latest Q, who jokes, “What, were you expecting an exploding pen? We don’t really do that anymore.”

Although gone is Connery’s sarcastic, all-knowing Bond, Craig’s more realistically brutal performance is an easy second for best ever 007.

“A dynamic and vulnerable Daniel Craig comes of age in this action packed movie, making this Bond one of the best,” Ava Giuliano ’14 said.

The exuberant references to past adventures, witty script and the unexpected return of a certain Aston Martin DB5 make “Skyfall” one of the best Bond installments, and perhaps even a contender this Oscar season.

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Arts & Life Columns Humor Rees' Pieces

Rees’ Pieces: The Columnist Manifesto

Ben Rees

Writer

The Columnist Manifesto

 

A couple of weeks ago I did not get a column done–oops! Like everyone else, I was inescapably swamped with loads of schoolwork, and in the midst of my scholarly flurrying, I neglected to write. While entrenched in the intellectual firefight preceding Thanksgiving break, my creative spark was nowhere to be found. Not to say that I failed to attempt a column; in fact, I tried to come up with something halfway decent on more than one occasion. Regrettably, the ideas I came up with were nowhere close to pleasant and even further from endearing. I do not know whether rigorous intellectual pursuits necessarily stifle creativity, and as many of my scholarly endeavors are dedicated to English literature, I would assert that homework and creativity go hand in hand. For some reason, I just couldn’t get it together.

William Faulkner once said: “I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately, I am inspired at nine o’clock every morning.” I, on the other hand, seem only to write at a mildly successful level anywhere between six and 12 hours before my deadline. There are two possibilities for this: one, the increased need to produce stimulates whatever comedic abilities I may have, or two, I get stressed and bitter enough that my anger ends up sounding funny. Take a look back, and I think we can all agree that the latter is probably right on the money. All my columns either rant, tell people what not to do or make incomprehensibly juvenile jokes about body parts.

An embittered columnist cannot produce comedy forever, as he is not on stage to make goofy faces and provide filler jokes bashing the ugly couple in front. Rather, from now on, I, Benjamin Rees, will try to be a little more optimistic in my writing. The glass is no longer half full of poison, it is just half full–maybe of Fanta or something else pleasant.

Now don’t forget, my goblet still overfloweth with bubbling scorn, and I rather dislike most things; however, in the spirit of the artistic process I will attempt to create some original, positive jokes in order to make everyone’s day shine a tad brighter. Call this column my metamorphosis: a once sour larvae blossoming into a beautiful, yet decently funny butterfly. With immense grace, as if erupting from its cocoon like the Alien from an unsuspecting abdomen, it spreads its wings and lightly flutters upon the generally confused synapses of those misfortunate enough to encounter this questionable transformation.

Disclaimer: If you have laughed at all during this column, you should be shamefully aware of your cynical chuckles. Every word espouses a delicate, personal transformation, and any humor this may have aroused in my audience is at the expense of my personal progress. Essentially, my happiness is a joke. Thanks, jerks.

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Arts & Life Columns Cooking Corner

Mini Pumpkin Pie Cheesecakes

Katie Mancino | The Bucknellian

Katie Mancino
Writer

per cheesecake: 25 calories, 0g fat, 5 carbs, 1g protein

This is one of the biggest hits among my friends, and they have all agreed that if it wasn’t for me making this dessert, they would have never realized cheesecake could be so healthy. You can easily use this cheesecake recipe to make other flavors by just swapping out the pumpkin. You could even make a few kinds by splitting the recipe into halves for an extra impressive Thanksgiving display!

I decorated these with cool whip frosting (found in the freezer section) and fun sprinkles. The frosting is 60 calories for two tablespoons, but I only used half a teaspoon on each, adding only five extra calories.

Makes 36 mini cheesecakes

Ingredients

  • 5 Honey Maid Low Fat Cinnamon Graham Crackers
  • 1 Tbsp Land O’Lakes Light Butter
  • 2 fresh egg whites
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1/4 cup fat free sour cream
  • 8 oz (1 pack) fat free cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
  • Mini cupcake liners

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350 F.
  2. Crush graham crackers until fine and melt butter.
  3. Combine butter and crushed crackers. Press 1/2 teaspoon into the bottom of each mini cupcake liner.
  4. Whip egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form (this is much easier with a mixer).
  5. Beat together pumpkin, sour cream, cream cheese, sugars and spices until smooth.
  6. Gently mix egg whites into pumpkin mixture.
  7. Add 1/2 tablespoon of batter to each mini cupcake tin.
  8. Bake 15-20 minutes until solid at the top but still jiggly.
  9. Refrigerate for 1 hour to set.
  10. Decorate and enjoy!

 

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Arts & Life Columns

Trend Report: Black Friday

Black Friday

Kate Jansen

Writer

In one week’s time, we will be stuffing ourselves with Thanksgiving leftovers and deliberating whether or not we are fit enough to join Black Friday’s shopping extravaganza.

For the past few years after Thanksgiving, my mom and I have ventured to New York City to join the anxious mobs of other mother-daughter pairs in search of the best bargain. For those who have not participated in Black Friday, allow me to put things into perspective. Black Friday is a survival of the fittest game of sorts. Women of all ages fight for the cheapest overall haul of garments. My mom and I have witnessed this on several occasions while shopping at Bloomingdale’s. Small mountains of last season’s sweaters litter the department store floor. Mothers go through piles in the dressing room, willing to snag the cheapest cardigan, even if it means they will lose an earring in the process.

I have found that the best way to cure any Turkey Day hangover is to beat the mad rush and shop online. Personally, I think that major department stores like Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue offer better deals online than they do in stores. Other popular retail stores offer major blowout sales the Friday, Saturday and Monday after Thanksgiving. I’d pay close attention to sales that are exclusive to Cyber Monday; these could be the best deals of the season. And so, next weekend, channel your inner shopaholic and grab your laptop.