In Eugene

In April, Eugene’s WOW Hall will welcome 32 acts. Enjoy one of the first of this month’s concerts Saturday night as WOW welcomes Bear Hands, Kitten and The Ecstatics.

Ignoring the hairy imagery that first comes to mind, Bear Hands is an indie band that evokes an MGMT-Talking Heads lovechild combo. Bear Hands’ first album Burning Bush Supper Club earned them spots opening for Passion Pit and AWOLNATION, as well as use of their song, “Belongings,” on the U.S. version of the hit U.K. teen drama Skins. Bear Hands recently released a second album after a four-year break — which may explain the title of the album, Distraction. The group is a head-bobbing fusion of indie electronic and post-punk rock, sure to start spring off with a bang.

Never got to see Blondie? Los Angeles-based Kitty has got you covered. The band — which, like Blondie, features a golden-haired rocker front woman backed up by an all-male band — combines ’80s dance rock and a modern electronic sound with a dream pop glow. Nineteen-year-old lead singer Chloe Chaidez first formed Kitten at age 13 and the band released their first LP two years later. Their debut album releases this year — catch them before they get big.

The Ecstatics are Portland’s own garage band soon to be success story. This indie pop four-piece all-male band with heavy “ooh ooh” background vocals and electric guitar riffs is named fittingly. They are catchy, lighthearted and, well, ecstatic. The group opened for Aaron Carter at WOW Hall in November and has recently been playing gigs in Portland.

April 5 Bear Hands, Kitten and The Ecstatics; WOW Hall (291 W. 8th Ave.), tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door, 9 p.m.

On Campus

April 4 Tie-Dye: Get ready for spring with a tie-dye workshop. Bring up to three 100 percent cotton items or buy a T-shirt, the Craft Center (EMU), $15, 3-4 p.m.

April 5-6 Monster Jam: Give in to your inner 12-year-old and whole-heartedly enjoy 10,000 pound monster trucks soaring through obstacles, Matthew Knight Area (1776 E. 13th Ave.), tickets $23, Saturday 2 p.m. and 7:30 p. m., Sunday 2 p.m.

Off Campus

April 5-6 Emerald Valley Indoor BMX: Tired of track? Check out a free BMX race or participate yourself, Lane Events Center (796 W. 13th Ave.), free spectator admission, $10 per bike, 4 p.m.

April 6 ODESZA, D33J and Kodak to Graph: Start off spring term right with a show headlined by Seattle based electro duo ODESZA, opening with a newcomer DJ and an artist specializing in synth rhythms, WOW Hall (291 W. 8th Ave.), tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door, 9 p.m.

April 6 Bridgeway Run for Autism: Run or walk a 5K or run an 8K to raise Autism awareness. Alton Baker Park (100 Day Island Rd.), $15 prior to race day, $20 on race day, registration 7:45-8 a.m., race begins at 9 a.m.

In Portland

April 4 Marco Benevoto: Check out the energizing dance music of piano/songwriting master and expert performer Benevoto, Doug Fir Lounge (830 E. Burnside St.), 21 & over only, tickets $13 in advance, $15 at the door, 9 p.m.

April 4-6 Midsummer: Called “a play with songs” rather than a musical, this romantic comedy is about two opposite 30 somethings who spend a rainy weekend together, CoHo Theater (2257 Raleigh St.), tickets $20 for students, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.

April 5 Two for the Show: Check out a night of improvisational comedy featuring two pairs improvising different scenarios, Brody Theater (16 NW Broadway St.), tickets $9 for students, 7:30 p.m.

April 5 Rocky Horror Picture Show: Enjoy this musical cult comedy the way it was meant to be seen — performed by the Clinton Street Cabaret, Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St.), tickets $8, 12 a.m.

April 6 RAC, Ghost Beach and Joywave: See remix master RAC, who remixes Lana del Ray, Edward Sharpe and Yeah Yeah Yeahs among others, along with indie pop Ghost Beach and Joywave, Wonder Ballroom (128 NE Russell St.), tickets $16 in advance, $18 day of show, doors open at 7:30.

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers to past seasons of “Game of Thrones.”

Making a joke about winter having technically come and gone is almost too easy for the spring premiere of the fourth season of “Game of Thrones,” which airs Sunday, April 6 at 9 p.m. Time to get your viewing group together because spring term Sundays are about to get a lot more epic.

