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GAMES & TECH

Interstates Brings Words and Art Together

FEATURES

Steven Karras and the Untold Tale of the German Jews


Page 6

Cars are Out, Electric Scooters are In


Page 9

NEWS
Volume 1, Issue 4

APRIL 2010

INDEX
NEWS FOOD & FUN FEATURES GAMES & TECH LIFE & STYLE 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-12

APRIL 2010

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Fellow Canvas staff members Benjamin Black, Justin Fitzwater and Brennen Scott were some of the featured artists at the gallery. The gallery is curated by Marie Kinnell and faculty advisor Miah Jeffra, who thought about the idea of connecting writers with artists at the Art Institute of California Hollywood. Interstates exhibit is open from March 22 April 16 at TempoRoyale, 2619 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 2619 90057. For more information contact Miah Jeffra at 323.350.9176, or temporoyale@gmail.com.

NEWS

Interstates Gallery Opens in Downtown


By Kevin Hidalgo Stories about Los Angeles take on new imagery as ARTifice kicked off its annual gallery opening entitled Interstates at the TempoRoyale gallery in Los Angeles featuring art work by both student and professional designers based on the written work of L.A. writers. The gallery opened to extreme success as people filled the space to enjoy the art presented. Paintings, photographs and installations were aligned along the walls, each based on a written piece of L.A. to create a collective imagery of Los Angeles.

Photo by Dante Colombatti/Canvas Staff

Photo by Dante Colombatti/Canvas Staff

Curators Miah Jeffra and Marie Kinnell pose for a shot at the opening of Interstates.

Canvas alum, Kelsey Sweet, and Miah Jeffra stand in front of her painting Memory as Interstitial Panorama.

Photo by Dante Colombatti/Canvas Staff

Photo by Dante Colombatti/Canvas Staff

Attendees of Interstates look up at the writers as they read their poems and stories. Each writers work was visually interpreted by an artist.

Artist and Canvas staff member, Justin Fitzwater, stands in front of his three paintings titled Grit: An L.A. Story after the short story by the same name.

Editor-In-Chief: Kevin Hidalgo Newspaper President: Dante Colombatti Public Relations Director: Yushi Imai Sales: Daniel Alvarez, Kyle Hogland Marketing and Social Media: Chalita Walden Graphics: Daniel Alvarez, Kelsey Campbell, Mandi Gum Reporters: Max Beard, Joseph Dailey, Andrea Emmes, Justin Fitzwater, Patrick Hall, Tiffany Kantor, Leslie Mendez, Ryan Stuhl, Casey Sunich Photographers: Baokhanh Hoang, Brennen Scott, Neeyaz Zolfaghari Illustrators: Benjamin Black, Justin Fitzwater, Kelsey Campbell Web Designer: Ryan Stuhl Advisor: Khara Cloutier Proof Reader: Andie Karras Email: News@LACanvas.com Public Relations: PR@LACanvas Sales: Sales@LACanvas.com Phone: (818) 485-2486
APRIL 5, 2010

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The Meatballs Of Comedy A one of a kind stand-up comedy show featuring some of the best Italian stand-up comedians working today. The show includes Italian comedians who perform at the top comedy clubs across the country and have been seen on Comedy Central. Water: Our Thirsty World: Group show Every Sunday at 6 p.m. of photographs from the National Tickets $10.00 Geographic The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club National Geographics special issue 1000 Universal Studios Blvd. #222, Universal City Water: Our Thirsty World, this exhibit www.thejonlovitzcomedyclub.com features the work of award-winning (818) 824-6545 photographers looking at our most precious resource from environmental, Old Glory social, political and cultural perspectives. A provocative, dramatic entertainment. Old Glory Wed- Sun 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. explores a glimpse of war and the magnitude of Now- June 13 loss that can result. Annenberg Space for Photography Now- April 25 2000 Avenue of the Stars; Century City Fri & Sat at 8 p.m. Sun at 4 p.m. (213) 403-3000 Tickets $22.00 www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org The Victory Theater Center 3326 West Victory Blvd. Burbank (818) 841-5421 Have a MUST DO? Email us www.thevictorytheatrecenter.org

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NEWS

APRIL 2010

Illustration by Justin Fitzwater/Canvas Staff

Paper doesnt grow on trees, its made from them. Digital distribution of media that was once found solely in things like newspapers and magazines could drastically reduce the number of trees harvested yearly and the emissions the process creates.

