Rapper Was Fat, No Pun Intended

By Ariane M. Balizet

The hip hop community was (somewhat) shocked this week when the 698-pound, Grammy-nominated rapper Big Punisher died of a heart attack. Christopher Rios, the 28-year old creator of 1997’s acclaimed Capital Punishment was rushed from the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, New York to a hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival at around 4 pm Monday afternoon. The coroner confirmed that Rios’ heart problems were due for the most part to his obesity, but pending tests for drugs and alcohol have not yet suggested external factors. [con't]

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TSL: Is that even real?

Drew: What?

TSL: Your tattoo.

Drew: Yeah, it’s real. Don’t you have a tape recorder for this interview?

TSL: No, I have to write it as we go.

Blaising Saddles: Phallic Thrust in the Stacks

By Chris Bissell

When I say, "Almighty," I speak of BLAIS. Picture BLAIS, longer than the longest locomotive, metallic-sleek with a rounded tip–a bullet train. BLAIS stands before you, quick and arrow-straight. When you speak to BLAIS the answer begins with the title of a book, or of several books, but much more lies beneath. [con't]

Vagina Monologues Open Valentine’s Day

By Liz Rodriguez

The Vagina Monologues; I kept seeing announcements on the Digester and fliers up in the dorms, but I didn’t have the faintest idea what this theater production was all about. My guess was that it would turn out to be yet another preachy feminist diatribe, and that it had the word vagina. Since my interest in that kind of play was pretty non-existent, I didn’t give it a second thought. [con't]

Scream 3 Brian Rothman Arts & Features Associate The master of horror flicks Wes Craven takes a stab at himself in the newest and final installment of the Scream series. The gist of the film is the same as always: a killer wearing a ghost mask and a black gown terrorizes Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her friends, slicing up bodies with a very sharp knife. But this time the slashing takes place in Hollywood on the set of Stab 3, a sequel to a film based on the Woodsboro murders in the original Scream. [con't] Modest Mouse: Building Nothing Out of Something Dan Check News Editor Remember the kid at your high school who used to get in his old Dodge Aries in the morning with the intention of going to school, but who, instead, would always wind up in the drunk tank a state or two over by the time the sun set? That kid grew up to be Isaac Brock, the lead singer of Modest Mouse, a four piece band based in Issaquah, Washington. [con't]

Dining Around Town with Epicurious

"G’day mate!" A smiling face greets you at the door to put your name on the ever-present waiting list. Welcome to the Outback Steakhouse in Upland. Located on the corner of Mountain Avenue and Arrow Highway, the Outback has become one of the most popular dining spots in the neighborhood. The Australian theme is present throughout the restaurant, including décor, menu, and style. [con't]

Mike Gaertner Poet/preacher/rapper/ actor/producer/former Allen Ginsberg collaborator Saul Williams brought his act to Rose Hills last weekend.