It is difficult to avoid season four spoilers while Googling “Thrones,” but judging by The Telegraph’s review headline this season will be “the most brutal yet.” It is not surprising, considering the season’s official slogan is “All men must die” or “Valar morghulis” if you prefer High Valyrian. Brutality in “Thrones” is as expected as nudity in “GIRLS.”  Yet it’s hard to imagine anything more graphic than the Red Wedding or even Jaime losing his hand.

In case you forgot what happened at the end of season three: the finale episode concludes with shot of Daenerys as she is surrounded by thousands of people proclaiming her their mother, as well as her three almost fully grown dragons flying above her head. Arya makes her first kill. Jon Snow returns to Castle Black. Jaime Lannister is back in King’s Landing. Tyrion and Sansa are married and not getting it on. Bran Stark is planning to go after the White Walkers. Yara decides to rescue Theon after receiving a disturbing package. And of course, there was the Red Wedding.

 “I’m looking forward to seeing which of the many different plot lines finally start to come together,” junior Brad Burke said.

According to Entertainment Weekly, “intensely serialized dramas like ‘Thrones’ often steadily decline in the ratings, especially after the first or second season, since it becomes increasingly tough for new viewers to just dive-in mid-way.” However, the number of “Thrones” viewers have only increased, which is impressive for an adult fantasy show on a premium network. These statistics most likely don’t surprise fans who all cling to different aspects of the show.

“My favorite thing about the show is that there are absolutely no rules. I think what makes it so popular is that for a fantasy show it’s more about the characters than the fantastical elements of the world,” senior mathematics major Colby Adamson said. “People are intrigued because they can’t predict the outcome.”

“I like that none of the protagonists are morally untarnished — the line between ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’ is blurry in a way that keeps it interesting. Even the characters that I like the best are put into these impossible situations where they have to decide how to compromise themselves,” Sanjay Srivastava said, an associate psychology professor.

On top of earning high ratings, an official HBO mix tape called “Catch the Throne” was recently released, featuring beats made from samples from the show mixed with rap and singing. Lyrics include: “White walkers can never be trusted/ Exile across the sea/ I spit fire like Khaleesi” in “Win or Die” by Bodega Bamz. Whether or not you have time to binge on the show before Sunday, be sure to check out the mix tape.

Eugene skies already look promising for a sunny spring. However, Oregon is notorious for being unpredictable. These rainy days are the perfect time to check out any of a slew of promising films being released in the spring, including everything from a serial soul-stealer to a comedic cowboy.

APRIL

“Dom Hemingway:” Jude Law stars not as a heartthrob, but as a wild middle-aged ex-con recently released from a 12-year prison stint who’s trying to reconnect with his daughter and figure out his place in the world of crime in this theatrical comedy drama. Opens April 2.

“Under The Skin:” Based on a Michael Faber novel of the same name, this surreal mind-bending thriller stars Scarlett Johansen as a “voluptuous woman of unknown origin” who seduces men and then steals their souls. Although it sounds pretty predictable, critics are praising it. Opens April 4.

“Fading Gigolo:” This film festival comedy, which was written, directed by and stars John Turtorro, who is famous for his role in “O Brother Where Art Thou,” features Tutorro as a gigolo and Woody Allen as his “manager” and also stars Sofia Vergara and Sharon Stone. Opens April 18.

MAY

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2:” Opening the summer blockbuster season is the sequel to the gritty “The Amazing Spider-Man” (2012). The web thickens as Spider-Man battles Electro, played by Jamie Foxx. This next segment will solidify whether or not this reboot will follow the unfortunate demise of the last Spider-Man series. Opens May 2.

“Godzilla:” Next on the list of early summer blockbusters is the second remake of the 1954 Japanese classic. This version features Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston and Juliette Binoche. Opens May 16.

“A Million Ways to Die in the West:” This comedy, which pokes fun at the American West, features a star packed cast including Seth MacFarlane as an incompetent cowboy, Charlize Theron, Sara Silverman and Neil Patrick Harris. Opens May 30.

JUNE

“The Fault In Our Stars:” Based on popular John Green novel of the same title, this film tells the love story of two teenagers who meet at a cancer support group. Shailene Woodley stars as a cancer patient in what looks like will be a tearjerker best to see on a rainy June day. Opens June 6.

“22 Jump Street:” Join Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum again as cop duo Schmidt and Jenko, this time undercover at a college, just in time for finals. Opens June 13.

Other sequels of the summer include “How To Train Your Dragon 2″ and “Think Like A Man Too,” as well as yet another film in the “Transformers” series.

Spring break in Eugene is projected to be 58 degrees, or so says weather.com. Taking a glass half-full approach, the spring weather offers the perfect opportunity to take a day trip. Eugene offers several spring day excursions, no swimsuit required.

