The Barometer Online

I know that it is almost Christmas time, so I should be filled with joy and holiday cheer. But for some reason, I am not. I am actually feeling more Scrooge-like, in a way, and I am annoyed. The reason for this? Well, when it comes to entertainment (movies, music, and TV), I am very disappointed with some of this year's outcomes.

One thing I miss about the nineties is the slang. There's nothing better than walking up to someone and calling them a "home skillet" with "boss" sneakers. This week I will attempt to connect y'all with slang from the nineties, in hopes that I can bring it back.

Right now, approximately a month after the election, I still feel exactly the same, except for the euphoric feeling I had for a week or so is now gone. For almost a year and a half, all we heard everyday is, "Change we can believe in, change in coming, vote for change," and you know what, nothing has freakin' changed.

We've all seen "that kid." The one with the long braided patch of hair flowing elegantly behind the rest of his short- trimmed head, and most of us dreamed of having one of these forbidden hairdos as children. But in retrospect, why did most of us avoid ever having one? This question has plagued me for many restless nights, and I have come up with two possible conclusions: kids with rattails were either the product of lazy parenting, or they were disaster children with a taste for trouble.

I've finally found a denomination! I'm a Tweenonite! Or so says Reverend Shawn, though he may have been talking about someone else, because as I walked away after telling him my name twice, he shouted, "Eric here just told me he's caught between religions.

The Killers Day & Age Four stars Label: Island Recods Check out: "A Dustland Fairytale," "Spaceman," "I Can't Stay" Skip: "The World We Live In," "Joy Ride" Just as Oasis is the gateway drug to britpop and weed is the gateway drug to, well, drugs, The Killers are the gateway drug to indie rock.

There was a time (not that long ago, actually), when you had to wait for music (gasp!) to be released. Most of us are so used to knowing that the music we want is just there - even before the artist "officially" releases it - we just have to download it. Our parents' generation hasn't had it so good: a lot of the artists and bands they listened (still listen?) to have had a harder time crossing the digital divide.

When I was still young enough to believe in Santa Claus (Santa equals presents), my sisters and I often got everything on our lists. Presents meant so much to us, and my mom had a knack for making Christmas more than magical. We got matching pajamas on Christmas Eve, sugary cereal on Christmas morning, pretty dresses for our neighbors' Christmas party and played with our presents for hours upon hours in a mess of wrapping paper that my mom didn't make us clean up until the next day.

Friday, December 5 28th Annual Holiday Marketplace (through Saturday), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom, FREE! A two-day event featuring handmade items from over 50 Pacific Northwest artisans plus Live Local Entertainment set indoors. Continues on Saturday with the sa.