Shoebox Review

Catch-22

Joseph Heller

When I first starting reading Joseph Heller’s 1955 classic Catch-22, I had no idea what I was getting into. I had no preconceptions about the novel or even an idea of what it was about. My main source of information about the book was the blurb on the back cover and the vague notion that it was a classic. I simply picked it up and decided, on a whim, to give it a chance. In the end, it turned out to be one of the best literary decisions I’ve ever made.

The plot is simple: Yossarian is a frantic bombardier stationed on a fictional Mediterranean island during the height of World War II whose only goal is to be dismissed from duty by reason of insanity. Despite his best efforts, however; he is constantly thwarted by the notorious “catch-22”: a military law that proves his sanity by the fact that he is acting insane. The story follows him throughout his numerous attempts to prove his insanity and survive the war. The humor of Yossarian’s behavior in context of the war gives the reader images of a world that has gone mad and the repetitive futility of combat.

Since I first read it during my freshman year of high school, it’s been one of my most highly recommended books to friends and family members. It’s a fantastic novel for many, many reasons.

So why should you read it?
…..Read on

While not a pie eating contest per say, (everyone should stop ironing their bibs) the Mimi Schwartz creative nonfiction contest is a great way for a creative nonfiction writer to win some cash and recognition.

Stockton students only — sorry to all our readers from Harvard and such.

THE MIMI SCHWARTZ AWARD
FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION
$100 for Best Personal Essay

The Writing Program at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey will present the Mimi Schwartz Award for Creative Nonfiction to an undergraduate student. Deadline: December 5, 2007.

Contest Guidelines:

1. All Stockton students are eligible, as are non-matriculated students who are taking a Stockton course in the current semester.

2. One entry per student.

3. All entries must have been written during the 2006-2007 or 2007-2008 academic year.

4. Each entry must be a personal essay no longer than 15 double-spaced pages with font no smaller than 12 points.

5. Each entry must have a title, but do not put your name on the essay.

6. Please send your entry as an email attachment (Word document) to Judy Copeland at Your name, address, and phone number should appear in the email itself, but not in the attachment.

7. The deadline is December 5, 2007.

8. The winner will be announced the week of January 21-26, 2008.

(image Flickred by ren_byrd)

Known primarily for his work in the early 90’s sitcom The State and later for his comedic efforts in VH1’s I Love the *insert decade here*, Michael Ian Black is composed of dry wit, dark comedic timing, and a sinister smile. Apparently after finishing up work on a new movie he wrote, (Run, Fat Boy, Run) he has decided to work on his stand-up again.

So, anyone who is interested in a guy who looks like a nerdy uncle with a bad mouth will want, no need, to see him. He’s performing this Friday, Nov 30, at the TLA on South Street in Philadelphia — 9PM $95.00.

Check out the Listings for more local shows/concerts in Philadelphia

I hope I can be forgiven for still thinking the Experimental Gameplay Project is the greatest thing since Hot Pockets – the video game equivalent of comfort food.  

Started by four students Carnegie Mellon, the project’s immodest goal was to create something like 50 new video games over the course of two semester, utilizing a rapid prototyping technique which they cheekily try to explain, but don’t, on their site. It’s grown to take on new games, many by non-Carnegie developers, even after the original group moved on to bigger, more lucrative undertakings.

The great thing is that the games reflect the individual personalities of the creators, who didn’t work in teams but made their games, start to finish — music, graphics and programming — solo. Viva the auteur. Oh, and did I mention each game had to be completed within 7 days?

Probably my favorite so far has been “On a Rainy Day” (pictured) by Shalin Shodhan, which gets really weird when the hands start clapping for you.

There’s a student nonfiction reading at Stockton on Dec 4th at 4:15pm in the TRLC. Judy Copeland is organizing the event. She’s Stockton’s go to nonfiction professor and a really excellent travel writer. She always tells these casual stories about her travels as if they are no big deal while her audience sits there flabbergasted,”so, then the bear took out a pipe and a book of Frost poems, but I didn’t panic — I called the stewardess.”

Some of her students will be reading their work and it’s always a lot of fun to hear creative versions of true stories. Check it out.

(image Flickred by Orin Optiglot)

Cake, the band known for their lack of vocal prowess and joyful antics, is playing at the Commerce Bank Arts Centre in Sewell, NJ on Dec 8th. Tickets are $35.

I can’t remember the last time Cake came to South Jersey, so all the SJ Cake fans holed up indoors, waiting for Cake to set the sun shining with their Unlimited Sunshine Festival, should be pleased. Ticketmaster is advertising “special guests” for the show, but knowing Cake that could mean anything from Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppets playing xylophones, to what’s left of Jim Morrison’s corpse working the spoons.

Cake just released B-sides and Rarities, and their last CD, Pressure Chief, is really worth checking out.

Check out some song samples of decent length on their site.

www.cakemusic.com

Being an esteemed member of the Pandora community, I was included in the ultra-exclusive email sending that just went out for this Pandora Budweiser bash in Philadelphia.

No one is more surprised than me; I stopped using Pandora because apparently I can’t hodgepodge together a music type that doesn’t make me want to skip every other song, a practice Pandora frowns upon and only allows every once in a while. I was always stuck listening to some horrible blend because I carelessly input “counting crows” and “death” into their Music Genome (which I’m told has nothing to do with “gnomes”, but I don’t buy it).

The interesting part of the little ad is, “Budweiser is also providing hors d’oeuvre and Budweiser Select beer (other beverages will be available for purchase).” This leads me to believe that the hors d’oeuvre and Select will be free. But Pandora was also supposed to be the answer to my music problems forever, so I’m wary. They probably make you drink a bunch of different drinks at the door and then puke in a bucket so a Budweiser representative can taste it and figure out your exact malt. Then that’s free.

Might be worth checking out, though.

www.pandora.com

The New Media Club, Brian Kim Stefans, and I (B to the S H A R P) are hosting a media event this Thursday night. I plan to talk about The Fhiz a bit, Richard Stockton OVERDRIVE, and The New Media Club. BKS is tossing out some info about independent video games and showing off some student projects from his classes. We also have a couple student presenters lined up to show off their work. It’ll be fun.

There’ll be pizza. You should come. Blow the poster up for all its majesty.

Thursday Nov 29th 4:30 - 6pm F-111

…bring a hot date.

Another brainchild of the brilliant Brian Kim Stefans, head of the New Media department and all around nice guy!

Stockton students are encouraged to submit their creative work to be included in a free dvd compilation appearing this coming spring. Blow that baby up for info.