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(10/28/07 10:37pm)
Halloween is the most magical holiday around. For one night, we can be whoever we want to be. When we were kids, it was all about being our favorite Disney character or who we wanted to be when we grew up. Our goal was to consume as much candy as we could, which led to candy hangovers the next day.\nThis special holiday changes as we get older, however. Naturally, consumption of candy progresses to something that leads to stronger hangovers. As our costume ideas might mature, our creativity in assembling them doesn’t always. \nFor me, Halloween means becoming one of my favorite heroines, or just something straight up contradictory. For most girls, however, this implies dressing up as a slutty version of anything from Little Bo Peep to Raggedy Anne. We’ve all seen “Mean Girls,” so we know that “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” \nExcept, I dare to say something about it. I don’t mind the sluttiness factor at all – I’m all for everyone showing off their best assets. Yet every Halloweekend, I find it quite depressing to see a line of ladies walking down the street, half of them wearing the same costume. What really irks me is the sheer lack of creativity in most Halloween costumes these days. With a little thought, you can be a sexy anything. Even a sexy Hillary Clinton. \nAnd since most costume manufacturers assume every lady wants to be slutty for Halloween, this is how they tailor all their wear. Just this past week, I was in search of my outfit when my blood pressure hit an all-time high. You see, for Halloween I plan on being Nicole Richie during her brief jail sentence. And ideally, I was searching for some sort of orange jumpsuit. I foolishly entered Spencer’s in the College Mall, and found $50 worth of a skimpy orange minidress. A male, who looked straight out of a porno, accompanied the lady on the cover. Now, the costume also came with a pair of handcuffs, which were actually less high-tech than the $2.99 pair I purchased from Kroger. \nSo I went over to Cactus Flower, and thankfully found a black and white striped jumper. The top was equipped with the aforementioned handcuffs, oversized sunglasses, boots, and a name tag that said “LA County Jail.” I transformed into the incarcerated Nicole. \nLadies, it is possible to be cute and creative. You don’t have to settle for typical and clichéd outfits. They’re overpriced and unnecessary. Halloween is meant to be different than any other night, but it just ends up like every other one. And drunken dudes are going to hit on you all whether you’re a rubix cube or a Playboy bunny. Unlike the portrayal of Halloween in “Mean Girls,” you can be something in between Lindsay Lohan’s “ex-wife” costume and everyone else’s lingerie with cat ears. \nAnd for those of you who dared to challenge the norm this year, mad props.
(10/25/07 4:00am)
"Things We Lost In The Fire" is a rarity among Hollywood films. It isn't driven by a fast-paced plotline, and it is shockingly realistic. It doesn't leave you with one particular feeling or understanding but instead showcases the human condition of rebuilding.\nHalle Berry plays Audrey Burke, the recent widow of Steven Burke, played by David Duchovny. Benicio Del Toro plays Jerry Sunborne, Steven's best friend since childhood and a heroin addict. \nThe first part of the film does not immediately show the death of Steven, but builds an emotional outline of his character. The scenes are from moments in his life with Audrey, his children and Jerry. These are not the "major" events of his life but rather the obscure yet unforgettable details, such as family time at the pool or unloading the car after a fun family vacation. The other part deals with the initial effects Steven's death had on his loved ones. None of this is by any means melodramatic -- it just depicts those simple moments in a raw style. \nThe remainder of the film deals with the relationships and unlikely bonds between Steven's loved ones following his death. Jerry moves in with Audrey and the kids and at first finds himself quite discomforted and attempts to relapse. Through time, however, Jerry grows attached to his best friend's children and wife. While he is focused on helping them grieve, he does not focus on his bouts with heroin. The same occurs for Audrey when she helps Jerry through a relapse and in doing so, adopts her late husband's unconditional loyalty and kindness.\nThe film constantly quotes that one must "accept the good." This might seem like a strange proverb for a gloomy production, but it is not put forth in a cheesy, uplifting way. It is an attempt to promote kindness and forgiveness and indicates one will be rewarded for these acts. \nDespite the slow pace, film fans tired of cliche Hollywood endings and unrealistic relationships will revel in this film's earnest and frank look into familial rebuilding. Also, Del Toro's portrayal of a broken man battling his demons is nothing short of amazing.
(10/25/07 4:00am)
ew movies have attempted to do what "Rendition" almost achieves. That is, successfully depict the international tensions in a post-9/11 world. This film comes close with its all-star cast and powerful message, but something is still amiss.\nPerhaps it is because this film focuses too much on a compelling plot rather than doing in-depth character analysis. The core story line is based on the "Extraordinary Rendition," a CIA initiative that abducts terrorist suspects to a foreign prison. The premise of the initiative is to use interrogation and torture to make the suspect reveal information. \nOmar Metwally portrays Anwar El-Ibrahimi, an engineer who is abducted while traveling from a conference in South Africa. Reese Witherspoon plays his pregnant wife Isabella, who travels to Washington, D.C., to find a reason for his disappearance. Meryl Streep plays a CIA agent who is convinced that Anwar is complicit in terrorist activities. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Anwar's interrogator, who is certain of the engineer's innocence. He is contrasted with another interrogator, played by Abasi Fawal, who uses stern torture on the suspect. \nWhile all of the emotion and events are realistic and powerful, the viewer is unable to fully feel empathy for the characters. One only sees the surface of each individual, which simply isn't enough for a film that pushes so much passion. There are isolated scenes in last year's "Babel" that evoke more sentiment than the entirety of this film.\nThis is not to say "Rendition" isn't a solid film and an earnest effort. If anything, it is a transitional film that will set the tone for future post-9/11 films. This subject matter is always difficult to depict when the world is in such a tumultuous time. And unlike so many films that depicted the 9/11 tragedies too soon, the timing is not off for this subject. While "Rendition" addresses the tensions in our culture based on fear and prejudice, the script fails to dive deeper into these tensions and leaves the audience wanting more.\n"Rendition" sets the stage for the new generation of leading actors in Hollywood. Witherspoon is the only actress her age that not only has a commercial appeal, but a respected and prolific career. The same is true of Gyllenhaal.
