Stories of adultery in American politics are commonplace. Some politicians frequent call girls, others prey on interns, still others take to Twitter. The ongoing race for the GOP nomination has not been without its own revelations of infidelity. Former presidential hopeful Herman Cain dropped out of the race after an onslaught of sexual harassment and possible affair allegations marred his reputation.

Newt Gingrich and current wife/former mistress, Callista. | Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons.

Most recently, potential GOP candidate Newt Gingrich is battling his own infidelity-related scandal. His ex-wife of nearly twenty years, Marianne Gingrich, has stepped forward to speak about her husband’s affair with his now-wife, Callista, and his request for an “open marriage.”

The Gingrich campaign extols family values, so accusations such as Marianne’s have the power to make a hypocrite out of him. Many politicians have been known to give into temptation–high off of power, seduced by money, weakened by lust. They deign to personal behavior that’s at the very least questionable, and at worst base and narcissistic. But what’s it to the American people? Is a man who seeks to be the face of America allowed separate sets of standards in his public and personal lives? Or do Americans just care about the facts, excusing personal problems and placing sole emphasis on political viewpoints?

A bit can be deduced from the fact that Clinton’s approval rating peaked just after the Monica Lewinksy revelations. Despite his initial denial of an affair, Clinton’s proclamations of guilt, regret and embarrassment seemed to have pleased the American public. In fessing up, he took responsibility for his actions, realigning himself morally and therefore regaining the people’s approval. Americans do not condone adultery, but they do appreciate honesty.

For candidates like Newt Gingrich, the tenuous path to presidency means maintaining the favor of supporters and working to gain more. How much does Gingrich need to worry about what his supporters think of his infidelity? According to CAS Dean Virginia Sapiro, who specializes in political psychology, the answer is not that much. If people agree strongly with a candidate’s political ideology, they’ll make excuses for their personal failings.

“Candidates’ personal behavior, whether it has to do with their sexual behavior, drinking or drug use, their financial or business lives, or religious behavior, has different effects on different parts of the public, largely related to whether the public is already inclined to support them publicly,” Dean Sapiro said.  “So you see conservatives who thought President Clinton’s sexual behavior disqualified him from being president excusing Newt Gingrich’s behavior–and probably the reverse–and people who emphasize ‘family values’ ignoring the picture-perfect qualities of President Obama’s current family.” Cynical though it may seem, the relationship between a personally immoral politician and his supporters can evolve into one of mutual hypocrisy.

In the wake of a scandal, it seems the most efficient course of action for a politician is to admit guilt, move on and hope supporters do, too. “When candidates are caught in a public opinion riptide because of their personal behavior, they have to look first to their political base to see how they are reacting,” Dean Sapiro said. “There’s no point spending political capital to get people who don’t like you politically to change their mind about you personally.” Marianne Gingrich’s accusations may alienate some of her ex-husband’s supporters, but in all likelihood, they won’t deter those who really want him to win the GOP candidacy. The moral of the immoral story: our politicians may not be loyal to their wives, but we sure are loyal to them.

Things Get Personal in Latest GOP Debate by Ross Ballantyne

Dr. Jon Krosnick: Climate Change is Still an Important Public Issue by Brittney McNamara

Photo Story: Chinese New Year in Boston by Kara Korab

All the sweaty people, where do they all come from? FitRec. | Photo by Patricia Bruce

Orienting to BU Fitrec is a series one-time post aiming to help the Class of 2015 gym newbies in the sometimes bumpy transition from high school to Boston University the couch to Fitrec. 

Boston University’s Fitness and Recreation Center (widely known as FitRec) is a multi-million dollar building dedicated to the health and well-being of BU students and people living in the local area. It’s the university’s glorious bastion of sweat, tears, egos and sleeveless t-shirts.

You’re also paying for it, whether you use the place or not. So it’s definitely a good idea to try the place on for size. And for better or for worse, it’s shortly after New Years! So make good on that resolution that you really should have made.

Unfortunately for those not highly conditioned to a gym atmosphere, FitRec can be terrifying. It’s populated almost solely by your peers and encourages you to look like a sweaty, uncoordinated buffoon at nearly all times. And if you aren’t looking like one, you’re working out wrong.

Here are some tips to bring out your inner Genghis Khan, to claim and conquer FitRec as your very own. Just try not to pillage and burn the place.

Survey the Land: Before committing to a workout plan, take a preemptive tour of FitRec and get an idea where all your necessary workout equipment can be found. Most popular workout equipment, such as treadmills, dumbbells, and smith machines, can be found in different places on multiple floors. Nothing says “new and confused” like walking around like a child lost in the mall.

Wear Comfortable Clothing: Fixing a physical insecurity is the number one reason people go to the gym, and fear of others judging that insecurity is the number one reason why people stop going. It’s difficult to muster up the tenuous bravado needed to ignore perceived social judgment; don’t ruin that bravado by wearing ill-fitting or disliked clothing. Or light-colored t-shirts that scream sweat stains.

Be Prepared: As the Boy Scouts famously say, be prepared. Don’t ping-pong back and forth between your workout and the water fountain; bring a small-rimmed water bottle. Eastern Mountain Sports sells wide-rimmed water bottles that will end up dumping all your water reserves on your face; recycling a 32oz. Snapple bottle works wonders. Also, bring your own motivational music. “Someone Like You” and “Jar of Hearts,” FitRec All-Time Hits, are better suited to sobbing into a tub of ice cream than exercising. Lastly, if you’re serious about working out, bring a notebook to record your progress from week to week. It gives you street cred.

Fake It ‘Til You Make It: If you are a girl using weights, someone not shaped like Adonis, showing emotion other than “manly” apathy, exerting effort on the treadmill, using a machine another person wants to use, or sticking out in any way possible, someone will probably be giving you an odd look. Luckily enough, their opinion does not matter with regard to your workout routine. So do not let it. The only time it does is if someone tries to cut you in line for something. Assume you’re better than him or her (you probably are) and stand your ground. It gives you even more street cred than a notebook.

