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(04/24/03 4:00am)
Punk rock heroes really do age gracefully. More than 25 years after their establishment as one of the leaders of the British Punk revolution, the Buzzcocks are still making music that lives up to their legend. We should be grateful these guys didn't put down their instruments for good when the band split up in 1981. Fortunately, over the past 10 years, bassist Tony Barber and drummer Philip Barker were able to keep the punk rock spirit alive with original members Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle. The latest eponymously titled release is a nice departure from the everyday pop-punk album. They incorporate an updated rock sound to their signature drum-smashing punk vibe of the past. The songwriting styles of Shelley and Diggle balance each other out; Shelley's songs have a slightly less melodic feel than Diggle's, but this serves to create a very well-rounded record. Though the songs never slow to more than a quick jog, Shelley's "Jerk" came from a drastically different place than Diggle's "Sick City Sometimes." But whether it is Shelley or Diggle doing the songwriting, be assured that from beginning to end, this album makes listeners want to jump around the room and nod their head.
(04/24/03 4:00am)
It's hard to leave a Dar Williams concert without a rose-colored outlook on life, and Monday's concert was no exception. Her brand of genuine folk-rock appeals to all sexes and several generations left the packed house smiling and dancing. Opening performances by Jenny DeVoe and the Ben Taylor Band were the tiny roses on the seven-layer cake Williams created with her act.\nBen Taylor, son of folk music deity James Taylor, was a physical and auditory replica of his father. It was difficult to figure out what Ben was trying to do with his music. There were songs with a gospel-soul-rock edge, a folk-rock feel or those that incorporated a jazzy-free-style-rock. He has the potential to become a great artist, but his music now is so jumbled that it seems immature. A chiseled face and a unique-sounding voice were still good entertainment, even if he did pull out some crazy raver dance moves during the guitar solos. \nBy the end of Taylor's set the crowd was anxious for Williams. One of the great things about Williams is that she is such a real person. She didn't need flashy sets or elaborate costumes to make her set amazing. She and her band just happen to be extremely talented.\nWilliams played mostly tracks from her new album Beauty of the Rain, which are a little slower than most of her classics but reproduced just as well. Williams' performance of "The World's Not Falling Apart" became an instant favorite. It was uptempo but not too fast and made Williams work to keep hitting the high notes, which she seemed to do with ease. Her duet with Ben Taylor was beautiful as their voices mixed into a refined melody, but unfortunately, Taylor looked like he was trying hard not to break into his normal hip-hop stage personality.\nAlthough my first Williams experience was a solo acoustic show, the band at this show was a welcome addition. Each musician was exceptionally talented and the electric guitar work, keyboards and percussion gave the music layers and made for an enjoyable and different experience.\nAny Williams experience is a good experience, especially if she plays some of the greatest songs in her repitoire and tells crazy stories about her life. The audience was treated to some hilarious anecdotes between the songs. Not only did she sing "Are You Out There?" and "Spring Street," she peeled the audience from the chairs with a crazy two-song encore of "Iowa" and "As Cool As I Am." \nEven though the night might have been just another day in the life for Williams, she gave a performance that was just as good as any flashy rock band.
(04/23/03 8:35pm)
It's hard to leave a Dar Williams concert without a rose-colored outlook on life, and Monday's concert was no exception. Her brand of genuine folk-rock appeals to all sexes and several generations left the packed house smiling and dancing. Opening performances by Jenny DeVoe and the Ben Taylor Band were the tiny roses on the seven-layer cake Williams created with her act.\nBen Taylor, son of folk music deity James Taylor, was a physical and auditory replica of his father. It was difficult to figure out what Ben was trying to do with his music. There were songs with a gospel-soul-rock edge, a folk-rock feel or those that incorporated a jazzy-free-style-rock. He has the potential to become a great artist, but his music now is so jumbled that it seems immature. A chiseled face and a unique-sounding voice were still good entertainment, even if he did pull out some crazy raver dance moves during the guitar solos. \nBy the end of Taylor's set the crowd was anxious for Williams. One of the great things about Williams is that she is such a real person. She didn't need flashy sets or elaborate costumes to make her set amazing. She and her band just happen to be extremely talented.\nWilliams played mostly tracks from her new album Beauty of the Rain, which are a little slower than most of her classics but reproduced just as well. Williams' performance of "The World's Not Falling Apart" became an instant favorite. It was uptempo but not too fast and made Williams work to keep hitting the high notes, which she seemed to do with ease. Her duet with Ben Taylor was beautiful as their voices mixed into a refined melody, but unfortunately, Taylor looked like he was trying hard not to break into his normal hip-hop stage personality.\nAlthough my first Williams experience was a solo acoustic show, the band at this show was a welcome addition. Each musician was exceptionally talented and the electric guitar work, keyboards and percussion gave the music layers and made for an enjoyable and different experience.\nAny Williams experience is a good experience, especially if she plays some of the greatest songs in her repitoire and tells crazy stories about her life. The audience was treated to some hilarious anecdotes between the songs. Not only did she sing "Are You Out There?" and "Spring Street," she peeled the audience from the chairs with a crazy two-song encore of "Iowa" and "As Cool As I Am." \nEven though the night might have been just another day in the life for Williams, she gave a performance that was just as good as any flashy rock band.
(04/23/03 8:24pm)
Punk rock heroes really do age gracefully. More than 25 years after their establishment as one of the leaders of the British Punk revolution, the Buzzcocks are still making music that lives up to their legend. We should be grateful these guys didn't put down their instruments for good when the band split up in 1981. Fortunately, over the past 10 years, bassist Tony Barber and drummer Philip Barker were able to keep the punk rock spirit alive with original members Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle. The latest eponymously titled release is a nice departure from the everyday pop-punk album. They incorporate an updated rock sound to their signature drum-smashing punk vibe of the past. The songwriting styles of Shelley and Diggle balance each other out; Shelley's songs have a slightly less melodic feel than Diggle's, but this serves to create a very well-rounded record. Though the songs never slow to more than a quick jog, Shelley's "Jerk" came from a drastically different place than Diggle's "Sick City Sometimes." But whether it is Shelley or Diggle doing the songwriting, be assured that from beginning to end, this album makes listeners want to jump around the room and nod their head.