Silver Falls

Located only an hour and a half from Eugene, this picturesque day trip makes the perfect photo to send to an out-of-state mom and dad to let them know just how beautiful Oregon is. Try hiking the Trail of Ten Falls, an 8.7 mile hike that has gorgeous waterfall sites. The park has 25 miles of various length hikes, perfect to unwind your mind after a long term.

Dexter Reservoir

This springtime gem is a tranquil 20 minute getaway. For such a small park, there are few guests. Have lunch at a picnic table, lay out on a dock or jump in the refreshing water. Boats and fishing are allowed. If you’re a sucker for lakes with perfect reflections of mountains and trees, this spot is a must see.

Shaniko, Ore.

This is a wildcard suggestion, but spring break is the perfect time to explore parts of Oregon that aren’t Portland or Eugene. Shaniko is Oregon’s own ghost town, with a population of 26 at the 2010 Census. Enjoy a quiet day exploring the town’s museum and streets of abandoned buildings. The town was voted “Oregon’s Ghost Town of the year” in 1959, so who knows how empty it has become since then.  

Portland, Ore.

If you haven’t taken a trip up to Eugene’s hip neighbor to the north, spring break is the perfect time to visit. Travel by car, Amtrak or Greyhound for the easy two-hour trip. Tourist websites will tell you to hit the Japanese Gardens and Powell’s, but also be sure to check out a concert at the Crystal or Wonder Ballrooms, a movie at the cozy McMenamins Kennedy School or a walk in Waterfront Park. Stay out of the river.

***

Couldn’t make it to SXSW or Coachella this year? Check out these concerts across the West Coast this spring break.

Portland

The most massive show in Portland over this break is Kings of Leon’s concert on March 27 at the Moda Center.  But there’s no shortage of smaller bands coming to various clubs around the city. The Hawthorne Theater is particularly packed, hosting to Against Me! (March 24), K. Flay (March 25), Animals As Leaders (March 26), Bun B (March 27) and the Black Lips (March 29). Other notable shows include Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen at Mississippi Studios (March 23) and jam legends Widespread Panic at the Schnitzer Concert Hall (March 26).

Guitar goddess St. Vincent will be in Portland March 24 (Crystal Ballroom), as well as Los Angeles March 21 (The Wiltern), Oakland March 22 (Fox Theater),  March 25 (Commodore Ballroom) and Seattle March 26 (Moore Theatre).

Seattle

ZZ Top is playing at the Moore (March 23), Bring Me The Horizon at the Showbox (March 24), rising punk band Perfect Pussy at the Vera Project (March 24) and indie roots-rockers The War On Drugs at The Neptune Theatre (March 28). Kings of Leon will also perform on March 28 at the Seattle Key Arena.

New Zealand hit-maker Lorde is also touring down the coast and will be playing at Seattle’s WaMu Theater on March 24, as well as doing two dates at Oakland’s Fox Theater on March 26 and 27.  

San Francisco

Soul revue Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings play three gigs at the legendary Fillmore between March 27 and 29, while early punk band Death perform at The Chapel on March 23. For those wanting to catch the last of San Fran’s dwindling psych-rock scene, SubMission will host local artists JAM, The Electric Magpie and Clumsy Concentration on March 27.

Eugene

Linda Perhacs plays Cozmic on March 25, while Rebirth Brass Band (March 26), Bun B (March 27), Frankie Paul & the Melodians (March 28) and That 1 Guy (March 29) constitute the week at the WOW Hall.

***

Staying in town over break offers a great chance to explore Eugene and Springfield, and entertain yourself in new ways at new places. Gather your friends, try some new things and who knows? You may have even better stories than all those people heading off during break.

Bars

If you like your beer better when it goes to a good cause, March 24 might be the best night for you to quaff a few with friends. From 5 —11 p.m. Ninkasi Brewing will be putting on Pints for a Cause. The event will support the Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene by donating 25 percent of all pint sales to the cause. Jazz and folk group The Tonewood Trio will also be performing starting at 5:30 p.m. The Ninkasi Brewing Company Tasting Room & Patio is located at 272 Van Buren St.

The city of Eugene on a Saturday night is not to be underrated either. At the corner of Broadway and Olive Street, you’ll find the legendary “Barmuda Triangle,” which is home to five bars: The Horsehead, Rogue Brewery, The Starlight Lounge, Luckey’s Club and Jameson’s Bar. The Davis Restaurant is a great place to dance. Sam Bond’s Garage in the Whiteaker District has a little more of classic, Eugene hippie vibe and offers popular bar food, as well as craft beers and wine.

