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(08/30/06 12:00pm)
Dear (hopefully) tanned and relaxed College students,
First off, I'd like to apologize for the fact that I wasn't there for you all summer. Surely you came across tons of relationship issues in your hometown - avoiding the ex, meeting new people at parties or bars or possibly traveling into new, uncharted sexual territory.
And to those who somehow balanced internships, jobs, annoying parents, friends from home and a healthy sex life - kudos, it's not easy. And to those of you whose sexual encounters and romances were limited to "Skinemax" and "Laguna Beach" DVDs, have no fear! Fall is a great time for new beginnings and new relationships (and don't forget to check out the freshmen and new transfers).
Since I have yet to receive any questions or pleas from you folks, I've decided to take this opportunity to talk about something that is often on my mind, even in these stressful summer months. After receiving my fifth "poke" on Facebook.com this summer from a random sketchball, I got to thinking a lot about the online sphere of romance.
There is certainly a loose set of rules that are understood by most about everything from cybersex to online dating to MySpace.com - but nobody's ever written them down! So before you IM a new classmate to find out what he's wearing or poke every single cute boy on your floor, take note of the things I've learned the hard way.
Always know a person you want to meet through a reliable friend so you can confirm facts and keep safe.
Beware of people who needlessly talk themselves up with comments like, "Did I mention I was Homecoming Queen/King?" or "I can tie a Twizzler in a knot with my tongue." They're embellishing to compensate for something.
Complete honesty is important when talking about things like occupation and height, but avoid questions concerning penis size and your "number."
Don't reveal too much online to a person you're interested in dating. If there are no mysteries when you hang out in the real world, you've missed a lot of the fun of first dates.
E-mails can be cute and safer than chatting on AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). It'll be harder for your E-beau to get fresh with you, and you'll have more response time if caught off guard.
Feelings can develop really quickly in the cyber world - even more quickly than in person because there is less awkward silence and more honesty. Be careful - the online chemistry may be in-person fizzle, so don't invest too much love or hope.
Getting freaky with a classmate or friend online es muy dangeroso. The roommate, an ex or your professor (you never know) may be watching and it could be as awkward the next day as the morning after real sex.
Hotness or beautiful features may be exaggerated in online pictures. We've come a long way since Microsoft Paint.
Illicit behavior in the online world can get you in real trouble in the real world. Stalking, harassment or unwanted advances are just as illegal when typed as when spoken. A little copy and paste can get you a restraining order or kicked out of school. Be nice and be smart.
Just-for-fun flirting or a little Facebook poking never hurt anyone. But if you plan on actually hanging out with the person, think about it long and hard. People tend to live in a fantasy world when talking online, but those relationships can turn just as ugly and complicated as your real-world ones.
Kinky remarks or behavior in conversations could be really embarrassing when you meet. Don't say anything you wouldn't say to someone face-to-face.
Lol, LMAO, ROFL, J/K . annoying!
Maybe they're really five feet two inches tall with a lisp and a low IQ. Just keep that in mind.
Never ever meet someone alone, or at a house or secluded place. In fact, like I said, if the person is not a friend of a friend or acquaintance, it could be especially dangerous. Bring the mutual friend along. Remember to be cautious even if you think you know the person.
Oddly enough, some online couples do make it. Don't be embarrassed if you're caught surfing on eHarmony.com. In fact, that's probably safer than meeting a stranger from MySpace, which is definitely a bad idea. Stick to sites where people are identified by their real names.
Parents just won't understand. Explain that it's just like a more sophisticated version of the classifieds in the Sunday paper.
Questioning a person's intentions (hook-up, friendly hangout, wild-monkey sex, etc.) is OK. But don't start naming your future kids - that's just weird.
Really planning every detail of your future hangout - "I'm going to take your hand and kiss it while looking in your eyes" (direct quote, don't ask) - is Creepy with a capital 'C,' not cute, and makes for major awkwardness.
Stop drunk booty-IMing people - for the love of God! Waking up to several IMs to the effect of "We're over, leave me alone" or "Be there in a few ." is just plain painful.
Teasing is a big part of flirting - but proceed with caution. You don't know this person's history, personality or soft spots.
Ugly and obnoxious people have computers, too.
Virtual dating can be fun, but consider turning off your computer and taking a walk down the hall, or hanging out with a friend in the student center. It's more likely you'll find your true love in person.
Why not reserve cybersex as a type of foreplay with someone you're already intimate with rather than an icebreaker with someone you hardly know?
X/Y/Z . Follow your gut, and if you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe, peace out.
Hope this helped you some . please send me questions. I live for this stuff! Be safe and let's get it on.
Love,
Kayy
(04/19/06 12:00pm)
Last Wednesday evening, the College's woodwind quintet showcased its amazing skill and poise to a captive audience in Kendall Hall.
The quintet is comprised of junior music major Katie Ambacher on flute; junior music major Gregory Marsh on clarinet; senior music major Bethanie Schultz on oboe; senior music major Timora Hartwig on bassoon; and junior music major Kristina Gannon on French horn.
The performance began with a Mozart piece, followed with a more dissonant piece composed by Bernard Heiden and a work by Paul Hindemith. Saxophonist A.J. Falisi, junior music major, joined the quintet for Heiden's "Intrada."
Deborah Knox, interim dean of the School of Science, regularly attends these programs. She was present at Wednesday's performance, accompanied by her daughter, Susan. "The students are so talented," Knox said. "It's a jewel of a program."
Following a brief intermission, the quintet continued with an impressive work, entitled "Sextour," composed by Francis Poulenc. Marvin Blickenstaff, professor of music, accompanied on piano. The technically difficult and texturally complex piece frequently changed its tempo and tone, allowing it to sound both dramatic and lively.
"Sextour" was a favorite among the members of the quintet, largely due to their respect and admiration for Blickenstaff. "It was an amazing opportunity to play with (him)," Gannon said. "It was fun but really challenging."
Marsh agreed. "It was very fun to work with Blickenstaff," he said. "His knowledge helped us through the piece."
The program concluded with a piece by German composer Franz Danzi. The quintet then returned for an encore and played Morton Gould's "Pavanne" from American Symphoniette #2. This jazzy and less traditional piece "let (the quintet) show their playfulness," Knox said.
The range of the selected pieces allowed the quintet to demonstrate its versatility. Although the casual classical music listener may not have recognized them all, it did not detract from the experience.
"It was a lot of fun music," Erin Jorgensen, senior music education major, said.
At the end of the night, the quintet earned a well-deserved standing ovation. Cheryl Glitz, sophomore music major, expressed her awe of her peers. "It was incredibly awesome," Glitz said. "They're like professional musicians. I want to be like them when I grow up."
Each musician's love of music and performing allowed the quintet to come together and provide a stellar program. "This year's ensemble had a natural chemistry," Marsh said. "It all came together when it had to. Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience."
(03/29/06 5:00pm)
The baseball team used an offensive explosion to remain perfect on the year by sweeping a doubleheader at Haverford College on Saturday.
The team now ranks atop all of Division III according to the American Baseball Coaches Association poll released March 27.
With lopsided wins of 26-1 and 16-5, the College raised its record to 13-0. The College has outscored its opponents 185-53 this season. The Lions belted six home runs on the day and scored a whopping 42 runs.
"It helps that we returned most everyone from our lineup and we had a pretty good hitting team last year," Gerard Haran, junior catcher, said. "We got a lot of speed and power. We can hit the ball over your head or we can play small ball."