(04/10/03 4:00am)
Anyone who ever doubted the strength of the Bloomington music scene obviously hasn't been listening hard enough. Although a few of the songs on the CD fall short of the standards set by the outstanding tracks on the disc, the great tunes certainly outweigh the less-than-pleasing songs. This is one CD that will leave you with that rare warm, fuzzy feeling you get only from listening to young talent destined to leave their mark on the industry.\nBut the album creates somewhat of an anomaly. The bands that make the CD worth listening to are those who rarely make regular appearances in local venues.\nAlthough Bloomington might not be the most nurturing environment for hip hop, Divine Definition is proof that you should never underestimate what this town has to offer. Divine Definition flexes its musical muscles with poetic rhymes and an original beat that sets it somewhere near the Mos Def/Talib Kweli section of the genre. It would not be surprising if the group develops a following in town after the release of this track.\nKonolu and Krista Detor should also be regular names to throw around when talking about Bloomington music. The lyrics in Konolu's "Dubya" are hilarious, and its unique mix of electric guitars and a Jew's harp makes you hungry for a live Konolu show. Krista Detor's strong grasp on a mellow folk-rock sound encapsulates the feeling of a warm summer night in Bloomington. \nI doubt this town full of cover-band-loving college kids would have a hard time warming up to these three niche bands. Their music is so good you don't need to understand their genres to appreciate the talent.\nThere were other great displays of rock music on the disc by bands that are slightly more exposed, particularly by Blue Moon Revue, Extra Blue Kind, Homonculos, Verge on Dirty, handbookforwilliam and Cardboard. Though all six of these bands represent drastically different genres of rock, their ability to capitalize on their strengths, keeps them from being categorized as purely college rock.\nThe incorporation of several bluegrass, jazz and fusion tracks proves the music scene in Bloomington extends far beyond frat-basement music. Code Blue's rich vocals and layered instrumentals takes you to bluegrass country with "Monon Train." Tundra's "Spoken" is one satisfying piece of jazz music that is so well balanced, no one instrument outshines the other. Flip Down South also did its fair share of shining with a smooth melody and solid drum beat in its blues-jazz-rock fusion track. But again, where are these guys, and why haven't we seen more of them in the clubs? \nThree regular bands on the bar circuit, Three Minute Mile, Laborius Clef and The Tribute did not live up to the standards set by the lesser exposed talent on the disc. Three Minute Mile's "Bad Time for Love" sounds like typical college band music that rarely gets further than the Bluebird. Laborious Clef's "Sandwich" has no meat to it. The group has its instruments down to a science, but it drops the ball on the vocals. The Tribute's "The First Night of the Rest of My Life," was equally disappointing. The band is comparable to The Anniversary with less vocal harmony and more screaming.\nSlipping further down the slope was The Decanter's "If Only You Were Free." The lead vocalist has some great pipes but I couldn't latch on to the wavering guitar sounds and whiny melody. The disc fizzles at the end with The Bumps "Dirt Leg (You Need A)." Their attempt at a Hives-like sound falls flat. That guitar-string-breaking-drum-smashing feeling simply does not come through on this song. That leaves five tracks on the disc that could have been replaced by some other stronger local talent. There are numerous bands in Bloomington that, like the real stand-outs on the disc, may be just below the radar of exposure, but are bastions of developing musical talent. If the goal of the CD is to expose a wide audience to everything Bloomington has to offer, Union Board should have made sure to take a very critical look at what bands may be eluding the mainstream.\nDespite its weaknesses, LFB 2003 is still a worthwhile addition to anyone's collection, even if you are simply purchasing it to help the Hoosier Hills Foodbank. Hopefully, it will motivate people in Bloomington to perk up their ears to the music that might not be playing right in front of them.
(04/09/03 5:38pm)
Anyone who ever doubted the strength of the Bloomington music scene obviously hasn't been listening hard enough. Although a few of the songs on the CD fall short of the standards set by the outstanding tracks on the disc, the great tunes certainly outweigh the less-than-pleasing songs. This is one CD that will leave you with that rare warm, fuzzy feeling you get only from listening to young talent destined to leave their mark on the industry.\nBut the album creates somewhat of an anomaly. The bands that make the CD worth listening to are those who rarely make regular appearances in local venues.\nAlthough Bloomington might not be the most nurturing environment for hip hop, Divine Definition is proof that you should never underestimate what this town has to offer. Divine Definition flexes its musical muscles with poetic rhymes and an original beat that sets it somewhere near the Mos Def/Talib Kweli section of the genre. It would not be surprising if the group develops a following in town after the release of this track.\nKonolu and Krista Detor should also be regular names to throw around when talking about Bloomington music. The lyrics in Konolu's "Dubya" are hilarious, and its unique mix of electric guitars and a Jew's harp makes you hungry for a live Konolu show. Krista Detor's strong grasp on a mellow folk-rock sound encapsulates the feeling of a warm summer night in Bloomington. \nI doubt this town full of cover-band-loving college kids would have a hard time warming up to these three niche bands. Their music is so good you don't need to understand their genres to appreciate the talent.\nThere were other great displays of rock music on the disc by bands that are slightly more exposed, particularly by Blue Moon Revue, Extra Blue Kind, Homonculos, Verge on Dirty, handbookforwilliam and Cardboard. Though all six of these bands represent drastically different genres of rock, their ability to capitalize on their strengths, keeps them from being categorized as purely college rock.\nThe incorporation of several bluegrass, jazz and fusion tracks proves the music scene in Bloomington extends far beyond frat-basement music. Code Blue's rich vocals and layered instrumentals takes you to bluegrass country with "Monon Train." Tundra's "Spoken" is one satisfying piece of jazz music that is so well balanced, no one instrument outshines the other. Flip Down South also did its fair share of shining with a smooth melody and solid drum beat in its blues-jazz-rock fusion track. But again, where are these guys, and why haven't we seen more of them in the clubs? \nThree regular bands on the bar circuit, Three Minute Mile, Laborius Clef and The Tribute did not live up to the standards set by the lesser exposed talent on the disc. Three Minute Mile's "Bad Time for Love" sounds like typical college band music that rarely gets further than the Bluebird. Laborious Clef's "Sandwich" has no meat to it. The group has its instruments down to a science, but it drops the ball on the vocals. The Tribute's "The First Night of the Rest of My Life," was equally disappointing. The band is comparable to The Anniversary with less vocal harmony and more screaming.\nSlipping further down the slope was The Decanter's "If Only You Were Free." The lead vocalist has some great pipes but I couldn't latch on to the wavering guitar sounds and whiny melody. The disc fizzles at the end with The Bumps "Dirt Leg (You Need A)." Their attempt at a Hives-like sound falls flat. That guitar-string-breaking-drum-smashing feeling simply does not come through on this song. That leaves five tracks on the disc that could have been replaced by some other stronger local talent. There are numerous bands in Bloomington that, like the real stand-outs on the disc, may be just below the radar of exposure, but are bastions of developing musical talent. If the goal of the CD is to expose a wide audience to everything Bloomington has to offer, Union Board should have made sure to take a very critical look at what bands may be eluding the mainstream.\nDespite its weaknesses, LFB 2003 is still a worthwhile addition to anyone's collection, even if you are simply purchasing it to help the Hoosier Hills Foodbank. Hopefully, it will motivate people in Bloomington to perk up their ears to the music that might not be playing right in front of them.