(10/14/07 10:07pm)
I gave up on the notion of defining myself within a subculture when I ultimately realized that punk is in fact, dead. I was 13 in Alabama – nobody gave me the memo. So I spent a year of my life refusing to listen to anything that wasn’t “punk rock.” Subsequently, I’m really into all pop music that came out around that time. It was everything that I suppressed, without any good reason.\nThen in high school, I laughed at the stoner kids in my art classes that considered themselves hippies because they wore tie-dye and liked Phish. I realized I used to be like that – phony and naive.\nWhile I now decline to define myself into any subculture, that doesn’t mean others won’t.\nHere in the good ole U.S. of A., we have to classify everything. Most importantly, our people.\nLoser. Goth. Bro. Slut. Whatever – we are always classifying others.\nNow, I don’t know who strangers think I am. Maybe a nerd, possibly a thug. But there’s always one classification that really gets under my skin.\nA hipster. And for several reasons, I cringe. I cringe like when I hear Ryan Seacrest making heterosexual comments when I know he’s dreaming of dudes.\nHow do I hate to be called a hipster? Let me count the ways.\nA hipster is many things. They tend to have great taste in music, but they are restricted to follow a certain criteria. This criteria is set by Pitchforkmedia.com.\nI’m not saying I don’t read Pitchfork. It’s a great source for news. I’ll glance at the reviews, scoff at some writers’ attempts to either impress or confuse others with their vast and plentiful knowledge. And I’m sure they do know more about music than most of us, but who really cares? We’re all singing to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” at 2 a.m.\nWhich leads me to my other qualm. It’s apparently okay to like pop music now, as long as you do so in an appropriately ironic manner. Even the notion of a guilty pleasure is just a way to mask what you genuinely like,\nHere’s the conundrum: I know I have hipster tendencies. I like shopping for vintage duds and albums on vinyl. I love indie music – I’m even an intern for an independent music distribution company. And I can’t help but feel a bit discouraged at those who only know the world of the mainstream.\nSo maybe I’m still just as phony as I was in junior high. But this time, I have the audacity to think I wouldn’t belong to a subculture because I could actually be original. That just might be the most pretentious thing above all.\nBut I’m still going to cringe if you call me a hipster.
(10/04/07 4:00am)
Back in 1993, a relatively unknown band named The Flaming Lips had a surprise Top 40 hit in the song "She Don't Use Jelly." Soon after, they were appearing on everything from MTV shows to "Beverly Hills 90210." It was a weird time in the music world. One character in "90210" expressed this sentiment after the Lips' lip-syncing performance, saying, "You know, I've never been a big fan of alternative music, but these guys rocked the house!"\nSince then, the worlds of indie and commercialism have collided on several occasions. Nowadays, a plethora of "indie" acts are embracing the commercial world. Perhaps the most common way one can notice this is in TV commercials. \nOf Montreal, for instance, reformatted its song "Wrath Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games)" for an Outback Steakhouse ad last year. The move garnered the band a hefty dose of criticism, but front man Kevin Barnes didn't let it get to him. He explained that indie bands aren't exactly wealthy, and that they are still the same band even if they let their music be used for commercial purposes. Plus, the money Of Montreal gained would allow it to enhance its theatrical stage presence. \nBut Of Montreal isn't the only band making cash from commercials. The music of indie darling Feist is in commercials for everything from iPod to "Grey's Anatomy." Wilco offers one of its songs for use in a Volkswagen commercial. The list goes on.\nIt can be upsetting to see an act change that you loved since its humble beginning. It's kind of like seeing an old friend move on to a new crowd. But it's usually more like your friend who was always low on cash finally has enough to pay rent. And after all, music is a profession, which means making money should be part of the plan. \nThe line between indie and commercial can often be blurry, though. In August, it was announced that major label Vice Records will release This is Next: Indie's Biggest Hits Volume 1 -- basically a "Now! That's What I Call Indie Rock" compilation. Surprisingly, most of the songs are pretty solid. However, some of the featured artists, such as Sonic Youth, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Spoon are on major labels themselves. \nThe repercussions of the commercialization of today's indie music will probably be pretty disturbing. When punk rock became widespread, it was repackaged for suburbia, resulting in bands we have now such as Good Charlotte. When hip-hop made it into the mainstream, the core understanding of the genre shifted from the urban youth niche to a commercially viable music genre that corporations could potentially exploit. \nSo is indie a state of mind? Is it a style? Should it be insulting that this music genre is being used as a commercial tool? Or does this validate indie as an influential and legitimate genre?\nI don't know.\nBut I'll tell you what I do know. Essentially, if you're making music, you want it to be heard. Making music that becomes popular should be a good thing for any artist. Sure, often times mo' money can mean mo' problems. But if you consider yourself a true music fan, you shouldn't pick your favorite artists based on their label or genre or popularity. \nAnd as fun as it is for music nerds to discuss their beloved passion, most people don't care about it that much. So in the end, when it comes to the music you choose, just go with your gut.
