Snap, Crackle, Pop - The Daily Collegian's arts blog.

Lost spoilers housed within!

So, the new timeline convergence is starting to smooth out a little. We still have no idea why it's happening exactly, but it's at least starting to feel a bit regular.

This episode seemed to single-handedly bring back the character of Claire - the blonde, formerly pregnant Australian - and morph her into a bad ass Rousseau-type figure. Maybe she is Rousseau - it could make sense. Sayid is supposedly filled with an infection that only poison can cure, and is once again supporting my theory that he's being taken over by Jacob.

So, that means John Locke is now possessed by the anti-Jacob dude, Sayid may be possessed by Jacob, and Claire may be possessed by Rousseau.

At least we're getting some acting chops from the cast.

And next week's episode is still being billed as the episode to end all questions - at least we started to get some Claire answer-age in this episode.

Stay tuned for next week's blog, the blog to end all questions.

- Nick Weingartner.

Thinking about updating your wardrobe? Or maybe you just need a couple necessities? Or perhaps there is that must-have item you are just dying to buy?

Regardless of your motivation, make sure to check out American Apparel before making your next online purchase. You might be curious why...

Well, get this -- Relay for Life of Penn State 2010 is holding an American Apparel sale with discounted prices through Feb. 26. 100 percent of the profits will benefit Relay For Life.

There is a $20 minimum purchase price. Checks, cash and credit card orders will be accepted via mail or e-mail. Check out the American Apparel catalog and the Relay For Life Facebook event for order forms and instructions for how to order.

-Kathleen Loughran

Kids, get ready -- Method Man is coming to town.

The Grammy-winning rapper will play Mezzanine on Feb 25, said Lance Falkowski, general manager of Mezzanine, 420 E. College Ave.

The artist has released four solo albums, three albums with Redman, acted in movies such as "The Wackness" and "How High," and is a member of hip-hop supergroup the Wu-Tang Clan - which includes members like RZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.

Tickets will probably go on sale Feb. 15 and will be $30, Falkowski said.

Read tomorrow's issue of The Daily Collegian for more details.

- Nick Weingartner.

Yesterday marks not only the New Orleans Saints' first Superbowl game, let alone the team's first Superbowl win, but also another year in which the game was the number one most-watched television broadcast. Time has proven that football has incorporated itself as a part of American culture as a whole. To safely say that a large portion of Americans tuned in to watch the most important football game of the season is proof the sport itself is an integral American custom.

This year marked an even more interesting game than usual as the Saints stood proud after receiving their victory, showing the spirit of New Orleans will not be destroyed, even after the striking of a natural disaster. Although it has been a few years since Hurricane Katrina struck and devastated New Orleans, the comeback of this sports team, whose stadium held many struggling to survive in the wake of the disaster, brought the spirit of Louisiana with them when they walked out on to that field. Beating the highly regarded Colts, who were the favorite to win, did nothing but add to the intensity of the game and the inspirational quality of the win rendered by the first-time Super Bowl participants.

It just goes to show that the support of a nation will take you far.

-Allegra O'Neill

State College will be the third stop of Canadian rapper Drake's "Away From Home" tour this spring, according to Billboard.com.

The "Best I Ever Had" rapper and "Degrassi" alumnus is scheduled to perform in State College April 9, though the Web site does not specify which venue will host the performance.

The tour has also been dubbed the "Campus Conscious Tour," and will stop at more than 15 universities, according to the site. The tour will focus on eco-friendly resources and green technology -- from an environmentally friendly tour bus to an "Eco-Village" of tents and environmentally-conscious groups educating concertgoers.

The tour will also feature Canadian rapper K-OS and New York band Francis & The Lights, according to Billboard.com.

- Caitlin Sellers.

Episode #1 - Maps, Scientists and Bears, OH MY!

Hello, all, and welcome to "Random Question Fridays with Nick," a program, almost like one on television, except here you have to read words.

This weekly blog will consist mainly of spillover questions that Nick Weingartner, Senior Music Reporter, asks sources that don't - shall we say - easily fit into the article.

Hope you enjoy.]

Source #1: Cory Murchy, bassist for Minus the Bear

Q: In 1000 years, what do you want to leave the Earth with?

A: "Hopefully, some sort of positively. I'd rather do something positive, whether that's making music that lends itself to other people creating more, and moving along and keep going. Yeah, positive vibes man -- love. That's what we want to leave."

Q: You have one message to the children of Earth. What is it?

A: "Love one another - it's a lot easier."

Q: What's your favorite YouTube video?

A: "There's a pretty bitchin' one of some kid playin' our song on Guitar Hero."

Source #2: Erin Elders, guitarist for Maps and Atlases

Q: What's your opinion on the music reporting media, honestly? Not being biased, talking to me now. Like, honestly.

A: "I don't know -- it's sort of easy for people to get wrapped up in it. You release a record, sit around and wait for Pitchfork to write a review... It's something that will exist, and there's nothing you can really do about it. As long as people are putting music or art into the world, the more people are going to write about it. I try not to think about it too much."