"Everyone in the lineup is hitting well, even the hitters that are coming off the bench for a pinch hit," junior first baseman Blake Bullis said.
Senior Mike Bruschini led the charge offensively in the first game, going 3-for-3 with two triples, four runs scored and five RBI.
Bullis added his first home run of the season to go along with a double and two RBI, and sophomore Dave Mebs was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI.
Junior Brian Kraus picked up the win, scattering three hits in seven innings of work with eight punchouts and no earned runs. Kraus improved to 2-0 on the year.
"Last year we lost three of our four starting pitchers and this year our younger guys have been performing very well on the mound," Bullis said.
"We need people to step up and fill those holes," head coach Rick Dell said. "I think our bullpen could be the key to our success. At the end of the day, it's going to come down to how you pitch."
Bruschini and Bullis continued their torrid days in the nightcap victory. Bruschini went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBI. Bullis added a double and two RBI in a 4-for-5 effort. Senior Chris Wilson chipped in with a double, home run and two RBI while going 3-for-6.
Sophomore Brad Kittle picked up the win and improved to 2-0. Kittle went six innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. With the win, Kittle remained perfect on his career at the College. Kittle went 4-0 last season and is now 6-0 this year.
"We have a lot of great arms on our staff and even though we have a lot of sophomores and juniors, these guys have definitely been through the fire before," Haran said.
"We have been beating teams pretty bad recently and it is easy to get carried away at the plate," Bullis said. "We have all talked about remaining focused at the plate during a blow-out game."
The College picked up its 11th win on Friday in Lancaster with an 8-4 win over Franklin and Marshall College. The College had a one-run lead until the sixth inning, when it pushed three runs across.
Sophomore right-hander Mike Oliver struck out 10 batters en route to his third win of the year, yielding three earned runs off five hits in six innings of work.
Senior Ryan Casey worked the final three innings and fanned three batters to earn the save.
Haran and senior infielder Rich Kropp provided the offense. Haran went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Kropp also went 2-for-3 scoring two runs with two stolen bases. The Lions swiped six bases on the day.
The College tied its single-season triple record in the nightcap. With 22 three-baggers, the College has already equaled the mark set in 2000. Junior Dan Czepiga currently leads the team with five triples.
Haran and Oliver have already captured New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Week honors for the opening week of the season. On Thursday, Haran was also named the National Player of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Haran pointed to the protection he gets hitting in such a potent lineup.
"It was nice to get all those honors, but your stats tell you what you did yesterday and all that means is that I'm not going to see as many fastballs," Haran said. "We got two guys that are fast in front of me and an All-American behind me, so I'm getting a lot of fastballs. It's a very good situation for me to be in."
The College is scheduled to play its first home game tomorrow when it will open its NJAC schedule against William Paterson University.
"Your conference season is extremely important and these games become critical," Dell said. "In our conference, you consistently have good competition and you're playing for keeps."
The Lions are not focused on remaining undefeated. "We can only take it one game at time," Bullis said. "Many things have to go right in order to win a game, we just have to continue to go out there and have fun."
(03/29/06 12:00pm)
Don't believe Wikipedia's lies
I was very impressed with Shaina Basile's Opinion article in the last issue of The Signal, in which she called Cindy Sheehan "despicable" and "an insult to (her) son's memory."
I was particularly intrigued with the fact that Basile credits all of the facts in the article as having been retrieved at wikipedia.org, an open-source encyclopedia which anyone can edit.
However, I came across something most perplexing while exploring this bastion of factual information known as Wikipedia.
Upon visiting the site, you'd be astonished to realize that according to one of the site's anonymous authors, Shaina Basile herself is "an influential member of the liberal anti-war feminist grassroots movement Code Pink" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaina_Basile).
She also has a "deep admiration" for Cindy Sheehan, whom she frequently works beside at grassroots anti-war events.
I found this astonishing, considering Basile just recently penned an article attacking Sheehan. Perhaps an open-source encyclopedia that any pre-teen with Internet access can edit is not the most reliable source of information for articles that are to be published in newspapers.
Chris Zimbaldi
Buchanan's price unreasonably high
Regarding your news story about the invite of Pat Buchanan, am I to understand that it will cost the school $15,000!?
This appears to be an outrageous sum of money that could be better spent inviting other speakers at more reasonable costs.
Does Mr. Buchanan understand that the College is a public institition with limited funds facing budget cuts in the coming year?
Bert Hirsch,
parent of student
(03/01/06 5:00pm)
The sun was shining last Friday and Saturday and so were the women's and men's tennis teams. Opening day was heating up in the Recreation Center on Friday as the women's team defeated New York University and the men's shut out No. 31-ranked Washington College on Saturday.
Sophomore Christina Contrafatto and doubles partner senior Jackie Gavornick defeated junior Erika Olson and sophomore Hayley McLaughlin 8-1. The pair is now 11-2 on the year and still undefeated in dual meets. Contrafatto also won her singles match against freshman Stephanie Tu.
"We are very happy with our girls," graduate assistant coach Keith Glock said. "It was a tough match."
The Lions continued winning all across the board. The No. 2 doubles team of freshman Haley Kutner and junior Kristen Turturiello defeated sophomore Jaclyn Manning and junior Bianca Nicoletti 8-0. Kutner and Turturiello both went on to win their singles matches 6-2, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-1, respectively.
In the final doubles match of the afternoon, junior Karen Shih and sophomore partner Ann Wright served junior Katie Lee and senior Kim Gordon an 8-4 loss. While the duo showed a strong performance, Shih lost her singles match 6-2, 6-1.
The team raised its win streak to nine. The Lions will be in action again on March 17 against Muhlenberg College at 5 p.m. at home.
The men's team had nothing but wins as it won all three doubles matches and six singles matches. The Lions beat the 1994 and 1997 Division III National Champions in the first dual meets of the season.
Senior co-captain Ryan Carty and junior Corey Ball defeated senior captain Tim Riskie and senior Mike Edison by a score of 8-6. That was not the only win for the doubles team that was 20-3 last year. Carty put a win tally in his continuously growing win column of 31. Ball defeated senior Maciek Prytula 7-6 (11-9), 6-2.
Carty defeated junior Arturo Solis, who was ranked No. 3 in the nation. "Carty is a very focused and intense competitor," Glock said. "He works hard on the court at practice and off the court."
Freshman Roger Mosteller and sophomore Mike Klimchak defeated Solis and Prytula 8-5, 8-0. The third doubles team, sophomore Eric Ferriere and freshman Matt Hiznay, beat the freshman duo of Anantha Bhaskar and Rafael Roldan 8-2.
Klimchak has an outstanding single match record of 10-3 and has a two-year record of 32-6 at the College. "This win will help us get to our ultimate goal," Glock said.
Victories in the singles matches came from Klimchak, who defeated Riskie 6-2, 6-4, and Mosteller, who handed Bhaskar a loss with a score of 6-2, 6-2. The Lions will be in action again on Saturday, March 18 at 1 p.m. against Trinity College at home.
(03/01/06 12:00pm)
Last June, after watching the 50-round Major League Baseball draft pick-by-pick on the computer with his father, junior pitcher Joe D'Alessandro was ecstatic to find himself drafted in the 23rd round by the New York Mets.