(10/01/07 2:34am)
Paris Hilton isn’t exactly a good role model. She’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, and she’s had her fair share of troubles. But then again, who hasn’t messed up before? Who hasn’t gone out to a party and done something stupid? The only difference is Paris’ every move is being followed. If we don’t like a picture of ourselves, we can just untag it on Facebook, while she has to face seeing unflattering photos of herself plastered across the cover of most every magazine in the nation.\nNow, this column isn’t about defending Paris Hilton against the evils of the media. It’s about how she has never let her mishaps get the best of her. \nYou can make many choices in life. You can always be cautious and safe, and thus make sure you’ll never make a mistake. And if you do let go, you’re bound to screw up.\nNo matter what, bad things happen to everyone. But the way you will become defined in life is by how you choose to handle your mishaps. And sometimes, that can be pretty hard to do.\nOne way we can learn to make it through these tough times is by taking a hint from our celebrity friends. You see, America’s whole fascination with celebrities is pretty simple. We want to find the connection between their celebrity status and our regular existence. We see that they can overcome drug addiction, rehab, sex tapes, etc. If they can get through all that, we surely can get over a bad night at the bars or at a party.\nWhich brings me back to Paris. When her infamous sex tape, “1 Night in Paris” was released, she naturally flipped out. She threatened to sue anyone involved in its distribution, while stealing copies of the tape from Hollywood newsstands. Eventually Paris received profits from the tape, which she actually donated to charity. And a special extended version of the tape was released just in time for the “Simple Life 2” premiere!\nEveryone remembers the insanity centered around Paris’ jail time this summer. I’m sure plenty of you laughed when you saw the clip of her frantically sobbing in that cop car. But in the end, Paris’ jail time didn’t end her career. It made her even more famous, which no one thought was possible. And whether or not all that stuff about her changing her partying ways is true doesn’t really matter. We’ll probably never really know the real Paris. In the end, she is part of an image.\nAs she stepped in a puddle last week, Paris shrieked that she was going to contract AIDS. Not such an intelligent comment, but I know I’ve heard people say such dumb remarks when its been raining. And last week, it was also announced that Paris will go to Rwanda in November to help the country. She will probably try to keep the masses out of dangerous AIDS puddles. Maybe she’ll even run a 5K to stop the spread of the puddles, just like the folks from “The Office” did to cure rabies.\nSo next time you’re feeling sorry for yourself, just think of everything Paris has gone through. I promise, it will make you feel so much better. She dated a Backstreet Boy, after all.
(09/27/07 4:00am)
1. Union Board World DJs \nWhen: 7 p.m. Friday \nWhere: Mallor Clendening Grodner & Bohrer Tent DJ Neville C from Washington, D.C., The Hook UP from Memphis, Tenn., and locals The Counts of Bounce will be spinning for the free event sponsored by Union Board and WIUX Media. \nead of IU Hip Hop Congress Tim Zawada booked all three acts. He said he chose these specific DJs because "Lotus Fest is all about turning people on to music that they normally wouldn't hear, so I wanted to bring in DJs that would play a full set of the most eclectic blends from all corners of the world."\nBefore the DJs take the stage, The Hip Hop Congress will host a turntable workshop to familiarize the crowd with the art form.
(09/20/07 4:00am)
The movie "Hood of Horror" is not your typical scary flick. It is an anthology adapted from the fictional comic book with the same title. As the tagline states, it ultimately depicts that life in the hood "ain't all good." You could draw comparisons to films like "Tales From The Crypt" and the 1995 hip-hop horror jam "Tales From The Hood," yet there's still something that stands out about this film.\n"Hood of Horror" tells three tales of terror in the ghetto, as narrated by the Hound of Hell, played by Snoop Dogg. Just think of him as the hip-hop "crypt keeper," but instead he's a "crib keeper." Other impressive cameos include Billy Dee Williams of "Star Wars" fame, Jason Alexander and former pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page.\nThese are cautionary tales about a graffiti artist who abuses the power of death she cryptically receives, a white trash couple who takes advantage of their tenants and an up-and-coming rapper who is confronted with the responsibility for the death of his friend. It is through these actions that the Hound of Hell decides these doomed individuals' afterlife.\nWhile most modern-day horror movies are unintentionally funny, this one makes no hesitation to capitalize on its cheesiness. Thus, hilarity ensues.\nThis film is not particularly terrifying, and the potentially horrifying scenes are easy to predict. But it's definitely gory. One scene depicts an individual who has a 40-ounce bottle of beer slammed through the back of his head. The most graphic scene would have to be the explosion of a woman's caviar-filled bladder. Some of the goriest scenes are shown in a "Kill Bill"-style anime. Tarantino would be proud.\nThe special features include your typical trailer, photo gallery and TV spots. If you're really into the blood scenes, there is a feature dedicated to "Bringin' The Gore." There is also an interesting segment that goes behind the history and production of the film. As the creators of the film suggest, Snoop Dogg is the best hip-hop figure for a horror film.\nAn even better addition to the film would include Snoop and company rapping throughout the film as they comment on the main characters' mistakes. But perhaps that would be too over the top.
