Review: “The Financial Diet”
Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief
“The Financial Diet,” written by Chelsea Fagan and designed by Lauren Ver Hage, is a finance guide geared towards twenty-somethings that want to stay on top of their finances. The book, while both useful and interesting, missed the beat when it came to recognizing some of the inhibitors that millenials may face when trying to save money.
“The Financial Diet” is based off of the work done for the duo’s financial website. As an on-again, off-again follower of Fagan and Ver Hage’s work for the past few years, I picked up their book in hopes that it would offer new insights into the world of saving money.
The guide is easily palatable; it’s split into seven chapters, all of which focus on a different aspect of one’s finances. Each chapter is broken up by expert interviews and illustrated diagrams. My only qualm with this is the inclusion of a ‘food’ section.
The fourth chapter of the book focuses on money-saving in the kitchen. There is a bunch of great advice offered, but I think the chapter is lacking when it comes to advice on what to keep in your kitchen. There is a list of spices and oils that one should have on-hand, and then the chapter delves into recipes. I love a good recipe as much as the next person, but if I wanted recipes, I could look online or in a recipe-specific book. These pages could have been more useful if they instead included lists of multi-purpose food items you can buy or examples of cheaper food that packs a lot of nutrients.
The information offered in the rest of the book is useful. Fagan explains some of the lesser-known aspects of being a financially responsible adult; she discusses the importance of investing, home ownership and credit scores.
While all of this information is useful, I think the book would be more insightful if it went more in-depth about how to specifically set money aside for things like emergency funds and college loan payments. It’s easy to say that people should pair down their expenses in an effort to save money. However, there are some people in the target age range for this book, like college students, who may not be able to cut their spending that easily. A hefty portion of the advice offered in “The Financial Diet” is focused on those who are living above their means.
“The Financial Diet” is a good book for those looking for an aesthetically pleasing crash-course in financial responsibility. However, it shouldn’t be your only source of financial research.
Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu
Last year’s overlooked entertainment
Mitchell Martin | Freelancer
It’s 2018, and that means there are new movies, games, television shows and albums for us to bite into. And while I sit, awaiting the release of “Avengers: Infinity Wars,” Season 3 of “The Magicians” and for all of the Japanese RPG fans out there, “Dragon Quest XI,” I’m not ready to close to door on 2017 and you shouldn’t either.
Last year had some truly great films, but one film, released early on Jan. 23, did not get as much coverage as it should’ve. “Brigsby Bear,” directed by Dave McCary, follows a young man named James Pope, played by Kyle Mooney, a writer for the film, attempting to create the finale for his favorite TV show. The film has a sincere tone for such a dark premise — James was kidnapped at a young age and raised to believed the world is irradiated, his only connection to others being a TV show called Brigsby Bear, secretly made by his kidnappers. He is rescued and introduced to society but can’t seem to let go of the show. If you can get past the second-hand embarrassment you’ll find a truly charming experience. Mooney’s portrayal of James is particularly enjoyable as he nails the socially awkward boy who really just wants to live happily. All in all, give this movie a watch, it’s sure to warm your heart.
2017 also had a ton of good music, but I think the greatest musical crime committed was the lack of hype surrounding the album “Three Movements” from legendary video game composer Manami Matsumae. Matsumae has been in the video game industry for thirty years and is most famous for composing for the original “Megaman” soundtrack. As such, it’s no surprise that her debut album sounds like a classic NES title you never got to play.
The starting track “Choose your hero” is extremely catchy, emulating 8-bit era music perfectly. The songs act like levels in a video game, successfully using guitars and synthesizers to really invoke those memories of jumping from platform to platform and taking on the final boss. Two tracks, “Intermezzo, Part 1,” and “Intermezzo, Part 2,” stand out from the rest. They’re both completely composed using piano, and have a much softer tone which bring about a calmer feel than the other tracks on the album. Overall, Matsumae has a good shot as a solo composer, and I hope she continues to put out more of her own albums.
We had a lot of great big hits in gaming in 2017, one of which is “Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth” for the 3DS. The game is a hardcore old school dungeon crawler which sports map-making and as you venture up labyrinths of the giant tree Yggdrasil avoiding giant foes and slaying monsters. It has brilliant character creation, allowing you pick any hair and eye color you can imagine, 40 different voices, four races, ten classes, and ten portraits per class. The game lacks in story, but easily makes up for it in immersion by carefully playing small events around the map that help to build the world around you. Overall it’s a great addition to the series and a game that should be in any RPG fan’s library.