"It was really great; my dad was so proud of me," D'Alessandro said. "I knew the scouts were looking at me since I had been throwing good, but I didn't know which round I would go. I was excited to be No. 689 in the 23rd because that is better than the other half of drafted players."
After celebrating with his friends, D'Alessandro began to focus on his new career with the class A affiliate of the Mets, the Brooklyn Cyclones. His obvious goal is to make it to Major League Baseball, but D'Alessandro also set some personal goals for himself while he owns the mound in Brooklyn.
D'Alessandro stressed first pitch strikes as an important concentration of his.
"When you get the first pitch to be a strike, you are ahead of the batter and the control is all yours; it is a pretty big deal," D'Alessandro said.
The young pitcher also plans to take each game pitch by pitch and to make one full season with a single A team.
According to D'Alessandro, he is now ranked in the top 10 of the 150 power pitchers (pitchers who throw 92 miles per hour or above) in the league. D'Alessandro agreed that with all of these pitchers it is easy to be intimidated, but he noted that the one way to overcome the intimidation is to be prepared and have confidence in that preparation.
"Joe has good velocity and he has developed a good slider over the years," Lions head baseball coach Rick Dell said. "It is a long hard road like any job, a competitive job, and I would like to see him stay healthy and I think if he does that, then he can be successful."
While attending Glassboro High School, D'Alessandro played mostly third base and only pitched a few innings here and there. After spending his first semester at North Carolina State University, D'Alessandro realized the best chance he had to play for them would be to pitch. Fortunately for the Lions, NC State had too many scholarship players to worry about, so D'Alessandro pursued pitching at the College.
"Coach Dell had a lot to offer me with a lot of experience - he really kick-started my career," D'Alessandro said.
"Joe has just begun to tap his potential as a pitcher and is still learning," junior catcher Gerard Haran said. "He got control of his slider and went from having just a fastball to being a pitcher who could throw three pitches for strikes. He has a great work ethic - after practices when other guys would go home, Joe would go to the weight room and continue to work."
Haran, an All-American last year, has what he describes as a love-hate relationship with D'Alessandro on the field. While having a small part in D'Alessandro's success from a mental standpoint, since he called which pitches to throw as D'Alessandro's teammate last year, Haran remarked that maturity is key in working with a catcher and that D'Alessandro is all maturity.
Last season with the Lions, D'Alessandro finished with 88 strikeouts in 70.1 innings while only allowing 23 walks. He also had a 7-1 record with a 2.69 era and batters averaged a mere .204 against him.
With the Cyclones, D'Alessandro pitched sparingly in about 25 innings last season, since he was coming off of his 78-inning season with the Lions. However, he expects to pitch a lot more this upcoming year.
"This time last year Joe was not our go-to guy, but during the year he made the slow process of developing with decent velocity and good sound mechanics, and now his slider may even be his best pitch," Dell said.
D'Alessandro, a key to the Lions' success last year, hopes to develop even more as a pitcher to further his career with the Cyclones and perhaps eventually with the Mets.
The Cyclones' season does not begin until June 20, but D'Alessandro has already begun his spring training and now awaits what may be the beginning of a successful career in baseball.
(11/09/05 12:00pm)
Drawing laughs and questions from a full audience in the New Library Auditorium, Laura Liswood, senior advisor in Global Leadership and Diversity for Goldman Sachs who interviewed 15 female prime ministers and presidents, spoke on women in leadership last week.
Women in Leadership and Learning (W.I.L.L.), with support from the Bonner Center, which coordinates campus-community outreach programs at the College, and the School of Business, hosted the event, in which Liswood drew on the knowledge from the book and her interviews, and suggested that the low percentage of women in leadership was due to cultural messages.
"My journey started with one of those in-the-shower questions," she said. "This one (was) what would it be like if there was a woman president of the United States?"
Liswood requested interviews with the leaders, and, to her surprise, all accepted, except Britain's Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher said to come back after Liswood had met the other 14.
Liswood did extensive research on the leaders, and a speech coach helped her categorize her questions. Appointments with the leaders stretched on past the allotted times for them, because the women were curious about what Liswood women had said.
Liswood, in response to their curiosity, co-founded the Council of Women World Leaders, based out of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, so that the leaders could meet each other. Every time a woman is elected president, she is invited to join. There are now 29 members.
Liswood highlighted the stereotypes about leaders that correspond with cultural views and practices of men.
Physical appearance plays a role in who is and who is not a leader, Liswood said. Leaders are stereotypically tall, white males in the United States. While in the general population, only 15 percent of men are taller than 6 feet 2 inches, 58 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are 6 feet 2 inches or taller.
"We have this visual image of what a leader looks like," Liswood said. Warren Harding, for example, had the distinct look of a president, she said, so everyone invested in him. Yet, today historians say he was the worst president ever, she said.
Culturally, children are brought up to believe men should be leaders. While men can be president, the myth for a young woman is still a Cinderella one - cleaning the fireplace, talking to mice, and waiting for prince charming, Liswood said.
On the other hand, in Iceland, where there was a female president, children think only a woman can be president, Liswood said.
In their speech patterns and methods of leadership, women and men take on different characteristics as leaders, Liswood added. To be effective in groups not exactly like them, women may need to adapt.
"I'd like to see nine men running for office, and four or five women doing the same," she said. In that way, women would not be so scrutinized, and the media may not focus so much on their dress or their hair.
Liswood answered questions from the audience and, in a reception after the lecture, talked with students about their careers.
"I'm very interested in learning about the power of politics, and having passion in what you're doing," Jessica Boston, senior psychology major, said. "(The lecture) incited me to keep finding my niche."
Liswood could relate to some students because she also had not had a plan for her life after graduation. "I envy people who have this plan," she said.
The daughter of a policeman, she received her master's from Harvard and her law degree from the California-Davis School of Law. In addition to being co-founder of the council of Women World Leaders, she is a co-founder of the White House Project and is a member of the International Women's Forum, Leadership America, and commissioner of the City of Seattle Women's Commission.
"We all (in W.I.L.L.) felt it was very important to see a woman in a leadership status," Ashley Reichelmann, sophomore secondary education/English and women's and gender studies, said. "It helps us all to queer our lines of what we see as right and wrong."
(10/12/05 12:00pm)
It has been six long years since Fiona Apple's last album, "When the Pawn..."
In her absence, fans discovered that Apple was working on her latest release with producer and usual collaborator, Jon Brion.
Soon, two songs were leaked. Eventually, all the tracks were available to any fan with a healthy knowledge of how to navigate the Internet.
The rumor: Sony, claiming its lack of commercial viability, had shelved the disc of the groundbreaking artist, reportedly completed in 2003. In the frenzy, a movement began. Freefiona.com was founded, and followers staged protests in an attempt to make Apple's album, "Extraordinary Machine," available to the world.
Two years later, fans learned that "Extraordinary Machine" was to be released. But, a new producer, Mike Elizondo, had taken over the project, and the album that would be coming to stores would contain rerecorded versions with the exception of only two.
It was feared that the CD had now become the product of the well-oiled industry machine.
Conspiracy theories about the CD have been discussed, but it can't be denied - this disc is still extraordinary in it own right, and Apple does not disappoint.
Apple is easily one of the most brilliant and effective lyricists of the present time. She speaks with truth and self-awareness. Such is the case with "Better Version of Me," where in her quest for an improved self, she notes, "I am likely to miss the main event if I stop to cry and complain again."