Practice Smart Fitness: The more you know, the better off you will be health-wise and the more you’ll blend into the environment. Consult a personal trainer, do research online, and go on a regular schedule. Don’t reward yourself with a HealthyBlends smoothie if you wouldn’t have consumed those calories otherwise; you’ll undo your calorie loss. Unless you’re using incline, don’t walk at 3.5 mph on the treadmill; that’s typical walking speed down Comm Ave. Initially use basic exercises, push through the pain, tidy up after yourself, and you’ll look like a bona fide professional.

Ghost Hours: Throughout the vast majority of the week, FitRec is fairly busy. It can be filled with lines, intimidating body builders, and apparently everyone you’ve ever met in your life ever. Fortunately, there are several hours where FitRec is fairly unpopulated. Weekday hours from 6am-9am and weekend from 8am-10am are ideal for you (apparently masochistic) early birds. For you night owls, you might have to sacrifice something else: your Friday or Saturday night.

When the clock strikes 8pm on either night, the gym empties out. Maybe 15-20% of FitRec’s equipment is in use, and none of the judgmental gym crowd is around. The atmosphere becomes strangely welcoming because only the serious few are left. Think of it this way. While the mean-machismo men and the girls-who-cardio-so-slow-they-can-read-Cosmo are out drinking away their calories, you’ll be molding yourself into Batman or Wonder Woman. You are a dedicated superhero, and are therefore awesome.

Bring a Friend: Having a trusted cohort during any given gym session can make the awkward stares from muscle-jocks and elliptical girls far less damaging to the self-esteem. Not only does it tell people that you are awesome enough to have friends, but it also makes awkward moments less embarrassing and more hysterical. Dropping a dumbbell on your foot will create an inside joke instead of shame. Mostly.

Heading to the gym in a pair (any more and it’ll be impossible to get work done) is also an excellent safety precaution. Part of working out comes with pushing yourself as far as you can humanly go. Doing so will force you to toe the line between “maximum power” and “oh crap, I’m going to drop this bar.” Having a friend will allow to safely push yourself the farthest.

Congratulations! You now have the sufficient knowledge to model-walk into and out of FitRec with ease. As long as you keep going on some consistent schedule, your experiences will get easier and easier. Employees and gym rats will recognize and accept you, and the initial hesitance will evaporate into thin air.

If you see someone in FitRec who looks intimidated (you can tell by the trademark deer-in-headlights look), help them out. Build a community and kindly offer advice; you’ll learn that there are quite a few people there willing to do the same.

FitRec Open House Presents Special Opportunity for Faculty, Staff and Alumni by Sara Arnold

Orienting to BU: The Glass is Half Full by Jon Erik Christianson

Orienting to BU: Bringing the Bling by Jon Erik Christianson

By Evan Caughey

From Disney loosening up on its rules to a well received coffee table book on the artistry of facial hair, the beard is again at the forefront of culture. As a form of fashion, there are multiple ways for the average man to style his facial hair.

Start with the simple scruff, which is basically what happens when you haven’t shaved in several days–or weeks. Also referred to as the “barely there,” it requires light shaving in order to keep the hair from growing into a full beard. The shaving you do is meant to help shape the beard along your cheekbones and jawline. Remember to shave your neck, and remain cautious for any stray hairs that may pop up.

Next, we have the simple goatee. Focused solely on the chin with no cheek hair, this style is part mustache, part soul patch, and can make a man look either really cool or like a children’s show villain. There is nothing wrong with the look itself. Keep the cheeks free of stubble and you will look fine. In addition, you’ll want a well-defined mustache. It will look like a simple soul patch if the two sets of hair aren’t equal. I recommend using a manual razor for shaping.

The next stage of our facial hair adventure is the the full beard, the trademark facial hair of hunters, lumberjacks and Zach Galifianakis. Although it sounds easy, some care is necessary to keep it together. The most important thing to remember (and this goes for all beards) is to wash it with conditioner so it stays soft. Shampoo actually makes the beard more brittle because facial hair is not the same as the hair on your scalp. Also, combing is a necessity, as it can keep your beard smooth and free from tangles while simultaneously directing hair growth.

Finally, we have the feral beard, which can make you into a champion. There is actually a world championship for beards, which has recently gained more attention thanks to the cameras of IFC following a group of Americans working against the Germans towards the gold. This sounds like a great ’80s film, but I digress. The feral beard just needs to be grown. The main rule is that no razor shall touch thy face. Combing is necessary and washing is important, but other than that, you don’t really need to do anything. Ask early Def Jam producer Rick Rubin. Reportedly, he hasn’t shaved in 20 years.

Growing a beard is a fun, worthwhile experience that every man should try to enjoy multiple times throughout his life. It can be so for many reasons: a bad break-up, living in the desert for several years or wanting to raise money for a worthy cause.

The beard is a symbol of courage, and an awesome chance  to indulge your inner huntsman. And for those who think that they shouldn’t or can’t pull it off, then may I suggest the mustache? Watch out for the bushy mustache, though–it can either make you look like epitome of cool (like Burt Reynolds) or like there is a really nasty caterpillar on your face.

After 20 Years, Brian Freeman and Fierce Love Return to Boston by Lauren Michael

Op-Ed: Kari Koeppel on the Return to Sincerity in Comedy by The Quad

The Sundance Film Festival takes place in January every year. | Photo courtesy of Kevinthompson322 via Wikimedia Commons

When I asked my roommate where Sundance Film Festival takes place, she responded with a cool, “Colorado.”

Nope, try again.

“Ummm. New Hampshire?”

Way off. Sundance takes place every year in the great state of Utah. Debuting in 1978 in Salt Lake City, Sundance, then known as the Utah/US Film Festival, was the brainchild of Sterling Van Wagenen, John Earle and Cirina Hampton Catania, all members of the Utah Film Commission. The festival was aimed at luring filmmakers to Utah. Originally, the focus was on screening classic films, like Deliverance, A Streetcar Named Desire and Mean Streets. Panels of famous industry figures, which included actresses like Cicely Tyson, would watch and discuss the films after viewings. Besides screening classics, new works were shown and awarded prizes, but they mainly focused on retrospective discussion.

