Music Review: "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold

Album: "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold

Label:

Warner Bros. Records

Key Personnel:

Vocals– Matthew Sanders/ M. Shadows

Lead Guitar– Brian Haner Jr./ Synyster Gates

Rhythm Guitar– Zachary Baker/ Zacky Vengeance

Bass– Jonathon Seward/ Johnny Christ

Drums– Mike Portnoy

Additionally (Drums/Backing Vocals/Piano): James Sullivan/The Rev

Release Date: July 27, 2010

Track Listing:

Nightmare

Welcome to the Family

Danger Line

Buried Alive

Natural Born Killer

So Far Away

God Hates Us

Victim

Tonight the World Dies

Fiction

Save Me                         

Lost It All (Bonus Track)              

Nightmare, the fifth studio album of Avenged Sevenfold, comes at a time of turbulence, doubt and sorrow for the American heavy metal band. The album marks the first record release since 2008 and, more importantly, is the first release since the tragic passing of drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan in December 2009. As such, the latest record

TV Review: "The Pacific"

Starring: James Badge Dale, Jon Seda, Joe Mazzello

“The Pacific” is a miniseries that raises the bar for HBO’s already-stellar reputation. From start to finish, the miniseries effectively mixes together brutality, terror, emotion and realism into one perfectly-constructed blend.

The series follows the stories of three U.S. marines and their experiences in the Pacific theatre of WWII; Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), John Basilone (Jon Seda), and Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello). The series follows the three marines and their respective squad-mates across the grueling island-hopping campaign between the U.S. marines and the imperial Japanese army that took place in the Pacific theatre. From Guadalcanal to Okinawa, these soldiers endure torments at every turn, both physical and psychological.

The series is filled to the brim with suspenseful and shaking scenes that can leave even the most steadfast of viewers shaking in their seats. There was one scene in particular during the ninth episode when Sledge

Novella Excerpt: "Saved"

Tom Evanson lay sprawled out on the cold, muddy earth as the rain cascaded down on top of him. His backpack and textbooks lie scattered and sunken into a pool of mud several feet away and his glasses shattered and broken at his feet. The eighteen-year-old, wearing a casual polo and jeans, fidgeted and his chest rose and fell in deep intakes of breath as blood oozed forth from the stab-wounds in his abdomen. Thunder and lightning clattered across the night sky above, drowning out the terrified and pained cries for help that the boy shouted through the downpour of rain.

Tom had stayed after school for an hour or so to finish an assignment for his English class. Having done so, he had subsequently missed the school bus home and had to take the long walk back to his house through the woods. His stepdad was away on business and he had been unable to reach his mother at home because his cell phone ran out of battery; therefore, he had little choice but to hike his way back to his home through four miles of forest.

As Tom had walked along the forest trail, listening to his ipod and admiring the simple beauty of the scenic foliage, disaster struck for the high school teen. Three rugged boys a few years older than Tom had been lying in wait along the trail. The largest had sprinted forth from the trees and attempted to tackle Tom to the ground while the other two followed suit. Tom kicked his legs and fought back his three larger, stronger attackers but to no avail; the three burly boys had him firmly pinned into the earth. Two of the boys rummaged his pockets, stealing his ipod, cell phone and wallet while the other had planted Tom’s head against the ground with his kneecap.

Creativity...with a Hint of Madness

Once, I was an enigma. As a child I would do the most peculiar things in my spare time; pace around the room and mutter to myself or vividly reenact scenes from movies when I think the rest of my family isn’t watching. In one such scenario, for example, I performed an entire battle scene from “Lord of the Rings” with perfect execution. As I’ve grown up into the man I am today, the solitary reenactments and pacing have remained one of the only constants; however, I’ve now taken a different approach. What was once a carefree way of passing the time as a child has now become a brainstorming technique in which I plump the depths of my imagination while broadening my creativity. Furthermore, as my awareness of social phenomena and the calamities of life has increased with age, so too has it become more necessary for me to pursue ever-imaginative means of escapism. This too is where my alone time spent imagining other extraordinary universes and events has come into play. Now, I am creative. Now though, I am working toward taking ideas spawned from hours of pacing and brainstorming, and expressing them through one of the arts that excel at: writing. Soon, I will be a novelist.