(02/20/03 5:00am)
I magine yourself sitting in a tiny apartment in the artsy part of Brooklyn, sun streaming in the window, cars passing by, splashing dirty water onto day-old snow. You are forced to contemplate getting a real job because you were just dissed by your label for not coming up with a "hit single." What kind of music would you write?\nYou would probably write something similar to Nada Surf's latest release, Let Go. This album is what happens when musicians are left to their own devices after a rumble with the music industry. This afterglow from their music industry battles helped Matthew Caws, Daniel Lorca and Ira Elliot create a perfect equilibrium on the album. Just when the rock is about to get hard, Nada Surf balances it out with a deliciously depressing tune. The lyrics are wonderfully abstract and the instrumentals are equally expressive. The distant guitar sounds in "Paper Boats" send the listener downstream into some higher musical plane. The months of anticipating the U.S. release of this album were well worth the wait. Nada Surf has proven that it can rock no matter the circumstances.
(02/19/03 4:55pm)
I magine yourself sitting in a tiny apartment in the artsy part of Brooklyn, sun streaming in the window, cars passing by, splashing dirty water onto day-old snow. You are forced to contemplate getting a real job because you were just dissed by your label for not coming up with a "hit single." What kind of music would you write?\nYou would probably write something similar to Nada Surf's latest release, Let Go. This album is what happens when musicians are left to their own devices after a rumble with the music industry. This afterglow from their music industry battles helped Matthew Caws, Daniel Lorca and Ira Elliot create a perfect equilibrium on the album. Just when the rock is about to get hard, Nada Surf balances it out with a deliciously depressing tune. The lyrics are wonderfully abstract and the instrumentals are equally expressive. The distant guitar sounds in "Paper Boats" send the listener downstream into some higher musical plane. The months of anticipating the U.S. release of this album were well worth the wait. Nada Surf has proven that it can rock no matter the circumstances.
(01/31/03 3:56pm)
The evening started off with a simple question.\n"Does America owe African-Americans reparations for the slavery of their ancestors?" Delta Sigma Theta chapter member Cheneel McNutt asked.\nBy the end of the night, there was no simple answer.\nAs a part of their week of "Jabberwock" events sponsored by the sorority, Delta Sigma Theta held a program Wednesday night entitled "Reparations for African-Americans: Governmental Obligation or Unjustifiable Compensation?" \nAlong with brief lectures encompassing different viewpoints about reparations, people expressed their feelings about the subject in song and poetry.\n"I think it comes across people's minds," McNutt said. "I think people don't discuss it and they wait until catastrophe happens to talk about it."\nMcNutt was inspired to plan a program on reparations after watching the reparations rally in Washington D.C. on Marcus Garvey's birthday this past summer, she said.\nThe three speakers McNutt petitioned to speak at the event represented viewpoints from across the reparations spectrum. Although they all agreed that something should be done to correct the racial wrongs in American society, there was no clear consensus among the three.\nLong-time civil rights activist and chairman of the National Black United Front Dr. Conrad Worril presented a strong case for reparations in its most traditional sense. \nWorril said the reparations movement has deep roots in the "40 acres and a mule" proposition that was a part of post-civil war reconstruction. The nature of how African-Americans were brought to the country also adds fuel to the reparations fire.\n"Other people had a choice (to come to America)," he said. "African people had no choice. They were captured."\nWorril is an advocate of a plan that would provide reparations internally and externally for the African-American community. He said that in addition to the work that must be done to repair the damaged innerworkings of the African- \nAmerican community, the government and corporations that benefitted from slavery should take responsibility for their actions as well. \n"The reparations movement is not going away," he said.\nIU professor Lawrence Hanks also said he believes in the push for reparations but would like to see them materialize in the form of an education program. Hanks talked about a system that would allow African-Americans to receive free education for 40 years. Hanks referred to Randall Robinson's concept of "institution building" as a way to equalize the races in society.\n"Everyone would have a chance at equal education," he said. "African-Americans would get two generations of free education … which answers the question of how much and how long." \nHanks said he is troubled that African-Americans cannot even get an apology for slavery.\n"Forget about the money," he said. "What about an apology?"\nIU law professor Kevin Brown said he would also like to see something positive come out of such a negative experience, but he said he believes asking for any sort of monetary compensation is somewhat of a pipe dream.\nThere are two fundamental problems in asking for a large sum of money, Brown said. First, the politics behind procuring such funds would be difficult. Brown said there is no historical precedent to indicate that Congress would be prepared to approve such legislation. Even if Congress did accept some sort of financial compensation, Brown said the next obstacle would be getting the legislation through the courts.\n"I can't imagine a scenario where reparations are going to be paid to African-Americans," he said.\nBrown said the key to unlocking the problem of reparations is to look at the issue from a psychological standpoint. He said that talking about unattainable funds will only "increase the sense of injustice."\nThe way to start the healing process is to talk about the strengths and accomplishments of African-Americans, Brown concluded.\nFreshman Alexis Carter, freshman Sean Warsaw and sophomore Ueline Newmon expressed both frustration and hope through song and poetry.\n"We need, we want, we deserve reparations. The truth is there will only be a 'Uh, I am sorry,' but we haven't received that yet. I guess it happened a long time ago to them, so it's easy to forget," Newmon read in his poem.\nEven though the crowd was smaller than she hoped for, McNutt said she was pleased with the evening. \n"I wish the crowd had been more diverse," she said. "I wish more people would have come out to see how they felt."\nMcNutt said it is important to talk about these issues before they escalate into a more difficult situation, as evidenced by the fallout that occurred after the Horowitz advertisement ran in the Indiana Daily Student two years ago.\nSophomore Mark Osborne had not planned on attending the event until he noticed the reception set up in the IMUG, he said.\n"I liked it a lot," he said. "When you think of reparations normally you think of big bags of money. But that is not really what the issue is. I think if more people were educated about it there would be better discussions."\nSenior Delali Dagadu said she got a better idea about the lasting effects of slavery.\n"The impact that slavery had on people in this country is a sore that will never be healed," she said.
