Mr. Candy man can... and he did.

Skittles.

They're tiny. They're round. And now they're chocolate?

chicka- whaa?

For real?

yes.

I couldn't believe it myself. Though its not completely on topic here, I think it is arguable that the creation of such an object is one of culinary and confectionary artistry. Naturally, I was positively floored with curiousity.

They're skittles... but they're chocolate... but are they made of chocolate?... but skittle? ... Squishy M&Ms ...?

These I needed to try.

So i embarked on an endless (and friutless) hunt for the little devils. Drug store after drug store, cashier after cashier, I left empty handed, with disbelieving employees giggling behind my back. I was nearly at the quitting point. Surely I had been fooled.

But hark! Weeks into my search, I received a phone call from my sister who is touring New England in search of colleges. At a ramshackle snack stand in "the middle of ishkabibble, nowhere" she had finally found the little brown skittles package which was the container for the beautiful creatures. Finally it was the moment I had been waiting for. The moment of truth.

As soon as I got my hands on the little thing, I savagely tore through the wrapper, however paid special care as to not destroy it completely so i could save it as evidence of Chocolate Skittle existence.

They came in different flavors. Vanilla, S'mores, Chocolate Pudding, Brownie Batter, and i believe there was another.

The first one I tried was the chocolate pudding. I placed it on my tongue and much to my surprise, it was not made of chocolate, and was in fact, of skittle consistency. But it tasted JUST LIKE chocolate pudding!!!

I tried every one. I'm still out on my decision to say that they were anything more than interesting. I honestly couldn't say whether or not they were pleasant or unpleasant. I definietly think that they're too confusing to gain much popularity though. Especially when the only place you can buy them is "ishkabibble."

Teen Arts

The Monmouth County Teen Arts fesival was held on Monday, with a student festival that took place on Tuesday. Students from Wall attended the festival and displayed visual art peices as well as performances from students in the beginning guitar program.

Workshops were held throughout the Brookdale campus for students. I didn't go, but I heard it was tonsss of funnnn.

From Wall, six peices were selected as winners that will move on to a state level showcase. yay!

A fierce victory

Last Wednesday night at 11pm marked the end of yet another stitching season of Bravo TV's Project Runway. This year's group had to have been far the fiercest competition yet.


I never could have told you who was going to win. I could have speculated in the beginning, picked out my bet, and even if they won every challenge of the competition i probably still would have been wrong in the end. I think that's why so many people watch Bravo's competition shows.

Recap to prove: First there was underdog Jay McCarrol coming out over super-star Kara Saun, and the malitious momma who was Wendy Pepper a la season 1. Then there was Chloe Dao, the boring (in my oppinon) pattern maker win over the eccentric Santino Rice and cutting edge newbie Daniel Vosovic - that no one expected in season 2. And season 3 was host to four finalists from witch the judges (Victoria's Secret supermodel Heidi Klum, Elle Magazine fashion director Nina Garcia, and legendary designer Michael Kors) chose the rebelious Jeffery Sebilia out of the pool to win over German gone Miami beach Uli Herzner, chic hip-hopper Michael Knight, and New York City's own red-headed baby-boomer Laura Bennet. When it comes to the winners there really is no pattern.

This season, the final three contestants left to present their very own 12-peice collection at the prestigious Bryant Park tents at New York fashion week were Jillian Lewis, Rami Kashou, and winner, Christian Siriano.

Why it was collectively, AWESOME:
1. Posh Spice was a judge.
2. Christian won.
3. All of the collections were actually good.
4. Rami did NOT win.
5. Tim Gunn announced he is running for office in the 2008 election. (I wish)

In sum, Project Runway is a good show, and it ended well.

indie, defined.

Independent. Differnt. Straying from "the norm."
These are all words people think of when they hear about "indie music" or "indie films."
Some people get it. Some people are offended by the use of it.
But what does the word "indie" actually mean?

Urban Dictionary quotes: "The term: Short for independent rock. In terms of music it would be independent of major labels/mainstream stuff."

Scrolling down the definitions, I see alot of almost rants, like this one, that are particularly tied to indie music, explaining it as something of a sub-genra of alternative rock and examples of bands are given. All the bands listed have a similar type of sound. Can hip hop music not be indie then?Can not jazz? or even pop?

Even indie movies have the connotation of being ones that no one has seen, and have a "trippy" quality to them that give them a particular flavor. But do all indie movies really have to involve some type of drugs? Does the main character always have to be depressed? Do all indie films need to be shot in the heart of Sarcasticteenagerville?

In reality, the term indie means neither of these connotations. When something is categorized as being indie, (i stress not characterized) it means quite simply that the product was created by an independant process, on grounds from an independent idea. It doesn't matter in terms of where you see it or hear it, or what it looks like or sounds like at all. The term can not (and should not) be removed by any amount of popularity or success either. There are no standards of the product itself in its quality, presentation or sound.

In years prior to the myspace revolution, this definition was known and accepted. Since then, it has been merged, added to, and twisted to follow oppinions of people who claim to "like all things indie." The term indie has grown to be more of an idea, with a whole new set of rules and reguations. Today, people often say:

"oh that band isn't indie! They played MSG last summer!"
"Pshh, man that isn't as indie as it used to be."
"I used to like Little Miss Sunshine back when it was an indie film."
"I hate rap. I'm more into indie music now."

Used in these terms, the word "indie" seems to describe some type of jaded term people use to describe things so that they might sound "cooler" or more "unique" than someone else. Our culture has become obsessed with people trying to have their own ideas and like something different than the rest of the (to quote Julia Styles in 10 Things I Hate About You,) "meaningless consumer-driven world." And the even greater obsession? -Trying to get there first.

Independent artists have accidently and innocently been used as a crutch in this recent stirr of pop-culture madness. Independence in art is something well, to say it correctly, independent of the factor of popularity. It has nothing at all to do with its consumer and the way in which it is received. Independence lies rather, within the origin of the art. Some of the most popular forms of entertainment art are independent. The line between what separates Independent and not isn't necessarily as vague as culture makes it seem.

So, I hope this has been informative, and helped to untangle the knot. Don't leave it up to Susie McMyspace to tell you what's indie. Its out of her hands and beyond her ethical authority. Consider the artist. Consider the art. Consider the idea.