After the first festival, debt prompted a second. By 1980, the location moved from Salt Lake City to skiing haven Park City, Utah, in order to draw a larger audience. Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Institute took over in 1985, renamed it Sundance Film Festival, and has been running it ever since. Although a popular film festival before, Robert Redford’s takeover expanded award categories and pushed the festival further into the public eye–and the film industry’s. Throughout the years, many alternative hits have screened there, including Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), Reservoir Dogs (1992), The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006).  

Sundance has always been about getting artists’ work out to the public, and they’ve embraced spreading movies to audiences all over the country. Starting in 2005, as part of its 25^th anniversary celebration, the festival included the Sundance Institute Art House Project, which selected twelve art house theaters throughout the country to screen Sundance films. The Coolidge Corner Theater was chosen, and is presenting a selection of shorts January 30-February 2.

But what kind of audience are these shorts intended for? According to Dr. Deborah Jaramillo, a Boston University Assistant Professor of Film and Television, Sundance’s audience is looking for a more sophisticated experience than what’s available at Regal Fenway. “There are definitely people who want something more subtle and possibly more substantial in their films; less special effects, more character and writing.” These people take notice when a film wins a prize at Sundance. But winning prizes isn’t what Sundance is for, at least in the same way that the Academy Awards are. The point of Sundance, and most film festivals, is for artists to get their work exposed, and possibly get picked up for distribution. Last year, movies like Like Crazy; Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene; and My Idiot Brother were among 34 films picked up.

If Sundance is meant to illuminate well-crafted films, the Oscars are meant to reward those involved in making them. The Academy Awards are a much more mainstream event than Sundance, but they still have to power to introduce smaller movies to the masses. The box office numbers of Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist, one of the nominees for Best Picture this year, have been steadily creeping up. Opening on just four screens on November 27 and bringing in a little under $205,000, the movie was playing on over two-hundred screens the weekend of January 15, and grossed over $1,000,000. Obviously audiences take into account what the Academy thinks, and they should.

It’s important to note that a lot of aggressive campaigning goes on in favor of certain films, actors or actresses, and that requires a lot of money. But audiences should by no means discount nominees as buying their way in. “To a certain extent we have to understand that these are the ‘experts’ in their field; these are the professionals. These are the folks who make the stuff, who know the stuff, so what they see as an accomplishment or what they see as art should be taken into account,” says Jaramillo. These things aren’t decided by the people—that’s what the People’s Choice Awards are for. Deciding nominees based purely off of box office revenue, essentially the public’s opinion, doesn’t work. “You can’t say, ‘We should give a nod to the audience, throw Hall Pass in there.’ If we’re truly going to believe that award shows have some degree of integrity in the voting process then that can’t be the case,” she adds.

There’s a definite formula to choosing Academy Awards nominees; drama is always favored over comedy, and there’s a long-running sentiment (not as true today) that playing a disabled person automatically guarantees a nod. But these conventions are changing with each show.

The famous Oscar statues outside the 60th Annual Academy Awards (1988). | Photo courtesy of Alan Light via Wikimedia Commons

Jaramillo was pleasantly surprised with some of the nominations, including a nomination for Mexican actor Démian Bichir. “Everyone will know him form Weeds. He played Nancy’s drug dealer boyfriend. I was very happy he made it because he wasn’t nominated for a Golden Globe.”

Beyond that, there were also two nominations for Bridesmaids, one for Best Original Screenplay, and another for Melissa McCarthy, for Actress in a Supporting Role. “I think it’s a big coup actually that Bridesmaids was nominated for writing, that Melissa McCarthy was nominated, that was very cool,” Jaramillo adds.

As award season stretches on, it’ll be interesting to see where the public’s interests are directed. 2012 will no doubt bring audiences some wonderful films, and some duds as well. Therein lies the beauty of the film industry: surprises abound.

Billy Crystal hosts the 84th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 26th on ABC. 

Redstone Film Festival Doesn’t Disappoint by Paul Squire

Look at that Line: What’s the Point of SXSW and other Film Festivals by Monica Castillo

Movies for the Young at Heart this Holiday Season by Kelly Dickinson

• Paraders displayed their families flags as well as the American flag

   

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• Stands and booths were set up selling traditional Chinese souvenirs including paper dragons and lanterns.

   

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• These lions are said to ward off evil spirits and devour the heads of lettuce and oranges

   

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• Woman doing a traditional Chinese dance on the main stage in Phillips Square

   

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• Children going up to touch the lion after his dance

   

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• Chinese flags were raised high through the streets of Chinatown

   

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• On The New Year it is tradition to give red envelopes as a token of prosperity for the New Year

   

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• Miniature Buddha's were popular among the souvenir stands.

   

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Occupy Boston: A Photo Essay by Evan Caughey

The Head and the Heart at Royale Boston: A Photo Essay by Tara Jayakar

Illustration by Allan Lasser

 The Response to SOPA and PIPA: A Corporate Quickening of the Conscience

The corporate world recently experienced a civil war within its bounds as Congress hoped to pass two repressive anti-piracy laws. If passed, these laws, namely the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA), would have given the government the green light to utilize DNS blocking, a method which governments like China use to censor the internet.

As expected, mega conglomerates like Google and Facebook stood dead-set against these bills. According to such opposition, the bills were too broad to simply be acting against piracy, and could hamper freedom of speech on the Internet. The world witnessed that day many major websites putting out political statements in opposition–the most notable of which is Wikipedia’s blacking out for twenty-four hours, stating, “Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge.”

On the other side of the fight was the Hollywood lobby, led by organizations like the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Bills like SOPA and PIPA would have limited the mass proliferation of movies and material which would otherwise make the industry a lot of money. Unsurprisingly, many of SOPA and PIPA’s proponents within Congress have received significant campaign contributions from the entertainment industry, and with obvious intentions.

The entertainment industry was not the only one gearing up with its mounds of capital to pass these bills, however, as many media outlets would like to suggest. It has been reported that Google alone has spent a total of $9.7 million on political lobbying in 2011, with $3.7 million spent in the fight against anti-piracy laws and a range of other issues which could dent its profits. Therefore, the fight was essentially a pitting of capital against capital, as plutocrats funded Washington to succumb to their demands.

Pundits like anti-censorship expert Jillian C. York believe that the mass online movement to oppose these bills by signing petitions like the one by Google is what influenced Congress’ decision to oppose them. Empirically, if it were true that the government listens to the demands of the people and not those of corporate interests, a big range of issues would have been solved by now. And a movement espousing the slogan of the 99% would have not pervaded this country over the past a few months.

