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(09/29/05 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Larry and Laurie David want you to consider driving a hybrid car. In fact, it's so important to them that they're giving away the hybrid Toyota Prius that Larry's alter-ego drives on his HBO show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" in an effort to raise awareness about the effects of global warming.
In a contest sponsored by MTVU, the fuel-efficient car will be the grand prize for one lucky college student who joins Laurie David's virtual march against global warming. The march is Laurie's brainchild -- an attempt to increase awareness about global warming and force policymakers in Washington, D.C. to address a problem that Laurie says will be devastating if it remains ignored. But the movement isn't based in a cramped office. Its headquarters is located at www.stopglobalwarming.org.
"In the old days you'd march in the streets but unfortunately, the last few marches we've had in this country haven't worked. They end up being 30 seconds on the evening news," Laurie said. "So we came up this idea that we'll march on the Internet. And we'll march for a year. Every single day for a year toward Washington (D.C.), building the number of marchers so big and making so much noise that nobody can ignore this issue anymore."
The march has already built quite a bit of steam. Since its start last April, 121,139 people have joined the cause, including Walter Kronkite, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Jon Fishman, former drummer of Phish. Laurie says the march is able to draw an eclectic mix of people because it's a non-partisan cause. This is especially important in a time of such political division in America.
"This is not a political issue. This is a moral issue," Laurie said.
Larry David believes people are drawn to the cause for a different reason. He says it's a way to do something without actually having to do anything at all. "I'm the laziest man in the world and I signed up," Larry said. "If I had to walk a block, I may not have done it, but all I had to do is go on the Internet."
Heated argument
The theory of global warming is relatively easy to understand. In laymen's terms, the earth is heating up and scientists seem to agree that the increase in temperatures is a result of planetary abuse at the hands of humans. Laurie said the common consensus is that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and other pollutants caused by car emissions and industrial technology are to blame.
"Global warming is power plants and cars and carbon emissions going into the atmosphere and staying there warming the planet and causing all kinds of climate problems," Laurie said.
While a rise in temperature may not seem like the end of the world, it very well could be. The effects of global warming are serious and severe, including ozone depletion, sea level rise and an increase in extreme weather. Laurie views the severity of Hurricane Katrina as a side effect of global warming.
"Nobody's going to say Katrina was caused by global warming, but warmer waters do cause hurricanes to become more fierce," Laurie said.
Laurie expresses frustration that politicians and Washington policymakers, including President Bush, seem unwilling to act on the problem. The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty organized by the United Nations, was drafted in an attempt to curb emissions in industrialized countries. As of 2004, 154 countries have joined, promising to reduce emissions of carbon and other greenhouse gases. The United States is not one of them.
"We have a job here. The rest of the world is addressing this issue. We have an obligation to show them that we care about this," Laurie says. "The government has said we're not taking this seriously, so the American people have to say we're going to start taking this seriously."
Laurie believes the U.S. refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol is a result of a national dependence on oil, one of the top emitters of dangerous greenhouse gases. But Laurie said oil isn't the only option for fueling America. She hopes the march will increase awareness about methods for fuel conservation, which Laurie says is the first step in reducing emissions.
"We have to raise fuel efficiency standards on cars. We're at a 20-year low on fuel efficiency. That's insane," Laurie said.
But the march is already making headway in this area. Its sixth stop on the cross-country march was Indianapolis, home of the Indy 500, where cars in the race will be fueled with ethanol, a cleaner alternative to diesel fuel, as early as next year. According to www.stopglobalwarming.org, the 10 percent ethanol blend of fuel will decrease emissions caused by the race by up to 25 percent. As early as 2007, the cars could be running on 100 percent ethanol.
Laurie says stopping global warming is as simple as taking baby steps like this one. It doesn't mean drastic changes overnight -- just gradual changes over time. And while these changes may seem expensive, Laurie says the cost of not making these changes is much greater.
"There are arguments that we can't afford to solve this problem or it costs too much. Believe me, it costs too much not to solve this problem and I think we just saw that clear as day (with Hurricane Katrina) in New Orleans and Mississippi," Laurie said. "We cannot afford to not solve this problem."
Simple solutions
The contest at MTVU.com is the first step in what Laurie says is a long process. It begins with raising awareness and building a movement.
Steven Friedman, general manager at MTVU, said the basis of the contest is getting college students involved. "What Laurie David is doing is creating a movement and college students, who have traditionally been the engine of social change. What better way than getting college students to lead the charge?" Friedman said.
Laurie says the more people join the movement, the more likely policymakers will be to make the changes necessary to reduce the damage caused by global warming. "College students have proven in the past that they can help change policy, they can affect public opinion and change the world and we desperately need their help to start addressing this issue of global warming," Laurie said.
Once the ball is rolling, the next steps are much easier. "Energy efficiency, conservation, renewable energy, there's so many things that we could be doing right now. That's the other thing about this problem. We don't have to invent something. We don't have to wait a decade to come up with a solution. Most of the solutions to global warming already exist right now. These are things we should be doing anyway to make the world a better place and reduce our dependence on oil," Laurie said.
She says reducing the amount of carbon emissions is as simple as paying attention to gas mileage when purchasing a vehicle, restricting the amount of fossil fuels and pollutants expelled at power plants and making fuel-economic vehicles the industry standard in America.
"Basically we need a clean industrial revolution happening in this country," Laurie said.
Most importantly, though, she wants to see these changes starting now.
"This march is not to say that we have the solutions to everything right now. This is basically to say we have this giant crisis, this looming crisis. Are we going to ignore the warnings and do nothing? Or are we going to put our heads together and do what this country does best and come up with solutions?" Laurie said. "When Noah was warned that the floods were coming he built an arc. He didn't wait for the flood to hit to start building. He built it when he got the warnings. And that's exactly what's happening here."
(09/29/05 1:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Larry and Laurie David want you to consider driving a hybrid car. In fact, it's so important to them that they're giving away the hybrid Toyota Prius that Larry's alter-ego drives on his HBO show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" in an effort to raise awareness about the effects of global warming.
In a contest sponsored by MTVU, the fuel-efficient car will be the grand prize for one lucky college student who joins Laurie David's virtual march against global warming. The march is Laurie's brainchild -- an attempt to increase awareness about global warming and force policymakers in Washington, D.C. to address a problem that Laurie says will be devastating if it remains ignored. But the movement isn't based in a cramped office. Its headquarters is located at www.stopglobalwarming.org.
"In the old days you'd march in the streets but unfortunately, the last few marches we've had in this country haven't worked. They end up being 30 seconds on the evening news," Laurie said. "So we came up this idea that we'll march on the Internet. And we'll march for a year. Every single day for a year toward Washington (D.C.), building the number of marchers so big and making so much noise that nobody can ignore this issue anymore."
The march has already built quite a bit of steam. Since its start last April, 121,139 people have joined the cause, including Walter Kronkite, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Jon Fishman, former drummer of Phish. Laurie says the march is able to draw an eclectic mix of people because it's a non-partisan cause. This is especially important in a time of such political division in America.
"This is not a political issue. This is a moral issue," Laurie said.
Larry David believes people are drawn to the cause for a different reason. He says it's a way to do something without actually having to do anything at all. "I'm the laziest man in the world and I signed up," Larry said. "If I had to walk a block, I may not have done it, but all I had to do is go on the Internet."
Heated argument
The theory of global warming is relatively easy to understand. In laymen's terms, the earth is heating up and scientists seem to agree that the increase in temperatures is a result of planetary abuse at the hands of humans. Laurie said the common consensus is that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and other pollutants caused by car emissions and industrial technology are to blame.
"Global warming is power plants and cars and carbon emissions going into the atmosphere and staying there warming the planet and causing all kinds of climate problems," Laurie said.
While a rise in temperature may not seem like the end of the world, it very well could be. The effects of global warming are serious and severe, including ozone depletion, sea level rise and an increase in extreme weather. Laurie views the severity of Hurricane Katrina as a side effect of global warming.
"Nobody's going to say Katrina was caused by global warming, but warmer waters do cause hurricanes to become more fierce," Laurie said.
Laurie expresses frustration that politicians and Washington policymakers, including President Bush, seem unwilling to act on the problem. The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty organized by the United Nations, was drafted in an attempt to curb emissions in industrialized countries. As of 2004, 154 countries have joined, promising to reduce emissions of carbon and other greenhouse gases. The United States is not one of them.
"We have a job here. The rest of the world is addressing this issue. We have an obligation to show them that we care about this," Laurie says. "The government has said we're not taking this seriously, so the American people have to say we're going to start taking this seriously."
Laurie believes the U.S. refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol is a result of a national dependence on oil, one of the top emitters of dangerous greenhouse gases. But Laurie said oil isn't the only option for fueling America. She hopes the march will increase awareness about methods for fuel conservation, which Laurie says is the first step in reducing emissions.