Comedy

A quiet college campus may not be the optimum place to laugh, but Kowloon’s on a Friday night sure is. The qualifying rounds of Oregon’s Last Comedian Standing are going down at the restaurant every Friday night until the final competition on April 18. On March 28 starting at 8 p.m. comedians will be competing to move forward. The plan is simple: show up, grab a drink and get ready for a night of quality comedy. Kowloon Restaurant and Lounge is located at 2222 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd near Autzen Stadium.

In Eugene

This Saturday night, WOW Hall will host four artists who will be performing in this year’s Sonic Bloom Festival, which takes place June 19-22 in South Park, Colo.  Sonic Bloom caters to lovers of electronic music and the Colorado mountains. Artists lined up to perform are on the national “Road To Sonic Bloom” tour  to give people a taste of the festival’s vibe.

WOW will host Russ Liquid, an improvisational electronic artist whose music features a range of sounds and styles, including a signature trumpet riff. He has been on the Coachella lineup for the past two years, in addition to having performed at festivals in Australia and Costa Rica. Also playing is Jamie Janover, a percussionist who has paired with reSUNator to combine ancient percussion instruments with electronic music to create electroacoustic sets better for swaying to than waiting for a beat to drop. Janover has played over 50 festivals internationally.

Joining them will be Birds of Paradise, who could score a “Survivor” episode or an updated Oregon Trail game with their tropical marimbas that fuse with synthesized beats. Minneapolis-based Mumukshu is the most psychedelic of the lineup, while also fitting in with the rest of the electronic artists.

Satisfy your craving for an electronic show, while checking out a slice of Sonic Bloom.

March 15 The Road to Sonic Bloom: Russ Liquid, Janover with reSUNator, Birds of Paradise and Mumakshu; WOW Hall (291 W. 8th Ave.), tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door, 9 p.m.

On Campus

March 14 Graduate Dance Loft: See the original choreography of seven graduate students’ from the UO Department of Dance; Dougherty Dance Theatre, on the third floor of Gerlinger Annex (1484 University Street), tickets $3 for students, 8- 9:30 p.m.

Off Campus

March 15 What Makes Gatsby Great: Head to the library for a talk by F. Scott Fitzgerald scholar Jackson Bryer about why “The Great Gatsby” is so highly acclaimed; Eugene Public Library (100 W 10th Ave.), free admission, 2 p.m.

March 14-16 Nikon Small World: Check out Nikon’s exhibit of winners from its 2013 Photomicrography Competition, which showcases scientific microscopic images; The Science Factory Children’s Museum & Exploration Dome (2300 Leo Harris Pkwy), $4 admission, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

March 15 Emerald City Rollers Girls’ Derby: Enjoy a night of roller derby as the Emerald City All-Stars take on Corvallis’ Sick Town Derby Dames; Lane Events Center (769 W. 13th Ave.), tickets $12 in advance, doors open at 5, bout begins at 6 p.m.

March 14 Vagabond Opera and Chervona: Check out the exotic sounding five-piece Vagabond Opera — who play in a bohemian cabaret style — with Chervona, who plays traditional Eastern European hits with a modern sound; WOW Hall (291 W 8th Ave.), tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door, 8:30 p.m.

In Portland

March 14-15 “Buffy! A Parody Play”: Throwback to “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” with this spoof based on the 1992 film; Funhouse Lounge (2432 SE 11th Ave), tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door, 7 p.m.

March 14 Con Bro Chill: Get your dance on with this pop party power group; Wonder Ballroom (128 NE Russell), tickets $13 in advance, $15 at the door, 8 p.m.

March 14-15 Laser Gaga: Enjoy a laser light show choreographed to 11 of Lady Gaga’s hits; OMSI (1945 SE Water Ave.), tickets $7.50, 8:15 p.m.

March 15 Bicycle Film Festival Portland: See 11 short films dedicated to the bicycle in this uniquely Portland event; Clinton Street Theater (2522 SE Clinton St.), tickets $10, shows at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

March 15 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks: Check out Malkmus — the former frontman of the 90s band Pavement — with his newest band, along with groovy-sounding Sun Foot; Star Theater (13 NW 6^th Ave.), tickets $24, 21 and over, 9 p.m.

SPOILER ALERT

The last words America’s least-favorite bachelor mumbled were, “Don’t get cranky,” as he embraced Nikki after choosing not to give her the ring in his pocket.