(01/27/03 5:00am)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Treasurer Vanita Powell is looking forward to a busy week. As students settle into their third week of classes, Powell and the rest of her sorority sisters will be working around the clock to make "Jabberwock 2003: Operation Code Red" a success. \nJabberwock, an international event for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. was created in 1925 by Iota chapter member Marion Hope to give Deltas the opportunity to program events that incorporate arts programming and fund-raising efforts. Although the word comes from Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland, the Delta founders adopted it to mean a celebration of culture and the arts. \nThis week, the IU Deltas are planning events to live up to the legacy of this well-established institution and that incorporate their five principles of economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health and political awareness and involvement.\n"Our founders believed that the arts was a way for African-American women to express ourselves," said DST Financial Secretary and parliamentarian Monique Guyinn. "This week seems like it is going to be very successful."\nThe floor of the Whittenberger Auditorium shook last night as the Deltas and their guests sang gospel songs as a part of the first Jabberwock event, Gospel Explosion. The audience barely sat down during the program, which included vocal performances from singers both inside and outside the chapter. A trio of young female vocalists called Three By Faith came from Indianapolis for the event and had everyone clapping by the end of their version of "Amazing Grace." Guyinn, one of the organizers of the event, gave a powerful sermon after listening to a performance of "Blessed Assurance."\nFreshman Jordan Huffer and Sophomore Jim Walsh were blown away by the performances. Huffer said she found out about the event from one of her friends who is a Delta.\n"It was so peaceful," Huffer said. She also said that she plans on checking out the other events of the week if they are going to be anything like the Gospel Explosion.\nIf the amount of planning is any indication of the potential quality of the events, Huffer will not be disappointed. Powell said they have been planning this year's Jabberwock since the end of their Jabberwock week last year.\nTonight the Deltas and other participants will be learning how to "get down" to different beats at the World Dance Explosion. Several groups including the Indian Students Association, a hip hop group called Essence and a break dancing group will all be there to give lessons. The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Willkie Auditorium.\nTuesday night will shift focus to two other artistic arenas -- the screen and the stage. The "Thespian Infiltration" program will explore the obstacles many black men and women face as they enter the acting world.\n"Minorities typically have struggles getting involved in the arts," Powell said. "This can really open the campus up to different things."\nPowell, one of the organizers of the "Thespian Infiltration" said they plan on showing a documentary about minority filmmakers and will drum up a little audience participation by engaging in some acting exercises. This program will take place in the Grand Hall and starts at 7 p.m.\nWednesday evening's program will take a more serious tone as the Deltas are joined by the African Students Association to discuss reparations. The event entitled "Economic Warfare" will feature speakers including Dr. Conrad Worril, Chairman of The National Black United Front and IU Law Professor Kevin Brown. Powell said the program will also include some artistic reflection about reparations in the form of poetry and song. This event starts at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall.\nThe fundraising event of the week will take place at 7 p.m. at the IMU Back Alley Lanes as the Deltas and others bowl a few games to raise money for Bi-Polar Disorder and Manic Depression research and treatment. \n"We usually try to select (a cause) that hits home," Powell said. "One of our sorors has family members who are affected by it."\nAs one of the committee members in charge, Delta First Vice President Samia Hall is looking forward to Friday's Delta Academy Awards. Officially titled "A Salute to Excellence," this program will recognize outstanding students on campus that were nominated and selected by other students. Hall said they will tally almost 100 votes. The location and time of this program is yet to be announced.\nThe week will culminate with their Neophyte of R.E.V.E.L.A.T.I.O.N 22, their youngest pledge class. This ceremony marks the one-year anniversary of their induction into the chapter, and will culminate in a step show that they have been practicing for since August. The women in R.E.V.E.L.A.T.I.O.N 22 will present gifts to several important people, including their parents and pledge parents. They will also receive gifts at the end of the show.\nPowell said this ceremony is a way to show the community that "after one year of being in a sorority, this is how we have grown." She said she expects Alumni Hall to be filled to capacity for the ceremony. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show will commence at 10:22 p.m.\n"The programs are not just for minorities," Powell said. "They are meant to educate the entire campus"
(09/19/02 4:00am)
There is something about a shave and a haircut that can completely change the attitude of any given individual. This might be one of the reasons barbershops throughout the country are more than just places of business. They are more like clubhouses, centers of the community where men can go to get in a little bonding time. \nTim Story's "Barbershop" tells the story of Calvin (Ice Cube), who is trying to live out his dream of economic prosperity amidst his responsibilities to the family barbershop that bears his name. "Calvin's Barbershop" is more than a place of employment to the host of characters who work there, including Cedric the Entertainer, Eve, Sean Patrick Thomas and several others. Throughout the movie, Calvin tries to save the shop from economic despair.\nMeanwhile, the audience is privy to an ATM robbery (yes, two guys actually steal an ATM) that takes place in the convenience store right across the street from the shop. The relevance of this robbery does not come through until the end of the film, but it is worth the wait.\n"Barbershop," while not a groundbreaking film, does what movies are supposed to do. This film has everything -- humor, love, anger and conflict all rolled into one. The atmosphere of the shop reminds me of "My-T-Sharp" from "Coming to America" -- anyone can say anything, with or without consequences. I am also completely convinced of the authenticity of the characters, although they might have been somewhat exaggerated versions of their real-life counterparts.\nIce Cube did a fantastic job with his role. He had no problem convincing me that he was the third in a line of barbers who loved their job and that shop. I wonder if he thought back to a childhood barbershop of his own in order to get motivation for the role.\nEve's performance was also a great surprise. I always tend to be overly critical of musicians who crossover to movies, because despite popular belief, being able to make a music video is nothing like acting. But Eve did a fantastic job in her role. She fit right into that barbershop and had no problem being the only girl amongst a shop full of men with perfectly-trimmed egos.\nThe real star of film however, was Cedric. I don't have enough good words for him. He was a great patriarch and source of comic relief when situations got tough. He was the voice of wisdom that constantly reminded everyone that the barbershop was less about razors and clippers and more about the people who sat in the chairs.\nEveryone needs a quasi-cheesy feel-good movie every once in a while, and if you are craving that, "Barbershop" is the way to go. Definitely go see it in the theater, it is a film better watched with a rowdy crowd of moviegoers.