"We have to raise fuel efficiency standards on cars. We're at a 20-year low on fuel efficiency. That's insane," Laurie said.
But the march is already making headway in this area. Its sixth stop on the cross-country march was Indianapolis, home of the Indy 500, where cars in the race will be fueled with ethanol, a cleaner alternative to diesel fuel, as early as next year. According to www.stopglobalwarming.org, the 10 percent ethanol blend of fuel will decrease emissions caused by the race by up to 25 percent. As early as 2007, the cars could be running on 100 percent ethanol.
Laurie says stopping global warming is as simple as taking baby steps like this one. It doesn't mean drastic changes overnight -- just gradual changes over time. And while these changes may seem expensive, Laurie says the cost of not making these changes is much greater.
"There are arguments that we can't afford to solve this problem or it costs too much. Believe me, it costs too much not to solve this problem and I think we just saw that clear as day (with Hurricane Katrina) in New Orleans and Mississippi," Laurie said. "We cannot afford to not solve this problem."
Simple solutions
The contest at MTVU.com is the first step in what Laurie says is a long process. It begins with raising awareness and building a movement.
Steven Friedman, general manager at MTVU, said the basis of the contest is getting college students involved. "What Laurie David is doing is creating a movement and college students, who have traditionally been the engine of social change. What better way than getting college students to lead the charge?" Friedman said.
Laurie says the more people join the movement, the more likely policymakers will be to make the changes necessary to reduce the damage caused by global warming. "College students have proven in the past that they can help change policy, they can affect public opinion and change the world and we desperately need their help to start addressing this issue of global warming," Laurie said.
Once the ball is rolling, the next steps are much easier. "Energy efficiency, conservation, renewable energy, there's so many things that we could be doing right now. That's the other thing about this problem. We don't have to invent something. We don't have to wait a decade to come up with a solution. Most of the solutions to global warming already exist right now. These are things we should be doing anyway to make the world a better place and reduce our dependence on oil," Laurie said.
She says reducing the amount of carbon emissions is as simple as paying attention to gas mileage when purchasing a vehicle, restricting the amount of fossil fuels and pollutants expelled at power plants and making fuel-economic vehicles the industry standard in America.
"Basically we need a clean industrial revolution happening in this country," Laurie said.
Most importantly, though, she wants to see these changes starting now.
"This march is not to say that we have the solutions to everything right now. This is basically to say we have this giant crisis, this looming crisis. Are we going to ignore the warnings and do nothing? Or are we going to put our heads together and do what this country does best and come up with solutions?" Laurie said. "When Noah was warned that the floods were coming he built an arc. He didn't wait for the flood to hit to start building. He built it when he got the warnings. And that's exactly what's happening here."
(04/28/05 4:00am)
Hello, my name is Karen, and I like bad movies.\nNot an admission that you were expecting from someone who's spent a semester editing an entertainment magazine, huh? Believe me, I've taken plenty of flack for it. But if there's one thing I've learned this semester, it's that there are no right answers when it comes to film. People like what they like.\nThat isn't to say that I don't like "good" movies, too. My two favorite movies of all time are "American History X" and "Fight Club." But for every one of those movies -- movies that are heralded by the experts as great -- there's one that I've been endlessly tormented by the film buffs that I work with for liking because it's "bad." There's "Point Break" and "What's Love Got to Do With it?" and a never-ending list of Lifetime movies that I love to watch. I suppose in admitting my appreciation for movies like those I lose any credibility I may have had to begin with. I'll tell you, I shouldn't have credibility. But neither should the experts when it comes to deciding what you like. Just like them, all I can offer when it comes to what you like or don't like is my opinion. \nEvery day, people go to the experts for the answers. And it's true, the experts can tell you anything you want to know about film. They've studied it extensively and with that education comes a great breadth of knowledge. They understand it on a level that I never will. And I love to hear their opinions about it, because they are educated opinions. But they're still opinions. To be honest, just because a film expert tells me that "Point Break" isn't a worthy film doesn't make me like it any less. Experts can tell you everything about film, but they can't tell you what you like. They can tell me that "Point Break" is filled with bad acting, worse writing and a shoddy plot. What they can't tell me is that it's still going to entertain me, because let's face it, watching Keanu Reeves play bad ass and the "Swayz" wax philosophical while waxing his surf board is damn funny. Maybe that doesn't sound appealing to you. But you shouldn't take my word for it. You should see for yourself.\nPeople take away from film what they want. While many view film as art, an equal portion of people view it as entertainment. For every film buff that analyzes the camera angles and the deeper meanings, there's someone like me who loves movies because they're entertaining -- because they're funny or thought-provoking or moving. Does that mean that I think these film buffs are wrong? Absolutely not. What I love about movies is that I can't say who's wrong and who's right. I respect people who know more than me about film, and I invite them to share their knowledge with me. After all, if it wasn't for people who view film as art we wouldn't have a majority of the most entertaining movies ever made. And if I didn't respect their opinions, I certainly wouldn't have spent a year of my life working for an entertainment magazine. \nI love that in the world of film, no one is wrong. As frustrating as it may be to people that view film as art, movies like "Con Air" will always be made because there will always be people that want to go to the theater to watch Nicholas Cage blow stuff up and speak in a bad Southern accent because they find it entertaining. As frustrating as is it may be to someone like me who can't stand to watch self-destruction for art's sake, movies like "Requiem for a Dream" will always be made because it's artful and thought-provoking to the people who love it. The great thing about film is that there's room for both. But you'll never find out if you disagree with the critics who heralded "Requiem" or the action lovers who watch "Con Air" again and again if you use the reviews as Cliff's Notes.\nReviews can be a wonderful thing if they're used correctly. They're not meant to tell you what to like. They're meant to give you more insight on the films you see by enabling you to see them through the eyes of someone else. Letting the reviews you read dictate what you see or don't see is a lazy way to love film.\nSo as I leave Weekend, after a year of reading, editing and sometimes writing the reviews that we print, my advice to you is this: I know the experts that write for this magazine. For a year, I've worked with them almost every day. You can trust their knowledge as I have, because it is quite extensive, but don't be afraid to find out for yourself if you disagree with them. Discovering your own opinion is a wonderful thing, and you might be surprised at what you learn.
(04/27/05 4:47am)
Hello, my name is Karen, and I like bad movies.\nNot an admission that you were expecting from someone who's spent a semester editing an entertainment magazine, huh? Believe me, I've taken plenty of flack for it. But if there's one thing I've learned this semester, it's that there are no right answers when it comes to film. People like what they like.\nThat isn't to say that I don't like "good" movies, too. My two favorite movies of all time are "American History X" and "Fight Club." But for every one of those movies -- movies that are heralded by the experts as great -- there's one that I've been endlessly tormented by the film buffs that I work with for liking because it's "bad." There's "Point Break" and "What's Love Got to Do With it?" and a never-ending list of Lifetime movies that I love to watch. I suppose in admitting my appreciation for movies like those I lose any credibility I may have had to begin with. I'll tell you, I shouldn't have credibility. But neither should the experts when it comes to deciding what you like. Just like them, all I can offer when it comes to what you like or don't like is my opinion. \nEvery day, people go to the experts for the answers. And it's true, the experts can tell you anything you want to know about film. They've studied it extensively and with that education comes a great breadth of knowledge. They understand it on a level that I never will. And I love to hear their opinions about it, because they are educated opinions. But they're still opinions. To be honest, just because a film expert tells me that "Point Break" isn't a worthy film doesn't make me like it any less. Experts can tell you everything about film, but they can't tell you what you like. They can tell me that "Point Break" is filled with bad acting, worse writing and a shoddy plot. What they can't tell me is that it's still going to entertain me, because let's face it, watching Keanu Reeves play bad ass and the "Swayz" wax philosophical while waxing his surf board is damn funny. Maybe that doesn't sound appealing to you. But you shouldn't take my word for it. You should see for yourself.\nPeople take away from film what they want. While many view film as art, an equal portion of people view it as entertainment. For every film buff that analyzes the camera angles and the deeper meanings, there's someone like me who loves movies because they're entertaining -- because they're funny or thought-provoking or moving. Does that mean that I think these film buffs are wrong? Absolutely not. What I love about movies is that I can't say who's wrong and who's right. I respect people who know more than me about film, and I invite them to share their knowledge with me. After all, if it wasn't for people who view film as art we wouldn't have a majority of the most entertaining movies ever made. And if I didn't respect their opinions, I certainly wouldn't have spent a year of my life working for an entertainment magazine. \nI love that in the world of film, no one is wrong. As frustrating as it may be to people that view film as art, movies like "Con Air" will always be made because there will always be people that want to go to the theater to watch Nicholas Cage blow stuff up and speak in a bad Southern accent because they find it entertaining. As frustrating as is it may be to someone like me who can't stand to watch self-destruction for art's sake, movies like "Requiem for a Dream" will always be made because it's artful and thought-provoking to the people who love it. The great thing about film is that there's room for both. But you'll never find out if you disagree with the critics who heralded "Requiem" or the action lovers who watch "Con Air" again and again if you use the reviews as Cliff's Notes.\nReviews can be a wonderful thing if they're used correctly. They're not meant to tell you what to like. They're meant to give you more insight on the films you see by enabling you to see them through the eyes of someone else. Letting the reviews you read dictate what you see or don't see is a lazy way to love film.\nSo as I leave Weekend, after a year of reading, editing and sometimes writing the reviews that we print, my advice to you is this: I know the experts that write for this magazine. For a year, I've worked with them almost every day. You can trust their knowledge as I have, because it is quite extensive, but don't be afraid to find out for yourself if you disagree with them. Discovering your own opinion is a wonderful thing, and you might be surprised at what you learn.