“The Bachelor” wrapped up its 18th season last night. Soccer star Juan Pablo didn’t offer a ring to either Nikki Ferrell nor Clare Crawley. Gasp! How controversial!

Yet to say that this was the show’s only fatal flaw is to undermine the show’s many problems. There’s the fairy tale ending mentality the contestants have, the paradox that every reality show is essentially fake and the unrealistic expectations that the show offers both the men and women.

Chris Harrison, who has hosted “The Bachelor” for all of its 18 seasons, repeatedly deemed the finale “controversial,” which is a good word to call a dating show that has produced three out of 25 couples from “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” that are currently still together.

However, Harrison wasn’t referring to the unorthodox methods of the show itself; he was referring to this specific Bachelor finale. There are several things that are controversial: The 2003 invasion of Iraq, Pussy Riot and the pro-choice movement, to name a few. Unless every woman on the show suddenly leaves in protest of how contrived and degrading the entire process is, an episode of “The Bachelor” falls nowhere near the same category.

“This is like nothing like we’ve ever seen before,” Harrison said before a new segment.

What followed seemed like every clip from “The Bachelor.” A beautiful girl gets out of a car, embraces Juan Pablo, voiceovers ensue and then they hop into an ABC-funded helicopter to tour whichever tropical island airlines are offering the biggest group discount for.

Then the music changes: we hear a dramatic voiceover of Clare telling the audience that Juan Pablo said something sexually offensive to her while in the helicopter, conveniently when the cameras weren’t rolling. This perceived transparency is more likely a way to up the drama on an otherwise very boring two hours than it is the first time a bachelor has said something provocative to one of the women.

At first it seemed like Clare was taking pride in herself by even mentioning the comments. But when Juan Pablo came to her hotel, she went from being mad about the comment that was apparently so insulting that she didn’t want to say it, to giggling “Let’s play this song at our wedding,” in under two minutes.

So much for girl power.

The only person who seemed to have any grip on reality was Rodolpho, Juan Pablo’s cousin. Rodolpho summed up the entire problem of the show in a simple sentence:

“What’s weird for me is that in four of five days he might be engaged to you or to some other girl,” Rodolpho said to Nikki.

The expectations are set so high that it’s not even anybody’s fault if the show’s outcome falls short. From “The Dating Game” to “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” other dating shows don’t even dare to suggest an engagement while “The Bachelor” expects it.

Other dating shows simply focus on the goal of introducing people and recognize that long-lasting love can’t be found in six weeks. Juan Pablo considered Nikki as an option, while she couldn’t wait for him to propose. In the real world, you don’t meet someone the first weekend of Fall term and marry them during your first midterm.

The finale offered several nauseating quotes, which help to explain the show’s 12 percent marriage success rate:

“Until he says ‘I love you,’ I don’t know if he does or not.”

“This could be the end of all uncertainty and the beginning of forever.”

“I may not know him 100 percent and he might not know me 100 percent, but I know that we have something special.”

You know a show is bad when you hope lines like those are scripted. But don’t worry, they most likely are. When Juan Pablo broke up with Clare, she rejected his hug and called him out, erupting in insults lacking in any speck of sentimentality and reeking of producer slime.

“That was tough to watch,” Chris Harrison narrated. He’s right, especially if you’re not a fan of bad acting.

The show ended with Juan Pablo telling Nikki he likes her for a lot of one-syllable qualities. One of them being that, “you are honest, just like me.” With an obnoxious wink, the show concluded.

Twitter reactions:

I'm confused what Clare heard and liked in that conversation. #TheBachelorFinale

— Sarah Boon (@sarahbboon) March 11, 2014

Juan Pablo: "Can I keep both?" Chris Harrison: "This dumbass is going to ruin my show."

— Lauren Holm (@LaurenDaleHolm) March 11, 2014

Can I please just knock some sense into Juan Pablo's head. Soo not a fan. Eees-NOT-okay! #TheBachelorFinale #TheFinalRose

— Jessica Harper (@JessicaAnn1014) March 11, 2014

Juan Pablo is a manipulative rude man. He has definitely been the most disappointing Bachelor I've ever seen. #TheBachelorFinale

— Shelby Newton (@newtonshelby) March 11, 2014

JP wins asshole of the year #TheBachelorFinale

— Carley Rose (@iCarley15) March 11, 2014

This is what happens to guys when they watch the bachelor. Our brains melt.

Some days I honestly question why #TheBachelor even exists.