When Apple brings her focus to relationship dynamics, she can dissect her own feelings flawlessly. In "Get Him Back," a tune that could too quickly be labeled as a run-of-the-mill song about the one who "did you wrong," she shows her mistake in dismissing other prospects and thereby the complexity of human behavior: "I think he let me down when he didn't disappoint me."
What makes this album so striking is the nearly seamless blending of musical styles, which only further prove Apple's versatility. Much of the music features jazzy undertones achieved through blasting horns and swinging beats, sometimes juxtaposed with electric guitars.
Apple's tunes can sound simultaneously old-fashioned and modern, as on the Brion-produced tracks, "Extraordinary Machine" and "Waltz." The latter explicitly harks back to a more innocent, simpler and less frenetic era when one could "go out and sit on the lawn / and do nothing."
In "Window," Apple both lyrically and musically crashes through the barrier that stifles her. As she exclaims, "I had to break the window / it just had to be," the drums and piano resonate to mimic the shattering of the glass.
Despite its title, "Please Please Please" does not allude to a sentiment of desperation. Instead, the song acts as an unforgiving statement against the blandness and suppressed creativity of today's music scene. Apple mocks the limited capacity for truly inventive material: "Give us something familiar / something similar / to what we know already / that will keep us steady / steady / steady going nowhere." Whether it was intended as an anthem condemning Sony, as was often claimed, the song's thought-provoking theme makes it incredibly intriguing.
Apple is particularly strong on her ballads, and proves she can stand on her raw talent alone. "Parting Gift" - where she is only accompanied by her piano - sounds gorgeous in its simplicity.
For those who had heard the Brion cut of the LP, some of his orchestrations are missed; the string arrangements in "Not About Love" and "Red Red Red" are the most obvious examples. However, the Elizondo versions are enjoyable here too, and produce a different tone.
Do we know what to believe after all the hype and confusion? Say what you will - this machine fails to lose any power with whatever producer is behind it.
(04/06/05 12:00pm)
For the twelfth year, the Asian American Association (AAA) brought a high-energy, colorful combination of sights and sounds to the campus community on April 2 with Mystique of the East.
In this year's show, Mystique's correspondents "reported" from the front line of countries across Asia to bring us "fun, singing, dancing, tradition and beauty," Amardeep Gill, sophomore biology major, said.
The traditional dances and songs were captivating and moving. When Gem Perkins, AAA advisor since Fall 2004, took the stage to sing a Filipino ballad, "Take Away," she hit and held high notes effortlessly and easily awed the audience.
Two Indian dance routines were showcased, "Shades of Passion" and "Arabian Night," the latter featuring the talents of the College's Saathiya dance troupe. Both performances featured rapid footwork and flexibility on behalf of the participants and were definitely crowd favorites.
A demonstration of the Chinese Yo-Yo also drew several bursts of enthusiastic applause by accenting the dexterity of the two performers with their complicated maneuvers. Katrina Wong, senior math elementary education major and AAA President, described it as "absolutely mind-blowing."
There was also quite a bit of good humor. The dramatization of the founding of the Asian boy band Fresh off the Beat, whose manager was named G-Money, was a hilarious skewering of pop music production. When Adrien, Eric, Kyle, JC and T-Breezy hold their first major performance, right at the College, they even took time out to poke fun at the school with "the best dining and housing options you can get!"
In "Rumble In The Hut," a skit combining choreographed martial arts with an intriguing gymnastic aspect, a fight began regarding who would consume the last cup of bubble tea - an Asian tea drink that is a mix of tea, milk, sugar and tapioca pearls. The fighting parties flipped, rolled, punched and kicked all in the name of this beverage.
Mystique closed with the Filipino dance routine, Maglalatik, where nine men took the stage dressed in coconuts and played them in a manner similar to castanets. This strange cross between a folk dance of sorts and an awkward ballet was extremely amusing - and probably rather embarrassing for those involved.
When the show concluded almost three hours later, the audience was far from tired. Joseph Cruz, freshman biology and psychology major, performed in the fashion show portion of the program, the "Making of Fresh off the Beat" skit and the "Arabian Night" and Maglalatik dances. "I'm so tired that I should be dead, but the adrenaline kept me going," Cruz said.
Sharon Soon, senior law and justice major, also modeled in the fashion show and was part of the group in the Chinese Ribbon Dance entitled Love, Love, Love. Her last performance in Mystique was both "very overwhelming (and) very satisfying." "The response (of the audience) gives us more energy," she said.
Regarding Mystique, Wong said, "The motivation is to promote Asian cultures and awareness in an energetic, (festive) way." There was no doubt that the audience's reception was immensely positive and proved that this goal was accomplished.
Event coordinator, Tanya Mendes, senior elementary education and psychology major, had quite the daunting task of arranging the spectacular production. Much of the credit is given to the performers. "Each year, Mystique of the East is different because of the uniqueness of the participants, who bring a little bit of themselves into the acts," Mendes said. "In the end, everyone works together to make Mystique what it is." It was evident to all who watched that the time invested did pay off.
Meredith Carter, sophomore psychology major, enjoyed the entire experience. "I especially love the dances; they're so much fun to watch," she said. "I went last year and I am looking forward to next year."
(03/23/05 12:00pm)
When English professor Cathy Day opened for the sixth annual Women's Words event in Forcina on March 16, she shared a story about a fan letter she received from a Mr. White. Mr. White, who had purchased and read her book "The Circus in Winter," was extremely satisfied with his choice to have done so, but brazenly stated, "I don't read women writers."
Day interpreted this as a strange kind of compliment, given the generalization that men write about "big things," like America and war, while women write about little things, like "gardens, babies and feelings."
Regardless of their subject matter, the words read at the Women's Words event showcased the talent of females in the faculty and campus community and proved to people like Mr. White that women writers deserve acknowledgement, especially during Women's History Month.
Women's Words featured the work of four ladies, the first of whom to read was Susan Albertine, dean of the School of Culture and Society. Albertine collaborated with Cynthia Folio, associate professor of music theory at Temple University, on a project entitled "Music Box" to premiere in Philadelphia in 2006.
Albertine read two poems, "Ocean City" and "Music Box." "Music Box" evoked feelings of nostalgia and innocence in describing it with lines such as, "a brassy inch of sound, self-contained, perfect and complete."
Anita Anantharam, assistant professor who joined the women's and gender studies department this fall, shared her translations of works by Urdu and Hindi poets. When choosing the selections she was going to read, Anantharam was "interested in looking at women critiquing the state." The poems, in the context of the area the authors inhabited and the religious backdrop, would be considered radical or overtly sensual when written by women who typically "aren't able to use their critical voice."
Adding a different kind of voice was Robyn Art, a former adjunct English professor at the College. Art's writing style comes from listening and eavesdropping in on the vernacular, idioms and slang of the day. As for her inspiration, Art aims to use "images that are not traditionally aesthetically pleasing."
These images could definitely be seen in "The Cynic in His 29th Year," where the speaker describes the "ills" he's been able to avoid, such as crabs and inflammation of the gums. Art's deadpan delivery of rather humorous material caused more than a few laughs to be heard.
Female empowerment in living singly seemed to be the subject in Art's "Why The Foreman's Girl Won't Take A Beau." Among the many reasons was the tedious vanity process in impressing the opposite sex: "She would have to wear heels" and "the rick-rack dresses of girlhood." Needless to say, many in the room could relate.