The Demise of Print Media


By Justin Fitzwater Youre making your way down a crowded street when the ground gives a sudden jolt and you find yourself facedown on the pavement. The Earth trembles twice more and chaos surrounds you. Seconds later people are reading about it on Twitter. As seen in the recent tragedy in Haiti, it no longer takes days, weeks, or even months to find out what is happening in the world around you. According to a survey by the Finnish Forest Research Institute, the average weekly newspaper readership for people under 55 years old dropped by 20% in all age groups from 1980 to 2002, and is projected to fall another 20% by 2020. Other forms of print media, like magazines and books, are also seeing a decline as technologies like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Amazons Kindle, and Apples iPad provide them with more immediate access to the news they want, in a format that is much more portable and easier on the environment. A study done by Michael Toffel (Haas School of Business) found that in creating the New York Times, the entire process of creating paper, printing, delivering and its disposal results in 702 kilograms of carbon dioxide a year and uses 7,300 megajoules, MJs, of energy. On the blog Fat Knowledge, Toffels research is used to compare these emissions to the resulting emissions of reading the Times on Amazons Kindle (taking into account emissions caused by such things as building the Kindle, shipping, and even the amount of energy consumed when downloading the paper wirelessly onto the device) and concludes that reading on the Kindle results in a mere 10kg of carbon dioxide a year and uses 100MJ of energy. The result is a reduction of 690kg of carbon dioxide, or 3.5% of the average Americans 20 metric tons of yearly emissions. There are clear benefits to receiving news digitally but some journalists are afraid that places like Twitter or online blogs just cant provide the sort of in-depth reporting traditionally found in print media. At BusinessInsider. com, Henry Blodgets article, The Death of Newspapers, is a

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collection of opinions by many of todays leading journalists about whether or not this change is to be welcomed. There are mixed feelings about this trend toward what some, like Arthur Sulzberger for the New York Times, refer to as the death of real journalism and the days of indepth reporting. Others, like Alan D. Mutter, believe that journalism is still very much alive. On his blog, Reflections of a Newsosaur, he writes, To be sure, not everything on Facebook or YouTube would be construed as journalism by even the most generous observer. But the value of the content is in the eye of the beholder. And those are the places, not mainstream media websites, that are being read ever more frequently by modern consumers. The death of print media doesnt have to be the death of Journalism. Many things about our world, like the way we interact with it and each other and find out about whats happening around us, are rapidly changing. We can drag our feet and hope that we remain unaffected, or we can embrace the possibilities that new technologies can afford and continue finding ways to stay environmentally friendly in the process.

APRIL 2010

FOOD AND FUN


Truck is La Bomba!
of options that run the gamut from vegetarian to fish, pork to red meat. My culinary adventure began with the Peruvian Ceviche Cone, which consists of chilled mahi mahi marinated in a mlange of ginger, lime, ahi amarillo chile and pickled onion. Like its name suggests, the whole thing came easy to share and ready for carry out in its own portable corn tortilla cone. Next were the Chilaquiles, fried corn tortillas generously topped with salsa roja, queso fresco, crma and a fried egg. It was really good at fi rst but after eating my way through all the yummy stuff on top I soon got bored with all the leftover sogginess at the bottom. The Carne Asada Tacos that followed, however, had an unbelievable depth of flavor that was no doubt brought out even more so by the caramelized onion, salsa fresca and guacamole that accompanied the melt-inyour-mouth meat. What came next could be more aptly described as Colossal Balls of Goodness but is instead simply listed as Churro Bites on the menu. Churros get their name from their shape, which is reminiscent of the Churro sheeps horns in Spain. The Border Grill version looks more like a doughnut hole and comes with their own side of freshly whipped cream which sent me completely over the moon! Overall, the Border Grill truck offerings tasted like pure comfort, each new bite even more reassuring than the last. As if it couldnt get any better, the service was impeccable. The crew, consisting of Chefs Dino, Blinzia and Anthony, was amazingly fast and efficient and thankfully very clean, too. Regardless of how many customers they had, the food was delivered quick, hot, and with a smile. That said, get there early to beat the crowd and make sure they havent run out of anything by the time you arrive.

By Khara Cloutier In a mobile city like LA that constantly hungers for the latest new craze, its no wonder that truck food has become so trendy. No longer limited to college campuses or day-laborer sites, chefs Tweet about their whereabouts and their followers, who tend to be a younger foodie crowd, often blog about it. I recently sampled tastings from the Border Grill food truck at the Hollywood

Farmers Market (across from the Cinerama Dome on Sundays). The truck itself features illustrations by Huntley Muir of London, whose clients include Elle magazine, Virgin and Swatch, among others. Border Grill is owned and operated by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger and does, in fact, include a more permanent location in Santa Monica. The menu features modern Mexican cuisine and offers a variety

his grown up ice cream float, courtesy of Golden State Cafe, is made with Old Rasputin Imperial Stout from North Coast Brewing Company. The stout is a dark, rich black, which is befitting for its namesake, Grigori Yefi movich Rasputin. Widely known by his other name, The Black Monk, Rasputin was a Russian Orthodox mystic with a wizards beard and penetrating eyes, regarded by some as a prophet and by others a charlatan. He is often credited with the ultimate demise of the Russian Empire following World War I but most readers probably remember him best as a key fi gure in the 1997 animated feature Anastasia.