(09/19/07 2:41am)
Andrew Bird will perform to a sold-out crowd at 8 p.m. today in the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. This is the first performance of the year for the BCT Concert Series, and it is jointly hosted by the IU Union Board. \nBird is a Chicago native with a degree in violin performance from Northwestern University. He is also proficient in whistling, guitar, mandolin and glockenspiel. \nBird’s eclectic music style is just as varied as his choice of instruments. He cites composers Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy as influences, and is a fan of Ray Charles and Duke Ellington, yet his style still fits into the world of modern music.\nBird has collaborated with numerous musicians and groups and in 2005, he released the critically acclaimed “The Mysterious Production of Eggs.” His latest album, “Armchair Apocrypha” proved to be an even more ambitious effort in eclecticism. “Armchair Apocrypha” is Bird’s tenth studio album, according to his Web site. \nBird’s fall tour started Sept. 15 at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Following his stint in Bloomington, Bird will headline this year’s Pygmalion Music Festival in Urbana/Champaign, Ill. He will close the tour in Wisconsin, where he will open for fellow instrumentalist and songwriter, Bright Eyes (also known as Conor Oberst). According to his Web site, Bird’s tour is eco-friendly with the inclusion of biodiesel, organic food, recycling initiatives and carbon offsets.\nThis is not the first time Bird will perform in Bloomington. He previously marveled concert-goers at the Buskirk in February 2006. Bird’s live show is known to showcase his many talents. Instead of replicating his albums on stage, he reinvents them, according to his Web site. When fans begin to sing or whistle along with Bird, they could be surprised with the presence of his violin instead. This is not to say that the core of his style is gone, but that he adds new layers of depth with each of his performances.\n“He plays these deep, complicated songs so effortlessly that the songs themselves seem to be smirking,” said senior Erin McGuan about his stage presence.\nWashington D.C.-based Le Loup is opening for Bird.
(09/17/07 2:20am)
I spent the first part of my summer studying in Florence, Italy along with 35 other IU students. During my time there, I learned a lot about Italian culture, history and art. I also ended up learning a lot about American culture – specifically, IU culture.\nOur program was like a microcosm of IU. We even learned directly from IU professors in the comfort of our own pension and around Florence. We consisted of greek members, artsy kids, music majors, a football player and so many more. Within the group, I met some amazing people who I would have never gotten to know otherwise.\nI don’t know if it was because Florence is just a feel-good city, but for the most part, the 35 of us got along beautifully. The unlikeliest of bonds formed, and we looked like one of those posed and clichéd college brochures that try so hard to promote diversity. And we didn’t have to go through some “Breakfast Club” experience, either. That is, we didn’t need to overcome our stereotypes to become friends.\nSometimes, you can find similarities between yourself and others when you least expect. Take, for example, the moment I came out of my shell. I was in the back of our bus after sharing a set of headphones with the athlete in our group, loudly rapping along with Young Joc’s “It’s Going Down.” Clearly, you can make friends with pretty much anyone if you find a mutual song on your iTunes. I realized just how true this was on the many occasions I played DJ for my roommates, or when we all found common ground after coming across an online site that featured hundreds of TV shows. One of my roommates was 12 years older than me, but we bonded over “My So-Called Life” episodes.\nOf course, since everyone tends to flock to those with whom they share something in common, my overall IU group did have subgroups. It’s easier to get along with someone who shares the same interests and tastes as you. Plus, have you ever tried seating 35 in a restaurant?\nBut if you’re only spending time with people just like you, you don’t learn as much. If opposites are supposed to attract in romantic relationships, the same definitely applies to friendships too.\nWe all just wanted to enjoy our time abroad. We wanted to eat the tastiest food, see the best sights and go out to the crunkest clubs. When we longed for home, we watched our favorite TV shows and movies together. Now that I’m back at IU, the memory of Florence still lingers as I see my old friends. I realized that we’re all different individuals, but that we also have universal similarities. We are too often sheltered by our own subcultures and are not often enough exposed to other experiences.\nSo this year, I encourage you all to not be so quick to judge your peers. I urge you not to sit next to someone just like you in class. You could be pleasantly surprised. We’re all just human, after all.
(09/13/07 4:00am)
There are many reasons why you should watch "30 Rock." The cast alone is reason enough. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, head writer of an "Saturday Night Live"-type skit show, "The Girlie Show." Everything changes for Liz when Alec Baldwin's character, GE network exec Jack Donaghy, decides to recruit Tracy Jordan, played by Tracy Morgan. The dynamic between a geeky and sympathetic Liz, crazy white-collar Jack and "straight-up mentally ill" Tracy makes for an extraordinary new sitcom. It's hard to not laugh at Tracy Jordan's nonsensical musings on life, and watch the show pull together in the end. \nWhile Liz, Jack and Tracy are the core of the show, the rest of the cast is also remarkable. Jane Krakowski makes a triumphant TV comeback as Liz's best friend and counterpart. Newcomer Jack McBrayer plays Kenneth, an exuberant NBC page who will do anything for the love of television. Then there's excellent guest appearances from "SNL" alumna Rachel Dratch, rapper Ghostface Killah and actress Isabella Rossellini.\nIt's difficult to do the whole show within a show thing. Yet "30 Rock" draws no boundaries when it comes to self-referential comedy. It subtly stabs at "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," shamelessly plugs its own advertiser Snapple, and even features other shows like "Hard Ball" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." While the focus of "30 Rock" is a show within a show, its success lies in the character dynamic between the writers, actors and producers. The show is just brilliantly hilarious in its ability to address popular culture. \nIf you're already a fan of "30 Rock," the extras will not disappoint. There are a total of six bonus features including deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes and Kenneth the page's pseudo talk show, "An Evening With Kenneth." The most interesting features are the audio commentaries. Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin all have their own commentaries, as do Jack McBrayer and Executive Producer Lorne Michaels. As the actors comment throughout the episodes, one can realize their characters' parallels between reality and TV. \nYou can't help but root for ol' Liz Lemon to pull through in the end of every episode, and hold it all together for the show. At the same time, fans of "30 Rock" will be rooting for Tina Fey and company for a hilarious and long-lasting run.