The final speaker for the event was Catie Rosemurgy, assistant professor of creative writing and poetry, and the faculty advisor for ink, the College's writers' organization. Rosemurgy read new material that will be compiled in her new book.
The main character is Miss Peach, whom she describes as a cross between Godzilla and a Barbie doll and "the Barbie Doll is the scary part." Though her first poem, "Miss Peach Gets Lucky," was of a strange nature, it contained critical insights, such as, "Love is a fancy name for giving someone without fangs the power to kill you." And surely, everyone nodded emphatically and thoughtfully amidst the laughter, as "Miss Peach" asked, "which is sharper - teeth or lies, baby?"
"I think (Miss Peach) began as a way of talking about gender and how it is performed and slowly developed into a way of looking at what we find unacceptable culturally, both in other people and in ourselves," Rosemurgy said.
Women's Words offered a variety of exceptional material for the enjoyment of the campus community. Jo Carney, Chair of the English Department, was earnest in saying that this year's presentation was the "best ever."
Amanda Mazuca, sophomore Spanish and elementary education major, saw that the accepted stereotypes were disproved. "They are writing about 'big' things," she said.
(03/02/05 12:00pm)
The Opera Theatre presented a fun mix of swashbuckling and irreverent humor in their performances of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" on Feb. 25-27.
The story follows the misadventures of Frederic, who was thrust into pirate apprenticeship when his nurse, Ruth, misheard her orders to apprentice him to a pilot. Bound to 21 years of service and by his strong sense of duty, the young lad endures his indenture, despite viewing the trade with disgust.
When Frederic is 21, he is more than prepared to quit the band of pirates, despite insisting that he has come to love them individually. Ruth, 36 years his senior, wishes to marry the boy, but Frederic is curious whether he is as beautiful as she says. Instead, he becomes smitten with the daughter of the Major General, Mabel, and she with him.
The second act of the amusing farce brings several truths to light. Ruth and the Pirate King come to tell Frederic that because he was born on a leap year on Feb. 29, he has actually celebrated only five birthdays and is still bound to the pirates.
The police are of no help in protecting anyone in this situation, as they consist of a bumbling, silly and cowardly bunch who are much more suited to provide comic relief and know that in the face of danger, "our obvious course is now to hide."
Concluding in an appropriately ridiculous manner, before they could be apprehended in Queen Victoria's name, it is revealed that the pirates are "not of the common throng, but all noblemen who have gone wrong" and are hence permitted to take the major general's wards as wives.
Rachel Samuel, sophomore English and elementary education major, attended the play and was pleased the performance. "This was the very first play I saw as a kid and the show was fabulous and the singing was amazing," she said.
Tim Serabian, junior elementary education major with a concentration in math, science and technology, who played the role of the Major General, possessed a strong understanding of the role. His father played the same role twice and Serabian grew up on this musical.
While others were watching and reciting Sesame Street, he says, "I was singing these songs as a lad, boots up to my knees."
One of the most amusing songs to listen to was "I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General," a rapid-fire tongue twister that addresses all his expertise, which, as keen listeners discovered, included integral and differential calculus and Babylonian cuneiform. Serabian accredits his ability to master this lyrical challenge to the utilization of memorization and lip exercises.
Rain, snow or any other inclement weather would not have dampened the energy of this cast. However, snowy conditions did force the cancellation of the Thursday evening performance. Despite this setback, the performers put on quite a show.
Christina Rivera, junior music education major, excelled in her role as Mabel, which she had once played during her senior year of high school. Her stunning soprano voice was nearly flawless.
Apparently, singing talent runs in the family, as, according to Rivera, her grandmother sang on the Puerto Rican radio and her mother has, as she says, "the most beautiful voice."
Chris Walsh, freshman philosophy major, played the role of Frederic. Having the distinction of being one of the few participants who was not a music major, he felt he had to compensate by spending a lot of time listening to the recording of the performance. The audience was glad to see that his method of preparation succeeded, as he was very well-versed in the role.
Every aspect of the show helped "Pirates of Penzance" succeed as well as it did. The audience became part of the show as pirates crept down the aisles and climbed over seats with beads in hand to give to audience members. An immensely talented cast was assembled and had little difficulty entertaining the College community.
(02/23/05 12:00pm)
If there are two things students at the College are always looking for, it's entertainment and food. Students in search of these and more were able to find it in the All College Theater (ACT) murder mystery dinner production of Billy St. John's "Murder Can Be Habit-Forming," which was performed in the Decker main lounge on Feb. 18 and 19.
From the moment the audience walked in, they were greeted by the cast of characters and extras as though they too were part of the show. They came to find that they had been on a bus en route to Canada, which happened to break down, bringing all involved to St. Mary's Convent.
St. Mary's was occupied by an eclectic group of sisters, each of whom was named Mary. Reverend Mother Mary Cecilia, played by Alyssa Phillips, freshman secondary education and history major, added a sense of balance and calm amidst the harried atmosphere. She consistently repeated her words of the wisdom, "The Lord works in mysterious ways." Sister Mary Agatha, played by Lemor Ba-ror, freshman elementary education and sociology major, provided the most comic relief as an aging, scatterbrained, slightly senile, though ultimately harmless nun whose misunderstandings caused much laughter.
Allison Lawler, sophomore philosophy major, saw last year's Murder Mystery and was not disappointed by this weekend's show. "It was very funny," she said. "It was a zany premise that was put together very well."
The dynamic of the show was maintained by the riotous interactions between the sisters and the unusual collection of strangers brought to their door. The passengers of the ill-fated bus included a snooty, self-absorbed actress, Erika Kincaid; a student at St. Mary's University, Mary Bishop; a former nun and teacher, Laura Evans; a police officer, Lieutenant MacDougal; a professor of literature at St. Mary's, David Lewis; an easily startled and extremely paranoid columnist for The New York Times, Jerome Stacey; a slightly dim-witted, rock and roll musician, Torch; their bus driver, Willard Patterson; and Mary Adams, who remained cryptic and secretive about her reasons for being there.
After a frightening radio announcement, it is discovered that the "Mary Murderer" is on the loose, killing only those named Mary, thereby inducing a sudden panic through St. Mary's. As fate should have it, the group of travelers had eaten at the Chat 'N' Chew Diner, which had been the scene of the murder of waitress Mary Lester, who incidentally had waited on them. Suspicions and fears arise in St. Mary's as they try to uncover the identity of the disturbed killer. But naturally, it is harder to pinpoint than anticipated as everyone does or says something that raises eyebrows.
Is it Herman, the disgruntled handyman, who knows about the hidden passageways in the old building? Could it be Ryan, Mary Bishop's boyfriend who mysteriously appears on the grounds immediately after the first murder at the convent?
At intermission, the audience was given the opportunity to try their hand at solving the homicide case and voting on who they believed the murderer to be while they snacked on a selection of hors d'oeuvres. When the show ended, those who guessed correctly had their names entered in a raffle to receive tickets to ACT's production of "Noises Off," coming this April.
Marty Rowan, junior psychology major, played Herman in what was his first show with ACT. Though the humor was apparent to him in rehearsals, he was impressed by the audience's great reception. "(They) laughed at things I didn't expect them to laugh at," he said.