Music

Patrick Hall
A refreshing list of Hip Hop to vibe to in the spirit of spring. Whether it be rain or shine, its sure to do the job. My only advice is zone out to the sounds and enjoy.

Name
Fall In Love All the Way Baby Chronomentrophobia Take Off the Blues First Things First Fighters The Yo-Yo (Remix) Possible Get By

Artist
Slum Village The Strange Fruit Project J Dilla Andre 3000 The Foreign Exchange Blu and Exile Lupe Fiasco Little Brother Dwele Talib Kweli

Album
Fantastic, Vol. 2 Soul Travelin The Shining Idlewild Leave it All Behind Below the Heavens Lupe Fiascos the Cool The Chitlin Circuit Subject Quality
volume
Photo by T. Max Beard/Canvas Staff

4 oz Old Rasputin Imperial Stout Scoops Brown Bread Gelato Pour half of the stout in a frosty pint glass. Add ice cream. Top with the remaining stout. Yield: 1 serving.

FOOD AND FUN


Paeng and Atkins at the Movies

APRIL 2010

Celebrate Earth with this Double Feature


By Paeng Maneeraj and Christopher Atkins Has anyone seen the trailer for Disneynatures OCEANS yet? Its completely amazing! This Earth Day, join Disney in watching OCEANS. A film that takes you deep under and into the bodies of water that cover three-quarters of Earths surface. Many of us have yet to see underwater life until now. With years in the making, this movie presents never-beforeseen imagery filmed by the latest underwater technologies. Directors Jacques Perrin and Jacque Cluzaud invite you into a world within a world. Explore the lives of creatures that are on this Earth along with mankind. See, firsthand, the Earths harsh reality beneath its atmosphere Check out both of these lms that celebrate the magic of our earth. Earth centers around the animals of nature of this distinct earth. and the Oceans gives you a never before seen look into the mysterious world of life underwater. incredible journey these amazing every second of this of the series Planet Earth, scenery filmed from all seven animals go through. Catch it film is; think how every scene premiered on last years Earth continents, EARTH follows April 22 - the waters will leave has probably cost anywhere Day and brought us a full the story of three families, you breathless! from weeks to months or view of this planet from every and others as well, that show If you still havent been maybe even years to capture. angle possibly filmed. Shot the difficulties of survival and convinced to see OCEANS, EARTH is like no other film over the course of seven years, the phenomenal lives of these then rent EARTH! animals. Its easy to pass this youll see. You will experience one cannot fully experience Disneynatures first nature off as another documentary, walking beside other life that the life that coexists with us documentary, built from pieces as close as this. With beautiful but see for yourselves how shares this planet with us.

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FEATURES

APRIL 2010

An interview with Steven Karras, author of The Enemy I knew: German Jews in the Allied Military in World War II.
We sit down with documentarian Steven Karras and discuss his first book about the untold side of WWII and his inspiration about writing his novel.
Interview by Kevin Hidalgo Photograph by Brennen Scott

KH: Why did you decide to write the stories of the people you met and put them into a novel rather then making it into a documentary? SK: I initially made a documentary about the same subject entitled, About Face: The Story of the Jewish Refugee Soldiers of WWII. In 1999, I began interviewing these unique WWII veterans, all of whom were born in Germany or Austria and were lucky enough to escape certain death-alone or with their families before the war started. When I finished making the documentary I had already filmed nearly two hundred interviews. Sadly, when making a 90-minute documentary one can only include a handful of stories but the book has allowed me to dig a little deeper and include more. I like to say that the documentary has given birth to a book. Its usually the other way around in most cases. KH: Which story had the most impression on you? SK: I can honestly say that within each interview that I conducted there were stories that were so gripping that they rivaled any fiction Id ever read. I was really lucky to sit down with certain gentlemen and women whose stories had anecdotes that had never been told in the aggregate and needed to be shared: a Jewish commando liberating his own parents from a Nazi concentration camp, a GI in Normandy interrogating a former classmate, or a former refugee who had lost several members of his family in the Holocaust translating and demanding the unconditional surrender of all German forces from top ranking Nazi brass. We are approaching the 65th Anniversary of the Allied liberation of the concentration camps and its incredible to