Source #3: Faye Kim (sophomore-biological engineering)

Q: (Referring to the upcoming Minus the Bear show) Will it be transcendent? I hear their music is a transcendent experience. Will you transcend time and space?

A: "Not particularly. I like going to concerts mostly because of live music."

Q: What's the meaning of life?

A: "I don't quite know. I guess.. (sigh) I really have no idea. I kinda have a 'What's the point of life, why-is-everyone-doing-what-they're-doing' mentality. I still haven't figured it out."

Source #4: Keith Murray, singer and guitarist for We Are Scientists

Q: What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?

A: "I had one two nights ago that I was piloting a seaplane and looking down into the ocean, and there were all these sandstone formations. Obviously sandstone wouldn't fare well in the ocean, and I really couldn't fly these seaplanes but I wanted to swim around the sandstone."

Q: Did you like 'Avatar'?

A: "I did not like Avatar at all. The thing I will give 'Avatar' is that 70 percent the time, it looked pretty good."

Q: Team Conan or Team Leno?

A: "Absolutely Conan! Are you crazy!? But, having dealt with the major entertainment industry, I'm certainly not surprised the heads of NBC appear to be...It's a total joke, anyway. All those people at NBC will be fired anyway."

-Nick Weingartner

School sucks and got in the way of American Idol watching Tuesday night. But I was able to catch Wednesday night's episode (the last of the audition round) and was impressed with what a great episode it actually was.

Instead of a traditional one-city episode, Idol pulled together a compilation of the best of the best--and while it featured a few of the usual crazies, it kept them to a minimum, making room for the some great auditions real fans wanted to see.

Here's my take on the episode:

Best Simon moment:

When nervous Amanda Shectman was begging to be put through, Simon did a hilarious impression of her by covering up his face like teenage girl.

Favorite familiar faces:

Rose Flack from season 8, as well as who I think was Frankie Jordan. These were two of my favorites last year that I was surprised to see didn't make it out of Hollywood.

Posh surprise part 2:

I really thought this was a fluke three weeks ago, but Victoria Beckham really is a sweetheart. After a crazily-dressed contestant called Posh her fashion idol but did't make it, she came around from the judging desk to give her a hug.

Saddest bad audition:

6'8", 17-year old Adrien Chandtchi. Sure he called himself a "blossoming manflower," but something about his train wreck made me sad.

Best of the best:

1. Jessica Furny ("Footprints in the Sand")--Also a previous Season 8 contestant that I listed as a favorite on last year's blog, I still adore this girl. She had an incredible sound without having to be cutesy or annoying. I really hope she makes it far.

2. Didi Benami ("Hey Jude")--what Simon? Only a small yes?! I give a huge yes to this girl. The song should be a cliché, but she sand it with such personality and the high notes were phenomenal.

3. Crystal Bowersox ("Piece of My Heart")--we only got a small clip of her, but she too had a lot of talent, and her blonde dreadlocks and style made her memorable.

4. Aaron Kelly ("The Climb")--a little too David Archuleta-cutesy? Maybe, but his voice is stronger and his aunt didn't feel like a stage parent.

5. Michael Lynche ("Unchained Melody")--high notes weren't quite there, but this teddy bear personal trainer had nice control of the rest of the song.

6. Hope Johnson ("I Hope You Dance")--Idol trumped her audition as "saving the best for last," and while I didn't think it deserved that lead in, she's definitely got talent and likeability.

And because I wasn't able to recap Tuesday night, I'll add a little something special to make up for it. In honor of the end of audition week, here are my top 5 favorite Idol auditions of all time:

5. Chris Daughtry, Season 5 (Favorite Idol contestant after Carly Smithson)

4. Katharine McPhee, Season 5 (what happened to her career?)

3. Paris Bennet, Season 5 (Her second song, not the first)

2. Sean Mitchel, Season 6 (Seriously, who would have thought?)

1. Sundance Head (Also my biggest Idol disappointment ever. He was never able to top this.).

Looks like the best don't always come out on top (or even make it out of Hollywood). We'll see next week when Idol get's there!

-Kristen Karas

SPOILER ALERT

Lost - what the hell?

Melancholy, I tell you.

Disclaimer: I'm a lost head. (That has a dual-meaning)

As you can probably tell, my mind's pretty fragmented by this point. Tonight was the first episode of the last season of Lost, which is basically the masterpiece for the television medium. It's War and Peace for TV (or The Catcher in the Rye, which is my favorite perceived masterpiece, and could be a fitting tribute to the Death of the Great American Author event which happened in the past week).

But what did the episode do? It raised more questions, fucked with my mind more, and basically told me nothing.

Yet I loved it.

There are now two story lines, except they are not past-present , or past-future, like in... well, the past. It is currently history-alternatehistory, with the distinction being pretty damned blurred.