Kim Lowden, senior history and secondary education major, took on the responsibility of directing ACT's third annual murder mystery dinner. Lowden actively participates in theatrics on campus, as she is a member of the Mixed Signals, the improvisational comedy troupe, and was a part of the ensemble of last year's murder mystery. The show was cast and rehearsed in three weeks.
Lowden personally selected and proposed this particular show, and the audience came to find that she was right in saying, "You can't really beat nuns." As for her cast, she said, "In one word, awesome."
(02/02/05 12:00pm)
Nothing was off limits at the comedy show featuring Stephen Lynch last week - not even The Signal.
Lynch, who is recognized for his irreverent and ridiculously funny songs on his own Comedy Central special, seemed confused by the name of the paper and asked bewilderedly, "Like a television signal?" That led him to ask the name of our TV news program, "The Journal." Thinking the names should be reversed, he ordered us to "get out of this college now!"
"I'm going to write a song about 'The Journal' and The Signal and how they were drunkenly misnamed one night," he said.
When he performed at Kendall Hall on Jan. 24 though, Lynch's show proved not to be for the faint of heart. Though some of the humor in his songs could offend various groups, most of which were probably represented in the audience, the crowd laughed in spite of themselves as a result of his impressive lyrical witticisms and genuine talent.
Among those who were susceptible to Lynch's verbal daggers were Boston Red Sox fans, political conservatives, the mentally challenged, immigrants and even his own "ugly baby." Catholics may have cringed as he sung his tune about his experience as an altar boy, but it was hard to avoid smiling at the very clever line "You will find the grace of God inside my rectory."
For those who questioned his mental stability, Lynch squashed any rumors by consistently making amusing references to the Robitussin, Vicodin and black tar heroin that he held responsible for his behavior.
Having endeared himself to his audience, it was not difficult to elicit enthusiastic participation from them. For his "Superhero" song, various suggestions were offered that ranged from the lewd to just plain odd, such as Condoleeza Rice. Lynch explained, without missing a beat, that she would have the power to shoot lasers through the gap between her teeth.
In the second half of the show, Lynch brought out his friend and sidekick, Rod. All joking aside, the songs they performed together demonstrated excellent harmonies, best utilized on a nice little ditty about "Dungeons and Dragons." The two of them also entertained the audience with a rather operatic rendition of "Hey Ya!" and a New Kids on the Block dance move from "The Right Stuff."
Upon their return after a standing ovation, the show closed with a melancholy song about taking out frustrations on a young feline. The audience was hardly shy about joining in and cried out the refrain, "Kill a kitten!"
Lynch also explained where he gets his inspiration. He said he considers Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon some of the best musicians of our time.
"I'm a guy with a guitar who sings songs. I'm not a big rock star and I'm not a piano guy," he said. "I look to them for how to structure songs and how to write a song with a story to it."
Comically, Lynch's inspiration comes from the classic mock-umentary "This is Spinal Tap," about the band's attempt to reintroduce themselves to the American public and the overall rock 'n' roll scene that the men try to rejoin.
After the show, his fans had the pleasure of meeting Lynch himself, who was personally selling his DVD "Live at The El Rey."
This was not Lynch's first visit to the College and his return was by no means disappointing. "This was one of the best audiences I've ever had," he said. "Everybody was into it. The people who knew the songs sang along, the people who didn't laughed in all the right spots."
Judging by the packed house of over 800 students who had waited to buy tickets in a line that stretched from the doors of Kendall Hall to the Brower Student Center, there's hope it won't be his last appearance either.
(12/01/04 12:00pm)
If you are looking for a replica of "Bridget Jones' Diary" in the movie's sequel, it is just about certain that you will not be pleased with "The Edge of Reason."
However, if you long to see Bridget and her antics on-screen again, then the new flick should satisfy your craving.
Ren?e Zellweger's reprisal of her role as Miss Jones should not earn her a second Academy Award nomination, but she remains delightful, spunky and spirited in what most will agree is the best role of her career.
The question Bridget poses this time around does not concern how she can finally get a boyfriend, but rather, once you have one, "What happens after you walk into the sunset?"
In Bridget's life, nothing can be so simple as 'happily ever after.' Naturally, insanity and hilarity ensue in accordance with the disorganization and mayhem that exist in her own mind.
Without a doubt, the highlight of this film is the fabulous returning cast. Zellweger's Bridget is as endearingly insecure as ever.
Her new boyfriend, Mark Darcy, as played by the perfectly cast Colin Firth, is sweet and charming, yet somehow suitably stiff and snobby.
The dastardly scoundrel we love to hate, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), returns in a far larger role than was allotted to his literary counterpart. Luckily for us, this decision allows for more intrigue and interaction with the other leads, including another classic fight scene between nemeses Darcy and Cleaver.
The adaptation remains relatively close to the novel and the chain of events this time around will seem quite ridiculous, silly and unreasonable to just about all moviegoers.
One may raise eyebrows at the thought of Bridget's stint in a Thai jail, but it will induce hearty laughter.
Bridget's personality quirks have been exaggerated, but she still shines when we get a glimpse into her psyche. For example, in one particular scene, Darcy stands at her doorstep after they have had a fight while she talks to his answering machine, overanalyzing the future of their relationship. Her behavior remains true to the essence of her character.
"The Edge of Reason" utilizes much more slapstick than necessary. However, this is balanced by the welcome injection of dry British wit and verbal quips. The film also benefits from the addition of a far more dynamic and crowd-pleasing ending, as did the first.
The most unfortunate flaw in "The Edge of Reason" is the lack of use of an amazing supporting cast. In the first film, Bridget's circle of friends, "Tom, Jude and Shazzer," offered comic relief and wonderful banter. This time, Shazzer gets the most screen time when she accompanies Bridget on her trip to Thailand and she is not as amusingly embittered towards the male population but, instead, is easily fooled by a handsome male passenger.
Tom and Jude are almost shadows of their former presence.
Bridget's parents remain their usual, unique selves and it's a shame to not see more of them; her mother (Gemma Jones) is still incredibly zany and self-obsessed, and her father (Jim Broadbent) is always brilliantly deadpan.
The majority of critics are, no doubt, going to overwhelmingly dismiss this adequate effort of a sequel. It is not perfect, but neither is Bridget, and that's why filmgoers came to love her in the first place.
Overall, it is a rollicking good time with the reunion of an exceptional and energetic cast of actors who know their roles. Even if you don't enjoy it as much as the original "Diary," it just about goes without saying that it will make you smile.
(11/10/04 12:00pm)
The proverbial coffeehouse - that smoky, intimate medium in which artists and intellectuals share and exchange their thoughts and creations, will exist in the Rat this Saturday when The College's student arts festival,"The Goods," will be held for the third time from 2 to 8 p.m.
"The Goods" is a campus-wide event sponsored by the College's writers' club, ink, which is also responsible for other events such as the Student Reading Series and the Visiting Writers Series. Dan Brady, a recent graduate of the College now attending George Mason University in Washington, D.C., is accredited with the original inspiration for "The Goods." The event was then realized by students of last fall's Writing Communities class taught by Catie Rosemurgy, professor of English, including Bethany Allinder, current junior English major and creative writing minor.
Allinder, with the help of Angela Schifano, junior English major and psychology/creative writing minor, intends to present a high-quality collection of student talent this Saturday.
"Being selected for 'The Goods' means you are the best of the best on this campus, and we believe our lineup really reflects that," she said.