Contact the author at mmartin17@wou.edu
New year, new music
Ashton Newton | Freelancer
2017 was a big year for music. Whether it was Taylor Swift reinventing her sound in “Reputation” or Kendrick Lamar dropping an instant classic with “DAMN.,” it’s hard to picture 2018 living up to one of the best years in the last decade for new music, but in fact, 2018 is looking to bring as much, or even more, great new music.
Right around the corner, Rhye is releasing a new album called “Blood” on Feb. 2. His first album is five years old this year, but he made a return in 2017 with a series of singles and lending vocals to Bonobo’s “Break Apart”.
The British indie group The Wombats are making a return with a new album releasing Feb. 9 titled “Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life.” They’ve already released two singles off of the album, “Lemon to a Knife Fight” and “Turn.”
At this point in the year, a lot of bands have only given conformation that they will release new music this year. Artists like The Arctic Monkeys, CHVRCHES, Childish Gambino, Frankie Cosmos, Drake and Father John Misty have all teased new music, so there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months.
One of the most exciting teased projects of 2018 is a collaborative album between Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Apart from a confirmation from Jay-Z himself, no additional information has come out about the collab.
Lady Gaga released a new single called “The Cure” and teased a 2018 album at last year’s Coachella. If the rest of the album matches the sound of “The Cure,” it looks like Lady Gaga is making a return to her earlier dance-pop sound.
At the end of 2017, Jack White released a pretty cacophonous single that turned out not to be a single at all. Instead, the release was simply bits and pieces taken from his upcoming 2018 album “Boarding House Reach.” It’s not a good sounding song, but it serves as an intriguing tease for what’s to come.
Some teases have gone more under the radar, like Death Cab for Cutie announcing their 2018 release in a tweet that simply says “LP9 // 2018” with no other information.
2018 is already shaping up to be one for the books. With what has already been announced, there’s plenty for fans of every genre to get excited about.
Contact the author at anewton15@wou.edu
Seasonal movie recommendations from The Western Journal
If you’re looking for a comedy-filled classic to watch with your family this holiday season, look no further; “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is a movie that I can’t get enough of this time of year. Watch as Clark Griswold tries to maintain his sanity throughout the Christmas season while various members of his extended family vacation at his home. From the hilarious struggles of hanging up lights to the Christmas tree going up in flames, it’s fun to experience a family more dysfunctional than your own. So, grab a glass of ‘nog and mele kalikimaka.
– Sam Dunaway, News Editor
Animated or claymation holiday specials are timeless classics. However, of the many produced in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s, the most iconic and memorable is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Providing sing-along tunes, a cute and heartwarming story about the origins of Kris Kringle and characters voiced by Hollywood elite — including Mickey Rooney and Fred Astaire — the movie will leave you feeling nostalgic and full of joy. It’s shown annually during the “25 Days of Christmas” on the FreeForm channel. So, as the song says, “put one foot in front of the other,” and soon you’ll be enjoying a holiday classic, as well.
– Caity Healy, Lifestyle Editor
Not in love with the idea of watching Christmas movies for the duration of December? Neither am I. Instead, try watching a movie that gives you winter vibes rather than holiday spirit, like “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Being both an Edgar Wright-directed film and an adaptation of a series of graphic novels, expect nothing less than a visually beautiful, fast-paced comedy that you’ll want to watch over and over again. “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is an action movie mixed with romance: a revenge story mixed with comedy. There is something for everyone in this film, and the wintery Canadian backdrop will leave you begging for snow.
– Jade Rayner, Copy Editor
I love a good classic movie, and in my opinion, one of the best ones is also a great winter film. “An Affair to Remember” is a 1957 film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Grant’s character meets Kerr’s on a cruise ship and they hit it off. After the cruise, they part ways and inevitably keep seeing each other. Though it isn’t explicitly a holiday film, there’s a scene that takes place on Christmas Eve. This movie is perfect for people who want to sit on the couch while wrapped up in a blanket drinking something warm — it’s cozy, it’s cute and it has Cary Grant.
– Zoë Strickland, Managing Editor
To learn the true meaning of Christmas, slip on your pink bunny pajamas and grab some Chinese food: it’s time for “A Christmas Story.” The 1980’s classic follows Ralphie Parker through the Christmas season and the winter time shenanigans that he and his family face.
Ralphie gets really down on the holidays, which I can relate to, but he comes around in the end as everything… sort of works out. Overall, it’s funny and doesn’t over-romanticize the holidays, making it perfect for Christmas lovers and haters, alike.
-Stephanie Blair, Editor-in-Chief
Once-great M. Night Shyamalan has earned a pretty bad reputation over his slowly sinking career. This puts me in a weird position, because I’m about to recommend that you watch his found-footage horror-comedy “The Visit.”