know that among the Allied liberators were young soldiers who would have been among the victims-found living or dead in the camps, had they not escaped. KH: How did you feel whn you found out that there was this untold part of Jewish history that many people had no idea about? SK: From the moment I sat down to interview these extraordinary people, hearing stories I could never have imagined hearing, I knew I had to share them. However, I dont consider myself a Pied Piper leading people to this subject, as much as I am just part of the audience hearing these heroic tales for the first time. As new stories continue to come to light, Im continually blown away to learn that there was such a concentrated Jewish effort to fight the Nazis, not only among the refugees. I like to say that this story is the REAL version of Inglorious Basterds without the baseball bats. I will tell you that I was astonished that in the press around the time Inglorious Basterds came out, journalists stated that Quentin Tarantino constructed this revenge fantasy which I thought was total bulls**t. In the U.S. alone, about half a million Jews fought in the armed forces, throughout Europe and the Pacific, including at least twenty thousand Jewish refugee soldiers. Consequently, there have been many documented stories of Jewish bravery in combat against the Nazis; the Soviet Army, armies of Great Britain and their commonwealths, also boasted a high percentage of Jewish participants. Hopefully, more of these stories will come to the forefront. Incidentally, Tarantinos idol, the great Hollywood writer and director,

Samuel Fuller, was himself a Jewish infantryman who fought with the First Infantry Division in North Africa, Sicily, and in Europe and was awarded the Silver Star on D-Day. KH: Tell us about the journey you took from gathering these stories to publishing your book? Was it challenging to get your book published and distributed? SK: Well, what I thought would be an interesting lark of interviewing veterans turned into a ten-year odyssey of travel and new experiences. Be careful what you wish! Blessings can become curses, especially when one wants to see their work published on TV or in book form. No matter how precious and important the material, it can take a very long time for distributors and publishers to take notice. This should be a lesson to all ambitious and talented Art Institute students who think fame and fortune await them immediately after graduation. That is when the real work begins! Its a competitive market for artists, especially in this town. For me, distribution for my documentary and getting these stories published has been a decade in the making. The journey is the real reward. KH: How did being a screenwriter and documentarian help with putting together these stories? SK: Luckily for me, I couldnt have been more blessed to sit opposite some of the worlds best storytellers and raconteurs, and even marvelous writers whose own memoirs are so lyrical and informative that they qualify as some of the best reads on this era in military history. With this story, there is a definitive beginning-which

is life in Europe under the Nazis-a middle [escape], and an end [the triumphant return to face the very countries that threw them out]. Its a classic three-act structure with plenty of character arcs, twists and turns, and transformation. I learned storytelling through this project. KH: Do you think you were successful in retelling their stories? SK: I truly hope so! The verdict is still out, but I have received some wonderful letters of encouragement and can only hope these stories continue to impact people. KH: Being Jewish yourself, did you feel pride at finding out about those who fought in the war? SK: As a Jew, I feel a tremendous amount of pride in the contribution made by Jewish servicemen to end the war in Europe and to stop the Nazis who were nearly successful in destroying every Jew in Europe. However, this was not a perfect country at the time: Japanese Americans suffered intense discrimination by being displaced and put in internment camps; African American soldiers also endured second class citizenship and fought in segregated units. But I am fiercely proud as an American to know how this country went out of its way to give these once demoralized, penniless, and stateless refugees this unprecedented opportunity to participate in their generations greatest challenge, and to fight side by side with native born Americans who not only accepted them but treated them as equals-something that as children in Germany and Austria they never experienced.

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APRIL 2010

GAMES & TECH

New Oakley Glasses Make MP3s Pass


By Ryan Stuhl In a world of technological advances and fashionable trends, we often see a crossover between the two like electronic clothing, portable satellite radio devices, and even USB drives encrusted with Swarovski Crystals(c). But one problem that seems to plague everyone is the ability to find a reliable pair of headphones that actually stay in your ear when you run/bike/go to the beach ... until now. Oakley has released a pair of sunglasses that have a built in Bluetooth Device which can sync with your cell phone or Bluetooth enabled iPod. Now we all can enjoy a healthy run on the beach or bicycle ride with ionized sunglasses and our tunes streaming with either the single earpiece set, or the dual earpiece stereo set. The Oakley sunglasses, as everything else, has its drawbacks. First off, to the average college student or working person, the price tag is enough to make you stick with your crappy headphones. But lets face it, having that cord hanging down, getting tangled and tugged out of your ears, is annoying. The discouraging price tag is easily outweighed by the oh-so-appealing advantages. Let me paint this picture for you: how many times do you see older people or people who wish they were important constantly wearing their Bluetooth, and becoming a walking fashion faux pas? Problem solved. Now they can wear chic sunglasses and (I think the conjunction should be italicized in print for emphasis) their Bluetooth device. Lastly, it is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving in California, although you wouldnt know it by watching the traffic on Lankershim. It can be frustrating trying to stay compliant with the cell phone driving laws in California. Every time you wear your Bluetooth device when driving, no one calls. The second you throw it in drive and hit the freeway, your friends blow up your cell phone, resulting in a ticket.