Charlie, Claire, and the flight attendant all made guest appearances, which was nice. Oh, and now there are two John Lockes. Richard was apparently in chains in the past, and Lost may be Atlantis (there's a shot of the island being underwater, with the Ozymandias foot and all), and Sayid may be possessed by Jacob. And we don't know Jacob's nemesis's name yet.

Sorry to all you non-Lost fans who have no idea what I'm talking about. And sorry to all you Lost fans that are as confused as me.

If I write again, I'll hope to make more sense. Maybe this is the show's fault.

"See you in another life, mate(s)"

-Nick Weingartner

The 2010 Oscar nominations were announced this morning, and while there was a whole lot o' predictability, there were some good and bad surprises as well.

For the first time, the Oscars nominated 10 films for best picture instead of the usual five, a concept that, on one hand, helps to include the great but risky films that would have been edged out, but also forces some not-so-great films to make the cut as well.

If this had been a five-pick year, the choices would have been Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Up in the Air, and Precious. With the expansion, it's awesome to see the wonderful Pixar film Up included as not just an animated feature, and the sci-fi hit District 9 as well.

The biggest surprise, though, is The Blind Side, a movie that has received almost no pre-Oscar attention outside of Sandra Bullock's performance, and is currently considered "rotten" among Rotten Tomatoes' top critics. It's a shame to see a predictable film like this chosen in favor of much more deserving films like "The Messenger" or "Where the Wild Things Are."

The directing, lead acting and supporting actor nominations were expected, but the supporting actress category sported a little surprise with Maggie Gyllehaal nominated alongside Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart, over either of the Inglourious Basterds actresses.

Animated feature (a throwaway category given that one of its nominees also is a best picture nominee) knocked Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs out of the way for the little-known The Secret of Kells.

In all, it will be pretty interesting to see which film comes away with the year's top prize. Despite the 10 nominees, it's really an Avatar/Hurt Locker/Up in the Air race, with Inglourious Basterds possibly sneaking in as an upset (fingers crossed!). Avatar has taken the Golden Globe, while The Hurt Locker nabbed the Critic's Choice and Inglourious Basterds the SAG for best cast. These four top contenders couldn't be any more different in terms of style, so the Oscar choice will say a lot in terms of what type of film (visual vs. script, action vs. dialogue, etc.) Hollywood thinks we should value.

-Kristen Karas

The Grammys' red carpet is known to be wild and loud to fit the artsy, crazy personalities of many music industry stars. But this year, the red carpet was crazier than the artists themselves.

I mean--what is going on with the stars sense of style? First the Golden Globes and now the Grammys, both utter disasters when it came to fashion.

So I've decided to cut these stars some slack by being a wee lenient and adding an OK category and a League of her Own to the typical Best Dressed and Worst Dress. Let's get on with the list, shall we.

Worst Dressed- guy

Question for you, Elvis Costello--are you planning on going on a Caribbean cruise anytime soon? Even if you are, it's still a fashion faux pas to wear a Hawaiian-inspired red hat on the red carpet. Especially with the sunglasses, it just looks tacky. And don't even get me started on the unidentifiable patterned shirt.

Worst Dressed- gal

Katy Perry, what were you thinking? We really don't need a viewing of your boobs from the peephole on the side of your dress. But even if you closed it up, the dress still would be a disaster. The color of the dress completely washed her out and the gold foil-looking flowers just looked cheap.

OK- guy

So I loved how Common decided to take some risks, but at the same time, they're what made this look only an OK. I give him props for mixing patterns, but he went a little too far. The red polka-dot trim looks nice with the plaid blazer, but the stark white shirt is too harsh for the ensemble. Then he topped it off with a navy and white handkerchief--so not fashion forward.

OK- gal

Miley Cyrus fell into this category last night. The red carpet was a tough one for the ladies, as few seemed to actually hit the mark. Thus, Cyrus' outfit looked lovely compared to most. It was age appropriate and brought out her blue eyes. I loved how she paired the dress with chunky black heels; it definitely gave the outfit an edgy vibe. But the look still wasn't a knockout. I despised all the rings and the bubble gum pink nail polish. And the dress could've been a tad bit longer.

Best Dressed- guy

I'm so not a fan of the Jonas Brothers, so it's hard for me to admit this, but Joe Jonas was definitely smokin' on the red carpet last night. From his glasses to his charcoal jacket, his look screamed sophistication. His slicked back hair completed the outfit perfectly.

Best Dressed- gal

I think we have a style star in our midst. Lea Michele has knocked two red carpets out of the ballpark when it comes to fashion. Michele put a twist on the classic, elegant black dress at both the Golden Globes and the Grammys. Last night she showed how to make a statement, while still being classy.

A League of her Own

It's pretty obvious whom this one goes to. Lady GaGa, of course. In a way, her dress was a complete piece of art and totally beautiful. But I still can't get past the fact that it looks like Armani threw a ton of hula-hoops onto her dress. That being said, I adored the violet color and the shimmery affect of the dress. And the star prop was pretty snazzy.

Well there you have it. All I can say is I hope and pray that the stars can get it right for the Oscars event.

-Kathleen Loughran