  

Once, I was an enigma:

Slash! Chop! Swoosh! Thwak! In a frenzy, I swung my weapon before me in a flurry of cuts, thrusts, jabs and slashes. I readied my sword as the next group of fiendish enemies converged all around me. Vile, snarling, biting fiends hell-bent on bloodlust attacked me from all directions, slashing their crude blades at me which I deflected and evaded with ease and agility. In the distance, a booming, menacing voice howled over the battlefield as I made battle with my foes.

Minor Leagues, Major Experience

In 2005, there was a Minor League game between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. Despite that this game was merely practice for the drafted players, the eyes of over ten thousand viewers and live video cameras were upon them.  After the seventh inning, a call unexpectedly came down to the Rex Sox’ bullpen coach. Afterward, the bullpen coach turns to one of the Red Sox draftees, a pitcher, and said simply, “Searles, you’re in on the ninth.”

Jon Searles had been eagerly awaiting the chance to pitch during that game prior to that. The opportunity came about because of the fact that one of the other minor league pitchers had done only five innings rather than the supposed six, leaving an inning open for Searles. When the ninth finally came around, Searles ran out onto the field toward the pitching mound with confidence and the willingness to prove himself before thousands of onlookers and a series of TV cameras.

He struck out first one of the Cincinnati batters, and then another. After the game ended, famed Red Sox manager Terry Francona gave Searles a high-five as he was coming off the field. Searles later showered, ate, and was greeted by dozens of voicemails and text messages from family and friends congratulating him.

Jon Searles now works as a fixed income salesman at First Empire Securities in Hauppauge, Long Island, NY. He is 30 years old, lives in Huntington, Long Island, and enjoys golfing, hiking and (of course) baseball.

Beginning a Sci-fi Story

1.      The Focus- As someone with at least minor experience in writing science fiction, I can safely say that it is one of the most rewarding genres to work with. This is majorly due to the fact that the volume of options and directions that an author can take in sci-fi is unprecedented. Coming up with the initial idea for your story is the first way to go. Often writers will spontaneously get an idea that they will feel inspired to write about. However, if you are having difficulty coming up with a genuine focus for a sci-fi, try brainstorming. Try to find a location and time that you consider to be your “comfort zone,” grab a notepad, and just jot down the first ideas that come to you. Use your imagination; you may be surprised with what you come up with. Finally, don’t be afraid to “think outside the box” when fishing for story ideas. All fiction stories are unique in some way, but sci-fi in particular has a way of giving new definition to unique because of the fact that they can bend the laws of physics and reality. Use this to your advantage when coming up with a story.

2.      Research- This step is optional and doesn’t always apply. Because these stories are science fiction, writers have a bit more liberty to bend the rules of realism in order to make a compelling story. Having said that, one may find it prudent to do some background research on a particular subject in order to add value to the story. For example, with a sci-fi story that takes place in outer space, it may be a good idea to research some facts about basic astronomy in order to bring some realistic applications into your piece. The reader will likely be impressed by these tidbits of knowledge that you are applying to the story and may make them that much more inclined to read on.

Brompton Cocktail

Bernie drew out a clean washcloth from the lower cabinet and began wiping down the countertop. As his eyes darted around the bar, he noted that the last raucous group of patrons had sipped up the last of their drinks and were exiting their booth. As soon as they stepped out of the door, Bernie moved for the stereo system and tweaked the volume to the off position.

After he had finished collecting and disposing of the remaining half-drunk beer bottles, Bernie took notice of one final patron still sipping away at his drink at the far end of the counter. The man was donned in a grey sweatshirt complete with a nexus of beer stains, dirt stains, and other various designs of questionable origin. Bernie threw the last of his bottles into the recycle bin and stepped up to the man on the other side of the counter.

“Hey bud. The name’s Matt, right?” Bernie asked the man. “Think I’ve seen ya here a few nights.”