(04/21/05 4:00am)
It's Monday night at Bear's Place Ale House and Eatery, 1316 E. 3rd St., and as people funnel through the dimly lit bar toward the back, they pass a short corridor without glancing at the autographed portraits lining the walls. They've all come to see Comedy Caravan, a bi-weekly Bear's staple that has been a part of Bloomington history for longer than most of these people have lived in the city, and within these walls is a history of comedy older than some of the people shuffling past it. \nComedy Caravan, now in its 22nd year, is the longest running one-night comedy show in history. For those outside of the stand-up industry, a one-night comedy show is a stand-up show held at a venue that isn't a nightly comedy club. With that kind of distinction, it isn't surprising that Comedy Caravan at Bear's Place appeared in USA Today's March 31 list of the top 10 places to see stand-up in the nation. It was the only one-nighter in a list which included comedy clubs like Atlanta's Punchline and Los Angeles' Laugh Factory.\nThough Bear's Place is regarded as one of the greatest one-night comedy venues by stand-up comics from coast to coast, Bloomington residents seem to be completely unaware. Brad Wilhelm, emcee for the event for the past eight years, says the show has blended into the woodwork of Bloomington because of its longevity and consistence over the years.\n"It's one of those things that's always just here, like the Kinsey Institute or Little 5," Wilhelm says. "It's something that's just Bloomington -- one of those things that's easy to take for granted."\nBut within these walls, some of the greatest stand-up comedians, including Roseanne, Ellen Degeneres, Sinbad, Steve Harvey, Paula Poundstone, Darrell Hammond and Jim Breuer of "Saturday Night Live," Jeff Foxworthy and Tim Allen, have honed their crafts. And as these stand-up fans shuffle past their pictures, much like the 250,000 people that have come to shows like this one in the past 22 years, they are unaware that the acts they are about to see could join the ranks of these superstars in years to come.
(04/20/05 5:22am)
It's Monday night at Bear's Place Ale House and Eatery, 1316 E. 3rd St., and as people funnel through the dimly lit bar toward the back, they pass a short corridor without glancing at the autographed portraits lining the walls. They've all come to see Comedy Caravan, a bi-weekly Bear's staple that has been a part of Bloomington history for longer than most of these people have lived in the city, and within these walls is a history of comedy older than some of the people shuffling past it. \nComedy Caravan, now in its 22nd year, is the longest running one-night comedy show in history. For those outside of the stand-up industry, a one-night comedy show is a stand-up show held at a venue that isn't a nightly comedy club. With that kind of distinction, it isn't surprising that Comedy Caravan at Bear's Place appeared in USA Today's March 31 list of the top 10 places to see stand-up in the nation. It was the only one-nighter in a list which included comedy clubs like Atlanta's Punchline and Los Angeles' Laugh Factory.\nThough Bear's Place is regarded as one of the greatest one-night comedy venues by stand-up comics from coast to coast, Bloomington residents seem to be completely unaware. Brad Wilhelm, emcee for the event for the past eight years, says the show has blended into the woodwork of Bloomington because of its longevity and consistence over the years.\n"It's one of those things that's always just here, like the Kinsey Institute or Little 5," Wilhelm says. "It's something that's just Bloomington -- one of those things that's easy to take for granted."\nBut within these walls, some of the greatest stand-up comedians, including Roseanne, Ellen Degeneres, Sinbad, Steve Harvey, Paula Poundstone, Darrell Hammond and Jim Breuer of "Saturday Night Live," Jeff Foxworthy and Tim Allen, have honed their crafts. And as these stand-up fans shuffle past their pictures, much like the 250,000 people that have come to shows like this one in the past 22 years, they are unaware that the acts they are about to see could join the ranks of these superstars in years to come.
(04/14/05 4:00am)
It was nine years ago that "Orgazmo," the brainchild of "the 'South Park' guys" Trey Parker and Matt Stone, was shot and completed. Cursed with an NC-17 rating and released independently, it was received coldly by filmgoers in 1997. Perhaps that's not a bad thing, as a movie like this is best viewed on DVD anyway.\nThe movie follows Joe Young, played by Parker himself, a Mormon assigned to mission work in Los Angeles. Suspension of disbelief is required when Joe accepts a role in a porno film for $20,000 -- money he'll use to marry his goody-two-shoes fiancée Lisa (Robyn Lynne Raab) in the Mormon temple and start their life together. Of course, being a good Mormon, he is provided with a stunt phallus to avoid actually participating in the unholy acts taking place in the film. Obviously, much of the humor comes from the absurdity of watching this sheltered manchild as he's emersed in the seedy underworld of the L.A. pornography industry.\nOf course, "Orgazmo's" goal is not be realistic. Its goal is to be funny, ridiculous at times, and it achieves its goal completely. Despite its original NC-17 rating, "Orgazmo" isn't a nudie fest -- which is surprising considering the number of actual porn stars that take part in the film, including Chasey Lain and the legendary Ron Jeremy. This may not be a movie for porn fans, unless they can see the humor in a movie about porn with no nudity. While the DVD includes an "unrated" version, don't expect additional nudity -- I actually had trouble distinguishing between the two despite the fact that the "unrated" version runs two minutes longer. \nHowever, the DVD is worth picking up for the special features alone. Parker fans are familiar with his infamous CWI (Commentary While Intoxicated), but don't expect serious discussion of cinematography -- the cast and crew, including Parker, a relatively silent Stone, Dian Bachar (aka "Little Bitch" of BASEketball) and others watch the film and reminisce while playing a drinking game. As it progresses and they become more intoxicated the conversation disintegrates into a whiney Parker insisting on quitting the commentary and heading out to a strip club. The deleted scenes and outtakes, apparently recorded on the same night, are complete chaos. By the time they get to deleted scenes, most of the conversation is Parker drunkenly proclaiming, "This is totally sweet! Why did you guys let me cut this?!" I know, it sounds terrible, but somehow for this film it works well and comes off nothing short of hilarious.\nAlso included in the DVD are a documentary about Parker and Stone's early work, including "Cannibal: The Musical," a behind-the-scenes featurette and almost an hour of interviews with the cast, crew and filmmakers. While all of these features are informative and entertaining (who knew Ron Jeremy is a narcoleptic), the additional two commentaries are best left skipped. The third commentary, which they call "Wild Commentary," may seem intriguing, boasting the presence of Kevin Smith, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross of "Mr. Show" and "South Park's" writing staff among others, it's choppy and boring as it's split into separate 15 to 20 minute segments for each contributor. In fact, at the end of Smith's portion, which is literally phoned in, he admits to never having seen the film.\nFor "South Park" fans, "Orgazmo" is worth a try. But it's best to keep your expectations low and watch it for what it is: a glimpse at the as yet undeveloped talent of a team that would someday become geniuses.