The response to the SOPA and PIPA phenomenon has been largely problematic. The reason for this is not because it protests against censorship and promotes the right to access information without government intervention. It poses a problem because of the public’s priorities in the United States. Indeed, such an outcry as that against these bills was not seen in the slightest against the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would allow the government to indefinitely detain people for arbitrary reasons.

An interesting pattern appears where people are desensitized to the hard-pressing issues which affect our fellow human beings, yet would recoil in horror and demand action if they cannot access a website on the Internet. An image of a people perishing directly due to American foreign policy sparks little compassion compared to the heart-wrenching event of a blocked Youtube video. The evident mass awareness, the advocacy to sign the Google petition, the plethora of Twitter hashtags, and the defiant changing of Facebook profile pictures of the generally apolitical reflects the sad reality of the public’s priorities. This was all for bills that had not passed and that were too unpopular in the corporate world to pass.

Two weeks ago, Americans were commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday. The sad reality is that his message of civil disobedience does not seem prevalent in this society today. Central to King’s philosophy of nonviolence is the idea of resistance by people to quicken the conscience of others to their cause.

In 2012, it seems that the quickest way to draw sympathy to a cause is by corporate display of dissent. Under the guise of protecting civil liberties, Google and the tech industry were able to draw the ire of the public to their cause, which coincidentally secures the continual stream of profits to the 1%.

Forget about imperialism, poverty and a plethora of other issues; the most important thing is the ability to watch my favorite show on the Internet.

I can imagine King rolling in his grave.

Op Ed: Jamil Sbitan’s “Reflections on Democracy in the Arab World” by The Quad

SOPA Battle Ensues With Major Website “Blackouts” by Lauren Michael

SOPA and the Battle Between Piracy and Privacy by Ian Moskowitz

There are a few regular events for a bored college student looking to do nothing but mingle with other bored college students. Every Tuesday night, the Boston Common Frog pond hosts College Night, a two-buck special for those with the college ID.

Meanwhile, in Cambridge, the Middlesex Lounge  offers plenty of no-cover events over the course of winter break, from a Redditor meet-up on December 19 to a Gettin’ Weird Art and Rock show on December 21.

This Saturday, December 17, Newbury Yarns will be hosting a grand re-opening party in the form of a vintage fashion show. The event begins at 2:00pm at their location at 168 Newbury Street, and will feature 1980s fashions.

Aah, winter in Boston. | photo by flickr user R..D

On Sunday, December 18, Boston Food Swap and Space with a Soul will be hosting the Boston Cookie Swap. Tickets are free for bakers and swappers, but $20 for tasters and donors.  If that wasn’t good enough, for every cookie swapped, the Glad to Give campaign will donate 10 cents to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. As a general note, the Boston Food Swap frequently hosts events at the Space with a Soul, so be sure to check the food swap’s blog for updates.

In JP, the Friends of Jamaica Pond rings in Winter Solstice the old-fashioned way: with cider, haikus, and bird watching. Whether any of that conforms to actual tradition is not clear, but considering the event and cider are free and the fact that there will be a Frederick Law Olmstead impersonator makes it all pretty tempting. If the weather is fair, head down to Jamaica pond for this celebration, from 1pm-3pm.

Now that Occupy Boston is pretty much broken up, there seem to be fewer and fewer opportunities to move through the streets in a large group, vocalizing at the top of your lungs. Thankfully, ’tis the season for caroling, which is kind of like a protest march, but with more singing and smiling. This Sunday, the Boston Merry Christmas Caroling Mob takes it to the streets to spread cheer and harmonies. They meet at the Forest Hills T-stop at 4pm.

If you’re looking for an evening out on the cheap, the Oberon in Cambridge has got you covered. Each month the theater celebrates emerging local talent in their “New Works Series.” This Monday, December 19, the play is Little Black Topsy and the Magical White Fairy Soap. It combines theater and performance art in a story about youth, beauty, gender and race. Admission is free, and doors open at 7:30, with the show starting at 8.

This next one might not be college student cheap, per se, but for the number of evenst it can potentially get you into, it’s a bargain. The First Night Button is just $15, and can get you into numerous events on and around New Years’. It will get you into the MFA, ICA, American Repertory Theater, Museum of Science, Improv Boston, the Boston Ballet, and Boston Poetry Slam. The Boston University Theater will be hosting two of these events: first is Jim Lauletta, a stand-up comedian preforming from 8 to 9. From 9:30 to 11, storyteller Mike Daisy recites on the same stage. The night’s final event is free to anyone who can see it: a fireworks display over Boston Harbor.

Bye-Bye Boston: A City Without Its Students Over Winter Break by Ingrid Adamow

Cheapskate’s Guide to Boston: Cambridge Dance Party by Shawn Musgrave

Cheapskate’s Guide to Boston Summer: Boston Landmarks Orchestra by Shawn Musgrave

Before 2011 comes to an end, it’s worthwhile to look back on this year’s most important discoveries and what they mean for the future of astronomy. There have been too many discoveries to cover them all, but here’s a look at some of the more interesting (and comprehensible):

This vein of gypsum on Mars could be evidence that water once ran there. | Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/ASU

Water on Mars

Was there ever liquid water on Mars? This is a hotly contested question in the popular science world. In December, the mystery was one step closer to being solved: the Opportunity Rover uncovered what Steve Squyres, the lead researcher for the rover, says is the most “bullet-proof evidence” from the rover’s mission thus far.

Previous potential evidence was found in surface particles that could have been blown in from anywhere. This time, the rover found a line of gypsum in the red planet’s bedrock, suggesting the mineral was created there on Mars. Gypsum, a mineral created when water flows through rock, doesn’t require a highly acidic environment like previously found minerals do, suggesting the water on Mars could have been much more gentle than scientists thought.

If the mineral is confirmed to be gypsum, it would be “the single most powerful evidence for liquid water” on the planet. The Opportunity Rover has been traveling years longer than its original 90 day mission, and scientists eagerly wait for the confirmation of the mineral’s origin in hopes of finally knowing if there was once liquid water on Mars.

