The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 12, Ed. 1, Tuesday, April 1, 2008 Page: 4 of 6
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Entertainment
DVD review: "Human Giant" brings cutting-edge entertainment back to MTV
BySaraCasselUerry
Mnnnging Editor
Most of us arc prob-
ably too young to remem-
ber the time when MTV was
actually hip and ground-
breaking before it turned
into an endless series of lad
mags in TV format. MTV's
recent foray into reality
television is a show called
"That's Amore!" about an
Italian gentleman looking
for an American girlfriend.
Way to stereotype MTV.
What MTV lacks in
good taste it makes up for
in comedy with "Human
Giant" a sketch comedy
show starring Rob Huebel
Paul Scheer and Aziz Ansari.
Huebel and Scheer have
both been on VHi's "Best
Week Ever" and Ansari is
well known in the stand-up
circuits in New York and
had a cameo in an episode of
"Flight of the Conchoids."
The comedy of
"Human Giant" is a mixture
of slapstick and highbrow
with an indie twist. Like most
first seasons of sketch com-
edy shows "Human Giant"
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is hit or miss. But when the
show hits it hits hard. Some
of the most memorable
(and hilarious) moments
include a sketch called "The
Illusionators" a parody of
the "Criss Angel: Mindfreak"
series and "Shutterbugs"
where Huebel and Ansari
play vicious agents of a child
talent agency.
What I love most
about "Human Giant" is the
snob and nerd factor. In one
sketch the trio pokes fun at
Pitchfork Media a Web site
that dedicates itself to hav-
ing the snobbiest taste of all
media related sites. "Human
Giant" however strikes a
good balance between refer-
ences that are a bit obscure
and a sense of humor that is
universal.
There are only eight
episodes on the season one
DVD but the bonus fea-
tures are quite expansive
and include a preview of
season two over 90 min-
utes of deleted scenes and
the best of "Human Giant
24 Hour Marathon" with
special guests Michael Cera
Will Arnett John Krasinski
and musical performances
by Mastodon and Ted Ieo.
While I adore
"Human Giant" I fear the
comedy may be too subtle
and eutting-edge for the
typical MTV viewer and this
may lead to the show get-
ting canceled. It has hap-
pened before: "Arrested
Development" was a bril-
liantly funny show that a
lot of people didn't get and
it was canceled after three
seasons.
My other fear is that
to keep viewers "Human
Giant" may turn to a more
slapstick vulgar kind of
comedy losing the subtle
humor that makes the show
so incredible.
The tenure for sketch
comedy shows is usually
brief. "Human Giant" has
the brains the humor and
the talent to cam' the show
on for multiple seasons. I
really hope they make it. A-
Are You a Logophile?
BySaundlcWiess
Copy Editor
As a writer broadcaster radio com-
mentator and editor of more than 20 years
Charles Harrington Elster has made a pro-
fession out of mastering the essence of com-
munication: words. Perhaps a writer of ref-
erence books may not immediately attract
your attention but in a thoroughly amusing
manner Elster creates a catalog of people's
most bizarre questions about words.
In his most recent book What in
the Word? Wordplay Word Lore and
Answers to Your Peskiest Questions About
Language Elster explores his love of lan-
guage through chapters about the history
myths pronunciation and usage behind the
words of the English language.
His knowledge of words is outstand-
ing and in his 286 page book Elster fills
every page with answers to questions that
have commonly plagued readers and writ-
ers of every profession.
For instance did you know that there
is a word for the vertical groove that runs
from the nose to the upper lip? It's called
a philtrum. Other entries include the real
story behind the phrase "peeping Tom" the
word for a person who loves to read in bed
why we call the bathroom a "John" and the
origin of the commonly used word "okay."
The chapters are also filled with word
games curious brainteasers fascinating
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quotes interesting facts and expressions
all related to words. Even if you do not nor-
mally use a dictionary' or thesaurus this book
has been tediously written and compiled to
interest and entertain any reader.