The man took his final sip of beer, briefly wiping away at his mustache with his sleeve. He didn’t look up at Bernie when the question was asked of him but rather kept his hazel eyes squarely in front of him. Bernie continued to hover over like a vulture, finally gauging a response from him after a few seconds.

A Gamble Never Taken

The year was 2007; a foot-high wooden pyre was blazing in the middle of an empty cul-de-sac as a rage-stricken man in a red t-shirt and boxer shorts ran out onto the lawn to confront me and my friends. Yup…that blaze of glory in the middle of the street was our handiwork.

The event was sparked by collective boredom among me and my five friends. A series of circumstances of which I can’t fully recollect had led the six of us to be strapping two cans of Axe body spray together, surrounding it with pieces of broken plywood, and lighting it on fire with a match. After the flames spread over the Axe cans, they simultaneously burst open in a mini-explosion and flames began to jet out from their sides. When we had later recovered the cans, I took notice of the fact that the bold-printed “Warning: Flammable” label on one of the cans had been singed away by flames.  

After we lit our fire for the sake of lighting a fire, one of the nearby neighbors from around the cul-de-sac came running out dropping F-bombs left and right and threatening to call the cops. The man likely at first glance thought that we were a bunch of psychotic arsonists out on a home-burning crusade, even despite the fact that our relatively small blaze was nowhere near a house. Still, given the circumstances, I can’t say I blame the guy for being as enraged as he was.

Programs offered to veterans returning to campus

With an influx of veteran soldiers returning from overseas, the college administration has begun instituting various financial aid and support programs to help those students continuing their education at Suffolk.

With more vets returning home from active duty in Afghanistan and Iraq in the coming months, the college has been working in conjunction with the Veterans Affairs Office of Suffolk County to provide opportunities for financial aid as well as other benefits to returning veterans.

The Ammerman campus alone now contains a decently large number of veterans and is expected to grow in coming semesters.

Sushi Workshop at Suffolk

The Ammerman campus’ Asian Culture Club is holding a sushi workshop in the Mildred Green Room on the second floor of the Babylon Student Center of Suffolk’s Ammerman campus on Nov. 30 at 11 am.

Students are invited and encouraged to come and learn how to make and prepare authentic Japanese sushi from an experienced sushi chef. Best of all, students can also eat the sushi that they prepare for themselves during the workshop.

The sushi workshop also provides insight into the traditions of Japanese sushi crafting. In the past, the Asian Culture Club has sponsored and organized other events to educate fellow students of genuine Asian traditions, such as a tea ceremony and Japanese Kimono dressing. The workshop will be both entertaining and insightful for students looking to learn more about Asian culture and looking to craft quality sushi.
Seating for this event is limited to a first come, first serve basis. The first 40 students that arrive are given priority for the workshop.

This event will take place in the Mildred Green Room of the Babylon Student Center on the Ammerman campus during 11 am common hour on Wednesday, Nov. 30. For more information, contact Professor Vera Hu-Hyneman at (631)-451-4981 or huhynev@sunysuffolk.edu or the campus activities office at (631)-451-4376.

Campus electronic committees work to upgrade campus technology

Despite economic struggles and budget cuts from the state, the Campus Computing Council and the Educational Tech Unit (ETU) work to bring up-to-date computers and technology across Suffolk campuses.

The computing council convenes every few years to assess current computer technology across campus and determines the best ways to go about replacing them in order to meet certain demands. The ETU is the workforce that installs and upgrades the computers and other technology into the classrooms for educational use.

According to a college contract, the college computing council explicitly adheres to an annual replacement cycle that determines when computers are to be improved and replaced with new technology. Paul Basileo, the coordinator or instructional technology on the Ammerman campus, stated that current economic trends shape how and when computer systems are improved and upgraded by the ETU.  

“Zookeeper” to be shown at Selden campus

The family/comedy film “Zookeeper” will be presented at the Ammerman Campus in room 115 of the Islip Arts Building on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.

