Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy of young adult novels has become a phenomenon in the past few years. The books have generated a rabid fan base from both the male and female demographics. Due to the incredible popularity of these books, it’s no surprise that Hollywood production house Lionsgate jumped at the chance to secure the rights to film adaptations of the series. However, with a cast and production crew of fairly green Hollywood-ers, the film has faced an upward battle against the massive amount of hype the fans have created around it. Opening weekend gross numbers are one thing, but the real question is how well the book translated to the silver screen. Read more...

I first heard of Sushi X Lounge when my neighbor asked if I wanted to go with him to an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. I thought this was too good to be true; there was no way that there was a sushi buffet in Troy of all places, but sure enough, there it was in Latham. I’m going to confess that I’m an amateur foodie/restaurant reviewer so please keep this in mind. Read more...

What are you wearing? No, this isn’t one of those. Clothing and textiles are the world’s second-most traded goods, making up an industry worth more than $1 trillion worldwide, but we pay hardly any attention to their sustainability. As we bleed money on fashion, we, without thought, accept inferior quality—why build something to last when your customers will replace it in a few months?—and the destruction of the environments that grow the fibers. Cotton, a “natural” fiber, may account for less than three percent of the world’s farmed land, but it is responsible for a quarter of insecticides and one-tenth of herbicides, is the fourth most heavily fertilized crop, and is roughly 70 percent irrigated rather than rain-fed. Organic cotton may make your clothing less toxic, but does nothing for all its other problems. “Made in America” may sound nice, but it can just be a cover for deeper problems. And don’t get me started on “vegan” fashion. That’s just code for mass market petroleum products sold at premium prices. Only about one-fifth of sustainability initiatives in the fashion industry target the environmental effects of the underlying supply chain, the remainder limited to toxins and pollution from the factories. Read more...

There are a lot of great TV shows out there, but I’d definitely rank Avatar: The Last Airbender as being one of the best shows aired in the last 10 years. The tale of a young boy tasked with mastering the elements in a process known as bending, uniting four divided countries, and saving the world aired on Nickelodeon from 2005–2008, and even spawned a film adaptation (which I don’t think is even necessary to discuss). Airbender boasted great art, a stellar voice cast, fantastical creatures, beautifully choreographed fight scenes, and a plot that was unafraid to touch on deeper issues like racism, disabilities, and war—especially for a series aired on a children’s television network. Read more...

It is spring! Sure, the weather is still playing tricks with us, but flowers are starting to bloom, the sun is shining, and plants are starting to grow. Many of us may be getting out to exercise more, and looking for good sources of fresh and healthy food. Unfortunately, with our busy schedules, it is often hard to find time to make quality a priority. Read more...

An arcade game machine was recently installed in the Union Games Room. The machine features five fun games made by RPI’s own Game Development Club, some of which were seen at last semester’s Game Development Showcase. Read more...