Illustration by Justin Fitzwater/Canvas Staff

Gaming Industry Going Green


By Andrea Emmes hough it may seem hard to believe, the gaming industry has done its share of becoming eco-friendly and is encouraging gamers to join in the cause. Game consoles, such as Playstation and Xbox systems, are made with various toxic chemicals like beryllium, bromine and phthalates. Until video game companies find ways to avoid using these chemicals, consumers will need to continue being diligent about not throwing away their old consoles or gaming products in the trash. For proper disposal, make sure that you contact your local game stores or shops, so that they can recycle the toxic components. Another way to make great use of your old consoles is to donate them to various charities, like Childs Play (www.childsplaycharity. org) or your local Goodwill. Digital downloading, though it takes a lot of time and energy, is a great way to reduce the amount of waste that accumulates when purchasing a new game, i.e. shrink wrap, manuals and magazine

Going green doesnt have to mean throwing out your video games. Manufacturers work to reduce their impact on the environment and create a world where homes with video game consoles can still be one with the earth.

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subscription cards, etc. Although in-store purchasing is still going strong, digital downloading has made games more accessible to the consumer by saving on traveling to the store, waiting in lines, and wasting time in traffic. You can save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you dont drive, states B(eco) megreen.com. The average person, by driving two days less each week, after a year, will have saved about 150 gallons of gasoline and will have kept about 2,700 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The environmental cost of an email, while difficult to pinpoint, is minuscule compared to old-fashioned postal delivery. Avoid the energy vampires and turn off and unplug your consoles (or any other machine) when not in use. EnergyStar.com explains that, energy vampires are products in your home that suck energy while not providing any useful function! This energy is sometimes called standby power. While standby power sometimes provides useful functions such as remote

control, clock displays, and timers, in other cases it is simply wasted power as a result of leaving an electronic device or power adapter plugged in. A great way to fix this problem is to use a power strip as your main plug in device. When youre not using the machines plugged into the strip just turn off the main power button and smile because you are not only saving energy, you are also saving money. Playstation and Xbox consoles also have an auto-power down option found in their menu options. PlanetGreen.com suggests that the Wii might be your best purchase; even though youll lose in the graphics department, it is the most energy saving console on the market right now, using only 16 watts of energy while in Active mode. Whatever console you choose as your favorite, make sure that you are doing your part in keeping our country and our earth safe by following these small tips for going, and staying, green.

GAMES & TECH

APRIL 2010

PlayStation 3 cover. Heavy Rain is an interactive video game that closely resembles old Hollywood lm noir.

Photo by Joseph Dailey/Canvas Staff

NoHo Scooters offers electric scooters for the more earth conscious traveler. They offer several scooter selections to t everyones budget. NoHo Scooters located at 5144 Vineland Ave. North Hollywood, CA. 91601.

The New Eco Way to Travel


By Joseph Dailey Electric scooters are a great choice for anyone who wants to get around the neighborhood in style while reducing the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. The fuel costs for electric power are approximately 25% the cost of gasoline, there are no exhausted gases at point of use, they are nearly silent to operate, and theyre a lot of fun as well. Imagine yourself effortlessly navigating the streets of your local hometown on a stylish, eco-friendly, and perfectly nimble electric scooter. You silently pull up to the bookstore, remove your helmet, and notice the Harley crowd parked out in front of the dive-bar across the street. The hog-riders sneer at you with disdain as they clumsily maneuver their noisy and overwrought monstrosities into just the photoperfect position to be admired. But you dont suffer from the psychological trauma they must have experienced in early adolescence when comparing themselves to the other boys in the locker room, so you sneer back at them, and go about your business. Your carbon-footprint is lighter and your wallet is heavier because you purchased one of the many available electric scooters from Mike Frankovitch of NOHO Scooters, located at 5144 Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood, only blocks from the campus. What could you do with all the money youd save by owning an electric scooter, or a small 50cc gas powered scooter that can get 80 miles per gallon or more? Mike Frankovitch III took over the store when his father, Mike Junior, passed away in 2007. They started the store together in 2002, shortly after coming out of the Navy in 1998. I was buying up old Vespa Scooters, fixing them up, and selling them out of my mothers yard. As time went on, the old

