By Nikki Stout

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Media produce what we want to read

Directly following Miley Cyrus’ asinine performance at the Video Music Awards, it seemed as if every corner of the Internet swelled with commentary on the pop singer’s desperate publicity stunt. And as expected, the satire empire that is The Onion took it upon themselves to not only comment on the shenanigan, but also shift the focus to where it was deserved—mass media and the news outlets that turned what should have been a public embarrassment into an issue of national concern.

Retrospective on a psychedelic masterpiece

For Record Store Day 2013, April 20th, the experimental rock group The Flaming Lips re-released their 1997 album, Zaireeka, on vinyl.

High rise apartments taking over Madison's neighborhoods

Political rhetoric overshadows the issues

Often times the rhetoric surrounding an issue becomes the issue itself. Emotional hang-ups and the ever-present argument of deeming something “unconstitutional” can overwhelm the issue at hand, and that can not only hinder solving that problem, it can also blow the problem out of proportion and then lead an effort to fix things that aren’t broken.

Modern voters are looking for "more" from elected officials

With John Kerry being confirmed as the new secretary of state, Hillary Clinton is now able to manage her health, as well as possibly, a spot on the 2016 presidential ballot. As the former secretary of state has left her desk in positive standing, she is in the perfect position to go for the presidency. If this is the case, and if she were to win that election, then it will be clear America has entered a new age of politics, where the image of the politician is no longer that of the savior.

Obama's pledge to the past, present and future

President Barack Obama made history last weekend as the first two-term president to be sworn into office a total of four times. His progressive speech called to attention the issues of gay rights, environmental awareness and immigration reform. Throughout his career, Obama has modeled his public persona after critical political personalities of the 1960s. This repetitive illusion creates implications of not only how he is forming his legacy, but the direction in which he wants to drive the country. Obama’s pledge to continue that reform gives us hope that progressive action will be taken once again, and that America will be a leader in social change.

Show review: Band Of Horses ride into the Barrymore

Band Of Horses played a sold out show at The Barrymore Theater Saturday evening. The South Carolina-based band released their fourth studio album, Mirage Rock, in September.

The First Amendment pushes America forward

The First Amendment is one of those rare things that the general population feels quite strongly about, the sound of such a feeling being a unified, “YES!” Maybe because it validates our personal freedoms, maybe because it allows us the courage to voice an unpopular position, or maybe because it’s the key ideal as to why we are allowed to be who we are. Whatever personal reason one may have for their love of free speech, religion, press, protest and petition, generally speaking, it’s a nationally accepted good. Beyond obvious reasons as to why we’re crazy about our most important constitutional rights, such as, well, not being thrown in jail for disliking the president, the First Amendment allows us the elasticity to individualize, yet maintains the strength to unite us through its power.