As Halloween gets closer and we have fewer options for activities due to COVID, we need to get creative in what we can do to celebrate safely. Here are three podcasts that offer scary stories about true crime, the paranormal, and creepy tales from real people. Turn off the lights, grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and cozy up to a digital campfire story! 1. Scared to Death | Hosts: Dan Cummins and Lynze Cummins This is a great podcast hosted by comedian, Dan Cummins, and his wife, Lynze Cummins. Dan shares alleged-to-be-true tales with his wife in an attempt to scare her. They have a great studio space set up for the ultimate scary feels. The spooky music will get you in the … [Read more...] about Spooky podcasts to get into the Halloween spirit
Arts and Entertainment
Gamers reconnect while in quarantine
As social distancing has become a common practice amongst people, there has been a rise in participation in online video games. In a time of a pandemic, consumer spending on video games have reached a record-breaking $11.6 billion, an increase of 30% compared to last year, according to The NPD Group, Inc. Notable popular games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Fortnite, and Grand Theft Auto V allow players to party up in a lobby and play together online. Players are also able to talk to their friends via voice chat. The online capabilities of these games allow players to spend time together and talk as if they were physically in the same room together. Coachella Valley … [Read more...] about Gamers reconnect while in quarantine
Local communities offer low-risk Halloween activities
Is COVID-19 the real boogeyman this Halloween? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, it might as well be.Various Halloween activities were ranked as low, moderate, or high risk. They recommend people to not mingle with others outside the household, rating activities such as parties, haunted houses, hayrides, and trick-or-treating as high-risk. For those who are feeling sick, live with someone who is at higher risk for disease, have tested positive, are waiting for COIVD-19 test results, or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, the CDC recommends them to stay home. But, do not fret my ghostly friends. Halloween activities … [Read more...] about Local communities offer low-risk Halloween activities
Dan Taylor discusses COVID-19’s impact on the local film industry
From Captain Marvel to Pirates of the Caribbean, the film industry brought $1.4 billion to San Bernardino and Riverside Counties since 1995. This income is unlikely to continue as the film industry has been “hit hard,” says Dan Taylor, President of the Inland Empire Film Services. Taylor previously served as the Liaison for the San Bernardino Film Commission and the Deputy Director of the Inland Empire Film Commission. His primary role is to help production companies obtain filming permits and provide a resource center where they can hire local people and vendors.According to him, the film industry brought in $50 million to the Inland Empire last fiscal year. A number the region is … [Read more...] about Dan Taylor discusses COVID-19’s impact on the local film industry
Gamers highlight the impacts of video games
Video games are enjoyed by many people of all ages. They have come a long way since the 1970’s. For some people, they are used to pass the time, but for others, video games have gone beyond being a leisurely activity. Fabio Rodriguez, 30, based outside the Inland Empire and a video game enthusiast for over 15 years, is a two-time cancer survivor that sees video games as more than just a form of entertainment. He attributes video games to saving his life. Rodriguez states, “Video games have allowed me to rediscover simple human functions. For instance, I have cancer. When I had a majority of it removed, my motor skills were among many things that were disrupted. I couldn’t walk or talk … [Read more...] about Gamers highlight the impacts of video games
CSUSB alumnus co-writes Netflix film
As part of the Professor for a Day event, CSUSB Alumnus Danny Bilson talks about his successes in the theater industry and his contribution to Da 5 Bloods, which will premier on Netflix on June 12. Graduating from CSUSB in 1978 with a BA in theater, Bilson co-wrote The Rocketeer with his writing partner Paul De Meo, co-produced the Sims, was Executive Creative Director for Electronic Arts (EA), and is now a professor and Interactive Media and Games Division Chair at University of Southern California (USC). As for his contributions to Da 5 Bloods, Bilson and De Meo wrote the original screenplay which was later adapted by director Spike Lee. “The story of Da 5 Bloods came from San … [Read more...] about CSUSB alumnus co-writes Netflix film
RAFFMA’s COVID-19 adjustments forces the team to innovate
RAFFMA made numerous adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from connecting with each other to connect with their audience. It’s been a big shift for the marketing department as well and staying in contact with their members and community. The teams continue working from home and coming up with new projects. This includes student assistants. Each person has their own projects and tasks ranging from creating crafts for every child they have in their summer workshops to making transcriptions and audio logs for their virtual tours. One of the upcoming virtual tours they are working on is their 3D Virtual Exhibition called Endomorphism by David B. Jang. His Exhibition gives an … [Read more...] about RAFFMA’s COVID-19 adjustments forces the team to innovate
Will the show still go on?
CSUSB's 2020 Spring musical “Once Upon A Mattress" is in a state of limbo on whether or not the live performance will take place on campus. The hard-working cast and crew of the musical are pressing on forward given the current pandemic crisis. They hope to perform an actual live show during the Fall semester 2020, with a hint of the possibility of a cancellation again. Thomas Provenzano, the director of the spring musical, said, "We are open to many ideas -- but nothing is certain." There is discussion about how and what can be done concerning the presentation of the musical given the unknown nature of the pandemic timeline. Approximately a year of planning has gone into the … [Read more...] about Will the show still go on?
Q & A with faculty editor of Pacific Review
“Alone Together: Confined in a Connected World,” a new issue of Pacific Review is accepting submissions until May 31, as it prepares for the soft launch date early this June. Angela Peñaredondo, Ph.D., has been the Faculty Editor of the 37-year-old journal for the past two quarters and has worked as a Creative Writing and Digital Humanities Assistant Professor since the Fall of 2018. She shares details about her work in the Pacific Review and those who are interested in getting published in the journal. Q: What types of works are accepted? A: Definitely fiction and poetry. We’re also accepting creative nonfiction, visual art or any type of art (photography, paintings, street … [Read more...] about Q & A with faculty editor of Pacific Review
Quarantine life through the eyes of Remy
Former CSUSB student Jorge Razo is taking advantage of the extra time during quarantine to showcase his creativity. Razo has been generating memes involving Remy, a character he created in 2013, being stuck at home during this pandemic. Razo has enjoyed drawing ever since he was a kid. "As I got older, I didn't have the same free time to draw, so I set aside all my drawing supplies and forgot about them for many years," Razo said. "It wasn't until I started reading children books to my daughter that the idea to write her a book and illustrate it came to mind." In 2013, Razo started an instagram page and called it "wiidoodle" and used the platform as an incentive to draw every … [Read more...] about Quarantine life through the eyes of Remy