Giant Alien Worlds

Earlier this month, eighteen new super-massive gas giants were found orbiting stars even bigger than our own Sun. Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have been searching the sky looking for stars more than one and a half times the size of the sun and picking out the ones that wobble, a phenomenon often caused by the pull of orbiting planets. In their search, they found eighteen new Jupiter-sized planets, increasing the number of known planets orbiting supermassive stars by 50%.

According to current theories of planetary formation, planets are the product of small particles in the dusty disk around a newly-formed star. More and more tiny particles clump together until the planet is formed, like how a snowball is made. If this theory is correct, then larger stars with larger disks should result in larger planets—something that this discovery seems t0 support.

As John Johnson from the discovery team at Cal Tech said, scientists are thrilled to “see all these converging lines of evidence pointing toward one class of formation mechanisms.” A better understanding of general planet formation thanks to planets like these can help scientists move towards an understanding of how our own solar system formed. Scientists are puzzled, however, about why these new planets travel in circular orbits, rather than the usually found elliptical ones.

While their discovery was a success for the current theory of planet formation, there are still unresolved questions to be answered before scientists can determine how this and other solar systems were formed.

Birth of a New Planet

An artist rendition of the dusty ring around the star T Cha. | Image courtesy of ESO/L. Calçada.

Kepler Program and Discovering New Exoplanets

An artist's rendition of the potentially habitable exoplanet, Kepler 22b. | Image courtesy of NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech.

The Kepler Program is possibly one of the most exciting programs in recent history. NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope, launched in March 2009, is on a mission to find Earth-like planets in the habitable area, or “Goldilocks Zone,” of stars they orbit. Before Kepler’s more recent finds, there were only  a few known and possibly-habitable exoplanets.

But as of this month, the telescope has found over 2,000 new candidates! First studied in 2009, Gliese 581d was thought to be the first potentially habitable exoplanet. It was recently concluded that the exoplanet could support liquid water, but its 5.6-times-Earth size makes habitability unlikely.

Then, in August of this year, HD 85512b was found and concluded to be another enticing possibility, especially because it is only 36 light years from Earth despite being super-Earth size. Thanks to the Kepler program,  the number of known exoplanets is growing rapidly. Of the thousands of potential candidates, 48 seem to be in the habitable zone of the stars they orbit.

The most exciting of these finds is Kepler 22b.

According to NASA scientists, Kepler 22b is “a major milestone on the road to finding Earth’s twin.” The planet’s surface temperature is a comfortable 72 degrees, its 290-day year is similar in length to our own and it is about the same distance from its star as Earth is from the Sun. At 2.4 times the size of Earth, it is possible that Kepler 22b is a little too massive to support life at its surface, but scientists are still hopeful. Until further investigation, scientists can only speculate about what the surface might look like. And at 600 light years away, it is still far beyond our reach. Even though it’s not perfect, the discovery of something that looks so promising is bringing scientists one small step closer to understanding if there’s life anywhere else in the Universe.

In addition to these major discoveries, there are many more that are just as important for the future of astronomy that aren’t mentioned here. Whole books could be written about just the discoveries made by NASA this month, let alone other scientists throughout the year. Here’s a few more of the more interesting ones that are changing the way we perceive our Universe.

Super Massive Black Holes

Astronomers at UC Berkeley have found a black hole that is 9.7 billion times the mass of our Sun and another that is as big, if not bigger. They are unsure how these black holes, far into old age, got so big, and hope to understand more about black hole formation as they continue their research.

Hanny’s Voorwerp

The orange spot within the green cloud shows evidence of star birth. | Photo courtesy of NASA, ESA, W. Keel (U. of Alabama) and the Galaxy Zoo Team.

The mystery of the giant odd-looking cloud discovered in 2007 has finally begun to unravel. Named Hanny’s voorwerp (“voorwerp” is Dutch for “object”), this cloud is bigger than the entire Milky Way galaxy and was called “one of the strangest space objects ever seen” by the American Astronomical Society.

In January of this year, when the Hubble Telescope sent back the clearest picture yet, scientists discovered that the cloud isn’t just inactive gas. Rather, the side of the cloud closest to the neighboring galaxy shows evidence of ongoing star formation. The new pictures not only help to solve one of the most recent great mysteries of the Universe; they also allow a rare look into the birth of stars.

The Coldest Star Yet

Scientists at the University of Hawaii have found a small star with surface temperatures of around 206 degrees Fahrenheit (97 °C), much colder than any star seen before. They also have their eyes on another star that might have temperatures as low as 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Both stars are brown dwarfs and are blurring the distinction between stars and planets. As gas-giant planets are found with temperatures much higher than these cool stars, scientists are being pushed to understand just where to draw the line between brown dwarf stars and massive gas-giant planets.

This galaxy gives a good idea of what our own galaxy might look like from the outside. | Photo courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA.

Milky Way Twin

Scientists have discovered a galaxy 30 million light years away from Earth, NGC 6744, looking quite a bit like our own. The view of this galaxy, says ESO press officer Richard Hook, “is close to the one we could see … if we had the technology to escape the Milky Way.” Although twice the size of the Milky Way, this galaxy gives scientists and casual observers alike an idea of what our galaxy might look like if we could see it from outside.

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The Obscure Film: The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

This 1940 classic film can probably be known as “the other James Stewart Christmas film.” The Shop Around the Corner follows no-nonsense Alfred Kralik (James Stewart), a lonely shop clerk who works in a gift store in Budapest. One day, Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan) walks in the store, asking for a job. She is immediately hired by the store’s owner, Hugo Matuschek (Frank Morgan) and Alfred and Klara quickly become rivals. Unbeknownst to them however, they are each other’s pen pals, and have been slowly falling in love with each other through their correspondence. In real life they remain oblivious to each other’s real identity and continue to bicker and fight.

Known for his wit and playfulness, director Ernst Lubitsch infuses The Shop Around the Corner with his trademark “Lubitsch touch.” The whole film is both charming and very humorous at the same time (there is a subplot concerning novelty cigar boxes that Matuschek wants to stock but no one will actually buy), as the narrative glides along in a leisurely way. As with most romances, it is more about the process of getting together rather than the moment that they get together. Lubitsch gives this screwball rom-com his usual graceful treatment, and it makes for a nice change from the usual It’s a Wonderful Life reruns on TV.