— Erin Lashway (@_erinlashway) March 11, 2014

Can we talk about how #TheBachelor is still a thing? Why, America, whyyyy?

— Jake Braught (@jakebraught) March 11, 2014

They all suck #TheBachelor

— Kelty Clothier (@keltyec) March 11, 2014

Chris Harrison is a better bachelor than Juan Pablo. #TheBachelor

— Emma Lapp (@Emma_Lapp) March 11, 2014

#girlpower #TheBachelor

— Garrett Gilchrist (@macgmg) March 11, 2014

I don't think Nikkie and Juan Pablo are actually together… #TheBachelorFinale

— Jen McDevitt (@jenmcdevitt) March 11, 2014

Come April, the University of Oregon will be hosting Cinema Pacific, an annual film festival and University-wide collaboration of film screenings, multimedia, art and culture.

The festival, which is in its fifth year, takes place April 23-27. Every year, the festival focuses on a Pacific-bordering country or two. Past focuses have been on Japan, China and Korea. This year’s screenings will focus on Taiwan and Chile.

A unique aspect of the festival is that, except for two UO staff members, undergraduate and graduate interns organize and run the entire festival, offering a chance for both Cinema Studies and Arts & Administration students to learn the ropes of the film festival world.

“My favorite part of the festival is working with student interns and providing mentorship to them as they step into the festival world and see what it’s like. Most of them haven’t had experience with festivals before so it’s fun,” Cinema Pacific Operations Director Larissa Ennis said.

“I didn’t know if a teaching festival could really work and now we’re going into our fifth year and it seems that it has,” said Richard Herskowitz, a long-term film fest professional who is also an Arts & Administration and Cinema Studies instructor as well as the festival’s director.

The festival also features three events. Cinema Pacific, The Adrenaline Project and the Fringe Project.

The Adrenaline Film festival is an intensive workshop where students have only 72 hours to produce their own short films, culminating in a screening at the end of the festival. The winning films receive the Kalb Jury Award and a Viewers Award is given as well.

Because Adrenaline is such an intense project, students have the option of taking it as an Academic Extension course, which falls under AAD 410 for up to three credits.

“[Adrenaline is] our centerpiece and it’s absolutely fundamental to what a film festival should do, especially a regional festival. It should really be quality filmmaking in it’s own backyard,” Herskowitz said.

The other sub-festival that takes place as part of Cinema Pacific is the Fringe Festival. The Fringe Festival is the more experimental and avant-garde part of the festival, next to Red Bull-infused adrenaline.

The Fringe Festival is a film remix competition. Every year, students submit two to five minute films with sound and images remixed from a classic film. This year’s pick is Brother Wang and Brother Liu Tour Taiwan. Fringe is accepting submissions until March 14. The best films will be screened and the top three will receive cash awards. Fringe opens the festival Friday night with a multimedia party, featuring live performances, food and projections of the winning films.

“Not a lot of people just sit down and remix a film. Adrenaline is like the governor’s ball and the Fringe Project is kind of like a hip-hop concert, we’re sampling something from a country, so it’s very different,” said Keith Hoskins, a senior Cinema Studies major who is Fringe’s undergraduate assistant coordinator.

Cinema Pacific officially announces the details of the program’s lineup on April 2 at 10 a.m. at UO’s Downtown Baker Center (975 High Street).

On Friday, the electronic band EOTO will play at the McDonald Theatre. EOTO is composed of Michael Travis and Jason Hann, two members of the 1990s progressive bluegrass/psychedelic rock group the String Cheese Incident.

In 2006, Travis and Hann jumped on the electronic bandwagon without abandoning their musical roots. For shows, the pair brings an extensive equipment setup, allowing them to synth, remix and loop live. The craziest aspect of EOTO shows may not even be the sound they create or the cosmic light show that accompanies their performance but rather their entirely improvised set.

It is impossible not to feel a spark of curiosity when looking at EOTO’s cosmically-cool poster. With vibrant rainbow colors and a face with all white eyes, the poster makes the band look like one that aliens would come to Earth to see. Considering that EOTO was originally an acronym for End of Time Observatory, this notion may not be too far off.

Bands Acorn Project and YAMN will open for EOTO. Acorn Project is the product of a Western Washington University garage jam band. The six-person electro-rock group, which includes a saxophone, released its first album in 2006, and since then has been recording and touring mainly their native West Coast.

Denver, Colo. based  YAMN is a band that blends rock and electronic and emphasizes their love of live performances. The band has also been around since 2006 and calls themselves “A Hearty Buffet for the Hungry Ear!”