(04/13/05 4:35am)
It was nine years ago that "Orgazmo," the brainchild of "the 'South Park' guys" Trey Parker and Matt Stone, was shot and completed. Cursed with an NC-17 rating and released independently, it was received coldly by filmgoers in 1997. Perhaps that's not a bad thing, as a movie like this is best viewed on DVD anyway.\nThe movie follows Joe Young, played by Parker himself, a Mormon assigned to mission work in Los Angeles. Suspension of disbelief is required when Joe accepts a role in a porno film for $20,000 -- money he'll use to marry his goody-two-shoes fiancée Lisa (Robyn Lynne Raab) in the Mormon temple and start their life together. Of course, being a good Mormon, he is provided with a stunt phallus to avoid actually participating in the unholy acts taking place in the film. Obviously, much of the humor comes from the absurdity of watching this sheltered manchild as he's emersed in the seedy underworld of the L.A. pornography industry.\nOf course, "Orgazmo's" goal is not be realistic. Its goal is to be funny, ridiculous at times, and it achieves its goal completely. Despite its original NC-17 rating, "Orgazmo" isn't a nudie fest -- which is surprising considering the number of actual porn stars that take part in the film, including Chasey Lain and the legendary Ron Jeremy. This may not be a movie for porn fans, unless they can see the humor in a movie about porn with no nudity. While the DVD includes an "unrated" version, don't expect additional nudity -- I actually had trouble distinguishing between the two despite the fact that the "unrated" version runs two minutes longer. \nHowever, the DVD is worth picking up for the special features alone. Parker fans are familiar with his infamous CWI (Commentary While Intoxicated), but don't expect serious discussion of cinematography -- the cast and crew, including Parker, a relatively silent Stone, Dian Bachar (aka "Little Bitch" of BASEketball) and others watch the film and reminisce while playing a drinking game. As it progresses and they become more intoxicated the conversation disintegrates into a whiney Parker insisting on quitting the commentary and heading out to a strip club. The deleted scenes and outtakes, apparently recorded on the same night, are complete chaos. By the time they get to deleted scenes, most of the conversation is Parker drunkenly proclaiming, "This is totally sweet! Why did you guys let me cut this?!" I know, it sounds terrible, but somehow for this film it works well and comes off nothing short of hilarious.\nAlso included in the DVD are a documentary about Parker and Stone's early work, including "Cannibal: The Musical," a behind-the-scenes featurette and almost an hour of interviews with the cast, crew and filmmakers. While all of these features are informative and entertaining (who knew Ron Jeremy is a narcoleptic), the additional two commentaries are best left skipped. The third commentary, which they call "Wild Commentary," may seem intriguing, boasting the presence of Kevin Smith, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross of "Mr. Show" and "South Park's" writing staff among others, it's choppy and boring as it's split into separate 15 to 20 minute segments for each contributor. In fact, at the end of Smith's portion, which is literally phoned in, he admits to never having seen the film.\nFor "South Park" fans, "Orgazmo" is worth a try. But it's best to keep your expectations low and watch it for what it is: a glimpse at the as yet undeveloped talent of a team that would someday become geniuses.
(03/31/05 5:00am)
For most college students, salsa is nothing more than a snack food. To dance enthusiasts, however, salsa is an intricate style of Latin dance. \nEvery other Thursday, members of the Latin Dance Club meet to learn new dance steps and practice what they already know. Dancers agree that the benefits of such a club include campus diversity, stress release and fun for its members.\nJunior Emily Jablon, founder and president of the club, says that she founded it because IU already had a myriad of dance clubs, but Latin dance was not represented.\n"There was a ballroom dance club and folk dancing and swing but no Latin dance," Jablon said. "It was a little idea, but it really took off."\nSince its inception in Sept. 2004, the group has grown to 200 interested students and community members. Jablon says their Thursday practice sessions welcome an average of 25 to 30 students, with different people showing up every week from all demographics: men and women of all ages, ethnicities and levels of dance experience. \n"That's the cool thing about this," Jablon says. "It brings everyone together for the music. It doesn't matter who you are."\nMembers pay a $10 fee to join the club. This fee includes free dance lessons every other week for the semester. Jablon says this is a small price to pay for such a service.\nArthur Murray Dance Studio located at 2534 E. Third St., offers similar services for an introductory fee of nearly $15 each for just the first two lessons. \nMembers of LDC receive instruction from experienced dancers. Junior Patricia Mota teaches members basic steps of salsa, merengue, reggaeton and bachata dances. She also instructs a Latin Moves workout routine for the SRSC as well as a hip-hop class.\nMota's experience with traditional Latin dance began with her family. She and sister, freshman Susana Mota, who is also a member of LDC, have been dancing together since they were children. \nThe Mota sisters are not the only members of LDC that come to get closer to their Latin roots. Freshman Joanna Campodonico was first exposed to Latin dance as a young child.\n"My dad is from Panama and he taught me the basic steps when I was younger," Campodonico said. "It had been years since I'd done it."\nNow she says her goal is to improve by summer so she can show off her skills to other Latin family members.\n"I'm not good but I want to get better. My grandma is coming this summer from Panama and I want to show her I can dance salsa," Campodonico said.\nWith the diversity of the club's members, however, comes a diverse list of reasons for learning Latin dance. Though Jablon is not of Latin American descent, she developed an interest in traditional Latin dance after learning other forms of dance, including ballroom style with IU's Ballroom Dance Club. Jablon says Latin descent is not necessary to appreciate the dance style.\n"I was really attracted to the energy and passion in Latin dance," Jablon said.\nMembers agree that Latin dance can also be a great workout, though most find that to be a pleasant bonus rather than a reason to join. Senior Matt Rubin, another dance instructor for the club, says exercise is not the focus of the club.\n"You can make it a workout routine if you want, but we don't really focus on that," Rubin said. "It's more just fun."\nJablon says she can feel the aerobic benefits of Latin dance, though, even if working out isn't her principle reason for founding the club.\n"It's great exercise," Jablon said. "I just did that one dance out there and I already feel it."\nLDC is evidence that the Latin explosion that came with artists like Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez that saw popularity in the late '90s has not disappeared completely. For members of LDC, Latin music is an essential part of music and dance appreciation.\nMembers insist that experience is not a prerequisite for joining the club. Susana Mota says the instruction style is beginner-friendly. "We stick to the basics every practice. We try not to make it difficult because there's new people every week," Mota said.\nJablon says even the least experienced beginners can usually keep up after one practice. "You learn really fast, especially merengue. It's easier to pick up than salsa," she said.\nPatricia Mota says it isn't long after members learn the basics that they're adding their own flair to the steps.\n"You show people basic steps then they'll come in and say, 'Look what I made up.' That's the best part; watching people get better," Mota said.\nAt her first practice, Bethany Hacker said she was already getting comfortable with the steps. For her, the most difficult part will be retaining all of the steps she learned in one night.\n"I don't know if I'll remember it all, but when I hear the music I hope I'll be able to do something with it," she said.\nBut these practice sessions simply aren't enough to give members a full appreciation for the art of Latin dance. For this reason, members organize dance parties and group trips to Second Story Nightclub, which holds a Latin dance night the first Saturday of every month. Members agree that this is where they learn the most and have the most fun.\n"At the events we get to see what everyone has learned, how they've improved and we get to see them having a good time," Patricia Mota said.\nLDC's last Latin dance party, which was held at Crazy Horse, included DJs, Latin music and as many as 200 attendees all for a $5 cover charge. Their next event, "Dirty Dancing, Hoosier Nights," a Latin dance masquerade party, will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 7 at the Solarium at the IMU. Like all of LDC's events, refreshments will be provided and admission is free for members. Non-members are welcome for a $3 fee, but members suggest that anyone interested in Latin dance join the club to practice their moves and learn new ones before attending a Latin dance event.\n"If you go to a club and everybody's really good you're really nervous. Here everybody's learning so it's relaxing. You don't have to worry about looking good," said senior Brandon Ward, who has been a member since the club's inception.\nWhile members don't believe the social stigma of male dancing exists in relation to Latin dance, they all agree that practices display a lack of balance when it comes to gender as more girls typically show up than guys. However, LDC's male members say dancing can be a great way to meet women and an even better way to impress them.\nSophomore Joel Hernandez says too many men leave the dancing up to women. He believes this is the wrong attitude. "Girls like a guy who can dance. I've been to clubs. The guys just stand there and let the girls do all the work. What is that? That's not dancing," Hernandez said.\nSophomore Sam Winter says men would have more fun at clubs if they would get past their insecurities about dancing and get on the floor. "You don't want to feel like you have to stand around and not dance," Winter said.\nHernandez also believes there is a stereotype of femininity placed on Latin dance which is inaccurate. "Guys think it's too feminine to shake their hips. They think it's up to the girls to impress, but it's up to everyone," he said.\nWith finals just around the corner, LDC members believe now is the best time to start dancing as it can provide much needed relief for stressed students. \n"It's a time to release. It's something to do besides going out and partying or studying," Rubin said.\nWhile those members experienced in Latin dance agree that practices can prepare members for Latin dance clubs, Jablon says the environment is still completely different in a club setting.\n"This is fun, but if you go out to a Latin dance club it's a whole different experience. The energy is amazing," Jablon said.
