Sunday, December 22, 2024

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Features

FEATURES

'Madness' stuffed with features

Well, it's over. The matchup hasn't taken place yet, but I already know who is going to emerge victorious when the MSU basketball squad takes on the Duke University Blue Devils tomorrow night.

FEATURES

Impact first college station to go digital

Digital is taking over. Not only is there digital cellular phone service, digital television cable and digital music recording possibilities to enhance our listening and watching experiences, but there is have digital radio, and it's available in the East Lansing area. WDBM Impact (88.9 FM) became the first college radio station in the United States to begin broadcasting digitally in HD radio last week.

FEATURES

'Kranks' true to Grisham novel

After seeing "Christmas with the Kranks" and being slightly disappointed with it, I decided to read the book that served as its inspiration - "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham. I discovered that the two work well in combination, like a thick Russian classic and its accompanying reading guide.

FEATURES

'Killzone' flounders in wake of 'Halo 2'

I think I'm getting spoiled. There are too many excellent first-person shooters available today and they've ruined me. Example: When I use a sniper rifle in a game, I look for certain elements that I wouldn't have even understood a year or so ago.

FEATURES

Theater briefs

"The Frog Prince" A children's musical about a frog who is really a prince and a curse that can only be broken by the kiss of a princess. Who: Riverwalk Theatre When: Friday-Sunday, Dec.

FEATURES

More than tradition

Here's what we know: In the early 1620s a group of religious separatists called Pilgrims settled in an area now known as Plymouth.

FEATURES

'National Treasure' like family vacation slide show

Whether it's postulating conspiracy theories about the Declaration of Independence or simply trying to convince us it's not a rip-off of "The Da Vinci Code," "National Treasure" requires a suspension of disbelief beyond our capabilities. Nicolas Cage stars as Benjamin Franklin Gates, the last in a long line of patriotic Americans who have guarded a national secret dating back for centuries.

FEATURES

Music, theatre depts. ride high on 'Carousel'

There is a reason why Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical won a Tony Award in 1994 for Best Musical Revival, and there is a reason why a collaboration between MSU School of Music and MSU Department of Theatre is a good thing - that reason is "Carousel." Although old, the musical is anything but outdated or dull - it provides a perfect combination of different theatrical aspects including beautiful costuming, modern ballet dance sequences and, of course, talented actors. The story takes place in 1873 in a New England village where Billy Bigelow, played by theater junior Nathaniel Nose, works for a carousel.

FEATURES

WEB ONLY: Wanderjahr releases first full album to rave review

Get past their name because once Wanderjahr - which I still don't know how to pronounce - enters the music-loving sector of your ears, it'll become obvious that names are just a tag, and what is heard behind the group's title is all that matters. Wanderjahr - a local psychedelic rock group comprised of five gentlemen - has been around the East Lansing and Lansing music scene for seven years, and are now releasing their first "proper" album, "Is to Disappear," tonight at The Temple Club, 500 E.

FEATURES

Rock your body

Welcome back to "Rock your body," The State News fitness and nutrition column. Each week, we hit up our local experts with some questions and pass their wisdom on to you. But before we get to the goods, we thought we'd tell you a little bit about who'll be giving you advice. Tom Ostrander: Tom is the owner of Powerhouse Gym, 435 E.