(09/06/07 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the movie "Footloose," Kevin Bacon stumbled into a sleepy small town that outlawed dancing. In Indiana, there are actual laws just as crazy as the one Bacon encountered. WEEKEND investigated some of the state's most outlandish legalities.
IC 35-46-6-2
Inhaling toxic vapors
There is an entire chapter dedicated to "glue sniffing." It is furthermore illegal to ingest or inhale model glue, or any other chemical that could be toxic "with intent to cause a condition of intoxication, euphoria, excitement, exhilaration, stupefaction or dulling of the senses." Beware of sniffing some Elmer's next time you're at an arts-and-crafts event or you will be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
IC 15-2.1-21-13
Birds or rabbits; sale restricted;
exception; discoloring prohibited
It is illegal to change the color of birds and rabbits. This applies to dying, staining and any other method. The crime is a Class B misdemeanor.
IC 7.1-3-10-5
Package liquor stores; permissible commodities
There is a specific list of legal products that a package liquor store can sell. Under its "exclusive business," it is only legal to provide soda in an "uncooled and uniced" state. The same applies to water and ginger ale, among others. This also means that it would be illegal to sell any juice or milk at a liquor store. Don't run out to Big Red when you need milk for your cereal.
IC 14-22-9-1
Unlawful means of taking fish
It is illegal to try to catch a fish other than ... well, fishing itself. There is even a list of illegal methods and devices. These include, but are not limited to dynamite, a firearm and "hands alone." Hemingway would be disappointed. On the other hand, it is also noted that one can be allowed to do any of this if given a "special permit." One cannot help but wonder how to obtain such a permit.
(09/04/07 3:28am)
It’s a mystery to me why the media is still covering the same old stories about Britney and Lindsay. It’s not because I don’t condone celebrity gossip. On the contrary, I think anyone who is an intelligent human being deserves some silly entertainment every now and then. Ain’t no shame. \nStill, the continued coverage is confusing because these girls have simply lost their touch, and their routines are becoming repetitive. It would be somewhat acceptable if Britney was putting out clubbangers and Lindsay was making good movies again. Judging by Lindsay’s latest movie choices and Brit’s new songs and live performances, that is clearly not the case. \nLately, it’s male celebrities who are really shocking the world. Specifically, we’re dealing with male musicians who are visiting Europe. And I’m not just talking about Akon’s lewd onstage behavior. \nKanye West really shines in his latest album, Graduation. He just has a slight tendency toward word vomit, and his ego always gets the best of him. Take his behavior at the European Music Awards in Denmark. He lost the award for Best Video, but still got onstage to put in his two cents. He claimed he should have won because his video for “Touch the Sky” had Pamela Anderson, a $1 million budget and stunts. Still, he didn’t take any stabs at the real winners, Justice and Simian Mobile Disco, but that was only because, as he pointed out, he had never actually seen their video. \nKanye later admitted he had a little “sippy sippy” before the show, but that he still should have won. In an interesting turn of events, Justice and Kanye are both nominated for this year’s Best Music Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. \nOther male celebs dodged the major headlines as the Smashing Pumpkins, a legendary alternative rock band, reunited for an exhilarating live performance. Apparently, frontman Billy Corgan doesn’t have much to lose. During a recent show in Leeds, England, Corgan commented that a lady in the crowd was dressed like a “slut.” He later comforted the concertgoer by saying, “American girls are sluts, too.” Makes you wonder what Billy’s friend Paris Hilton would say in response to that. \nThen there’s Justin Timberlake, an international pop star who loves to present himself as a southern gentleman. During his recent trip to Scandinavia, he certainly brought rude back. In Norway, he took a picture of a photographer, only to tell him he just took a picture of an “a-hole.” Just a few days later, when a young fan asked to take a picture with him, Timberlake replied by asking, “Do you want me to juggle, too?” \nKanye isn’t exposing his private parts, Billy Corgan hasn’t called anyone a “firecrotch” and JT is always getting better publicity than his ex-girlfriend. But they are just as newsworthy as female tabloid darlings. Maybe the media pardons the boys because they are making good music. Or, perhaps Americans just don’t care if these male celebs are jerks overseas, as long as they’re gents back home.