March 7 EOTO featuring Michael Travis & Jason Hann of String Cheese Incident: McDonald Theatre (1010 Willamette St.), $18 in advance, $22 at the door, 8 p.m.

In Eugene

On Campus

March 7 American English Institute World Fair: Enjoy a celebration of UO’s diverse student body, featuring food and performances. Agate Hall Auditorium (1787 Agate St.), free admission, 6-8 p.m. 

March 8 Future Music Oregon: See a concert from UO’s School of Music program that focuses on the exploration of sound through the use of computers and technology. Frohnmayer Music Building, Thelma Schnitzer Hall (961 E. 18th Ave.), $5 students/seniors, $7 general admission, 7-8:30 p.m.

March 7-8 Ecstasy: A Water Fable: Check out University Theatre’s newest play, which is an abstract representation of the intersection of three characters’ dream worlds. Hope Theatre, (11th Avenue between the intersection of Kincaid and the merge with Franklin Blvd.), free admission with student ID, 8 p.m.

Off Campus

March 7 El Ten Eleven: See this experimental instrumental duo, whose sound is part post-punk, part ambient rock along with the hypnotic, groovy band Gloom. WOW Hall (291 W. Eighth  Ave.), $12 in advance, $14 at the door, 9 p.m.

March 9 Terry Brooks: See this New York Times bestselling author speak about his fantasy books, author of the popular “Shannara” novels, which are currently being made into an MTV series; Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.), free admission, 1:30-3 p.m.

In Portland

March 7-9 “The Motherfucker With The Hat”: Not a fan of classical theater? Check out this profane comedy about a recovering addict trying to stay clean, Artists Repertory Theatre (1515 SW Morrison St.), tickets $25 for students, 7:30 p.m. Fri.- Sat., 2 p.m. on Sunday.

March 7 Friday Night Fights: Crack up while watching two improv teams in a battle of comedy, Curious Comedy Theater (5225 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.), tickets $5, 10 p.m.

March 8 All Decades Video Dance Attack: Get your groove on with the best hits from the past 40 years with music videos projected on a giant screen, McMenamin’s Lola’s Room (1332 W. Burnside St.), 21 and over, tickets $6 at the door, 8 p.m.

March 8 Radical ’80s Dance Cruise: Time to scour your closet for mesh and leg warmers. Get on the Portland Spirit for a Willamette River cruise combined with an ’80s dance party. Portland Spirit (110 SE Caruthers St.), 21 and over, tickets $20, 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

March 9 G-Eazy: Check out this hip-hop artist and his recently released album “Almost Famous,” along with rappers Rockie Fresh, Tory Lanez and Kyle, Roseland Theater (8 NW Sixth Ave.), tickets $20 day of show, 9 p.m.

Twitter has a continuously growing presence when it comes to conversations about television. Just last Sunday night, Twitter crashed temporarily due to the huge number of people retweeting Ellen’s Oscar celebrity selfie and the Twitter account “@SochiProblems” went viral, gaining more followers than the Olympics’ official Twitter account. For many shows, Twitter has become an up-to-the-minute infinite water cooler, a place for people to gather to share their thoughts in real time.

Media research firm Nielsen provides weekly rankings of the most watched TV shows and in October, they began a weekly ranking of shows with the highest Twitter presence. Interestingly enough, the shows Americans are watching the most do not line up with those they are tweeting the most. In fact, the only show on both lists is the highly popular “The Walking Dead.”

According to Nielsen’s Twitter TV ratings, the top five most tweeted about TV shows for the week of Feb. 17-23 were as follows:

1. “The Walking Dead”

2. “Pretty Little Liars”

3. “The Bachelor”

4. “Teen Wolf”

5. “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”

This list is much different from the top five most-watched TV shows of the same week.

Besides the Winter Olympics, which took the first seven spots, the shows ranked:

1. “The Walking Dead”

2. “The Big Bang Theory”

3. “Criminal Minds”

4. “American Idol”

4. “NCIS”

What about the most-tweeted shows lend themselves to a great social media presence?

Senior Sarah Boon is an avid tweeter of “The Bachelor.” Boon watches the show religiously and has developed a reputation with her friends, family and sorority as a frequent “Bachelor” commentator. She also receives favorites, retweets and follows from other “Bachelor” fans, whom she has never met, as a result of her tweets.

“It’s 2014, everyone is multitasking. They’re on Facebook or trying to study during commercial breaks. Tweeting keeps me focused on the show so that I always have something to do and helps me follow the storyline. I like seeing what other people are thinking about it too,” Boon said.