(09/19/02 12:58am)
There is something about a shave and a haircut that can completely change the attitude of any given individual. This might be one of the reasons barbershops throughout the country are more than just places of business. They are more like clubhouses, centers of the community where men can go to get in a little bonding time. \nTim Story's "Barbershop" tells the story of Calvin (Ice Cube), who is trying to live out his dream of economic prosperity amidst his responsibilities to the family barbershop that bears his name. "Calvin's Barbershop" is more than a place of employment to the host of characters who work there, including Cedric the Entertainer, Eve, Sean Patrick Thomas and several others. Throughout the movie, Calvin tries to save the shop from economic despair.\nMeanwhile, the audience is privy to an ATM robbery (yes, two guys actually steal an ATM) that takes place in the convenience store right across the street from the shop. The relevance of this robbery does not come through until the end of the film, but it is worth the wait.\n"Barbershop," while not a groundbreaking film, does what movies are supposed to do. This film has everything -- humor, love, anger and conflict all rolled into one. The atmosphere of the shop reminds me of "My-T-Sharp" from "Coming to America" -- anyone can say anything, with or without consequences. I am also completely convinced of the authenticity of the characters, although they might have been somewhat exaggerated versions of their real-life counterparts.\nIce Cube did a fantastic job with his role. He had no problem convincing me that he was the third in a line of barbers who loved their job and that shop. I wonder if he thought back to a childhood barbershop of his own in order to get motivation for the role.\nEve's performance was also a great surprise. I always tend to be overly critical of musicians who crossover to movies, because despite popular belief, being able to make a music video is nothing like acting. But Eve did a fantastic job in her role. She fit right into that barbershop and had no problem being the only girl amongst a shop full of men with perfectly-trimmed egos.\nThe real star of film however, was Cedric. I don't have enough good words for him. He was a great patriarch and source of comic relief when situations got tough. He was the voice of wisdom that constantly reminded everyone that the barbershop was less about razors and clippers and more about the people who sat in the chairs.\nEveryone needs a quasi-cheesy feel-good movie every once in a while, and if you are craving that, "Barbershop" is the way to go. Definitely go see it in the theater, it is a film better watched with a rowdy crowd of moviegoers.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
If you have been searching for that sound that hasn't quite hit mainstream America, all you need is a little G. Love. And a little Special Sauce.\nG. Love & Special Sauce has created a following of its own during the past seven years, and it continues to produce a unique sound. The band released its fifth album, The Electric Mile, Tuesday and has been touring around the country for weeks to promote the record. \nFor G. Love, this is a far leap from playing on the streets of Boston.\nG. Love, born Garrett Dutton, started playing guitar after his mother sent him to guitar lessons when he was 8. Years later, after only one year of college, G. Love decided to go to Boston to pursue his interest in music.\n"The reason I wanted to go to Boston was because, you know I was 19, and I just wanted to go off on my own and figure out who I was and see if I could make it playing music," G. Love says in an interview with Andy Garrigue for www.plan9music.com.\nG. Love soon found the people that would become Special Sauce. While he was playing shows in Boston, he teamed up with drummer Jeffrey "The Houseman" Clemens and later bassist Jim "Jimi Jazz" Prescott. \nWhen you listen to the deep soft sound of his voice, it is hard to put this musician in the typical mile-a-minute rock star lifestyle. Despite his calm demeanor, G. Love confesses that he is good when it comes to getting all of the work done on the album.\n"We all have a really good work ethic and can really plug away at things," G. Love says in a phone interview.\nLife on the road this time around has not been too bad either for the band. It has already done 18 shows and has three more scheduled after its Friday appearance at Notre Dame in South Bend.\nA few things make the good show into a great show. G. Love says it is a matter of everything working together, from the audience right down to his own heads.\n"If you get to the right energy level, the show can just glide," G. Love says.\nBut if you can't make it to the next show, the new album does a good bit of gliding itself.\nG. Love & Special Sauce's new 13-song release is a combination of all of the band's favorite musical forms, according to a press release. Hip-hop, blues, jazz, reggae, folk and a touch of country all come together in perfect harmony. \n"Any time we get to put out a record, it is like a victory. When you get a record deal, it is a blessing," G. Love says. "You are getting paid to pursue your art -- to get to take the thing you love and just focus on that."\nMany guest artists are featured on the album, including percussionist Billy Conway from Morphine and Jasper, who was featured on the band's self-titled debut album.\nG. Love's favorite tracks on the CD include "Night of the Living Dead," "Parasite" and "Sarah's Song."\nG. Love says he wrote "Sarah's Song" in high school and has never gotten around to putting it on an album. The 'Sarah' was a girl he had a relationship with in high school.\n"The relationship was not too profound," he says. "I am just really happy it made it onto the record."\nThe name of the album, The Electric Mile, has little story behind it, G. Love confesses. \n"One night, Jim ("Jimi Jazz") just pulled the title out of his head," G. Love says.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
When I was a little girl, all I wanted to do was change the world. In my earliest pieces of creative writing, I imagined working in a research lab in a rainforest where I found the cure for every imaginable disease. My best friend provided the funds for the research through her powers as president of the United States.\nIn middle school, all I wanted to learn about were the civil rights protests and Vietnam. I envied those people in the black and white photographs who burned their draft cards and marched screaming with their fists in the air. I could not understand how so many ills could exist in the world when there was so much opportunity for change. If people banded together once before, certainly they could do it today.\nI wanted to see people on the streets, standing up for what they believed in. Nothing is more noble than sacrificing yourself for the greater good, and I thought it strange that people were constantly complaining about things and never doing anything about the problems.\nUnfortunately, I started to understand why no one was protesting our current social ills when I got to high school. Apathy was cool. If it doesn't directly affect you, it must not make a difference. Only the dorks were passionate and outspoken about their beliefs. The cool people kept their opinions in check, so as not to let their friends know they have more worldly interests than the opposite sex or the next big social event. Without realizing it, the screaming protester inside of me was quieted by my surroundings.\nWhen I came to IU, I was ready to break free from the constraints of high school conformity and finally find a way to speak up. During the next four years, I would be a part of a campus that had a long tradition of activism.\nThis fall, I was amazed when students showed up by the thousands to protest the firing of an athletic icon. Bob Knight was a part of the IU experience, and we were not going to let his firing go quietly into the night. The administration was not acting in a manner the students found appropriate, so we spoke out against "The Man." \nFinally, people who are willing to stand up for what they believe in, I thought. People who recognize that change can only happen when they make their voices heard.\nBut when it came to environmentalism, rape or even gay rights, apathy, conformity and general laziness again reared their ugly heads. \nTracy "Dolphin" McNeely and Mary Demkovich, two current tree sitters, should be receiving more support for their efforts. They are giving up their lives, their very right to walk on solid ground, for something in which they believe. Some people have gone to visit McNeely, and people have brought her necessary food, water and blankets. \nAnd then there are those who think McNeely should get out of the tree. They think she is wasting her time, because they will cut down the forest anyway. Why would she want to spend her time doing something if she knows she will lose?