And here’s a fun fact: 1998’s You’ve Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks was based off of The Shop Around the Corner, but with a digital age twist.

The Comedy: Elf (2003)

Elf is one of those films that appeals to everyone’s inner child. When Buddy (Will Farrell) was just a child, he accidentally crawled into Santa’s sack as he was delivering presents to an orphanage. Having grown up as a elf learning all the tricks of the trade from his Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), Buddy has never questioned why he is so different from his fellow merry workers. Turns out though, Buddy is not very good at making toys, and there isn’t much for him to do in the North Pole, so Papa Elf tells him the truth about his real family: his mother Susan has died, but his biological father, Walter, works at a children’s book company in New York. Buddy then sets out for New York City, and gets into all kinds of adventures with his newfound family and Jovie (Zooey Deschanel), a girl he befriends at Gimbel’s and later falls in love with. Full of light-hearted comedy, Elf has a kind of purity that makes it a perfect Christmas staple. Will Farrell puts on a memorable and hilarious performance as the wide-eyed Buddy, making Elf a delightful Christmas comedy that can be enjoyed by both the young and the young at heart.

The Drama: Scrooge (1951)

Everyone knows the story: Ebenezer Scrooge, a lonely, bitter miser is given a chance to change his selfish ways on Christmas Eve when he is confronted by three ghosts in Charles Dickens’ classic tale of redemption. For even the most hard-hearted of cynics, the story can’t help but make us smile at the end of the film when Scrooge finally sees the error of his ways and becomes a man who embodies the spirit of Christmas.

Poster Courtesy of United Artists

With so many adaptations of this famous Christmas tale, why is this particular version worth watching? The best answer for this is Alastair Sim’s exceptional performance as Scrooge. His transformation from tight-wadded cheapskate to a happy, generous man is a delight to watch. At his most despicable, you want to slap the man for being so cruel, but he makes up for it at the end with his infectious glee. This is also one of the most accurate adaptations of Dickens’ novel and at 86 minutes, it is compact enough to not make it slow and cumbersome to watch. If anyone needs a reminder of the true spirit of Christmas, Scrooge is the film for them.

The Animated Film: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

For movie viewers disillusioned with the over-commercialization of Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas will help those who are looking for the true meaning of Christmas to regain their love for the holidays. Charlie Brown, who becomes depressed over his friends’ obsession with holiday gifts, tries to discover what Christmas really means by directing the school play about the Nativity. After becoming increasingly frustrated when his friends only want to use modern music and dance in the play, Charlie Brown sets out to find a Christmas tree to get them all in the “proper mood.” There, he finds many big, shiny aluminum trees, but decides to go for the only real tree there, even though it is small and slightly pathetic. His friends make fun of him for choosing such an ugly tree, but they soon realize how harsh they were on Charlie Brown and ends the film with a rousing chorus of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

Not only does A Charlie Brown Christmas help remind us all of what Christmas is really about, it is also a great dose of nostalgia for people who have watched Charlie Brown and the gang in their childhood. It is a clever short film that thematically, is a lot more grown up than it seems. This is a classic short that will never get old, and deserves a viewing every holiday season.

The Foreign Film: Joyeux Noël (2005)

A film about World War I probably isn’t something that would spring into mind when thinking about holiday films, but Joyeux Noël actually carries a great Christmas message. A sweeping historical film that portrays the unofficial truce of December 1914, the story is told through the eyes of French, Scottish and German soldiers as, for one evening, the fighting is put on hold and they are able to join together to celebrate Christmas.

Joyeux Noël is filled with anti-war sentiment, and does so through the camaraderie of a group of enemy soldiers, that, if the context of war was taken away, could be friends. Even amidst the bloodshed of war, they are able to bond over Christmas carols and champagne, showing the universality of humanity. For a short moment in time, the fact that they are all human beings transcends any notion of country and culture. None of them regret what took place on Christmas Eve, even under the threat of punishment because for one night the goodness of humanity outweighed the bad. The film does veer into sentimentality at times, but the poignant message helps make up for the occasional sappiness. As a war film, it is deftly shot and realistically portrayed and it is further bolstered by a strong cast that does justice to a momentous moment in history.

The Romance: Love Actually (2003)

Poster Couresty of Universal Pictures

Written by Britain’s leading rom-com funny man Richard Curtis (of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and Notting Hill fame), Love Actually features an ensemble British cast and follows ten different interweaving romantic stories set in the chaotic five weeks leading up to Christmas. Each story touches upon a different aspect of love – friendship, family, young love, old love, married love, unrequited love, and love at first sight, to name a few – and how it affects all of them during the holiday season.

Love Actually is a romantic comedy on drugs. The audience gets ten times the amount of romance in a single film, but it never gets overwhelming or confusing. Curtis imbues all of his films with his characteristic quirky touch, and Love Actually isn’t any different. It is heartfelt throughout, but it never crosses the line into cheesy and has a great balance of serious passion and aloof comedic relief. Love Actually isn’t just a great romantic film, but it’s also a great Christmas film. Grab a significant other (or, for single people, it doesn’t matter if it is watched alone) and revel in the romance this Christmas.

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Step 1: Send out proper invitations.

Before anything happens, guests need to know about the event. It is very important to send out the invitations early enough that guests have time to respond. Yeah, college is all about doing everything at the last minute, but when it comes to a dinner party, planning is necessary. The invitation can be anything from a massive Facebook message to a bunch of consecutive Twitter mentions, from a creative e-vite to a good old letter delivered through snail mail. Avoid general invites, such as a Facebook event or a casual tell-him-and-her-and-everyone-else-that-I’m-having-a-party text to a friend.

Step 2 (Optional): Choose a Theme. 

The possibilities are endless when each guest brings cookies. | Photo by Estefania Souza.

Themes are a great way to make a party more fun. Plan it correctly and be surprised at how entertaining it can be, for the host and the guests.

A delicious twist to the traditional holiday party is a cookie swap. Make guests bring a batch of cookies to share—potentially allowing store bought goodies for those who are culinarily challenged. Then all you have to do is warm up the milk and stuff your face with as many cookies as you can.

