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There is no better way to spend a night than watching a classic rom-com. Whether the day consisted of having an awkward latte with an ex or silently crying about ones inability to fit into an old pair of corduroy pants, a romantic comedy has the power to lift the spirits more so than any other genre (excluding documentaries). Curling up on a futon with wool socks and a carton of ice cream, while secretly slipping a romantic comedy into the DVD player, is one of the most regretfully happy feelings in the world.

Within the genre of “romantic comedy” there are various subgenres to consider. One must decide: “Does tonight feel more like an exotic romantic comedy night (Chocolat, French Kiss, Eat Pray Love), a political romantic comedy night (The American President, Mr. Holdmann’s favorite rom-com), a sad guy falls in love with an annoying, neurotic girl romantic comedy night (Garden State, (500) Days of Summer, Breakfast at Tiffany’s), a large ensemble cast romantic comedy night (New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Love Actually), or best friends who fall in love romantic comedy night (When Harry Met Sally, Spider Man)?” With all these obviously wonderful choices, it can be a little overwhelming choosing the appropriate movie. However, one thing is clear: no matter the choice, a romantic comedy will allow you two hours of zero brain activity.

Every North American bat needs a home, and every home needs to be constructed. During the winter months of 2013, the Gibraltar Ecology Club, led fearlessly by David Tupa, joined forces with various community members to construct a pair of bat condos for Peninsula State Park. These shelters, however, are currently located on junior Ben Bruns’ lawn.

The condos themselves were constructed out of white pine planks and are lined with cedar siding. Tupa states that, when the condos are erected, they will be able to house “2,400 bats each.” Bruns says that one will be set up around his house, by the entrance of the park, and “the other will be set up by Welcker’s Shelter, which is located around Nicolet Bay.” Bruns’ mother, Kelli Bruns, has petitioned for the contractors to drill through the bedrock at these two locations in order to erect the condos. The contractors have been unable to drill through the bedrock thus far, but this will hopefully occur in the near future.

As the 20th century fades away, a handful of writers from this era will become progressively more relevant. The media is littered with images of war and materialism. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is an author that should be looked towards, admired, and taken to heart when looking to combat society’s pressures and deceptions.

Vonnegut was born in 1922 in Indianapolis. Drafted into World War II Germany in 1944, Vonnegut participated in various horrific historical events that would have a substantial influence on his writing later on. He was captured and taken as a prisoner of war during the infamous Battle of the Bulge and would later survive the firebombing of the Dresden by taking shelter in an underground slaughterhouse meat locker. The morbid nature and absurdity of war remains a significant theme in Vonnegut’s novels.

His first substantial work, Cat’s Cradle, was published in 1963. It focuses on the creation of the atomic bomb, technology, modern science and religion. Vonnegut satirizes all of these themes effortlessly in his distinctive, strange voice. Often times his prose can seem ridiculous and unpredictable, but he always manages to turn bizarre situations into poignant realizations. His sixth novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, was published in 1969. It earned him recognition not only from his fans, but from the literary world. The novel, inspired by his experiences during the firebombing of Dresden, is a semi-autobiographical work full of philosophy and science fiction. Slaughterhouse-Five follows the seemingly dull Billy Pilgrim as he becomes literally “un-stuck” in time and is randomly transported to Germany, New York, and outer space. This novel is one of the most powerful antiwar books ever published and should be read by each future generation of man.

The idealization of the “hero” has been integrated into the human story since the hunter-gatherer era; a hero is an individual who is universally admired because of his courage and his nobleness. History likes to put specific individuals on pedestals, people that can be pointed to and applauded, people that represent the best of humanity, people that have made all the right choices, people who have been revered to the point where the public preserves them as perfect. Despite the glory and the romance in literature and film, there is also the perverse appreciation of the villain.

Arctic Monkeys – AM

The band name “Arctic Monkeys” brings to mind white primates eating frozen bananas. Their music transports the listener from their own lowly bedroom to a club with dark feelings hovering low in the atmosphere. Their new album is easily the most developed of their career. Hip-hop influences permeate the back beats of the Brit-rock of the tracks, showcased best in the song “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” Just as easy to dance to as it is to soul-search to, AM will be stuck in your head all day long.

The Weekend – Kiss Land

Abel Tesfaye’s voice echoes the King of Pop’s as The Weekend, but perhaps his sex appeal is even more substantial. His lyrics are often appalling, but his delivery is spot on. Singing about his self destructive tendencies in a voice that sounds like sonic butter, The Weekend manages to work on both a romantic and intellectual level. While this album may not be as alluring as his previous mix tapes, it is still the most captivating R&B of this year.

Volcano Choir – Repave

Nothing screams desperation like an overage trick-or-treat-er. Peter Pan is a fictional character and, although some people with genetic mutations might be young forever, a high school student who wants to achieve anything should not be caught out on the street dressed up as a pirate. This goes for any night, but especially on the 31st of October.

If a teen spends Halloween collecting candy in their neighborhood, the consequences can vary in severity; ranging from a lack of a good night’s sleep to becoming socially isolated. Trick-or-treating, despite the initial euphoric sensations upon completion, leaves the participant feeling upset on a continuum that correlates directly to their stomach acid level. It is obvious that teens in the midst of an awkward phase will eat a significantly larger sum of candy if they participate in this elementary autumn festivity than not.

The metabolism of young children is steadfast when matched with fierce opponents such as corn syrup, sugar, and artificial flavors. However, those past the threshold of puberty are more susceptible to the prospect of an expanding midsection via the consumption of so many artificial flavors and processed ingredients. One could even consider candy a gateway drug to a sedentary lifestyle. Beyond the obvious health concerns, dressing up as Captain Jack Sparrow and begging for candy for the ninth consecutive year will result in the loss of all your friends.

Hallmarked as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period, Charles John Huffam Dickens, often referred to as Charles Dickens, or sometimes simply Dickens, wrote many classics that have stood the test of time. With a repertoire that encompasses David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and A Christmas Carol, Dickens has earned his eternal place on bookshelves across the world. Resting on a pedestal above the rest of his work, lays the pinnacle of all Victorian epics, A Tale of Two Cities.

The story follows nine different individuals whose destinies collide during the French Revolution. Switching narrative subjects every few chapters, Dickens manages to create a dense puzzle of love and social classes.

However, despite its grand potential, A Tale of Two Cities fails to grab the reader by the spectacles, simply because of its inability to focus on one subject for an adequate amount of time. Dickens has a tendency to clutter the story with many characters that each serve as a symbol of the revolution itself; thus, they are underdeveloped, excluding the sympathetic and unlikely hero of the novel, the admirable Sydney Carton.

Perhaps the reason why Dickens has endured is simply because he is a master storyteller, despite everything else. A Tale of Two Cities is predictable, wordy, confusing, and complex; however, it still remains a powerful account of the French Revolution. It raises questions about sacrifice and the peasants’ treatment of the nobility once the corrupt monarchy was overthrown. Length and complexity aside, A Tale of Two Cities has a powerful, intriguing story to tell.