Kahlilah Cooke went to see director James Cameron's "Avatar" expecting to be underwhelmed. "I have never been more wrong or pleasantly surprised by a movie in my entire life," she writes. "'Avatar' makes you wonder about a life that isn’t overwhelmed by technology but that instead has a true spiritual power our human society can only dream of."

Danny Ge thought he had done away with video games his junior year. But after being introduced to "League of Legends" in September, he once again spends long hours in front of a glowing screen. What about this game captivated him?

Whether we want to admit it or not, winter is here. The good news is that we've entered the holiday season. What better way to celebrate than to listen some tunes ideal for this time of year?

At this time of the year, a number of students can be found walking the halls dressed in medieval costumes. But fear not — you have not accidentally walked into a time machine. The Uni High Madrigals are simply making their presence known as they gear up for their busiest performance season. Find out more about this unique singing group inside.

We’re sure most of you are familiar with the scene in the kitchen during lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays when pizza is still in stock. Suffice it to say you’ll have trouble moving around enough to heat up your food, let alone find a place in the line that extends far down into the hallway. And then along comes an upperclassman …

Finally! While it's hard to believe winter break is here already, we've certainly been counting down. Hurray for two weeks of hot chocolate, baking, sleeping until mid-afternoon, family visits, and general relaxation. And with the end of the fall semester comes our latest edition of Cheers & Jeers. Guess what tops our list of cheers?

When math teacher Ioana Boca's class tried to use the computer workstations in Room 206 last month, none of them worked. Technology specialist Kathleen Booth initially suspected a hard-drive fail in the main computer. Booth brought the computer to her office. That's when she discovered the damage to the case.

In November, about 20 Uni students participated in National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known as NaNoWriMo. The goal: to write a 50,000-word novel or other creative work by the end of the month. Worldwide about 167,000 people gave it a shot; about 32,000 succeeded. Check inside to learn about the seven Uni students who reached the goal.

Eleni Yannelis and Sindha Agha give their take on "An Education," a film about the coming of age of Jenny, an ambitious English girl aspiring to attend Oxford University. Starring Peter Sarsgaard as the charming businessman who comes into Jenny's life, the film is set against the backdrop of 1960s England, when change of all kinds was in the air.

The holiday season's pretty much here (actually, Hanukkah's already started), so it's time to get a move on with the gifts if you haven't yet. Fortunately for procrastinators, there are plenty of easy, but nice, presents you can make yourself at home to ensure you have something for all the people on your list.

So if you are looking to unwind and relax after finals, you would be hard-pressed to find a better option than sitting back, committing a felony or two, and outwitting the police in what can definitely be called the wildest "Grand Theft Auto" game yet. Check inside for Luke Karmazin's review. "This expansion shows that there is still plenty of life left in the 'Grand Theft Auto' universe," he writes.

It's that time of year again. Finals, finals, and more finals. And that's if you got lucky and only have three. But they're almost over, and two weeks of blissful freedom lie ahead — plenty of time to take in some classic holiday films. So take a break and curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy Katy and Revathi's holiday movie picks. Happy holidays!

If your family has decided to be boring and stay in town during winter break, have no fear. With a little imagination, you can find plenty of things to do while remaining in the friendly confines of Champaign-Urbana. So as the fall semester winds down, here's a guide to help you find things to do during the next two weeks.

In the second act of this year's fall play, Molière's "The Miser," tensions run high as four lovers scheme to marry without the knowledge of Harpagon (senior Zack Goldberg), and things get significantly more complicated. Check inside for the conclusion of our coverage of Uni's 2009 fall play.

For senior Sophie Shenk, ballet was never just a phase; she's been at it for at least 10 years now. Her constant practicing has paid off in several different shows, including "The Nutcracker," "Coppelia," and, her personal favorite, "Sleeping Beauty." Nikita Dutta recently got the chance to sit down with Sophie and learn more about her dancing.