A m?lange of all kinds of talent, including poetry, music and fiction, will be presented. Also, bands such as "The Light Years" and "Raleigh St. Claire" are scheduled to perform. The College's dance company, Synergy, and improv comedy troupe, Mixed Signals, will both be headlining.
In addition, starting this semester, budding artists can also display their creations. One such artist is Annie Giordano, a sophomore art education major, who submitted two pieces, a pen and ink drawing and an oil painting. "My works aren't shocking or extremely thought provoking in any way, just some things that I believe to be beautiful and hope others will as well," she said.
Jilly Appleheimer, a senior women's and gender studies major, who will be reading a poem and a piece of a short story, said she views the event as an invaluable opportunity to improve her work: "I can tweak my pieces based upon audience reaction," she sad. "For instance, I can try out different endings or make challenges based upon the emotions that I am attempting to invoke."
Courtney E. Rydel, junior English major and creative writing minor, has been participating since the festival's debut and is delighted to do so again. "From the incredibly talented performers to the extremely professional organizers, the students involved in 'The Goods' are so passionate, smart and fun that it's an honor just to be included."
This time, Rydel will share a part of a chapter of her novel in progress, tentatively titled "Murphy's Algorithm."
For Allinder, the main aim of "The Goods" is to cultivate a greater sense of community at the College. "(B)uilding an arts community is especially important and those working on 'The Goods' consider it to be a worthwhile challenge," she said. "Politicians may come and go, newspaper headlines will be different tomorrow, but art - and that exhilaration that comes from performance and pride - is eternal. And that is what I hope to help sustain and promote this Saturday."
- For more information, visit tcnj.edu/~ink
(11/04/04 12:00pm)
Hurrah! Bridget is back! Helen Fielding, the author who received praise for her hilarious portrait of the British singleton looking for romance in all the wrong places, has blessed her readers with a second helping of Bridget Jones's delightful daily trials and triumphs.
As readers learned in "Bridget Jones's Diary," Miss Jones is the embodiment of all the insecurities and worries present in a woman's life, exaggerated to the nth degree.
Always fighting the "battle of the bulge," the slightly overweight Bridget weighs herself daily and records the reading at the beginning of each diary entry. She turns to self-help books, which she refers to as "the new religion," for guidance. She manages to over-analyze every aspect of her life to a fault, usually over drinks and inhales Milk Tray (a specific type of boxed chocolates, for you non-Brits) with her best chums Jude, Shazzer and Tom.
Plagued by the interrogations of "smug marrieds," Bridget is terrified of her possible fate as a lifelong "spinster and lunatic." In the process of her journey toward the ultimate goal of holy matrimony, she always trips and falls - both literally and figuratively - at least a couple of times along the way. All of these facets of Bridget come together to form a most intriguing perspective of the world around her.
Some may know that Fielding's comic masterpiece, the first diary, was very loosely based on Jane Austen's classic tale of courting and propriety, "Pride and Prejudice." Apparently an Austen fan, this time Fielding takes her cues from "Persuasion."
At the conclusion of Bridget's first diary, we leave her as she finally commences a relationship with boyfriend Mark Darcy (the modern-day equivalent of Mr. Darcy from "Pride an Prejudice"). After all the troubles she had snagging him, you'd think Fielding might let her remain in her "state of romantic bliss," but that would make for a rather boring book.
Bring in Bridget's worst nightmare - "a beautiful and skinny woman" named Rebecca who works in close proximity to Darcy and blatantly and actively pursues him while he is dating Bridget. Despite the affirmation that Darcy likes Bridget "the way she is" and their supposedly splendid shagging sessions, Miss Jones is not yet comfortable enough with herself to trust Darcy.
Each diary entry is proof of Bridget's search for the "inner poise" she lacks and desires. For example, on Mar. 5, she writes that she is an "assured, receptive, responsive woman of substance. My sense of self comes not from other people but from myself? That can't be right." Such behavior naturally leads to a strain on the relationship and to its eventual self-destruction. Bridget's greatest fear is realized: she is a singleton once again! Will she be able to reclaim her man?
Increasing the complexity of this disaster are a crazy trip to Thailand and jail time, her mother's usual antics and the brief and unwanted return of her first "love," her sleazy former boss Daniel Cleaver, all which make for one amusing piece of fiction.
Fielding brought a sense of realism to the original diary. In "The Edge of Reason," she still maintains this realism in Bridget's character, but, as implied in the title, the plot can at times verge on the ridiculous. That, however, is not a problem when it comes to thoroughly enjoying this book. It is guaranteed to make all readers laugh out loud, especially women, who will cry out, "This is me!"
For further entertainment, Ren?e Zellweger will reprise her role as the intrepid Bridget in the movie adaptation of "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," which is set to be released Nov. 19.
(10/20/04 12:00pm)
The life of a musician has always had a certain allure: many dream about the glamour and decadence of the rock-star lifestyle. Danny Britt, a 1995 College alumnus, was not immune to these feelings - he was drawn to the drums and started playing them at age 12.
Church and family gave Britt his first exposure to the drums.
"I used to go to a church that had a great folk band which included a drummer and (he) was great," he said. "Also, my older brother was in a rock band. I began lessons with one of the best drummers in my town soon after that."
Now, Britt is passing these lessons on by giving drum lessons in his town of Dumont, located in Bergen County.
One may wonder why someone with such an enthusiasm for playing and teaching the drums would choose to major in psychology, as Britt did. He disagrees with this conclusion, and said regarding his decision, "Psychology underlies every pursuit we are a part of - it affects everything! And, I believe that my psychology studies have been useful in my drum-teaching because if I can strengthen my understanding of human behavior and relations, I can strengthen my drum-teaching practice."
Britt said one of his main influences is drummer and mentor, Dom Famularo, who authored the psychology book "Cycle of Self-Empowerment."
Britt said he has nothing but fond memories of the College. He has always considered the quality of the education to be excellent and is not at all surprised by the recognition the College has received.
During his time at the College, Britt was impressed by the high academic standards, challenging coursework and the intimate, personal environment.
His experience at the College has translated into success in his adult life. Britt worked on Wall Street and in financial services for a couple of years. Now he works several temporary office jobs to supplement his drumming income.
Britt also participates in the production of a drum radio show based in New York City and has been published in "Modern Drummer" magazine. Despite his lack of a sense of permanent financial stability, Britt attributes his present happiness and satisfaction to his involvement with drums. His students only have praise for his abilities as a teacher. One student, Zach Succardi, said of Britt, "I would recommend Dan to the highest regard when it comes studying the drums. He shares his personal experiences and ideas, which helped me see things in a different (light). I've developed a friendship with him."
Britt's advice to fledgling musicians is applicable to students of every field: "Even if you are pursuing a non-musical career, keep playing your instrument on the side," he said. "If you don't, you might feel that something is missing. Passion is real, and it's like a flame that is eternal: You can try to ignore it, but it doesn't go away."
- For more information, call Danny Britt at 201-306-4239 or visit his Web site at DannyBritt.com
(09/29/04 12:00pm)
The obvious definition of "Twentysomething" is "a young adult in his twenties," but the term encompasses so much more than that: a period in one's life marked by indecision, frivolity, harmless egotism, a still incomplete world perspective, the desire to cling to youth and lack of responsibility and some serious soul-searching.
All these aspects are included, in one way or another, on Brit Jamie Cullum's accordingly titled CD. In it, he follows in the footsteps of artists such as Harry Connick, Jr. as he brings jazz into the mainstream.