(03/30/05 5:50am)
For most college students, salsa is nothing more than a snack food. To dance enthusiasts, however, salsa is an intricate style of Latin dance. \nEvery other Thursday, members of the Latin Dance Club meet to learn new dance steps and practice what they already know. Dancers agree that the benefits of such a club include campus diversity, stress release and fun for its members.\nJunior Emily Jablon, founder and president of the club, says that she founded it because IU already had a myriad of dance clubs, but Latin dance was not represented.\n"There was a ballroom dance club and folk dancing and swing but no Latin dance," Jablon said. "It was a little idea, but it really took off."\nSince its inception in Sept. 2004, the group has grown to 200 interested students and community members. Jablon says their Thursday practice sessions welcome an average of 25 to 30 students, with different people showing up every week from all demographics: men and women of all ages, ethnicities and levels of dance experience. \n"That's the cool thing about this," Jablon says. "It brings everyone together for the music. It doesn't matter who you are."\nMembers pay a $10 fee to join the club. This fee includes free dance lessons every other week for the semester. Jablon says this is a small price to pay for such a service.\nArthur Murray Dance Studio located at 2534 E. Third St., offers similar services for an introductory fee of nearly $15 each for just the first two lessons. \nMembers of LDC receive instruction from experienced dancers. Junior Patricia Mota teaches members basic steps of salsa, merengue, reggaeton and bachata dances. She also instructs a Latin Moves workout routine for the SRSC as well as a hip-hop class.\nMota's experience with traditional Latin dance began with her family. She and sister, freshman Susana Mota, who is also a member of LDC, have been dancing together since they were children. \nThe Mota sisters are not the only members of LDC that come to get closer to their Latin roots. Freshman Joanna Campodonico was first exposed to Latin dance as a young child.\n"My dad is from Panama and he taught me the basic steps when I was younger," Campodonico said. "It had been years since I'd done it."\nNow she says her goal is to improve by summer so she can show off her skills to other Latin family members.\n"I'm not good but I want to get better. My grandma is coming this summer from Panama and I want to show her I can dance salsa," Campodonico said.\nWith the diversity of the club's members, however, comes a diverse list of reasons for learning Latin dance. Though Jablon is not of Latin American descent, she developed an interest in traditional Latin dance after learning other forms of dance, including ballroom style with IU's Ballroom Dance Club. Jablon says Latin descent is not necessary to appreciate the dance style.\n"I was really attracted to the energy and passion in Latin dance," Jablon said.\nMembers agree that Latin dance can also be a great workout, though most find that to be a pleasant bonus rather than a reason to join. Senior Matt Rubin, another dance instructor for the club, says exercise is not the focus of the club.\n"You can make it a workout routine if you want, but we don't really focus on that," Rubin said. "It's more just fun."\nJablon says she can feel the aerobic benefits of Latin dance, though, even if working out isn't her principle reason for founding the club.\n"It's great exercise," Jablon said. "I just did that one dance out there and I already feel it."\nLDC is evidence that the Latin explosion that came with artists like Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez that saw popularity in the late '90s has not disappeared completely. For members of LDC, Latin music is an essential part of music and dance appreciation.\nMembers insist that experience is not a prerequisite for joining the club. Susana Mota says the instruction style is beginner-friendly. "We stick to the basics every practice. We try not to make it difficult because there's new people every week," Mota said.\nJablon says even the least experienced beginners can usually keep up after one practice. "You learn really fast, especially merengue. It's easier to pick up than salsa," she said.\nPatricia Mota says it isn't long after members learn the basics that they're adding their own flair to the steps.\n"You show people basic steps then they'll come in and say, 'Look what I made up.' That's the best part; watching people get better," Mota said.\nAt her first practice, Bethany Hacker said she was already getting comfortable with the steps. For her, the most difficult part will be retaining all of the steps she learned in one night.\n"I don't know if I'll remember it all, but when I hear the music I hope I'll be able to do something with it," she said.\nBut these practice sessions simply aren't enough to give members a full appreciation for the art of Latin dance. For this reason, members organize dance parties and group trips to Second Story Nightclub, which holds a Latin dance night the first Saturday of every month. Members agree that this is where they learn the most and have the most fun.\n"At the events we get to see what everyone has learned, how they've improved and we get to see them having a good time," Patricia Mota said.\nLDC's last Latin dance party, which was held at Crazy Horse, included DJs, Latin music and as many as 200 attendees all for a $5 cover charge. Their next event, "Dirty Dancing, Hoosier Nights," a Latin dance masquerade party, will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 7 at the Solarium at the IMU. Like all of LDC's events, refreshments will be provided and admission is free for members. Non-members are welcome for a $3 fee, but members suggest that anyone interested in Latin dance join the club to practice their moves and learn new ones before attending a Latin dance event.\n"If you go to a club and everybody's really good you're really nervous. Here everybody's learning so it's relaxing. You don't have to worry about looking good," said senior Brandon Ward, who has been a member since the club's inception.\nWhile members don't believe the social stigma of male dancing exists in relation to Latin dance, they all agree that practices display a lack of balance when it comes to gender as more girls typically show up than guys. However, LDC's male members say dancing can be a great way to meet women and an even better way to impress them.\nSophomore Joel Hernandez says too many men leave the dancing up to women. He believes this is the wrong attitude. "Girls like a guy who can dance. I've been to clubs. The guys just stand there and let the girls do all the work. What is that? That's not dancing," Hernandez said.\nSophomore Sam Winter says men would have more fun at clubs if they would get past their insecurities about dancing and get on the floor. "You don't want to feel like you have to stand around and not dance," Winter said.\nHernandez also believes there is a stereotype of femininity placed on Latin dance which is inaccurate. "Guys think it's too feminine to shake their hips. They think it's up to the girls to impress, but it's up to everyone," he said.\nWith finals just around the corner, LDC members believe now is the best time to start dancing as it can provide much needed relief for stressed students. \n"It's a time to release. It's something to do besides going out and partying or studying," Rubin said.\nWhile those members experienced in Latin dance agree that practices can prepare members for Latin dance clubs, Jablon says the environment is still completely different in a club setting.\n"This is fun, but if you go out to a Latin dance club it's a whole different experience. The energy is amazing," Jablon said.
(03/24/05 5:00am)
In a sea of local bands, the name of the game is getting noticed. Bloomington-based Trio in Stereo knows how to play the game.\nIn their second year of playing together, Trio in Stereo has accomplished quite a bit as an independent band. Their self-funded first album, Everyone Here Looks Familiar, will see release on April 15. The title can be interpreted as an homage to the beginnings of most local bands, as the guys admit that their first shows were mostly attended by friends of the band. However, as they play more shows and write more music, attendance has steadily increased since their beginnings and the guys say a typical show will include up to 70 audience members. The six-track release was recorded at Russian recording in Nashville, Ind. The band is in the process of organizing a release party for that night at Second Story. They are currently booking other local musicians to play at the show, which they hope will be a celebration not just for their first album, but also for local music.\nTrio in Stereo, which consists of P.J. McMahon on vocals, Michael Nelson on guitar, Ryan Knapick on keyboards, Marc King on bass and Chris Kolodziej on drums, have a decidedly Modest Mouse vibe. The band works together to compose the music, but lyrics are credited to McMahon.\nThe next opportunity for people to experience the music for themselves will be Friday at Rhino's All Ages Music Club at 9 p.m. for $5. Since most of their shows are at Second Story, which is a 21 and over club, this is a rare opportunity for younger audiences to check out the band.\nThey will also be playing at the Culture Shock Festival April 23 with a myriad of local musicians.
(03/23/05 5:17am)
In a sea of local bands, the name of the game is getting noticed. Bloomington-based Trio in Stereo knows how to play the game.\nIn their second year of playing together, Trio in Stereo has accomplished quite a bit as an independent band. Their self-funded first album, Everyone Here Looks Familiar, will see release on April 15. The title can be interpreted as an homage to the beginnings of most local bands, as the guys admit that their first shows were mostly attended by friends of the band. However, as they play more shows and write more music, attendance has steadily increased since their beginnings and the guys say a typical show will include up to 70 audience members. The six-track release was recorded at Russian recording in Nashville, Ind. The band is in the process of organizing a release party for that night at Second Story. They are currently booking other local musicians to play at the show, which they hope will be a celebration not just for their first album, but also for local music.\nTrio in Stereo, which consists of P.J. McMahon on vocals, Michael Nelson on guitar, Ryan Knapick on keyboards, Marc King on bass and Chris Kolodziej on drums, have a decidedly Modest Mouse vibe. The band works together to compose the music, but lyrics are credited to McMahon.\nThe next opportunity for people to experience the music for themselves will be Friday at Rhino's All Ages Music Club at 9 p.m. for $5. Since most of their shows are at Second Story, which is a 21 and over club, this is a rare opportunity for younger audiences to check out the band.\nThey will also be playing at the Culture Shock Festival April 23 with a myriad of local musicians.