Noir Video Game Meets Hollywood Crime Drama


By Max Beard When video games become more like Hollywood movies, we get a game like Heavy Rain. Heavy Rain is a murder mystery where a serial killer is investigated by four protagonists: a father whose son has been kidnapped by the killer, a private detective thats taken a special interest in the case, a federal bureau agent assigned to the case, and a beat reporter. The game play is as basic as moving from point A to point B, with your occasional QTEs (quick time events), mash buttons, shake controller, etc. The execution is actually quite exhilarating due to the fact that if you fail one of these QTEs, your character dies and the story moves forward regardless. The sound design is as intense as your typical Hollywood movie. Think Silence of the Lambs. Your protagonist walks into an old decrepit house and the music queues an intense string quartet to create the suspense. The aesthetics of the game are equally intense. David Finchers Seven comes to mind with each level filled with grime and rain. However, the story seems to fall flat. Its filled with clichs, and utilizes all the bag of tricks that Hollywood has relied on in the past: foreshadowing, red herrings, typical twists and turns. Where Hollywood cleverly disguises these tricks, Heavy Rain makes them so obvious that in many cases the game has revoked me from its universe and brought me right back to the very chair I was sitting in. The game is a work in progress to movie/video game hybrids. As a video game its fun, as a film, its a bad B movie. darkness, blinding the undead and revealing hidden areas within the game. Though the challenges are exactly like the first two, GoW3 has better graphics, a stronger story and intense replay ability. With challenging puzzles and gory hack and slash gameplay, GoW3 does not disappoint. Weve had to wait three long years for it, and like most gamer geeks, Ill be waiting in line to get my greedy little hands on a copy, so I can continue the saga. My only regret is not pre-ordering the special edition which includes a replica of Pandoras box!

bikes were getting harder and harder to find as all these new manufacturers were coming in with new scooters so, in 2002, my father and I started the shop, said Frankovitch while he attended Santa Monica City College. My father was semi-retired from the motion picture industry. He worked as a Production Manager and did a little writing, says Frankovitch. He also did classic cars for the movies. His classic 1965 Cadillac was used in the Johnny Cash movie Walk the Line. He has been able to maintain and expand his shops status as the place to buy scooters in Los Angeles. Several television and movie production companies purchase or rent his scooters, such as Larry Crown, which stars Julia Roberts and is scheduled to begin shooting later this year.

Kratos Revenge
By Andrea Emmes Unless youve lived under a rock for the last few years, EAs newest iteration in the God of War series is about to descend from the heavens. Like an answered prayer, I was transported back into the dark, mythological world that Ive
Screen capture of God of War III gameplay. The game follows where God of War II left off, following Kratos journey to Mount Olympus.

grown to love. God of War III proves to be the best in the trilogy, and one of the only reasons, to me, to own a PS3. Plagued with revenge, murder, conspiracy, and violence, the anti-hero, Kratos, has gone through hell and back, trying to enact his revenge after being tricked into killing his family. There are seven new destructive weapons and new magical abilities, as well as The Golden Fleece and Icarus wings, which allow him to fly. One of my favorite visuals is the blood dripping head of Helios. By ripping off the god Helios head with his bare hands, Kratos can use his head to give him sight in the