His thoroughly impressive vocabu-
lary and knowledge along with his ability
to write comically yet concisely will never
cease to attract readers. You may not be a
logophile - a lover of words - or even a lexi-
comane - a lover of dictionaries - as Elster
is but nevertheless this enjoyable read truly
reveals the art of language.
A Buck A Day:
one student's mission
Guess the Picture
On-Campus Edition
(Places you see everyday... from a different perspective)
Be the first person to email The Brand at
Brandhsutx.edu with what that picture shows and win a prize.
By Rachelle Davis
Stuff Reporter
Arc you a college
student ready for a
financial revolution in
your life? Look no fur-
ther than to Thomas
Jowers a senior biol-
ogy student at Hardin-
Simmons University.
He has started an
online blog titled A
Buck a Day. He records
making a buck a day
"doing nothing but
investing on a college
student's budget!"
Jowers created the
blog with the intent of
educating and helping
college students save
and invest their money
for the future instead of
falling deep into debt.
"A staggering per-
centage of students
graduate with over
$10000 in debt that
could take more than
15 years to pay back"
said Jowers.
Jowers began his
business career in 2005
when he opened an
antique store on Grape
Street in Abilene. The
store was so success-
ful in the opening two
weeks that he had to
close the shop because
he lacked the time
needed to purchase
more products for the
shop.
After the antique
shop venture Thomas
began his mail-order
catalog company The
Atlas Company. The
company Web site
www.thomasjowers.
com describes itself as
a company that "han-
dles over 6000 prod-
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ucts that can be sold
either wholesale or
retail."
Jowers has other
Web sites in the works
and balances life
between his businesses
work and school.
Here is some basic
advice Jowers has for
fellow college students.
Most college loans
are subsidized so it
makes more sense to
invest the money now
and make compound
interest to pay off a
college debt. College
debt should be treated
differently than credit
card debt.
After you graduate
you can start using your
savedinvested money
to start paying off col-
lege debt. The lowdown
is to invest or save as
much as you can. Stay
interested by reading
financial material and
staying updated.
Think like this: if
you skip your frappuc-
cino from Starbucks or
Java City every other
day you will save about
$60 a month - that's
over $700 a year. Add
compounding interest
to that and you could
have close to $50000
by the time you retire!
Record everything
you spend for a month
and review it. You will
find lots of places where
a buck or two can be
cut out and invested.
Invest in anything:
a savings account
money market stocks
(although this is risky if
you have not done your
research) bonds etc.
Have fun with it!
And of course
check out .Jowers'
online blog at www.
abuckaday.blogspot.
com. Follow him as he
blogs about his busi-
ness ventures offering
readers financial tips
along the way.
Photo by Nathan Day
Eastland Court of Appeals on HSU
ByElyseHahne
Special Projects Editor
On March 13th 2008 the Eastland Court of Appeals held four proceedings on the Hardin-Simmons University campus. The cases were held in the Skiles court room and students
were able to come and go as they pleased. The Court of Appeals came to HSU to show students how the appellate court works and allow students to ask any questions that they may have
about the court or the proceedings.
There were three Justices on the bench during the proceedings and no jury present. During the proceedings the lawyers from both sides gave their arguments and the Justices
intervened when they had questions.
The Justices were: Chief Justice Jim Wright Justice Terry McCall and Justice Rick Strange who is an HSU alumnus. These three Justices listen to proceedings and review briefs then
render a decision. It is a long process and sometimes it takes months for one decision.
At each court proceeding the Justices said that anyone could view information about various cases and the different decisions made by the court through court documents online.
If you are interested in the Texas Court of Appeals the court process in general or have any questions visit their website at: http:www.nthcoa.courts.state.tx.us.
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The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 12, Ed. 1, Tuesday, April 1, 2008, newspaper, April 1, 2008; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth104744/m1/4/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.