(02/17/05 5:00am)
Let me start this by saying that I truly love the '90s.\nWhen the first installment of the series, appropriately titled "I Love the '90s," premiered on VH1 last summer, I ate it up. Through the extensive reruns aired daily, I'm pretty sure I prematurely reminisced about every year in the glorious decade with the well selected panel of comedians.\nIt wasn't until the release of the second installment, "I Love the '90s Part Deux" that I really considered the pop culture phenomenon of '90s nostalgia. It isn't just VH1 that is capitalizing on the decade. The cable network Nick at Nite began airing "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Full House" and "Murphy Brown" and calling them "classic TV." The independent game company Intellinitiative, Inc. made a fortune from "The '90s Game" and Trivial Pursuit competed by releasing their "Time Capsule" edition, which asked questions solely about the decade.\nI realize that part of the craze is generational. We may miss the '90s because we spent the decade in lower education, working part time jobs and living with our parents. The speed and accessibility of information is another factor in premature nostalgia. We live in a time where information is so accessible that news from the morning is old by noon. Information is valued for a much shorter time than it used to be and consequently we feel nostalgic much earlier. But it isn't just our generation that's yearning for the '90s which leads me to believe that it's much deeper.\nIn a time when Americans are worried about terrorism and war, we're nostalgic for the politically peaceful days of the 1990s. More importantly, though, the '90s were a time when politics and pop culture were separate. \nThe first half of this decade has been fueled by politics. With the turn of the century came arguments over the presidential election and less than a year later American culture was irrevocably shaken by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Since then, there has been a fusion of pop culture and politics. Musicians are singing about politics. Filmmakers are making movies about politics. College kids are arguing about politics at parties. Pop culture is inundated with political propaganda.\nWhile I don't think the recent trend of political awareness is a bad thing, there is a lot to be said for a separation of politics and pop culture. The recent explosion of '90s nostalgia is proof that what we really miss is the escape music and movies gave us from heavier issues during "the most trivial of decades." \nDuring the '90s, pop culture provided a common ground for the wide spectrum of political views. Today, music has become just as dividing as politics. What used to be common ground is now yet another dividing force in our culture. Perhaps we love the '90s because we miss the time when we could talk about music without being stereotyped by political assumptions. Listening to country music didn't have to mean you were a Republican. It just meant you were into country. Likewise, U2 was huge and more conservative audiences ignored Bono's liberal rants.\nPolitical parties suddenly have unlikely supporters. From P. Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign to numerous volumes of Rock Against Bush albums, it seems everybody is turning music into a political forum. Toby Keith has become the unofficial spokesman for the war in Iraq with songs like "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" and Eminem is bashing Bush in his most recent release, Encore.\nPolitics have always had a place in popular culture, but today musical genres have become separated between political lines and the effects have trickled down to the fans. Fans seem unable to enjoy music that doesn't match their political views, and breaking the barriers of these lines can even be detrimental to musical careers. When the Dixie Chicks, a country group, spoke out against the President, country fans boycotted and, in extreme cases, burned their albums. Not only have we lost our escape in pop culture, but politics seem to have overshadowed popular culture completely to become a determining factor in what we listen to and watch. We can no longer disagree with our favorite artists, nor can we disregard with their political views.\nMaybe the problem isn't with pop culture. Maybe the fusion is necessary because today's issues are inescapably important. Perhaps we miss the '90s because the biggest political question on our minds then was what the president did with his interns in the Oval Office. Now we worry about our safety and the direction in which our country is headed. \nWhatever the reason, I hope that with the 2004 elections finished, we'll get a much needed break from political propaganda. Until then, I'll temporarily escape with Michael Ian Black's witticisms on Mentos, O.J. Simpson and Tamagotchi.
(02/16/05 4:39am)
Let me start this by saying that I truly love the '90s.\nWhen the first installment of the series, appropriately titled "I Love the '90s," premiered on VH1 last summer, I ate it up. Through the extensive reruns aired daily, I'm pretty sure I prematurely reminisced about every year in the glorious decade with the well selected panel of comedians.\nIt wasn't until the release of the second installment, "I Love the '90s Part Deux" that I really considered the pop culture phenomenon of '90s nostalgia. It isn't just VH1 that is capitalizing on the decade. The cable network Nick at Nite began airing "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Full House" and "Murphy Brown" and calling them "classic TV." The independent game company Intellinitiative, Inc. made a fortune from "The '90s Game" and Trivial Pursuit competed by releasing their "Time Capsule" edition, which asked questions solely about the decade.\nI realize that part of the craze is generational. We may miss the '90s because we spent the decade in lower education, working part time jobs and living with our parents. The speed and accessibility of information is another factor in premature nostalgia. We live in a time where information is so accessible that news from the morning is old by noon. Information is valued for a much shorter time than it used to be and consequently we feel nostalgic much earlier. But it isn't just our generation that's yearning for the '90s which leads me to believe that it's much deeper.\nIn a time when Americans are worried about terrorism and war, we're nostalgic for the politically peaceful days of the 1990s. More importantly, though, the '90s were a time when politics and pop culture were separate. \nThe first half of this decade has been fueled by politics. With the turn of the century came arguments over the presidential election and less than a year later American culture was irrevocably shaken by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Since then, there has been a fusion of pop culture and politics. Musicians are singing about politics. Filmmakers are making movies about politics. College kids are arguing about politics at parties. Pop culture is inundated with political propaganda.\nWhile I don't think the recent trend of political awareness is a bad thing, there is a lot to be said for a separation of politics and pop culture. The recent explosion of '90s nostalgia is proof that what we really miss is the escape music and movies gave us from heavier issues during "the most trivial of decades." \nDuring the '90s, pop culture provided a common ground for the wide spectrum of political views. Today, music has become just as dividing as politics. What used to be common ground is now yet another dividing force in our culture. Perhaps we love the '90s because we miss the time when we could talk about music without being stereotyped by political assumptions. Listening to country music didn't have to mean you were a Republican. It just meant you were into country. Likewise, U2 was huge and more conservative audiences ignored Bono's liberal rants.\nPolitical parties suddenly have unlikely supporters. From P. Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign to numerous volumes of Rock Against Bush albums, it seems everybody is turning music into a political forum. Toby Keith has become the unofficial spokesman for the war in Iraq with songs like "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" and Eminem is bashing Bush in his most recent release, Encore.\nPolitics have always had a place in popular culture, but today musical genres have become separated between political lines and the effects have trickled down to the fans. Fans seem unable to enjoy music that doesn't match their political views, and breaking the barriers of these lines can even be detrimental to musical careers. When the Dixie Chicks, a country group, spoke out against the President, country fans boycotted and, in extreme cases, burned their albums. Not only have we lost our escape in pop culture, but politics seem to have overshadowed popular culture completely to become a determining factor in what we listen to and watch. We can no longer disagree with our favorite artists, nor can we disregard with their political views.\nMaybe the problem isn't with pop culture. Maybe the fusion is necessary because today's issues are inescapably important. Perhaps we miss the '90s because the biggest political question on our minds then was what the president did with his interns in the Oval Office. Now we worry about our safety and the direction in which our country is headed. \nWhatever the reason, I hope that with the 2004 elections finished, we'll get a much needed break from political propaganda. Until then, I'll temporarily escape with Michael Ian Black's witticisms on Mentos, O.J. Simpson and Tamagotchi.