The idea of inducing a sugar coma surrounded by your closest friends does not sound appetizing? Throw an ugly hat party. Let’s face it, ugly sweaters get all the attention, but there are some horrendous hats out there on which the spotlight should be shining.

Some people love theme parties; others hate them. Regardless, it is important to make sure that all guests are on the same page. So if a theme is in order—be it ugly sweaters or classy attire—let everybody know about it.

Step 3: Decorations.

Adorning your place for a party can be a hassle and taking it down is usually much worse. But decorations can add that extra oomph, so give it a shot. Even just the classic mistletoe or dreidels filled with goodies will make the party more fun. Other ideas are magazine Christmas trees, a glass bowl full of round tree ornaments or a homemade Menora.

Step 4: Create a playlist. 

A party without music is like a cupcake without icing; it is just not right. And while it’s perfectly acceptable for the music to play quietly in the background, it is a must. No music, no mood.

When deciding what to play, think about your guests. Low music is good for mingling and conversations; turn it up when you want the dance party to start. As for choosing the type of music, think outside the box. Mix different genres and time periods, but do so wisely. In other words, do not go Kanye-Adele-Michael Jackson in the first seven minutes; a good way to switch genres is by playing songs that do so anyways. For example, use Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling” to ease from rap to pop or vice versa.

Also, keep in mind that theme related songs make the party more exciting, but don’t go overboard on the holiday music. Here are some tips for making a winter holiday playlist.

Step 5: Set a menu.

If the occasion is a dinner party, decide what kind of food is to be served: a meal made from scratch, an array of fancy canapés or classic store-bought party trays. They are actually pretty tasty.

When deciding what to serve guests, think about all the possibilities. It is better to stay on the safe side than to spend the whole party stressing over the lack of appetizers because the home made salt and vinegar potato chips burnt while you were trying to decide whether to ice the red velvet cupcakes or assemble the hand tomato pies first. Not to say that serving chips made from scratch along with velvety cupcakes is a bad idea; just make sure your skills are up to par.

The easy way out is serving an array of easy to make canapés. Guests will be entertained trying the different treats available, and everybody’s belly will be satisfied by the end of the night. Whip up some ricotta bruschetta, wrap some baby potatoes in bacon strips, fill some bowls with candied nuts. Put out a platter of crudités with a side of ranch and a fruit-cheese plate and show off your Martha Stewart skills.

Step 6: Set up the other menu. 

Drinks are a party must—regardless of their alcoholic content. There’s two options. Keep it low-scale and serve casual drinks like soda, sparkling water, juice  or beer (if you’re twenty-one) or bring the party up a notch and mix fancy cocktails (virgin or not).

Before deciding what to serve, look back at your theme and food menu. If a cookie swap is happening, skip the soda and replace it with a piping mug of peppermint hot chocolate; if canapés are being served, pair them up with a pitcher of virgin sangria.

Step 7: Get Ready. 

Make sure you have time to set everything up. Decorate the party space hours before the event. Put out plates, make sure enough cups or glasses are available and leave out a big stack of napkins—whether you are serving food or not, napkins are always useful. Then put on your party attire, press play and enjoy the night because you know you deserve it!

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Norwegian kinder baking kükies. | Photo via Flickr Commons

We all feel the pressure of the holidays. It’s the time of year that brings work parties, gift and cookie exchanges, and the dreaded in-law gatherings.  Regardless of what you celebrate, we all have something to prep for and it can certainly feel like a ton of pressure. Well, first of all, take a deep breath. While I can’t help you with everything, I can provide a dessert menu.  Assembled here are some of my favorite holiday recipes—guaranteed to gain you brownie points. This holiday is your turn to shine, with just a few simple recipes.

Pecan Ball Cookies

While they’re not a classic holiday treat, pecan ball cookies are a Christmas tradition in my household. A project shared with my mother and sister, no Christmas season is complete until we have made these delightfully-delicious cookies.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup pecans

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

¼ cup sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup confectioners sugar, sifted

Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

1)     Preheat oven to 350°F.

2)     Toast Pecans: Place nuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes, or until lightly brown and fragrant. Cool and then place them, along with 2 tablespoons of flour, into a food processor. Process until they are finely ground.

3)     In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes) using an electric mixer. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the remaining flour and salt and beat until combined.

4)     Stir in the nuts. Cover and refrigerate the dough for about one hour or until firm.

5)     Form the chilled dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches part a greased baking sheet. Bake for about 12 – 15 minutes or until the edges of the cookies start to brown. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 5 minutes.

6)     Prepare a plastic bag with 1 cup sifted confectioner’s sugar. Take the hot cookies and place in bag, 3-4 at a time. Shake bag gently, until cookies are entirely covered in sugar. Place cookies onto a cooling rack and repeat with the remaining cookies.

7)     Eat and enjoy!

 Basic Sugar Cookies

This recipe, while simple, is a staple in any baking arsenal. Perfect for just making round cookies—but try rolling them out to cut fun shapes.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening
3 tbsp milk
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
2 cup flour

1)     Preheat oven to 375°F.

2)     Cream shortening and sugar in a medium mixing bowl.

3)     Add egg, vanilla and milk, mixing well. Next add salt, baking powder and flour; blend well.

4)     Now, you can do one of two things. If you want plain, round sugar cookies, simply place 1 tbsp balls of dough on a cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. If you plan to make festive shapes, follow the remaining instructions.

5)     Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to an hour.

6)     Roll out on floured surface; flour the rolling pin to make it easier to roll out the dough. Cut the dough or use cookie cutters for desired shape. If dough is too soft to handle when you roll it out, work some flour into the dough. Just a little bit is all that is needed. Place shapes on a greased cookie sheet for about 12 minutes.

7)     For a fun, extra festive cookie you can sprinkle colored sugar sprinkles or frost the cookies. Then simply eat and enjoy!

Linzer Tart Cookies

Another favorite of mine, these cookies are the perfect combination of sweet and tangy— just enough to win anyone’s heart.

Ingredients:

1 cup blanched or sliced almonds

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cup granulated white sugar, divided

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 large egg yolks

Lemon zest (1 lemon)

Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

1/2 cup raspberry preserves (you can use other preserve or jam flavors, I just like raspberry)

Makes about 20 2-inch sandwiched cookies.