Boon watches several shows but tweets mainly about “The Bachelor” because of its real-time social media community.

“People watch shows On Demand or on Netflix, but “The Bachelor” is one of those shows that people get really excited to watch right then. That’s the big difference,” Boon said.

The idea of the water-cooler show is what contributes most to Twitter use. Some of the more popular shows aren’t tweeted about as much simply because people aren’t watching them at the same time, creating less space for a community.

“I usually watch it the night of, otherwise it’s not worth tweeting about,” freshman Jessi Gudgell said. Gudgell also enjoys tweeting about “The Bachelor” and “Pretty Little Liars.”

Shows’ buzz, which was previously discussed over the phone or in person the next day at work — hence “water cooler” — is now moving to Twitter.

“There’s no magic bullet for what’s going to create buzz. Some shows end up being those water cooler programs where it’s like, ‘Did everybody watch it? What happened last night?’ which creates a community,” UO advertising Professor Chris Chavez said.

Chavez also said that shows with a lot of paratext lend themselves more to Twitter use. If industry executives decide Twitter is a good place for a show to gain attention, there may need to be a shift from On Demand viewing to the more community-based format of only being able to watch shows at a certain time and on a certain day.

Ellen DeGeneres ordered pizzas and Meryl Streep gave the world her best selfie face. Welcome the a recap of the 86th Annual Academy Awards.

Ellen carried the show with a confidence that only a truly respected comedian who has been in Hollywood for 20 years could have. She gracefully mocked Hollywood, joked about LA’s recent rain prevalence and made fun of social media. The most iconic moments from her hosting last night are without a doubt the starpower selfie that crashed Twitter and the three large pizzas she ordered. Nobody else could get away stealing Lupita Nyong’o’s lip balm or Pharrell Williams’ hat to collect money for the pizza. Pure brilliance.

My favorite person of the night was Lupita Nyong’o, the extremely well spoken 31-year-old who won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “12 Years A Slave.” I predict she will be Hollywood’s newest sweetheart and Buzzfeed’s most popular topic. Her touching speech had a major goosebump-inducing moment within 10 seconds of being onstage: “It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s,” she said, instantly skyrocketing her status from superstar to role model.

Cate Blanchett deserves an Oscar for best Oscar speech as she put the industry on blast for the lack of strong female-centric films. While accepting her award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Blue Jasmine” Blanchett said, “Those in the industry who are foolishly clinging to the idea that female films, with women in the centre, are niche experiences. They are not. Audiences want to see them. In fact they earn money.” You go girl.

Jared Leto was my second favorite person of the night. He started the night off by winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Dallas Buyers Club” and giving an emotional speech dedicated to his mom, who accompanied him to the ceremony. Not to mention, his effortless ombré hair looked better than half of the women at the awards.

Matthew McConaughey wins for worst Oscar speech. The Best Actor acceptance speech for “Dallas Buyers Club” began normally, as McConaughey thanked God, his dad and his wife and kids. He concluded by telling everyone that his hero was himself in 10 years. Followed closely behind him for worst Oscar speech would be Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the producers of “Frozen.” The entire thing was all too Disney. It was unclear whether the duo was brother and sister or husband and wife as they rhymed in unison.

As far as fashion goes, Sandra Bullock’s dress made her look like she was still in outer space. Although maybe that was a fitting choice, as “Gravity” ended up taking seven Oscars, all for mostly its technical achievement.

As far as the unplanned, Jim Carrey made an LSD joke while announcing a montage of animation clips over the past hundred years, which I definitely don’t think was on the teleprompter. I don’t know how Zac Efron got the Oscar presenter invite, but he heavily favored the word “um.” And John Travolta might be at the point where he has too much botox to pronounce Idina Menzel’s name correctly.

Pharrell Williams’ performance of “Happy” started the Oscars off right with a dancy, color block-filled performance rivaling “School of Rock.” U2 provided the most stripped down performance of the night. The performance veterans sang “Ordinary Love” with ease and no frills. “Moon Song” from “Her” was performed by indie starpower duo Karen O and Ezra Koenig. The song itself was beautiful, but the giant projected moon was distracting and if Karen O was planning on taking off her shoes, she just shouldn’t have worn any. Perhaps the biggest mistake of the evening was having Bette Midler sing “Wind Beneath My Wings” in memoriam for Hollywood’s stars who have recently passed away. I can just see Philip Seymour Hoffman rolling his eyes during her cheeseball choreographed wing flapping.