By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| Critical thinking is a foundational element of academic education, and in providing that, our colleges are failing us. College is supposed to be a place for the sharing of ideas and open discussion and debate in which any view is open for challenge or questioning. If any place, it should be in our establishments of higher education that issues and various topics are encouraged to be talked about intelligently and without barriers of censorship or fear of trespassing upon what is deemed politically correct. Do not mistake me, there is plenty of encouragement to partake in discussion and ask questions, but you better make sure they’re the “right” … [Read more...] about The University and the Declining of Western Civilization
Daniel DeMarco
The gluttony of superhero movies
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| I am done with superhero movies; I’ve been done. There was a time when they were fun and exciting. Then it continued along, and it was cute for a while. But it just won’t stop.Superhero movies are becoming pop music. The same way the music industry puts out simple formula music that garners to as big of an audience as possible, the film industry has found their formula; and you’re falling for it. The superhero audience has become an easy lay for the film companies where they’re almost guaranteed to get the bang from their buck with each new movie every other month. It seems to be the result of an interesting dynamic in which fans, casual and … [Read more...] about The gluttony of superhero movies
Witness greatness one last time: The underappreciated legacy of Floyd Mayweather
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s last fight is taking place Saturday, Sept. 12; at least that’s what he says. But let’s take his word for it and really appreciate this as the last time we’re going to see Mayweather in the boxing ring. I’m not particularly a fan of Mayweather as a person and I make no excuses for his domestic crimes, but from a sports vantage, he is undoubtedly the best boxer of his generation and, to me, severely underappreciated. Casual boxing fans have never liked Mayweather; I know because I’ve sat in rooms full of them during his fights listening to their vocal disappointment and futile opinions of him as a boxer. It’s like … [Read more...] about Witness greatness one last time: The underappreciated legacy of Floyd Mayweather
The misunderstood spectacle of pro wrestling
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| There lingers a stigma in society surrounding professional wrestling. The simple mention of it often brings a response like, “you mean that fake WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) stuff?” I know, because I was one of those responding in that judgmental tone for many years after I had “grown out of it.” I now see that I was mistaken, and unless you are a wrestling fan, you’re probably wrong too. As I got older, I could not quiet that thought in the back of my head: Why are thousands of people, every week, buying tickets or tuning in to watch men and women fake-fight? Eventually, curiosity and a nostalgic desire brought me to try to really … [Read more...] about The misunderstood spectacle of pro wrestling
The Wire still sets the standard for television perfection
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| Some people want more from their entertainment than, well, entertainment. Unfortunately for those people, fulfilling that need can prove difficult due to the obvious reason that this sort of product is much more artistically demanding to make and thus, not abundant in supply, but also because the spotlight is often reserved for the worst of the worst in radio pop music, reality television, and further simple-minded entertainment. “The Wire” is routinely included in the lineup of countdowns for “the greatest television show/drama ever.” Entertainment Weekly announced it as number one on their list in 2013. On IMDb, the series holds a … [Read more...] about The Wire still sets the standard for television perfection
The inspiring resurgence of Robbie Lawler: The history-making career of a prizefighter
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| Some stories are even too unbelievable for a movie script. It doesn’t always stop them from making those kinds of movies, but it takes away from a serious film when you walk out thinking: “Yeah, it was a pretty good movie, but that would never actually happen.” On occasion, what’s realistic and what is true don’t quite match up; those are the stories that live on and become stuff of legend. Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler has provided us with one of those stories; he revived his career beyond the expectations that anyone could have reasonably had in these last two years. Beauty behind the comeback There is … [Read more...] about The inspiring resurgence of Robbie Lawler: The history-making career of a prizefighter
True Detective shines as dark, complex crime drama with season two
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| Recent years have brought us some excellent television series which challenge even the quality of revered products released in theaters. HBO’s “True Detective” is one of those series that seems to often get stepped over in discussion of quality television, but it deserves your attention if it hasn’t gotten it already. In early 2014, the series debuted as a not-so-typical crime drama, starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey as two detectives engaged in a sprawling investigation for a serial killer in the deep south of Louisiana. The series was met with widespread critical acclaim, which made a follow-up season inevitable. Season two … [Read more...] about True Detective shines as dark, complex crime drama with season two
The 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center Part II
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| If you have not read Part I, click here. ——————————————————————————————————————————————— The tower is certainly the landmark of New York City. You can see One World Trade Center from all over, even from outside Manhattan in New Jersey or in Brooklyn. As a result, one is frequently reminded of why that tower is there—symbolically and literally. I visited the site for a second time; the first visit ended without having time to visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Stepping foot on the site immediately brought back heavy feelings. Seeing the two fountains only intensified those feelings and you’re compelled to go stand at the edge to … [Read more...] about The 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center Part II
The 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center Part I
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| When I first turned a street corner that gave me a full view of the new tower, it hit me: This is not some tourist attraction—this is something special. The site gives off a heavy feeling and the closer you get, the heavier it feels until you find yourself walking on the very ground the whole world was watching together on that Tuesday morning. To me, there was some redemption in this; it was a personal moment I had been waiting for. I walked those grounds before, but at a profoundly different time. In April 2001, I had visited New York City and walked between the Twin Towers. I distinctly remember my parents letting me choose whether we … [Read more...] about The 9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center Part I
Mayweather-Pacquiao: Reflecting on a historic fight
By Daniel DeMarco |Copy Editor| It happened. Sports history took place on the night of May 2. It was a night hosting one of the biggest prizefights of all time—certainly the most financially successful prizefight ever seen. After some six years of speculation, uncertainty, and anticipation, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao stepped into the ring for 12 rounds of boxing. This was a major title-unification fight, yes, but more so, this was the fight to finally settle the question of who really is the pound-for-pound, number-one fighter in the world. Going in, Mayweather was almost universally regarded as number one and Pacquiao as number two. The intrigue arose … [Read more...] about Mayweather-Pacquiao: Reflecting on a historic fight