A most unique combination of pop standards and originals, Cullum puts his own spin on every tune. There exists a delightful dichotomy in his singing on some of the subjects, that as a "twentysomething" he professes to not know too much about. In doing so, he demonstrates his ability to not take himself too seriously, which creates a supremely entertaining musical experience.
The title track is an exquisite example of his razor sharp wit; the lyrics of the opening verse alone are a perfect expression of the frustration of college students. Listeners will probably nod along in agreement as Cullum sings, "After years of expensive education, a car full of books and anticipation, I'm an expert on Shakespeare and that's a hell of a lot but the world don't need scholars as much as I thought."
Cover songs make up the majority of the disc, but it's possible that you may not even realize it. Somehow, Cullum's raspy vocals and piano accompaniment sound as though they belong in each song to which he lends these talents. He is also able to perform a vast range of genres. For example, "I Get A Kick Out Of You," written by songwriting legend Cole Porter, suits Cullum's style with its surprisingly modern lyrics (Who knew Porter would make a reference to cocaine?). Cullum can also scat and beatboxes through "I Could Have Danced All Night," the inventive interpretation that may not appeal to true jazz fans.
"Next Year, Baby," one of Cullum's own songs, transitions from just jazz to salsa, with the insertion of a Latin beat, drums and horns, and back again seamlessly.
For the second time, Cullum covers Radiohead on "High and Dry" (first heard on his debut disc "Pointless Nostalgic"). The disc closes with a live cut of the Neptunes' song "Frontin." Listening to the song, one can almost see the sly grin on his face as he sings, "I know that I'm carrying on, never mind if I'm showing off, I was just frontin'/you know I want ya babe."
Cullum is equally impressive when he slows down the pace. "All at Sea," which he penned himself, addresses feelings of loneliness and desire for intimacy and social interaction and is the most honest and touching song of "Twentysomething." His rich piano playing is especially complementary. Then, Cullum croons endearingly on the lovelorn laments in "Lover, You Should Have Come Over," "But For Now" and "Blame It On My Youth," the latter being one of the prime examples of his declarations of his na?vet?.
"Twentysomething" is truly a gem of an album; it is an exceedingly challenging task to find a bad song in it. Cullum's experimental style may scare some traditionalists, but overall, we (in some cases, almost) twenty-somethings will find a voice in his music that they'll want to listen to over and over again.
(09/22/04 12:00pm)
4/5 Stars
When the four girls of Bond debuted on the music scene about four years ago, they were initially banned from the UK classical charts. Apparently, their combination of world music dance beats and traditional strings did not fit the definition of this genre. Classical purists are likely not to warm up to what had been categorized as "classical crossover" stylings of Haylie Ecker (first violin), Eos Chater (second violin), Tania Davis (viola), and Gay-Yee Westerhoff (cello). This modern string quartet hoped to break into the United States mainstream this year with a highly successful, sold-out summer concert to promote its third album of new material, "Classified."
"Classified" is a musical m?lange that contains more hits than misses. The inclusion of several unique and intriguing arrangements of famous compositions is a message to Bond's harshest critics that classical can be fun, fresh and interesting.
The album opens with the group's first single, "Explosive." The song, which was used as the Australian theme for the Olympic Games, is easily the best and most powerful track on "Classified." The use of synthesizers and drum machines is especially effective in creating an electric and exciting sound and an international dimension is added with a break for pan flutes. The volume escalates throughout and concludes with a bang, which is perfectly suited for this piece.
"Lullaby" is a particularly bouncy rendition of Pachebel's "Canon in D" and is highlighted by a well-placed cello solo. Many of the album's songs display a Latin influence and are ideal for a dance party. Such is the case with "Scorchio," "Samba" and "Senorita." "Senorita," arranged by Davis, is a hip-hop flavored and salsa-ready version of the famous "Habanera" from Carmen.
On "Samba" and the disco-inspired "Fly Robin Fly," the girls decide to add their vocals. Chater and Westerhoff are the main contributors.
Overall, their voices are rather weak but do not detract from their greater talent. The girls truly shine when they let their masterful manipulation of their instruments occupy the spotlight. As on their previous albums, the girls individually composed their own pieces. Westerhoff's "I'll Fly Away," not so ironically written while on an airplane, plays with a certain bittersweet tone of longing for escape. The atmospheric "Dreamstar" by Ecker, on the other hand, counters it with hope and creates mental images of clear starry nights.
Of course, with this ambitious merging of seemingly unrelated types of music, there is a possibility of unintentionally drowning out the instrumentals. The unfortunate example of this is "Adagio for Strings," which disappoints as the strings just about fade into a trance-like oblivion. Nevertheless, "Adagio" is one of the only songs moderate in pace and is far from offensive to the ear. On "Highly Strung," the boisterous reworking of "Sabre Dance," the listener may struggle to hear the instruments except in a few solos, but as it is extremely creative and borders on insane and manic, the result is quite enjoyable. So if you're looking for a departure from the ordinary, "Classified" offers just that. Pick up your air violin (or viola or cello, for that matter) and play with the Bond girls, at least in spirit. And if you're not that brave, you can at least dance up a storm. The girls' amazing abilities and synergy as a group is the greatest reason to give this compact disc a listen.
(02/11/04 12:00pm)
On Feb. 5, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts declared it would no longer offer "civil unions" instead of marriage for same-sex couples. This change further clarified a Nov. 18 decision that overturned Massachusetts's opposite-sex only marriage law.
In response, according to the Boston Globe, nearly 2,000 people participated in protest rallies against the ruling.
I have to say that I am extremely happy with the decision that was made by the Massachusetts Supreme Court and even more pleased with the protest rally, which not only had a 300-person counter protest, but also ended peacefully.
As a gay man, I can't speak for everyone from my community but I think that this decision is a thrilling victory.
If the decision spreads across state borders, many of my friends are also able to reap the benefits of progressive change.
I know that gay marriage shouldn't be the top priority in the gay community in terms of political activism, but it is a great start to invoke change.
I would be happier to see an equal rights amendment or perhaps job protection in the 35 or so states that allow companies to legally fire workers for their sexuality.
Gay marriage, for me at least, is not about wanting to get married in a church or ruining a tradition that has been, for thousands of years of our history, a predominately opposite sex tradition.
I understand that to many people, those vows are sacred, but they are vows that many homosexuals would like to say to the person they love.
On top of that, the legal protection that comes with marriage, including health insurance opportunities, child custody and inheritance are some of the advantages that gays could gain from this monumental change.
I do fear that with this change, usually supported by Democrats, will be one of the platforms that the Bush administration will use in its campaign for re-election.
What many people across the nation need to realize, including the Bush administration, is that if the United States wants to lead the world into the belief of democracy, it should also lead the world in civil rights for its citizens, and that includes gays.
How can our nation's leaders tell people from other cultures that their political practices and 'terroristic' beliefs are unacceptable in our modern world, yet hold on to ancient beliefs that homosexuality is a sin and should only be tolerated quietly?
I also challenge anyone that disagrees with this entire opinion to attempt to view the other side of the story. Everyone should remind him or herself that this change is important to someone he or she knows or loves - a sibling, an aunt or uncle, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, a classmate or parent.
Everyone, straight and gay, gains in our society when we are all viewed equally in the eyes of the law.