(01/27/05 5:00am)
Talking to Jenn Cristy is like talking to any other 25-year-old. Still working on completing her degree, it would be easy to assume that, like most 20-somethings, she hasn't really decided on her future. However, with a John Mellencamp tour and a solo album on her resumé, this former IU alumna has more options than the average 20-something.\nWhen Cristy came to IU in 1997, she seemed destined for greatness as an athlete. She was awarded a full swimming scholarship and though she applied and was accepted to IU's competitive music school as a piano performance major, she devoted a majority of her time to swimming. \n"That was my passion at the time so I let music go in the background for a while. You can always go back to music, but your body eventually gives out," Cristy said.\nEventually, swimming seemed to overshadow her music completely. She changed her major to physical education and set her sights on Olympic glory. Then, after singing the national anthem at an IU basketball game in 2001, opportunity knocked on her door in the form of John Mellencamp. To Cristy's complete surprise, he wanted her to join his band.\n"To be honest, I'm from Tennessee so at first I wasn't even sure who he was. When I found out I was shocked. I used to sing 'Wild Nights' in the shower in high school," Cristy said.\nIn an instant, Cristy's plans for the future shifted from swimming to music.\n"(Swimming) was something that I considered (for the future) until I got hired by Mellencamp. Then I thought, 'Well, I guess I'm going to be a singer,'" Cristy said.\nThe amazing thing about her story is that Cristy didn't consider herself a singer until Mellencamp called. She was a pianist and a swimmer, but her singing experience was limited to the shower and other informal venues.\n"I didn't sing unless I was in church choir. I never saw myself as a singer until Mellencamp hired me," Cristy said. "I didn't believe I was a part of his band until we were on the tour bus. I thought it was all a hoax."\nCristy says touring with Mellencamp was an "eye opener."\n"I had never been to a concert and I had never worked with pros in the studio. I learned so much from the band members about presence and how to come across to (audiences). If you're having a bad day you leave it at home. You're a performer. You're supposed to reach people in ways they can't be reached every day," Cristy said.\nFour years later, the lessons she learned while touring with Mellencamp seem to be paying off. Cristy is working to promote her debut solo CD, Becoming. The release party, which was held at Second Story on Friday, January 21, was a rousing success.\n"(It was) incredible. I really didn't think it was going to be that awesome. Close to 150 people came out. I made sure to get 100 CDs by the CD release and we don't have any left," Cristy said. "My CDs are actually on back order, which is amazing."\nWhile Cristy would love to focus all of her energy on her music, other commitments in her life including her husband, Ben, her daughter, April, and a number of students she gives private music lessons to, make juggling everything a struggle. She says her family is what keeps her sane.\n"My husband is really supportive. He's amazing. He took the day off Friday (for the CD release party) to make sure that I didn't go crazy," Cristy said.\nShe is passionate about teaching and says it has actually been beneficial to her music career.\n"The teaching part is actually pretty easy because it's good practice for me. I have a couple piano students, a guitar student and about 24 voice students," Cristy says. "I love teaching. I want these kids, especially the ones who are looking way down the road, to get to experience what I do."\nIt is also important to Cristy that young people and college students are exposed to original music.\n"Around here college kids want to listen to cover bands, which I think is great. Whatever excites people about music is a great thing. But there's a lot of great original, local bands that I don't think they're exposed to," Cristy said.\nCristy's experiences working with youth have also made her sensitive to the struggles of young people. She hopes that she can reach them through her songwriting.\n"I have a song called, "Cinderella" about self-image. I try to emphasize to kids that they can be themselves," Cristy says. "I have a whole bunch of students and I try to make sure they know you can wear sweat pants, you don't have to wear makeup and it's OK to wear your hair down."\nWife, mother, singer, songwriter, teacher ... with all of these titles, Cristy says it's been challenging to keep swimmer on the list. Aside from her lack of time, she says sometimes it's difficult to be involved in swimming without some element of regret.\n"I coached the last two years at (Bloomington High School) North because my husband is the diving coach, but by the time the Olympics came around I decided I needed to let it go for a while," Cristy said. "It was the first time that I hadn't been working toward (being an Olympic swimmer)." \nCristy watched the Olympic time trials and said part of her wondered if she should have kept training.\n"As much as I love it, I do not get into the water anymore. It's too awkward," she said.\nWith more than 200 songs in her catalog, Cristy is an accomplished songwriter. However, she stresses that she's a performer first and foremost.\n"I just want to play. Even if I'm playing in front of 10 people it's really cool," Cristy said. "You're playing your songs and people are listening to your music and enjoying it."\nCristy currently lives in Bloomington with her family and plays a number of local venues regularly. Her Web site, www.jenncristy.com, includes a complete calender of future shows. She will be part of the Tsunami Relief Benefit Show at 7 p.m. tonight at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.\n"I've seen all these fundraisers on TV and I wanted to do something," Cristy said. "Those people, I could not imagine being in their situations. So many lives were lost. It's for the greatest cause in the world: giving someone hope."\nCristy is currently working with venues in Indianapolis and Chicago for possible shows and hopes to organize a tour, even if she isn't headlining.\n"I would love to open up for someone (on tour)," Cristy said. "I just want to play for different crowds and try to build a fan base. I love to perform and I love to sing and I want people to enjoy it"
(01/26/05 4:37am)
Talking to Jenn Cristy is like talking to any other 25-year-old. Still working on completing her degree, it would be easy to assume that, like most 20-somethings, she hasn't really decided on her future. However, with a John Mellencamp tour and a solo album on her resumé, this former IU alumna has more options than the average 20-something.\nWhen Cristy came to IU in 1997, she seemed destined for greatness as an athlete. She was awarded a full swimming scholarship and though she applied and was accepted to IU's competitive music school as a piano performance major, she devoted a majority of her time to swimming. \n"That was my passion at the time so I let music go in the background for a while. You can always go back to music, but your body eventually gives out," Cristy said.\nEventually, swimming seemed to overshadow her music completely. She changed her major to physical education and set her sights on Olympic glory. Then, after singing the national anthem at an IU basketball game in 2001, opportunity knocked on her door in the form of John Mellencamp. To Cristy's complete surprise, he wanted her to join his band.\n"To be honest, I'm from Tennessee so at first I wasn't even sure who he was. When I found out I was shocked. I used to sing 'Wild Nights' in the shower in high school," Cristy said.\nIn an instant, Cristy's plans for the future shifted from swimming to music.\n"(Swimming) was something that I considered (for the future) until I got hired by Mellencamp. Then I thought, 'Well, I guess I'm going to be a singer,'" Cristy said.\nThe amazing thing about her story is that Cristy didn't consider herself a singer until Mellencamp called. She was a pianist and a swimmer, but her singing experience was limited to the shower and other informal venues.\n"I didn't sing unless I was in church choir. I never saw myself as a singer until Mellencamp hired me," Cristy said. "I didn't believe I was a part of his band until we were on the tour bus. I thought it was all a hoax."\nCristy says touring with Mellencamp was an "eye opener."\n"I had never been to a concert and I had never worked with pros in the studio. I learned so much from the band members about presence and how to come across to (audiences). If you're having a bad day you leave it at home. You're a performer. You're supposed to reach people in ways they can't be reached every day," Cristy said.\nFour years later, the lessons she learned while touring with Mellencamp seem to be paying off. Cristy is working to promote her debut solo CD, Becoming. The release party, which was held at Second Story on Friday, January 21, was a rousing success.\n"(It was) incredible. I really didn't think it was going to be that awesome. Close to 150 people came out. I made sure to get 100 CDs by the CD release and we don't have any left," Cristy said. "My CDs are actually on back order, which is amazing."\nWhile Cristy would love to focus all of her energy on her music, other commitments in her life including her husband, Ben, her daughter, April, and a number of students she gives private music lessons to, make juggling everything a struggle. She says her family is what keeps her sane.\n"My husband is really supportive. He's amazing. He took the day off Friday (for the CD release party) to make sure that I didn't go crazy," Cristy said.\nShe is passionate about teaching and says it has actually been beneficial to her music career.\n"The teaching part is actually pretty easy because it's good practice for me. I have a couple piano students, a guitar student and about 24 voice students," Cristy says. "I love teaching. I want these kids, especially the ones who are looking way down the road, to get to experience what I do."\nIt is also important to Cristy that young people and college students are exposed to original music.\n"Around here college kids want to listen to cover bands, which I think is great. Whatever excites people about music is a great thing. But there's a lot of great original, local bands that I don't think they're exposed to," Cristy said.\nCristy's experiences working with youth have also made her sensitive to the struggles of young people. She hopes that she can reach them through her songwriting.\n"I have a song called, "Cinderella" about self-image. I try to emphasize to kids that they can be themselves," Cristy says. "I have a whole bunch of students and I try to make sure they know you can wear sweat pants, you don't have to wear makeup and it's OK to wear your hair down."\nWife, mother, singer, songwriter, teacher ... with all of these titles, Cristy says it's been challenging to keep swimmer on the list. Aside from her lack of time, she says sometimes it's difficult to be involved in swimming without some element of regret.\n"I coached the last two years at (Bloomington High School) North because my husband is the diving coach, but by the time the Olympics came around I decided I needed to let it go for a while," Cristy said. "It was the first time that I hadn't been working toward (being an Olympic swimmer)." \nCristy watched the Olympic time trials and said part of her wondered if she should have kept training.\n"As much as I love it, I do not get into the water anymore. It's too awkward," she said.\nWith more than 200 songs in her catalog, Cristy is an accomplished songwriter. However, she stresses that she's a performer first and foremost.\n"I just want to play. Even if I'm playing in front of 10 people it's really cool," Cristy said. "You're playing your songs and people are listening to your music and enjoying it."\nCristy currently lives in Bloomington with her family and plays a number of local venues regularly. Her Web site, www.jenncristy.com, includes a complete calender of future shows. She will be part of the Tsunami Relief Benefit Show at 7 p.m. tonight at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.\n"I've seen all these fundraisers on TV and I wanted to do something," Cristy said. "Those people, I could not imagine being in their situations. So many lives were lost. It's for the greatest cause in the world: giving someone hope."\nCristy is currently working with venues in Indianapolis and Chicago for possible shows and hopes to organize a tour, even if she isn't headlining.\n"I would love to open up for someone (on tour)," Cristy said. "I just want to play for different crowds and try to build a fan base. I love to perform and I love to sing and I want people to enjoy it"
(01/20/05 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For many IU students, beer is the drink of choice. At the bars, mixed drinks can get expensive. With beer, there's no mystery about what's in the glass. Do-it-yourself cocktails are a fun alternative, but deciphering the ingredients for some of the most popular drinks can be complicated.