(08/27/07 12:13am)
Sometimes the best things in life don’t make much sense. If you are baffled, just sit back and enjoy the ride. \nThis is my outlook on the latest dance craze sweeping the nation off its feet: Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat (Soulja Boy).” The number of clips on the Internet of amateurs and professionals doing the “soulja boy” is too high to count. Then there’s the bizarre wave of “remixes” in which “Crank Dat” plays over videos of TV shows such as Barney, Family Guy and SpongeBob Square Pants. When Samuel L. Jackson, one of the coolest guys out there, learns how to do the “soulja boy” on the BET show, “106th and Park,” you know it’s a phenomenon. \nThe song itself is not too different from your typical catchy rap song. The lyrics describe Soulja Boy in the acts of “supermanning” and “supersoaking,” “cranking dat Robocop” then proceeding to the climax of “cranking dat Soulja Boy.” \nI don’t know what he’s talking about. What does Soulja Boy have to do with a 1987 film about a someone who’s half human, half robot, all cop?\nIt doesn’t matter. I can’t help but watch numerous YouTube videos that teach me how to do the intricate dance steps that accompany the song. I couldn’t keep up with clips of dancers working the “crank” in their living rooms, so I switched to a clip of Soulja Boy himself explaining step by step how to do the dance in an empty swimming pool. \n I’m always down for dancing. I do, however, find my freestyle white-girl moves more fun than anything else. I’m also a bit too uncoordinated to learn synchronized dance moves. Yet there’s something about Soulja Boy that makes me want to crank it just like him. \nMaybe it’s because I’ve spent a lifetime freestyling and it’s time for a change, at least during this one song. Maybe it’s the accumulation over a summer of hearing the electronic club duo Justice telling me to do the “D.A.N.C.E.” That song, my summer anthem, was an ode to Michael Jackson. Doing the “soulja boy” could potentially rival “D.A.N.C.E,” my summer anthem, and become my staple dance.\nPerhaps it’s because I felt taken by the story of a big-haired girl from Baltimore in the recent summer flick, “Hairspray.” She just wanted to dance on her favorite TV show, alongside her black friends. (I guess she wanted to do a little more than dance with Zac Effron’s character, but that’s neither here nor there.) \nWe should appreciate the fact that nowadays it doesn’t matter who you are if you want to dance; you just have to be talented. Soulja Boy proved this in his competition for backup dancers. The performances will begin today on TRL. Soulja Boy just wants you to get dancing, and who cares about the rest?\nNow if only Soulja Boy could stop by Bloomington, I could show him some of my moves, too.
(08/23/07 10:29pm)
Most Americans aren’t into politics. Voter interest decreases, just as American Idol popularity increases. What these two seemingly different competitions have in common are their voters. In a way, voters ultimately use the same techniques in both cases. Americans are going to pick a winner to whom they can relate. And above all, they’re going to vote for whoever plays the best music. \nResponding to an Associated Press question in May 2007, the 2008 presidential candidates were asked about their most recent album purchase. Senator Barack Obama’s latest buy was the “Ray” movie soundtrack. So, he’s somewhat hip and pretty deep.\nSen. John McCain went for The Beach Boys’ “Sounds of Summer”, a feel-good classic. The dude just wants to have some clean, all-American fun.\nRudy Giuliani picked Verdi’s “Macbeth,” a real eyebrow-raiser. Macbeth is all about amoral backstabbing to get where he wants; how can one not make parallels?\nSen. Hillary Clinton goes for some Carly Simon to appeal to her fellow females and sensitive dudes.\nBut one truly gets to see Hillary’s personas through her campaign song choices. The Temptations’ “Get Ready” shows her exuberance. It’s a bit too determined and in your face. And while it’s a smart move to include the Dixie Chicks for their liberal values and popularity, the song “Ready to Run” is actually irrelevant. \nThe campaign song winner, which was picked by voters via her Web site, was Celine Dion’s “You and I.” It’s pretty clear the majority of the voters were Hillary haters. Celine Dion is not only incredibly cheesy; she’s not even American!\nI’m not sure whether Hillary and other candidates picked these songs themselves or if they hired an expert. Regardless, they should have picked me for the job. \nFor Hillary, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “American Girl” is perfect. It’s simple, feel-good and patriotic. To show her determination as sassy, but not scary she should go for Kelis’ “Bossy.” Then, to show the modest and vulnerable Hil’, she should flaunt Cat Power’s “The Greatest.” \nBarack should either go for a classic or a new jam. Both choices could be uplifting and soulful. A great classic is The Five Stairsteps’ “Ooh Child,” a beautiful and comforting song about things looking up. For a fresh outlook, he could go for Kanye West’s “Touch the Sky.” Kanye’s confidence would transcend well, and the horns kicking in the chorus would have everyone raising the roof. If you want to appeal to voters’ emotions, R.Kelly’s “I Believe I can Fly” would do it.\nIf Giuliani wants to keep Macbeth’s intensity and show some New York pride, he should choose Wu-Tang Clan’s “Ain’t Nothin’ to Fuck Wit.” \nMcCain couldn’t go wrong with The Beach Boys, but it’s almost too safe a choice. To show a sense of humor, he could use Wilco’s “When You Wake Up Feeling Old.” Additionally, the latter could work for an AARP commercial. \nYou can tell a lot about a person through music tastes, and presidential candidates are no exception.