LIFE AnD StYlE Emerging Talent Showcase Lines at ETHOS


APRIL 2010
By Casey Sunich The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement at the newly remodeled Music Box in Hollywood, as Project ETHOS kicked off the evening in style on the red carpet. Julia Springer, from the 2010 hit movie Valentines Day; Brittany Curran, from Men of a Certain Age; Natalie Nunn, from the infamous Bad Girls Clubll; Jai Rodriguez, one of the Queer Eye Fab Five; and none other than Caridee English herself, cycle 7 winner of Americas Next Top Model, all walked the red carpet in style. Project Ethos is a fashion, art, and music show that showcases emerging artists in Los Angeles. The theme this year was individuality meets collaboration. Before the collections came down the runway, Bruno Mars and his band got the beat going with a set of his original music thats been featured around L.A. on Power 106 FM and 102.7 Kiis FM. He set the stage and the bar high for this amazing night. Art work featured at Project Ethos included wall art by Claire Cetera and dark paintings by Tom Howarth. The nights first line up, Rumple Munkeh by Rochelle Corino, started off the show with sophisticated styling and edgy fabrics combined with girly touches of faux fur and pearls. Next up was Devious Damzels by streetwear Maria Peralta, around the who created graphic tee. her line around Fulani exudes the mindset of self confidence, bringing L.A. a elegance, and brand uniquely a touch of fit for capturing sex-appeal, its peoples managed gritty, glam by Omatu fabulousness. Gottschlich and LoveChild, Sandra Sturm, made by a female duo Rachael team founded Feigelson, in 2003 in followed by Austria. The bringing out duo explains the indie free that the name spirit in all of Fulani came us, with earth from the tone chiffons name of a and clingy tribe in Africa layered pieces. known for EMEL by their beautiful Michelle Liu women. The is a label that duo felt the aspires to name just fit realize womens their collection. fashion goals. Marialia, In a recent the alternative interview by high fashion CYH Magazine, label seen on she described some of the her designs as underground those for the scenes hottest women who celebrities Photo by Neeyaz Zolfaghari/Canvas Staff are not afraid and a handful to demonstrate of print Gordana Gelhausen stands at the edge of the runway with her model the best in publications showcasing her new line GOGA. Several other designers showcased themselves their designs along with a musical performance by Bruno Mars and is bringing an and inspire entirely new way featured art work from local L.A. based artists. others to do of looking at Ashodian, a male trio of best the same. Her fashion to Los friends with the central idea collection was followed by Angeles. The lines elegant, to create sophisticated quality ARKA, a line by Shant Der ready-to-wear pieces give a luxurious twist to anyones wardrobe. Seth Wellington by Seth Nobmann is a menswear line that is the culmination of simplicity, swagger and avant-garde that resembles a combination of Armani meets Urban Outfitters. The line has created a lifestyle brand fit for the modern day gentleman, allowing the wearer a sophisticated and unique appearance. The entire evening led up to the final two lines created by Project Runway contestants. If you were to ask anyone in the audience, they would all say, yeah, we came tonight to see Jesus and Gordana. Jesus Estrada debuted first with his line entitled Haus of Estrada, a combination of mens and womens wear that goes far beyond the edge. Last but certainly not least, the fabulous Gordana Gelhausen and her line called GOGA anchored the show and undoubtedly got the audience on their feet. According to Gelhausen, her inspiration comes from, my family, my friends and my new home of San Diego that now surrounds me. Gelhausen graced the red carpet, looking ravishing in white, at the beginning of the evening. When she stepped onto the carpet, in a GOGA original, all eyes were on her and she wore it well.

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Dressing for Coachella


By Tiffany Kantor As April rolls around, most of Southern California is thinking about one thing: Coachella Fest. Being from the Coachella Valley, it is the highlight of the year. Coachella is an annual weekend-long musical festival in Indio, California. In the past, they have brought in headliners such as Madonna, Paul McCartney, The Killers and MIA. Coachella attracts many types of fans and music genres from all over the world, as well as celebs including Paris Hilton, Katy Perry and Kirsten Dunst. They host a variety of bands, from alternative to rock to hip-hop, incorporating six stages and giant works of art. Coachella is not only a music festival, but also a culture of its own. You are able to be who you want to be and dress the way you want without a single judgment. No matter how outrageous your attire is, there is bound to be someone to top you. Shopping for your Coachella attire is half the fun. The majority of music-goers the Sahara Tent most of the weekend, then you are more likely to find neon-colored, rave-inspired looks. Urban Outfitters and American Apparel are musts when shopping for Coachella. This years predictions for common Coachella trends are empire tops, crocheted cover-ups, and kaleidoscope prints. While dressing for Coachella, you MUST be original, so dont be shy of exploring, experimenting and exaggerating your wardrobe. Experiencing Coachella is highly recommended, whether its for the incredible music or to embrace the fans. This year, the festival takes place April 16 through the 18 with Jay-Z, Muse and Gorillaz all headlining. For more information on being a part of it, go to www.coachella.com
Photo by Tiffany Kantor/Canvas Staff

Photo by Tiffany Kantor/Canvas Staff

The band Cool Kids who rocked out at last years Coachella Festival.

wear bohemian, hippiestyled clothing, similar to a modern day Woodstock. If you find yourself dancing in

Attendees at the Coachella Festival showcasing the most eclectic style.

LIFE AND STYLE


Green Friendly Beauty Products
By Casey Sunich All of us wish we could live a little greener every day, and the best way to start doing that is with the beauty products you already use every day. Here are a few of my favorite natural products. Some you may be familiar with and some you may not, while some focus on being as organic as possible, others may have great recyclable packaging.

