The Norbals: a comedy of tension By Kenn Stanton Lance Writer November 28, 2007 The gathering of a dysfunctional family for a seasonal celebration is a modern-day stereotype. Winner of the Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition, Winnipeg playwright Brian Drader’s play, The Norbals, takes dysfunctional to a higher level. The family consists of a mother, father, three adult sons and their partners, and a fourth son on the verge of adulthood.
The family's Christmas celebration attempts to accommodate three different religions and three sexual orientations. Add to this mix a variety of extreme coping strategies and one begins to approach the tension in this script. A family crisis breaks the barriers of politeness and allows its members to confront problems long unspoken. >> | Online comic tycoons rile up readers for charity By Lindsey Rivait Arts Editor November 28, 2007 Since its inception in 2003, the Seattle-based gamer-run non-profit organization Child’s Play has raised over $2 million thanks to donations from geeks and gamers worldwide. The annual toy drive for children’s hospitals was created by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, better known as Gabe and Tycho in the online webcomic Penny Arcade, as a way to combat negative portrayals of gamers in the media.
“[Krahulik and Holkins] recognized that gaming culture was conscientious and well-motivated, and sought to mobilize the community for a good cause,” explains Kristin Lindsay, Project Manager for Child’s Play. The ever-growing organization aims to improve the lives of children in hospitals through donations of toys, movies and games. >>
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| Campus Kiss | | Hanson moves from Mmmbopping to "Taking the Walk" By Stefanie Helbich Lance Writer November 28, 2007 In 1997 everyone was “Mmmbopping” all around the schools, but the boys of Hanson have come a long way from singing sugary pop songs like “Mmmbop” and “Where’s the Love.” Now, perhaps some of you are saying to yourselves, “Wait, I didn’t know that Hanson was still around!” Alas, they are and still going strong. The Hanson brothers, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac, left major-label Island Def Jam over creativity differences in 2003, and started their own record company, 3CG Records. They have since released three albums independently, their most recent album being The Walk.
The album is filled with inspirational and moving songs, dealing with issues of religion, personal strength, support, and hope. The album also champions an important cause–childhood AIDS in Africa. >>
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