1)     Preheat the oven to 350° F.

2)     Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes (or until lightly browned and fragrant). Once the nuts have cooled, place in a food processor and process with 1/4 cup of the sugar from the recipe until finely ground.

3)     In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, and salt.

4)     In a different bowl, beat the butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer, roughly 3 minutes. Next, beat in the vanilla extract, egg yolks, and lemon zest. Then beat in the ground almonds.

5)     Add the flour mixture, beating just until well-mixed. Divide the dough in half and shape into two rectangles about 1/2 inch thick.

6)     Wrap the two rectangles of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (at least one hour, and up to a day).

7)     Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove one rectangle of dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly-floured surface, roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2 to 3 inch round cookie cutter cut out the dough. Place the cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Use a smaller cookie cutter (round, or a fun shape such as a star, 3/4 – 1 inch) to cut out the centers of half of the cookies on the baking sheet (you will be sandwiching two cookies together with the jam).

8 )     Re-roll any scraps and cut out the cookies. Repeat step 7 with the remaining half of the cookie dough.

9)     Bake the cookies for 12 – 14 minutes or until they are very lightly browned. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

10)  While the cookies are cooling, place the raspberry jam in a small saucepan and heat it gently until slightly thick. Strain if there are any lumps in the jam and then let cool.

11)  Time to assemble the cookies! Place the cookies with the cut-outs on a wire rack and lightly dust the tops with powdered sugar.

12)  Take the cookies without cut-outs, and spread with about a 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon of jam.  Place the cut-out cookie on top and gently sandwich them together, making sure not to smudge the confectioners’ sugar.  Using a small spoon, fill the cut-out with a little more jam.

Gingerbread Men

This little recipe is a holiday classic and guaranteed to perfectly sweeten any gathering.

Ingredients:

Cookies

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking soda

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup granulated white sugar

1 large egg

2/3 cup unsulphured molasses (To prevent molasses from sticking to the measuring cup, first spray the cup with a non stick vegetable spray)

Makes about 3 dozen cookies depending on the size of cookie cutter used.

Confectioners Frosting (Optional):

2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 tbsp milk or light cream

1)     Preheat oven to 350°F

2)     In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and spices.

3)     In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and molasses and beat until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating until mixed in.

4)     Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm (at least two hours—or even overnight).

5)     On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Use a gingerbread cutter to cut out the cookies.  Place cookies onto a greased baking sheet, placing about 1 inch apart. If cookies are a little soft, place the baking sheet (with the cookies) in the fridge for about 10 minutes. This will prevent the cookies from losing their shape.

6)     Bake for about 8 – 12 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. They are cooked when they are firm and the edges are just beginning to brown.

7)     Decorate or enjoy plain!

 Confectioners Frosting: 

1)     Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth and well blended.

2)     Add the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beater.

3)     Add the milk and beat on high speed until frosting is light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).

Toffee Bars

Tired of cookies or just want a taste of chocolate? These toffee bars will be perfect. Sweet and just a little bit sticky, they are a delicious addition to any holiday party.

Ingredients:

Toffee Bars

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

Makes about 16 squares.

 Topping

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup almonds, toasted and chopped

1)      Preheat oven to 350° F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil.

2)      Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake in a 350°F oven for about 8 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let the nuts cool completely and then chop.

3)      Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla extract. Then add the salt and flour and mix just until mixed.

4)       Spread the shortbread evenly on the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the shortbread is golden brown with well-browned edges.

5)      Remove from oven and immediately scatter the chocolate chips over the hot shortbread. Return the shortbread to the oven for a minute or two, just until the chocolate softens. Remove from the oven and evenly spread the chocolate with the back of a spoon.

6)      Sprinkle the chopped almonds over the chocolate. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool.

7)      Once the chocolate has set, lift the shortbread from the pan using the edges of the foil. Place on a cutting board and, with a sharp knife, cut into 16 squares. Enjoy!

Sources:

www.joyofbaking.com

www.cooks.com

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Photo courtesy of bostonballetblog.org

It’s that time of year again. Time for “The Nutcracker” to return to local theaters everywhere, that is.

From November 25 to December 31, the Boston Ballet is putting on “The Nutcracker” at the Boston Opera House.  This show is a holiday tradition, a ballet that returns to the stage every year around Christmastime.  Based on the fairytale by E.T.A. Hoffman, The Nutcracker is a story about a little girl named Clara who receives a beautifully crafted nutcracker as a present on Christmas Eve.  After falling asleep that night, Clara wakes up to find that her nutcracker has come to life as a prince, and together they travel to the Kingdom of Sweets on an exciting adventure.

The Nutcracker perfectly blends the fantasy of fairytale with the beauty of ballet, allowing it to draw an audience of all ages.  Having watched numerous productions of “The Nutcracker” and having performed in the ballet myself, I am still mesmerized by the show every time.

This was my first time watching a performance by the Boston Ballet and I was completely impressed with the way the tale was interpreted by artistic director Mikko Nissinen and by each dancer’s talent.  The little girl who played Clara, Isabella Auerbach, was so confident and so talented that it was hard to believe that she was a child.  Her movements were very expressive, and it was easy to follow along with the story with her as the main character.

Ballet in general is an incredibly stunning art form.  The way ballerinas are able to move their bodies with such ease and grace is breathtaking.  This, combined with the richly captivating music composed by Tchaikovsky, makes “The Nutcracker” both visually and aurally appealing.

My favorite part was in Act II, after Clara and the Nutcracker arrived at the Kingdom of Sweets.  It is called the Arabian Dance and is performed as a pas de deux, which is a dance performed by two people, usually a man and a woman.  The Middle Eastern style of dance deviated from the standard ballet form and both dancers performed barefoot.  The exotic feel of the dance combined with the dynamic of the two dancers who performed it added up to an entrancing spectacle.

Though the show lasted for roughly two hours, it seemed to go by much more quickly. Despite the stress of finals and the end of the semester, The Nutcracker was the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. It provides viewers with an enjoyable escape into a make-believe world that is very entertaining and an alternative to the typical movie or play.

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