“The Visit” isn’t a good movie per se, but it is one of the most bizarre films I’ve ever seen. It’s stuck somewhere in this weird limbo between the godawful “After Earth” and the surprisingly fun “Split.” What is Shyamalan doing? Why does a graph of his career make a parabola now? I don’t know, but this unusually entertaining film is well worth an hour and a half of your time.
-Darien Campo, Designer
‘Tis the season to stay busy
Jade Rayner | Copy Editor
The holiday season is about to hit full swing, with December right around the corner. Whether you’ve been blasting holiday tunes since the beginning of November or you’ve been avoiding the holidays at all costs, it’s time to embrace this season to the max. Break out your planners, folks, because there is no shortage of fun to be had, come Dec. 1.
Being a full-fledged Christmas fan or not, there’s no denying the joy that comes from seeing lights adorn trees as far as the eye can see. To catch a tree lighting in action, and snag some free hot cocoa and candy canes in the process, check out one or three of the many tree lighting events taking place within the first week of December.
Western’s 50th annual tree lighting will take place in front of Campbell Hall at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. For more information, refer to page five. Can’t make it that night? Keizer will be holding its annual tree lighting in Walery Plaza on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. For more information on event details and where to park visit http://keizerchamber.com
Independence is lighting up the night with their Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. It’s important to note that the parade route will look different than it has in the past. For a complete map of the route, check out the Independence city website. A holiday party will be held following end of the parade at the Independence Elk’s Lodge on Main Street at 5:30 p.m.
For those looking for a little more excitement and a lot more walking than a typical tree lighting has to offer, check out the Oregon Zoo’s 30th year of its ZooLights event. ZooLights takes you on a journey through a spectacle of over a million lights, while also offering rides on the train, pictures with Santa and a variety of food carts. The event runs through Jan. 7, but will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 as well as Jan. 1 through 4.
For those who want to save some money this season, plan on attending one of the value nights for a cheaper admission price. To see a calendar of when those are, as well as pricing and event times, go to http://oregonzoo.org/visit/zoolights.
The Elsinore Theatre in downtown Salem is offering multiple opportunities to get a nostalgia fix with a variety of holiday movies and performances. From screenings of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Elf,” to the Eugene Ballet Company’s “The Nutcracker” and “Sing We Now of Christmas” performed by Festival Chorale of Oregon, the possibilities are plentiful. A full list of performances and movie screenings can be found on http://elsinoretheatre.com.
There are a plethora of activities and events available to attend during the holiday season. As the term winds down, it’s the perfect time to start planning how to achieve a well-deserved break from school and have fun in the process.
Contact the author at journalcopy@wou.edu
Review: “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp”
Stephanie Blair | Editor-in-Chief
I discovered “Animal Crossing” and began my lifelong debt to that nefarious raccoon, Mr. Nook, in 2002, when it first came to America as a game for the GameCube. The game was met by a sea of praise from players and critics alike and was followed by its sequel, “Animal Crossing: Wild World” on the Nintendo DS in 2005. Due to continued critical and cultural acclaim, the game continued to be reincarnated: next as “Animal Crossing: City Folk” in 2008 for the Wii, and finally as “Animal Crossing: New Leaf” for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012.
However, such as it is with many Nintendo games, if those platforms weren’t a part of a player’s childhood then these titles hold no meaning or nostalgia. Now, for the first time, an “Animal Crossing” game is available on a non-Nintendo console: the humble smartphone.
“Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp” is free on Google Play and the iOS App Store, allowing Android and iPhone owners, alike, to experience a taste of the game loved ‘round the world.
However, veteran Animal Crossers may find themselves wanting more from the app. The concept of the new game is that the player’s character is taking a vacation to go camping outside of the city. In this wilderness, other animals from the game series are camping, as well, and will exchange money and materials for favors. Similarly, instead of being perpetually indebted to Mr. Nook for home expansions, a trio of brothers keeps the player in debt through camper upgrades.
There isn’t nearly as much customization available as there was in previous games and the world is incredibly limited. Similarly, beloved characters and places have been cut to accommodate the limitations of cellular platform — or, more likely, to avoid making the entire game experience free to the public. For those who invested significant amounts of time in collecting artifacts and specimens for Blathers at the museum, there’s nothing in the app.
For those who have been shaking trees and running from bees for over a decade, it simply doesn’t provide the same level of satisfaction.
However, for a college kid with no money for a Nintendo console, it’s a great substitute. And, for those who have never experienced the game, “Pocket Camp” is a great way to test the waters without investing in consoles and games.
Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu
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