\nBut the truth is a protest against something is not always about winning or losing. It is about raising awareness. I am sure that when Mahatma Gandhi decided to start his movement of non-violent protest in South Africa, success was an impossibility. The British and the Afrikaaners had oppressed Indians in Africa for so long, how could one person have the audacity to think he could change that? The white man had always been triumphant in South Africa; why would Gandhi want to waste his time trying to protest that?\nGandhi set off a spark that set loose a fire that spread throughout India and South Africa. The people in power began to realize that they could no longer turn a deaf ear to the cause, and change followed. The road was not easy, it was not logical and it was not expected. But that is why it worked.\nSo maybe I can change the world. But I can't do it alone, and neither can anyone else. Gandhi's movement was successful because people shed their shells of apathy and fear. Like those people who refused to talk for an entire eight hours in support of gay rights, they decided that a cause was greater than themselves. \nWhen you put down the efforts of one person trying to make a statement, you limit yourself and others around you. You are putting limits on the change that could come about if you simply showed support. You are putting limits on the world that our children will grow up in. Don't settle for what we have now. The next time someone is brave enough to stand up for what he or she believes in, try lifting that person up instead of shooting him or her down.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
When I was 12 years old, my concerns were pretty simple. What to wear to school the next day, how to get that new boy I was crushing on to like me, remembering to stretch every day before ballet class, and, oh yeah, doing well on my next science test. I went to a small private school, and drugs, alcohol and sex were only things I saw on TV. I don't think I even knew what marijuana smelled like at that point. I had never had a drop of alcohol except for the weekly sip of wine from my parents on Friday nights. As for kissing boys, well, I kept my lips pretty well sealed. My weekends were consumed with going to the movies and having sleepovers.\nToday, this is not the case for many 12 year olds. This year I had the privilege of working with some amazing kids at a summer camp. It was not a summer camp for drug abusers or victims of sexual abuse. It was a plain old regular fresh air camp with lots of kids from warm, loving homes. What was interesting about them is how many had already had experience with drugs, alcohol and sexual activity.\nI was shocked to discover that some had already smoked marijuana several times. Part of my surprise came from the fact that I saw these kids as innocent. I know some of their parents, and I know the schools they go to. I just assumed that they do the same stuff I used to do on the weekends. \nBut I guess it's not like that anymore. According to The Department of Health and Human Services, 8 percent of students in 7th and 8th grade reported using marijuana and 4 percent reported using other illicit drugs. These are 12 and 13 year old kids. They are not even old enough to get a good minimum wage job, and yet they somehow find the resources to buy drugs. Four percent of 7th to 8th grade students report regular alcohol use. One in 16 kids.\nA few girls also found out that one of their mutual friends had started cutting herself and almost committed suicide. Again, this is a 13 year old girl using razor blades to release her pain. I have trouble trying to sort this out, and I am almost 20. Imagine the reaction from a 12 year old. The study from the Department of Health and Human Services also found that 11 percent of 7th to 8th graders have had suicidal thoughts, and 4 percent have attempted to kill themselves.\nThis is stuff they should not have to deal with. Yes, the world is oftentimes an ugly place filled with pain, but they have their whole lives to figure that out. There is a reason why sex offenses against children carry harder punishments. Innocence. It is one thing you have and can never restore. \nBut lets face it, these kids do have a much harder world to grow up in than we did. Maybe by encountering the hard experiences early on, they will be more prepared to deal with them when they grow up.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Workmen were on their hands and knees Wednesday afternoon, smoothing cement on the last few blue-green tiles to secure them to the floor of the new Theatre/Neal-Marshall Education Center.\nThe smell of finished wood and fresh paint filled every corridor of the building, from the glass-lined staircases to the top row of the theater. \nFriday, the quiet hallways and silent atriums will be filled with people for the center's official inauguration.\nThe formal dedication ceremony begins at 2 p.m. at the center's Ruth N. Halls Theatre. Accomplished actors, authors and activists Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee will be the keynote speakers.\n"I couldn't be happier to have somebody that represents the best in American theater here to help us \ninaugurate this new building," said Leon Brauner, chairperson of the Department of Theatre and Drama.\nDirector of University Ceremonies Robin Gress said plans for the event began 18 months ago. A steering committee made up of members of the Department of Theatre and Drama and the black culture center participated in choosing Davis and Dee as the speakers.\n"They are people of theater and great social activists," Gress said. "They bring so many elements in just two people."\nDavis and Dee will also give a master class at Willkie Quadrangle from 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and an informal lecture in the Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Friday.\nThe ceremony will be "a traditional IU ceremony," Gress said.\nParticipants including Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm and IU President Myles Brand will be robed, and music will be provided by the African American Choral Ensemble. Brauner and Charlie Nelms, vice president for student development and diversity and students in both the Afro-American studies and theatre departments, will speak. \n"A University ceremony is not something students think about often," Gress said. "It will really be an interesting thing to see."\nTwo honorary degrees, the highest awards one may receive from the University, will also be presented at the ceremony to R. Keith Michael, professor Emeritus of theatre and drama, and Herman C. Hudson, Martha C. Kraft professor Emeritus of Afro-American studies.\nBrehm is looking forward to the opening of the center. She said the opportunities the new facilities provide will be beneficial for everyone.\n"It is absolutely consistent with, and a tremendous contribution to, the goal of increasing diversity on this campus," she said. "Having this center will make an enormous impact on that goal…but that does not mean we can be complacent…it is something that we have to keep focused on and keep working on."\nBrehm said her favorite part of the new facility is the dance studio, which is outfitted with light-colored hardwood floors, large mirrored walls and skylights.\nIris Rosa, director of the African American Dance Company, said the new studio is a far cry from the basement facilities the company first used when it was formed in 1974.\n"We are very excited about the space," she said. "We hope that people do notice what we do here and come support our programs."\nBrauner said opening a theater is a unique event for any community.\n"Theaters are not built often," he said. "You have a once in a lifetime opportunity to come celebrate with us an occasion that is going to add richness to our community"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