(07/16/07 6:34pm)
The second annual Pitchfork Music Festival will be held July 13 to 15 in Chicago.\nThe event is hosted by online music zine Pitchfork Media. The Web site has become a leading source for news about independent music and has garnered praise for its album reviews. \nOn Saturday performer Gregg Gillis, a.k.a. Girl Talk, wrote in his Myspace blog that his album “Night Ripper” “immediately exploded” when Pitchfork listed him as a “Best New Music Artist.” Gillis said Spin, The New Yorker and MTV News contacted him shortly after. As the Internet becomes more influential, a seal of approval from Pitchfork can pave the way for success. \nFriday night, three acts will perform their respective classic albums. Sonic Youth will revive “Daydream Nation,” Wu-Tang Clan member GZA will perform his work “Liquid Swords” and Slint will perform “Spiderland.” Saturday night artists include Clipse, Cat Power and the Dirty Delta Blues Band, Grizzly Bear and Dan Deacon. Sunday’s performers include De La Soul, Of Montreal, The New Pornographers and The Cool Kids. \nWhile summer festivals such as Bonnaroo and Lollapallooza recruit hundreds of acts, Pitchfork opts for a quality-over-quantity approach. Thirty-nine acts will be performing in the three-day span. Whereas larger festivals place ticket prices at more than $100, Pitchfork subsequently offers lower prices. Friday passes are $15, Saturday and Sunday tickets are $35 and the three-day passes are $50. However, all tickets have already sold out. \nWith inexpensive tickets, a diverse lineup and proximity to Bloomington, Pitchfork Music Festival can be a weekend getaway for IU students.\nIU sophomore and Chicago suburbanite Heather Zurek said, “I’m really looking forward to spending a day in Chicago listening to a lot of great music and seeing friends back from school that I have not seen all summer.”
(07/15/07 4:00am)
CHICAGO-- This weekend, Chicago’s Union Park hosted the sold-out Pitchfork Music Festival. The mission of the festival was to showcase the best independent artists around at an affordable price. Rappers, rockers and everything in between dominated the lineup. Ticket prices ranged from $15 to $50. \nOn Friday, July 13, three seemingly different acts each performed classic albums. Rock band Slint kicked things off with their album “Spiderland.” Then Wu-Tang Clan member GZA and his crew performed his album “Liquid Swords.” \nFans raised their hands up to form the letter “W,” the Wu-Tang Clan symbol. The Clan’s first album since the death of member Ol’ Dirty Bastard, “8 Diagrams” will be released this fall. GZA made it clear that his former bandmate will not be forgotten by performing a closing cover of Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” \nThe last act was Sonic Youth, who performed their newly re-released album, “Daydream Nation.”\nThis was the first time the band performed their groundbreaking album on American soil, and it proved to be a hit with the audience.\nEarly Saturday performers included Califone, Grizzly Bear and Battles.\nProfessor Murder’s quirky exuberance, aligned with synthesizers and percussion, made for an enjoyable set as well.\nRap-duo Clipse told tales of drug dealing in an aggressive and intense manner. Brothers Pusha and Malice fed off the energy of the crowd, even expressing gratitude toward a fan in the front rapping along to every song. Their set included tracks from their 2006 album “No Fury Hell Hath,” such as “ Momma I’m So Sorry” and “Keys Open Doors,” along with older jams such as “What Happened to That Boy.”\nSultry songstress Cat Power apologized to the crowd repeatedly during her set for imperfections in her voice. Yet her performance with the Dirty Delta Blues Band pleased the crowd, and her set included famous covers and tracks from her 2006 album “The Greatest.”\nElectronic artist Dan Deacon, known as a frontrunner of the “future shock” genre, opted to perform amongst the crowd. Deacon even had a dance contest in which he urged everyone to be “sassy,” citing Prince in “Purple Rain” as a source of inspiration. \nGregg Gillis, also known as Girl Talk, is an electronic musician known for his concert-dance party combinations. Gillis’ live sets are always fresh, and at the show he incorporated new samples such as Hurricane Chris’ “Ay Bay Bay” and UGK featuring Outkast’s “International Players Anthem.” \nSunday’s lineup included The Ponys, Deerhunter and The New Pornographers.\nLater, The Cool Kids pleased the crowd with their hip-hop performance through simplistic beats and an old-school mentality. Pavement fans were pleased to see the band’s former frontman, Stephen Malkmus, though they were still hoping for truth in rumors surrounding the band’s reunion. Georgia natives Of Montreal portrayed a psychedelic ’60s pop vibe that made for a colorful and dance-worthy performance. The festival’s closing act was the funky hip-hop group De La Soul, known best for its 1989 hit, “Me Myself and I.”\nPitchfork Music Festival proved itself unique as it featured artists that also grace large festivals, provided reasonable ticket prices and created an overall unique experience.
(06/14/07 4:00am)
Evidently penguins are "in." From webbed feet to "pecker-faces," these sweet, black-and-white birds have fans all over the world cheering for them. And after watching "Surf's Up," I've jumped on the penguin bandwagon too. With it's wily cast of characters and punch lines that will leave both kids and adults in tears, "Surf's Up" pleases from start to finish.\nThe animated Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf) has been a surfing penguin all his life, according to the documentary crew following him around. So when he gets the opportunity to travel to Pen Gu Island to compete in the Big Z Memorial Surf Off, he jumps at the chance. Discovering truths about life, love and competition along the way, Cody surfs his way into the competition with a little help from his idol, Big Z (Jeff Bridges).\n"Surf's Up" is laced with references, pop culture spoofs and simple hilarity that ensures it will be a crowd pleaser for years to come. The sometimes predictable plot is compensated for with great jokes and stellar performances, including one from the obvious stoner Chicken Joe (Jon Heder) and the surfing promoter Reggie Belafonte (James Woods), modeled after Don King. The cartoon action and cute love story make for a good mix to go along with the hilarious performances. In fact, it appears that Sony Pictures Animation might be putting legitimate pressure on Pixar's CGI market.\nThis film makes me want to go out, grab a surfboard and reach for the stars, having a good time all the way. The penguin bandwagon is pulling up, and those who don't want to miss out on the fun had better hop on. "Surf's Up" is a wonderful piece of animated film that teenagers and families alike will love. Catch a huge swell and ride it to a movie theater as soon as possible.
