The Independent Collegian

Try to remember the surprise millions of people felt when Linkin Park teamed up with Jay-Z to create the successful MTV Mash-ups album. Or when seemingly polar opposites Ludicrous and Toby Keith came together to put on a concert. It's happened again in the form of Hurban music, and if Louis Moctezuma is right, this combination is going to be more popular and longer lasting than any prior music blend.

It's easy to become cynical about a visit to a place like The Claddagh Irish Pub, a recent addition to Westfield Shoppingtown, Franklin Park. The restaurant is neither Irish nor a pub. It's American and a chain restaurant. Even if it might physically resemble the type of Irish establishment where people drink beer, I can't imagine it ever facilitating the type of close-knit friendships their public relations people want you to believe are included with the price of a meal.

"Lunar Park," the fifth book from Bret Easton Ellis, holds an interesting lack of clearly defined truth as Ellis explores autobiographical writing mixed with creation. A memoir mixed with fiction, "Lunar Park lets Ellis ("American Psycho," "Less than Zero") act as both author and narrator while he reviews his fleeting life of abuse, addiction, fame and fortune.

today Comedian: J.R. Remick @ Connxtions Comedy Club, 5319 Heatherdowns Blvd., 8 p.m. A master of mimicking, Remick has perfomed celebrity voice-overs in radio commercials. He combines observational humor with a range of over 100 celebrity impressions and cartoon and character voices.