When Oyibo Afoaku arrived in the U.S. from Nigeria and began her studies at Washington State University, she immediately saw that something was missing from her history classes. She saw that there were gaps in the information and despite the fact that America was a very diverse place, people were not taking time to embrace diversity.\n"The United States is a very international country," she said. \nOne of the ways we could bridge the gap is to bring people together to celebrate their culture."\nThis belief quickly became her philosophy and the tenet around which she builds both her life and career.\nAfoaku, the recently-appointed head of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, was born in Nigeria and grew up with many brothers and sisters. Although by American standards she has only four brothers that were born of her mother and father, she explained that in Nigeria, cousins are also considered to be siblings. \nShe was in elementary school when civil war broke out in Nigeria during the late '60s, but she looks back at the experience positively. She remembers being taught to be prepared for an enemy infiltration.\n"I learned a lot from it," she said. "I can relate to people (who have been in similar situations)…we had to learn how to survive."\nShe left Nigeria in 1986 to join her husband at Washington State University; he had moved there just a year earlier. They started their family just two years later and now have four children 5-13-years- old. \nWhen Afoaku was appointed as assistant director of the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center at the University of Northern Colorado in 1996, she knew she had her work cut out for her. According to the 2000 census, the black population of Weld County Colorado, home to UNC, was a mere 0.3 percent.\nAnn Heiman, currently a member of the Greenley school board and human relations committee for the city, remembers how Afoaku's appointment opened the door for diversity programming between the university and the community. \n"The first thing that struck me about her was that she was very warm and welcoming," Heiman said. "She had so many ideas about the diversity issues."\nWith the help and vision of Afoaku, the University and the city benefited from the creation of the now-annual World Festival that features food vendors, music and dance groups and many others who share their culture.\n"I wanted to bring people together," Afoaku said. "I am a good bridge builder."\nHeiman said the festival has grown since its first public appearance three years ago, adding that the community has benefited greatly from Afoaku's accomplishments. \n"We are sorry that we lost her," she said. "She has a warmth, knowledge and the ability to work with people to expand the understanding of (different) cultures."\nAfoaku's husband, Osito, remembers being attracted to her warmth when he first met her. On a professional level, he said the secret to her success is her hardworking attitude and creativity.\n"She is not an 8-to-5 person," Heiman said. "If she is dedicated to something, she never looks at the clock."\nAfoaku will reach out to as many people as necessary to accomplish her goals, Heiman said. \nIU professor of Afro-American studies, A.B. Assensoh, said Afoaku's own cultural experience is an important part of what makes her the right woman for the job. \n"As an American of continental African descent, Oyibo has a lot to bring to all of us in cultural awareness and as a towering intellectual bridge between Africa and America," he said.\nAfoaku is eager to begin her work as director of the new center and said she is already enjoying Bloomington and IU. \n"People here are very enlightened and open-minded," she said.\nAfoaku's first goal at IU is to plan a celebration in June that will include a unity parade. \nAlthough she had to leave her husband and her two eldest children behind, she is hoping that her husband will be able to secure a teaching position at IU soon so the family can reunite.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
After a year of persistent pursuit, Director of the Black Film Center Archive Audrey McCluskey finally got her man. The esteemed actor, director and writer Melvin Van Peebles agreed to be the first official Artist-in-Residence for the center.\nIn addition to participating in a student workshop, Van Peebles will give a presentation called "Kickin' Science: An Evening with Melvin Van Peebles," 8 p.m. Friday night in Jordan Hall A100. Van Peebles said the title is simply a "slang term" for "talking about life."\n"Mr. Van Peebles has had experience in various aspects of the arts…he is really kind of a multimedia master," said Tyrone Simpson, coordinator of special projects for the film center. "His success is particularly unique because he was able to break into the industry at a time when it was extremely difficult for African Americans to get a foothold."\nIn 1967, when riots were breaking out in Detroit and Cleveland elected their first black mayor, Van Peebles' first feature film, "Story of a Three Day Pass," came out.\nMcCluskey, a fan of all Van Peebles's work, said this movie stands out from the rest.\n"Because it was done back in the late 60s, it was so innovative," she said. "It cast African Americans in a different light than what we had been used to seeing."\nVan Peebles said he hopes to give students an accurate picture of the industry and the necessary skills for making a successful career. He will also help students deal with every screen writer's most difficult task.\n"I am trying to explain how to deal with your muse…and when faced with a blank page how to overcome the blank page and how to get it done," he said.\nVan Peebles is perhaps most well-known for his film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song," (1971) which is one of the top grossing independent films of all time. "Sweetback" tells the story of a pimp who leaves town after killing two police officers that beat up another black man.\nDespite its controversial X rating, people still came out in droves to see the film. According to www.hollywood.com, this film established Van Peebles as a "folk hero."\n"That (film) changed everything, not just for the black filmmakers," he said. "Sweetback is the father of Shaft and also is the father of the Blair Witch Project."\nA lot has changed in the film industry since "Sweetback" graced screens all over America. Black filmmakers, actors, writers and producers face less opposition than Van Peebles had to deal with during the 60s.\nAnd, according to Van Peebles, there has been a change in audience attitude as well. Although Van Peebles once said the American public needed to watch black films with a "little bit of humility," he now said he thinks they have progressed.\n"Now there is such an awareness of difference of culture," he said. "People now have more of a tendency to understand or to accept the diversity of America"
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
So, it's that time of year again. That time when everything changes to pink and red. Little paper hearts and cutout cupids stick to store windows and the silver wrappers on Hershey's Kisses become a red shiny color. Flower shops are overrun with orders and candy stores stock up on those little pastel hearts, each engraved with their own hot pink message, urging the receiver to "be mine" or telling them that they are "hot stuff." A time of year to show your significant other that you love them.\nBut what about those people who don't have someone to purchase that unnaturally large teddy bear for? What do you do if you are single on the Valentine's Day, the holiday of love?\nA lot.\nIt is very easy to fall into a bout of depression when love is in the air and you are still flying solo, but not to worry. There is no reason why Valentine's Day can't be a happy day for all people, regardless of relationship status.\n"I don't think Valentine's Day has to be avoided by single people," sophomore Julie Gurovitsch says. "It is a day for love. You love your family and you love your friends. It doesn't necessarily have to be a girlfriend or a boyfriend."\nIn the past, Gurovitsch has spent the day celebrating rather than sulking. Last year she went out to dinner with her roommate, and after delivering valentines for her sorority's fundraiser, she will do the same this year.\nManager of the South Point Psychology group and licensed health counselor Julie Matthews says that spending time with friends is the best medicine for a bleeding heart.\n"We encourage people not to isolate themselves… and engage in things they like doing," she says. "(If they are alone) people tend to feel worse because they think more about it."\nDestructive behaviors including drug and alcohol abuse, crying, sleeping and channel surfing are indicators that you might need help, says Dr. Ron Zodkevitch on his Web site. Zodkevitch hosts a radio show about many of life's difficulites and offers similar information on his site. The page devoted to Valentine's Day explains the history behind the day, offers advice on what to give for valentines and tips for the single person.\nIf you find that you could use some help on Valentine's Day, Matthews says her clinic accepts walk-in patients or you can try the emergency section at the Center for Behavioral Health at 645 S. Rogers St.\nBut if you want to skip the doctor's office there are a few other options you can look into.\nIF YOU WANNA GO OUT WITH YOUR PALS…\nAlthough Matthews and Zodkevitch suggest staying away from drugs or excessive alcohol use during bouts of Valentine's depression, local bars will be catering to both couples and single people on Feb. 14.\nYou and your friends can escape the holiday at the Bluebird Nightclub and sip on 75-cent Long Island Iced Teas while listening to the musical stylings of Dave and Rae.\n"I think people will come out in groups even without dates," says Bluebird General Manager Dave Kubiak. "We encourage them to come."\nIf Kilroy's Sports Bar is more your style, you can find will have a wide range of drink specials on V-Day. When Miles from Home takes the stage, you and your crew can down shots of Absolut for $2.25, $4.50 pitchers of Jim Beam, and 32-oz. Miller Lights for $2.75.\n"Everybody else will be here," says Officer Manager Janet Parker. "Maybe they won't have to go home alone."