The film starring Kevin James (King of Queens, Paul Blart: Mall Cop) revolves around a dedicate zookeeper having relationship problems. Although he has a friendly personality, zookeeper Griffin (Kevin James) is not very suave with the ladies. Things take an unexpected turn when the animals of his zoo reveal to him that they can talk, and decide to help their beloved zookeeper with his relationship issues…by giving him hands-on dating advice!

“Zookeeper” is a rate PG family film that was released in theaters on July 8, 2011. The film stars Kevin James as the likeable zookeeper Griffin Keyes. The film costars Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Seth Rogen, Steffiana De La Cruz, and Donnie Wahlberg, as well as Sylvester Stallone, Adam Sandler, Cher, and Nick Nolte as the voices of animals.

The film is free and includes complementary popcorn. Bringing a non-perishable food item for the upcoming Thanksgiving food drive is also appreciated.

“Zookeeper” will play in room 115 of the Islip Arts Building from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14. For more information, call the office of campus activities at the Ammerman campus at (631)-451-4376.

College library exhibit tells chilling tale of Nazism on Long Island

By Eric Santucci

SELDEN- The college set up a historical exhibit in the Huntington Library recounting the pre-World War II Nazi community in Yaphank, Long Island.

The exhibit, entitled, “Goose Stepping In Long Island: Camp Siegfried,” provides vivid images and backstory details about a German-American Nazi summer camp in operation in Yaphank between 1935 and 1939. The exhibit is open to students, staff and visitors in the Huntington Library of the Ammerman Campus until Oct. 28. Admission to the exhibit is free.

“This is simply an eye-opening exhibit,” said executive dean James Sherwood in a college brief. “The pictures in it depict a darker side of Long Island, with photos of goose stepping American Nazis in Yaphank and a map of Brookhaven with streets like Hitler Way and Goering Street.”

Pets sheltered from hurricane at Eastern campus

RIVERHEAD- Dozens of pets were sheltered and cared for on Saturday, Aug. 27 at the Eastern Campus of Suffolk Community College during Hurricane Irene.

In the wake of the tropical storm that hammered away at the East Coast Riverhead residents avoided potential disaster by moving themselves and their pets into one of several buildings at the Eastern Riverhead Campus.

“Over 40 pets including; cats, dogs, birds, and hamsters were sheltered on the campus during the storm,” said Professor Marilyn McCall whose classroom was used to shelter the animals. She went on to state that all the pets had been cleared out by Monday morning.

Students, officials take steps to minimize larceny on campus

On Feb. 9, a safety notice was sent out to all campus students via e-mail and Facebook that separate vehicle larcenies (break-ins) occurred across all three Suffolk Campuses. The incidents all occurred between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Feb. 7 and the advisory notice was subsequently sent out by the Office of Public and Fire Safety two days later.

The notice advised each student to save the Office of Public Safety phone number in cell phones so student can notify them immediately in the event of further larceny. In addition, it was strongly recommended that students refrain from leaving valuables visible in their car.

The notice neglected to mention whether or not items of value were lifted from the vehicles subjected to the larcenies on Feb. 7. However, the notice clearly stated the need to lock cars at all times and to never leave valuable property in vehicles. If valuable items cannot be locked away, they should be relocated to the trunk or in a concealed location in the back.

Campus activities board calls for more student involvement

SELDEN- On Monday, Feb. 28, approximately 25 to 30 people gathered in the Mildred Green room in the Babylon Student Center of Suffolk Community College’s Ammerman Campus for the Suffolk Community College Activities Board (CAB) meeting.

The CAB meeting took place from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. which included CAB executive members and students. During the meeting Board members expressed the need of CAB members to spread the word about CAB activities in an attempt to gain support.

“Whatever you do, just push for more (students); get out there and get people involved,” Executive Member Rich McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin encouraged CAB members to put forth ideas for recruitment. For example, he and the other executives came up with the idea of sponsoring a “minute to win it”-styled game event to bring more members in. McLaughlin also promoted fellow members to bring a new friend to each CAB meeting; preferably someone who had never previously been to one.