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APRIL 2010

My second choice is Juice Beauty Sheer Moisturizer. This chemical free moisturizer is great for all skin types: lightweight, non greasy, and great for sweaty summer days, but also long-lasting enough for harsh winter nights. All of Juice Beautys products are rich in vitamins and nutrients, and contain powerful antioxidants, age-defying potency, and essential fatty acids.

I highly recommend M.A.C.s Nail Lacquer Polish. Its the perfect product to dress up your winter toes and give yourself your rst pedicure of the summer. It has none of the nasty chemicals that are found at your local nail salon, and what I like most about it is the no streak/no chip nish, which is great if you hate repainting your nails every three to four days. Thats not the best part! Im sure many of you dont know, but in the theme of going green, M.A.C shares our commitment to preserving the environment with its Back to M.A.C. program. By returning six empty M.A.C. packaging containers to a M.A.C. counter or online, you receive a free lipstick of your choice, just for helping M.A.C. with its commitment to a greener earth!

My rst and all time favorite product is Burts Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. The companys most popular item leaves a fresh tingle on your lips, and may even make your lips look bigger. All of Burts Bees products are natural, and their packaging is made from 100% recycled materials. I love this product because their packages are designed to hold just enough product for you to use up before it expires, so you dont end up throwing out half-used tubes and jars.

Since the weather is heating up, not only are our toes coming out, but our legs, too! This brings me to my fourth and last product, the go-to shave cream, Crme de la Shave by Aubrey Organics. Their delicious smelling line is made with all organic ingredients, perfect for spring and summer, and leaves your legs soft and smooth without having to use lotion afterwards. Best of all, each bottle is only $5.48, and is available at your local Whole Foods Market.

Eco-Friendly, Pocket-Friendly Clothing Brands


By Tiffany Kantor Eco-friendly clothing can sometimes seem like a luxury to most. However, these clothing labels not only help the environment but also help you save some cash in the process. In everything, we need to be conscious of what we use, what we consume and even what we wear. Being ecofriendly may sometimes seem costly but it IS possible to do on a budget. Taking that step can be as easy and as enjoyable as shopping! The following brands are friendly towards our wallets, as well as to our environment. Andira is a special line of t-shirts that are ALL 100% organic, made for both women and children. This brand is not only eco-friendly but charitable, as well. For every t-shirt sold, Costa Rica receives a tree they can plant to replace a destroyed tree. Andira donated art school supplies for children living in Central and South America and asked them to draw designs that could be used on the tees. The t-shirts range from $32-$38 dollars. You can go to Raintees.com to find out more about the company and order online. Threads for Thought Is a brand that carries mens and womens t-shirts, jackets, bottoms and pajamas. Threads for Thought uses sustainable materials and is manufactured under safe working conditions. One of the companys founding principles was that The brand and clothing would carry messages to inspire change and a call to action ... (threadsforthought. com). Threads for Thought donates a generous amount of their proceeds to the following charities: International Rescue Committee and Natural Resources Defense Council. Most of their clothing ranges from only $20-$40. Continued on Page 12

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Continued from Page 11 You can find their clothing at Bloomingdales, Macys, Wholefoods, Urban Outfitters and Nordstrom. American Apparel is a well-known, popular brand with casual and unique pieces of clothing for men, women and children. Their prices range from $6-$100.

APRIL 2010

LIFE AnD StYlE


It is a vertically integrated clothing line that strives to be as kind as possible to the planet. They make extreme efforts to incorporate organic clothing items and reduce chemical waste during the dyeing process. American Apparel reuses materials, recycles fabrics, and renews energy during the production of clothing. Even their catalogues are printed on 100% recycled paper. They are working towards more efficient and effective methods of environmental action in the factories and stores. You can find out more on Americanapparel.net Nimli For those who love to shop online this is the place to be. Nimli.com offers tons of green labels for women, men and kids. Also found on their website are products for accessories, beauty products, pets, home and gifts. Nimli focuses on providing natural, organic, sustainable and sometimes recycled products that are all environmentally friendly. The production of the items are all free from sweatshop work and cruelties. The website is easy to navigate by item or by brand and it shows how each product is eco-friendly. You can do all your shopping here, from your lipstick to your jeans to your pillows. Most of their products range from $15- $200. You can find out more on Nimli.com

Recycle Couture
Photos by Baokhanh Hoang Who said recycled cant be in style? Designer Isaac Tjaja designed both of these garments out of recycled materials you can find in your own backyard. The black dress (top left and bottom right) is made out of a plastic trash bag and the second dress (top right and bottom left) is made out of recycled magazines.

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