(04/30/07 4:00am)
Ahhh, summer is almost here. Most of you will be busy with jobs, school, and lovin’ a la Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. You probably won’t have time to – gasp – keep up with all the best things in pop culture. But never fear, Stefania is here! As a gift to anyone that has read my column this past year, or just anyone that is reading now, I will enlighten you with the top five best things of summer.\n1. Music festivals. July 13 through 15, Chicago will be hosting Pitchfork Music Festival with the likes of Sonic Youth, Girl Talk, Stephen Malkmus and De La Soul. Three-day passes are only $50!\nAugust 3 through 5, the much larger Lollapalooza will also be in Chi-town. Ticket prices are $195, while artists such as Pearl Jam, Daft Punk, M.I.A. and LCD Soundsystem will be performing. \nJune 14 through 17, Bonnaroo will he held in Manchester, Tenn. Tickets range from $184 to $215, and some of the best acts include The Flaming Lips, Girl Talk (again!) Lilly Allen and Ween. \nIf you’re broke, you might have a good laugh at a totally free Ozzfest near you.\n2. Movie sequels. What do Harry Potter, Spider-man and Shrek all have in common? They will be invading movie screens and kids’ meals all season long. Other add-on movies coming out are “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “Rush Hour 3,” “Hostel: Part II” and “Ocean’s Thirteen.” I can’t really guarantee the quality of any of these films, but be sure to check out Spider-man’s soundtrack. Contributing artists include The Flaming Lips, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Coconut Records a.k.a. Jason Schwartzman. Looks like Spidey got bit by a bug that made him get better music taste. \n3. The iPhone. It’s a cell phone! It’s an iPod! It’s a computer! Yes, it’s all three, and it’s Apple’s latest gadget that will burn your pocket. Coming out in June, it will probably be the coolest thing you can blow all your summer job money on. I could try and pretend like I know about technology by paraphrasing some sources, but I won’t. It just looks so damn cool and you know it. \n4. “30 Rock” reruns. So many new TV shows came out this past year, and to be honest it was a bit overwhelming. Most people were hooked on the “American Idol” monopoly and all things Sanjaya. Others were just trying to not get too confused while watching “Lost.” I mainly mourned the loss of “The OC.” But out of all the many fresh shows I tried out this year, “30 Rock” is by far the best. Set in a “Saturday Night Live”-like setting, the show portrays the relationship between head writer Tina Fey, starring actor Tracy Morgan and business exec Alec Baldwin. It was created and written by Tina Fey, who is always nothing short of hilarious. With her awkwardness, Morgan’s sheer ridiculousness, and Baldwin’s sharp comments, “30 Rock” will hopefully have a long-lasting future. \n5. Shaved ice. Enough said. \nHave a good summer, y’all!
(04/16/07 4:00am)
My English teacher junior year of high school once said that every smart kid goes through a Woody Allen stage. Now, most people that even remotely know me are aware of the fact that I’m obsessed with this guy. But to me it isn’t so much a smart kid thing – or even a Jewish or an agoraphobic or a nervous kid in general thing. Granted, there’s no denying if you fall into these categories, you are slightly prone to relate to him. And Woody himself is smart indeed. As a film director, writer, actor, jazz musician and comedian, he has proved to be quite an intellectual. But the thing about Woody is, in his decades of making art, today he is more prevalent than ever. \nHe has pretty much released a film a year for the past forty years – whether they’ve been comedies, dramas, murder mysteries, etc. Actually, they can be best when he combines all of these elements. No matter what particular genre they might fall into, Woody’s films will depict the human condition in modern society in a most brutally honest way. If anything its because often times, the characters he portrays and the situations he is put in can’t help but parallel his own life. He can be known to depict himself as successful in his art, but a failure in his personal affairs. \nAnd like any artist, his personal failures can prevail in his work. For someone who can so brilliantly portray life, he seems to have some difficulty actually going about it. He portrays his shortcomings in a self-depricating fashion, making it easy to understand his flaws. Yet instead of coming off as whiny or annoying, he places emphasis on his imperfections in a hilarious way. For those of you not familiar with his work or persona, this can be anything from his stutter to relationship issues. \nSo he’s pretty awkward and imperfect, but everyone I know is like that, too. So instead of trying to mask it, Allen opts to articulate it. Let’s take an example from perhaps his most famous and celebrated film, “Annie Hall.” He stars in the film with his once girlfriend, Diane Keaton, whose nickname actually was “Annie Hall.” Its storyline hits every aspect of the rise and fall of a relationship. Fabricated romantic comedies these days will highlight the serendipity that surrounds a budding relationship, then briefly conceive a flaw that the couple will eventually get through by means of some dramatic event. But sometimes relationships don’t work, and there are far better movies out there than “The Breakup” that will show this. And sometimes, people can even get murdered. Now, it’s not so much that he is pessimistic, but realistic. And sometimes relationships do work out, but Allen is going to show this in a most unsuspecting way, as in “Hannah and her Sisters.” \nSo if you’re tired of irrelevant and mindless films – or ones that are too long for your 21st century attention span, go with a Woody flick.