\nLocal band Laborious Clef member Darren Lipper suggests doing something a little out of the ordinary on Valentine's Day, such as renting a "crazy" movie or going to see a band you wouldn't normally think about seeing. And even though Lipper's band doesn't have a gig lined up yet for Valentine's Day, he is hoping they might be able to perform that night.\n"(When you are) performing you can touch so many more people…and make them feel good," he says. "It's a good contribution to the whole holiday thing."\nFor those of you who cannot get into the 21-and-over bars, Rhino's All Age Music Club is having a Valentine's Day party of its own. Rhino's Valentine's Day show will feature Ultimate Fakebook and the Red Hot Valentines. Cover is $5 and the show starts at 8 p.m.\nBut if you don't want to go out to the bars, you and your friends might want to wander down to the Kinsey Institute's Sex and Humor exhibit at the School of Fine Arts gallery.\nMore than 200 items from the Kinsey Institute for Sex, Gender and Reproduction collection of art, artifacts, books and photographs will be on display. The gallery will feature all sorts of things that might make you think twice about the sex act. Decorated condoms, postcards, greeting cards and many other novelty items all have a place in the show.\n"Sex and humor has been linked together for many many years," says curator of the exhibit Catherine Johnson. "There is something a little absurd about sex… a lot of artists found humor in it."\nPieces in the exhibit come from a wide range of time periods and cultures. One replica of a Roman figurine protrudes from a piece that is more than 2000 years old and other pieces come from the 18th century. Items from Mexico, Thailand, the United States and several European countries all have a place in the exhibit.\nThis special event is a good place for the love-lorn on Valentine's Day, Johnson says.\n"Hopefully they will find it humorous if they are sad about being alone," she says.\n"They can go see this show and laugh a bit about sexuality."\nFreshman Alex Chrisman says one of her friends threw a "Single Girls Party" party for her and her other girlfriends several years ago. They dined on fettuccine and just "had fun being single girls."\n"We didn't talk about not having boyfriends," she says.\nYou can even give your friends a little smile before you go out for a night on the town with a little help from Sigma Delta Tau sorority. For $2, you can send your amigos in the dorms, fraternities and sororities a pink Valentine's card with a chocolate. All the money goes to Prevent Child Abuse America and each valentine is hand-delivered.\n"It's a really nice simple way to show somebody you care and that you are thinking about them," Gurovitsch says. "And it goes to a good cause."\nIF YOU WANT SOME TIME TO YOURSELF…\nValentine's Day is also a good time to rediscover how much fun being by yourself can be, Zodkevitch says on his site.\n"Instead of feeling unloved and rejected, agree to enjoy your own company," he says.\nThere are many places that will pamper you to your heart's delight for a small fee and are only a short walk away.\nAt the campus Health Center, you can schedule a massage and put it on your Bursar bill. You can either schedule a 45-minute, full body massage, or a 15-minute back and neck massage. Either way, you will come out more relaxed, says Director of Health and Wellness Education Anne Reese.\n"A massage is a great gift to give yourself," she says. "It can reduce stress… and increase feelings of well being."\nReese says the process for a 15-minute massage is simple and enjoyable. When you arrive at the center, you fill out a short form and the massage therapist brings you into the room. After discussing your problem areas with the therapist, you lie down on the special cushy massage chair so the therapist can go to work. All of the masseuses are licensed massage therapists and there are still several 15-minute appointment slots open for Feb. 14.\nIf you can't make it to the Health Center, don't worry, you still have lots of options. At the Mira Salon, 213 S. Rogers, you can get a facial, manicure, pedicure or even a seaweed-peppermint body wrap.\n"I think it is a good day to get some pampering done," says receptionist Kelley Bateman. "I say it is OK to be single… go out and do something for yourself."\nAnd just because it is a salon doesn't mean guys can't enjoy it as well. Bateman says many men get manicures, pedicures and even partake in the occasional facial.\nFacials can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and cost $35 to $80 dollars.\nIf you are into a little alternative healing, you could try an aromatherapy massage at Carmen Delgado's Oasis Spa, 221 E. Kirkwood Ave. Different combinations of scented oils can trigger the release of different hormones, Delgado says. There is a scent for almost every occasion. If you need a pick-me-up, you can try sage or grapefruit. If you need to get rid of some anxiety, try a little lavender or orange blossom.\n"It's good for the psyche," Delgado says. "I am in the business of making people feel good about themselves." \nAfter you have relaxed at the spa, all you have to do to get a romantic dinner for one is pick up the phone. Delivery places in Bloomington are abundant and open almost every hour of the night. Try a sandwich from the Village Deli or Brave New Deli and finish it off with a Cyclone from Jiffy Treat. Whether it's ice cream or falafel, it can all be brought right to your door.\nDON'T SWEAT IT…\nSome people think Valentine's Day is a holiday that has become commercial and corporate.\nReese shares a similar point of view.\n"All these types of holidays are blown out of proportion," she says. "Sometimes they are just mere occasions to give and receive presents."\nBut whether you think Valentine's Day is an evil ploy by the executives at the greeting card companies or a beautiful time to celebrate the love between two people, this year you can have the confidence to celebrate the day no matter who you are with.\n"Being happy alone is one of the best qualities a person can have," Reese says.\n\nTOP 10 MOVIES for the single gal/single guy on Valentine's Day...
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
John Q - PG-13\nStarring: Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, Kimberly Elise\nDirected by: Nick Cassavetes\nShowing: Showplace West 12\nOne of the few comforts you have when you leave the theater after an extremely emotional film is the fact that the actions that took place on screen don't happen in real life. But you cannot walk away from Nick Cassavete's film "John Q" with the same kind of reassurance.\nThis film tells the story of a working class family, struggling to make ends meet, that is suddenly burdened with the costs of keeping their son alive. John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) and his wife Denise (Kimberley Elise) are presented with two choices: either find the money to cover their son Michael's (Daniel E. Smith) heart transplant, or watch as his blood pressure falls to zero. Their insurance company won't cover the costs and the hospital refuses to take on the liability of fronting the $250,000 for a family with next to no money. \nAfter the hospital threatens to release Michael from their care for lack of funds, John Q. takes matters into his own hands by holding the chief cardiac surgeon and several other people hostage in the hospital's emergency room.\nAlmost every actor and actress in this film delivers amazing performances. Washington, Elise and Smith were all at their best. They made their emotions seem real and the situation believable. Washington played the character so well that a white girl from upper-middle-class suburbia could feel a little of his pain. \nThe pace of the film was perfect and despite the weight of the subject matter, small spurts of comic relief were appropriately injected, mostly thanks to Eddie Griffin, who plays one of the captives.\nThe only thing I could not figure out however, was the use of race in the film. Would the film have been as effective if the family was white? Why were all the people in power (the police chief, the negotiator, the doctors, the hospital administrators, the nurses, etc.) white?\nFurthermore, Washington's role plays into that stereotypical black man who resorts to violence in the end. It was the poor black man against a rich white world. The only stereotype his role defies is that of the delinquent black father that pops up in so many films.\nDespite these overtones, the message of the film was powerful and left few dry eyes in the theater. Health care in this country is in shambles and the fact remains that people are dying because of it.\nAlthough people are not holding up emergency rooms to get what they want, I am sure there are many people who would not hesitate to put their own lives on the line to save the life of a dying loved one. I highly recommend that everyone go see this movie with an open mind. You might just come out with a new sense of reality.\n