Web sites like webtender.com are taking the guesswork out of mixed drinks. With WebTender, an extra trip to the liquor store may not even be necessary. A simple search for all of the alcohol that one has will present them with a list of possible drink options.
Weekend has compiled a list of popular drinks for quick reference. Forget about that dirty 30, for classy drinks just mix two parts alcohol with one part ingenuity and create your very own bar at home
Long Island Iced Tea
• Vodka• Tequila• Rum• Gin• Triple Sec• Sour mix• Cola
Mix equal parts vodka, tequila, rum, gin and Triple Sec with one and a half parts sour mix and a splash of cola over ice. Pour into a shaker and shake once. Serve with a touch of fizz and garnish with a lemon
White Russian
• Vodka• Kahlua• Cream or milk
Mix two parts vodka with one part Kahlua. Add ice and serve with cream or milk.
Martini
• Gin• Vermouth (sweet or dry)• Olive
Mix three parts gin with one part vermouth over ice. Shake or stir well. Garnish with an olive.
Margarita
• White tequila• Triple Sec• Lime juice• Coarse salt
Coat rim of glass with salt and lime juice. Shake three parts tequila and one part Triple Sec with ice. For frozen a margarita, blend well with crushed ice.
Cosmopolitan
• Vodka• Triple Sec• Lime juice• Cranberry juice• Lime
Shake two parts vodka with one part each of Triple Sec, lime juice and cranberry juice.
Fuzzy Navel
• Peach schnapps• Orange juice
Mix two parts orange juice with one part schnapps. Serve over ice.
Manhattan
• Bourbon• Vermouth (sweet or dry)• Angostura Bitters
Mix three parts bourbon with one part vermouth. Add a dash of Angostura Bitters and serve over ice. Garnish with a cherry.
Pina Colada
• Rum• Pineapple juice• Cream or milk
Mix two parts rum with two parts pineapple juice and one part cream or milk. Serve over or blend with ice.
Daiquiri
• Rum• Lemon juice• Powdered sugar
Mix one part lemon juice with three parts light rum. Shake and strain into a glass. Add powdered sugar to taste.
(01/19/05 3:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For many IU students, beer is the drink of choice. At the bars, mixed drinks can get expensive. With beer, there's no mystery about what's in the glass. Do-it-yourself cocktails are a fun alternative, but deciphering the ingredients for some of the most popular drinks can be complicated.
Web sites like webtender.com are taking the guesswork out of mixed drinks. With WebTender, an extra trip to the liquor store may not even be necessary. A simple search for all of the alcohol that one has will present them with a list of possible drink options.
Weekend has compiled a list of popular drinks for quick reference. Forget about that dirty 30, for classy drinks just mix two parts alcohol with one part ingenuity and create your very own bar at home
Long Island Iced Tea
• Vodka• Tequila• Rum• Gin• Triple Sec• Sour mix• Cola
Mix equal parts vodka, tequila, rum, gin and Triple Sec with one and a half parts sour mix and a splash of cola over ice. Pour into a shaker and shake once. Serve with a touch of fizz and garnish with a lemon
White Russian
• Vodka• Kahlua• Cream or milk
Mix two parts vodka with one part Kahlua. Add ice and serve with cream or milk.
Martini
• Gin• Vermouth (sweet or dry)• Olive
Mix three parts gin with one part vermouth over ice. Shake or stir well. Garnish with an olive.
Margarita
• White tequila• Triple Sec• Lime juice• Coarse salt
Coat rim of glass with salt and lime juice. Shake three parts tequila and one part Triple Sec with ice. For frozen a margarita, blend well with crushed ice.
Cosmopolitan
• Vodka• Triple Sec• Lime juice• Cranberry juice• Lime
Shake two parts vodka with one part each of Triple Sec, lime juice and cranberry juice.
Fuzzy Navel
• Peach schnapps• Orange juice
Mix two parts orange juice with one part schnapps. Serve over ice.
Manhattan
• Bourbon• Vermouth (sweet or dry)• Angostura Bitters
Mix three parts bourbon with one part vermouth. Add a dash of Angostura Bitters and serve over ice. Garnish with a cherry.
Pina Colada
• Rum• Pineapple juice• Cream or milk
Mix two parts rum with two parts pineapple juice and one part cream or milk. Serve over or blend with ice.
Daiquiri
• Rum• Lemon juice• Powdered sugar
Mix one part lemon juice with three parts light rum. Shake and strain into a glass. Add powdered sugar to taste.
(01/13/05 5:00am)
Considering the longstanding tradition of recording companies capitalizing on the untimely death of artists, it isn't surprising that less than two months after the drug overdose of Ol' Dirty Bastard the first of what will most likely be many posthumous records has been released. Osirus: The Official Mixtape, however, is not to be confused with the album that he was in the process of recording at the time of his death, which will most certainly be released sometime in the near future.\nOsirus starts out strong. The first four tracks, "Pop Shots," "Dirty Dirty," "Go Go Go" and "Who Can Make it Happen Like Dirt?" represent the style that Dirty cultivated from his time with Wu-Tang Clan until his death -- a beat-centric fusion of bass and sampling paired with ODB's erratic and at times bizarre rapping. The background beats carry on Dirty's tradition of old-school mixing, including samples of kung-fu clips and Mozart. However, something seems to be missing from his rapping style. Gone is a lot of the crazed ranting, shouting and nonsensical rambling that fans remember from his previous solo recordings. While ODB-as-a-serious-rapper may be something that many of his fans longed for, an equal number, including myself, looked to ODB for this unique combination of insanity and genius.\nWu-Tang member Cappadonna is featured in the song "Stand Up," but Wu-Tang fans shouldn't expect it to be reminscient of the Wu flavor. The combination of Dirty and Cappadonna just isn't enough to bring it back. The Roots' human beatbox, Rahzel, contributes two skits featuring his unbelievable beatboxing ability which is definitely worth checking out. The other guest spots, including contributions by Baby Sham and Rhymefest, aren't particularly memorable. \nOsirus also boasts bonus tracks. "Move Back" seems cluttered and overblown because of the five guest performers on the record. The Clinton Sparks remix for "Pop Shots," also included in the bonus tracks, should have been left out.\nBottom line, don't listen to this expecting old Ol' Dirty Bastard. But it's not an amazing "new" sound either. Osirus falls somewhere in between the two -- namely in the territory of mediocrity.
(01/13/05 4:09am)
Considering the longstanding tradition of recording companies capitalizing on the untimely death of artists, it isn't surprising that less than two months after the drug overdose of Ol' Dirty Bastard the first of what will most likely be many posthumous records has been released. Osirus: The Official Mixtape, however, is not to be confused with the album that he was in the process of recording at the time of his death, which will most certainly be released sometime in the near future.\nOsirus starts out strong. The first four tracks, "Pop Shots," "Dirty Dirty," "Go Go Go" and "Who Can Make it Happen Like Dirt?" represent the style that Dirty cultivated from his time with Wu-Tang Clan until his death -- a beat-centric fusion of bass and sampling paired with ODB's erratic and at times bizarre rapping. The background beats carry on Dirty's tradition of old-school mixing, including samples of kung-fu clips and Mozart. However, something seems to be missing from his rapping style. Gone is a lot of the crazed ranting, shouting and nonsensical rambling that fans remember from his previous solo recordings. While ODB-as-a-serious-rapper may be something that many of his fans longed for, an equal number, including myself, looked to ODB for this unique combination of insanity and genius.\nWu-Tang member Cappadonna is featured in the song "Stand Up," but Wu-Tang fans shouldn't expect it to be reminscient of the Wu flavor. The combination of Dirty and Cappadonna just isn't enough to bring it back. The Roots' human beatbox, Rahzel, contributes two skits featuring his unbelievable beatboxing ability which is definitely worth checking out. The other guest spots, including contributions by Baby Sham and Rhymefest, aren't particularly memorable. \nOsirus also boasts bonus tracks. "Move Back" seems cluttered and overblown because of the five guest performers on the record. The Clinton Sparks remix for "Pop Shots," also included in the bonus tracks, should have been left out.\nBottom line, don't listen to this expecting old Ol' Dirty Bastard. But it's not an amazing "new" sound either. Osirus falls somewhere in between the two -- namely in the territory of mediocrity.