The Langston Hughes poem "Let America Be America Again" has become one of the most famous products of the Harlem Renaissance. Though written 70 years ago, can anything be more relevant than these lines? "Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death/ The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,/ We, the people, must redeem/ The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers./ The mountains and the endless plain —/ All, all the stretch of these great green states —/ And make America again!"

Recently Lauren Piester has gone on a reading spree. "Every free moment I've had in the past week (when I wasn't catching up on a little bit of extremely important television) I have spent reading," she writes. "With the summer and its ample reading time coming up, I thought I would take a moment to recommend some of my favorite books/series to you."

Starting today the Gargoyle will present a series of diary entries by four members of this year's Big Show. The annual showcase of student-written and -directed comedy skits is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the North Attic Playhouse. Senior Carl Zielinski starts off the diary today; look for other entries later this week by Andrea Park, Anna Cangellaris, and Anna Gooler.

"The Forbidden Kingdom" unites kung fu superstars Jackie Chan and Jet Li in their first movie together. It also provides a new twist on the Chinese legend of the Monkey King. Do Chan and Li live up to the hype, or is there something left to be desired? The discriminating Danny Ge gives his verdict.

Thirty-five comedy sketches: That's what you'll have to feast on if you go to Big Show '08 this weekend, and we know you will! Rachel Skoza gets the lowdown from directors Anna Cangellaris and Eunice How. Check inside for all the details, including a list of skits to be performed. All the money raised from ticket sales will go toward this year's X-Week charity, UC Books to Prisoners. Bring paperback dictionaries (any language, please!!), and you'll get a $2 discount!

"Hard Problems" is a documentary that focuses on six American high school students, including Uni's Alex Zhai, who make it to the highest level of math competition: the International Mathematical Olympiad. Check inside for Gordon Ruan's review to see what the documentary has to offer, even for those who don't consider themselves math aficionados.

Isaac Radnitzer, Uni's award-winning varsity goalkeeper, will be recognized this summer for being named to the Chicago Fire's Boys Soccer All-State All-Academic Team. Radnitzer was one of only 86 student-athletes to be named to the team. He and his fellow honorees will be invited to a Fire match in late June or early July at Toyota Park, where they will receive special recognition at the game.