Binghamton, N.Y. It’s known as the Carousel Capital of the World, for its famous spiedies (read: marinated chicken), impressive higher education institution …and the coldest goddamn weather outside of Wasila, Alaska. Okay, that may be a stretch, but it is ball-shrinkingly cold in the 13902. While not much a problem for dorm kids who enjoy the luxury of heat that doesn’t have to be paid monthly, off campus kids must suffer the dilemma of heat versus money daily … money usually winning. However, all of us suffer when it comes to trekking Downtown to get our drink on when the…

Sweet, one friend request! Who could it be? Is it an old time friend? Maybe it’s that kid I met at the bar last night? Oh no, it can’t be … mom? That’s right. These days Mom, Dad, even Grandpa, can join the Facebook network. To some, getting a friend request is no longer thrilling, but instead, a little frightening. When Facebook was introduced in 2004 it was limited to college students. Today, anyone over the age of 13 can join the network. As a result, Facebook has over 150 million current users. Is the original Facebook generation ready to…

There’s no getting around it: 2008 was a really good year for American cinema. Yes, it brought us “Jumper” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” but it also brought us plenty of indie gems, great documentaries, charming animated movies and a larger-than-usual crop of really well-made Hollywood films. Need evidence? Just look at this year’s Oscar nominees, which feature some of the best films and performances in recent memory. While I do have a few bones to pick with the Academy — 13 nominations for “Benjamin Button”?! — the nominations are, all in all, a good showcase of…

I have a confession to make. I love Toni Collette. With that out there, I knew there was no way I’d miss “United States of Tara.” I was onboard the minute she became attached. Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, and created and written by Diablo Cody, “Tara” has all the makings to be a hit for Showtime. It’s witty with just the right amount of absurd. Cody, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of “Juno,” easily weaves a web of intriguing and complex characters. The pop culture relevance remains, but happily none of the characters are spouting phrases like “honest to blog.” A…

The first week of the semester has just ended and Aaron Butler, Student Association vice president for programming, is already looking at the bigger picture. With a current budget of over $100,000, $75,000 of which is allotted to larger acts and events, Butler has already booked the mid-sized rock band Eve 6 as the main event for Spring Fling, to be held on May 2. The band performed a successful concert at Johnson City’s Magic City Music Hall in May of last year. “They’re a really good band with a decent following,” Butler said. “I think they’ll put on a…