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(03/04/09 12:00pm)
From comedy to drama to people playing monkeys, All College Theatre (ACT)'s student-directed "An Evening of Shorts, 2009" was nothing if not memorable.
ACT performed four short, one-act plays: "No Exit" by Jean-Paul Sartre, "Words, Words, Words" by David Ives, "The Golf War Widows" by Damian Trasler and "The Apollo of Bellac" by Jean Giraudoux.
If literary-based comedy was what you were after, "Words, Words, Words" was the best. John Cherney, freshman cognitive science major, was hysterical as Milton, the by-the-rules monkey with an adolescent crack in his voice, and Matt Uhrich, senior communication studies major, was entertaining as Swift, the rebel monkey with a cause.
The monkeys main goal was to reproduce "Hamlet" during an experiement by the evil Dr. Rosenberg. Some of the monkeys were less successful than others at producing the Shakespearean classic. When Kafka, played by Kelsey Long, freshman art education major, listed "K" as her only achievement, Milton questioned, "What is that ... post modernism?"
"No Exit" was another hit with three souls stuck in a hell of their own making. When no torture or toothbrushes appear ("What could be the point, I ask, of brushing your teeth?" sophomore English major Matt Daley asked in his memorable performance as the valet), Garcin, played by senior English major Rudy Basso, realizes:
"There's no need for red hot pokers - hell is other people."
"The Golf War Widows" was third and it also had only three actors in it, like "No Exit," but the theme was distinctly different. Girl power abounded as three women bonded at the bar of a golf course during their husbands' company's annual golf tournament. Jokes about being super heroes (actually being a super hero in one of the wives' cases), alcoholics and "golf war widows" filled this short play.
The final play, "The Apollo of Bellac," was slightly strange in subject matter (the main life lesson for women in the audience is to succeed in life by telling men they're handsome), but the performances, especially of KeriLynne Galli, junior English major, as the clueless girl trying to learn the life lesson and Noah Franc, freshman history major, as the man teaching her, were very well done.
Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.
(02/25/09 12:00pm)
"One Tree Hill," on Monday at 9 p.m. on The CW
Jess: It's stereotypical. It's overdramatic. It's filled with insanely unrealistic story lines. Regardless, OTH manages to draw you into its ridiculous story lines and make you actually care about the characters. Considering the show must compete with similarly-grouped teen dramas like "The Hills" and "Gossip Girl," it's not surprising that "One Tree Hill" is often overlooked as just another pointless bit of fluff. It's really a shame, too, considering that despite all of this, OTH is actually quite touching, and if people just gave it a chance, they'd see that it has much more merit than it gets credit for.
"Doctor Who, " on Saturday at 9 p.m. on BBC America
Carrie: The original "Doctor Who" series ran for 26 years in Britain. It ended in 1989 and, by then, it had a cult following. I sadly missed all of this seeing as I wasn't even born until 1989. But, thank the sci-fi gods, a revamped version of the series appeared in 2005. It hasn't gotten as much hype as the old show, which is a crime. It is one of the best sci-fi shows of all time. The plot is crazy at best: An alien called a Time Lord who goes simply by "The Doctor" travels through all time and space in a purple police box. He always has a human companion that he explains things to. He can't really die since he regenerates each time his life is in jeopardy. And he's the last of his kind. It sounds campy and silly, but it's intense, funny and purely fun. David Tennant of Barty Crouch Jr. fame is great as The Doctor. All of his companions have been great - the best being the omni-sexual (he'll have sex with anything with a postal code) Captain Jack Harkness (played by the gorgeous John Barrowman).
"Taboo," on Wednesday at 5 p.m. on National Geographic
Jess: For years, educational, documentary-style television shows have been praised by academics and scoffed at by everyone else. Finally, National Geographic came out with a show that's both educational and entertaining. "Taboo" focuses on, go figure, taboo subjects on the world, from body modification to dietary habits, and various topics in between. A lot of people don't watch it because they just don't know about it, but if people just gave differences a chance, they would see that educational shows don't always suck anymore, and can be pretty interesting.
"Burn Notice," on Thursday at 10 p.m. on USA
Carrie: At first, I figured this show was going to be just like every other spy/cop/mystery show. But it's so much more. Meet Michael Weston (played by Jeffrey Donovan), a CIA agent who got "burned" (cut off from his job and co-workers) and is now stuck without a job or money in Miami, Fl. So he's forced to take "side jobs" to survive - they usually consist of lots of role-play and explosions. That plot alone would be tired, but it's the slightly tongue-in-cheek air of the show that makes it a winner. Michael is the narrator, and he explains how to do all of the spy-things. Bruce Campbell, the B-movie god, is awesome as Michael's best friend, an aging spy. His and Michael's exchanges are the best part of the show. If you like action and clever banter, this is the show for you.
"Greek," on Monday at 8 p.m. on ABC Family
Jess: For most College students, you would think a show that pokes fun at college stereotypes would be overwhelmingly accepted. However, this dramedy has flown under the radar for most of its run so far. The characters are endearing: There's Cappie, the man-whore with a heart of gold and more majors than anyone could hope or want to accumulate; Rusty, the nerdy yet hopelessly romantic freshman pledging a fraternity; and Casey, the sorority president torn between her responisble pre-law boyfriend and the immature love of her life. These characters help create a classic blend of drama and hilarity that makes this show insanely good and well worth watching.
Carrie: Besides the fact that this show is hysterical, there's the plain fact that all of the elements "Greek" utilizes may be another show's downfall, but they only strengthen this show. The slacker-fraternity's president, Cappie, is a slut, but he also spouts off show-saving wisdom like a messiah and is funny without trying to be. "Greek" also tackles a lot of different issues, like homosexuality and how it's approached in college and Greek life, and how some Greek houses go a little overboard on the partying and are then punished. There's even a character named Dale, who has a Confederate flag hanging in his dorm room and is a member of a Purity Pledge group. He consistently attempts to 'de-gay' the gay characters. Any show that can pack all that in and still remain somewhat realistic is OK in my book.
Ghost Hunters
Carrie: I know, I know. The title is a little off-putting. But, well, yeah. The guys in this show? They hunt ghosts. Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson are plumbers for Roto-Rooter. Average guys. But on their off time, they lead a team called TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) that goes to allegedly haunted places and hunts for ghosts. What sets this show apart from all of the paranormal investigating shows that sprang up after it got famous is the fact that the team tries to "debunk" the hauntings. They'd rather say twenty places aren't haunted and prove that that one place really is. I never believed any of this stuff until I started watching the show. I just can't help but believe TAPS when they show a chair moving or play an EVP (electronic voice phenomena) for a client. This show made me believe in ghosts and I love it. It also terrifies me. But any show that can go from seriously searching for ghosts and then cut to one of the investigators (an ex-cop, no less) running from a spider is just what I like.
Join Carrie and Jess next week when they talk about feel-good songs. Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.
(02/18/09 12:00pm)
"Emma" by Jane Austen
Carrie: For all of you who've read "Pride and Prejudice" and nothing else by Jane Austen, you're really missing out. Yes, "Pride and Prejudice" is an amazing book, but it is also the most over-processed of Austen's works. Everyone knows how the story goes. But "Emma" is a much more adept and entertaining foray into Austen's playful and humorous style. The character of Emma Woodhouse is hysterical. Mr. Knightley is the kind of flawed leading man romantic comedies have been trying - and failing - to replicate for years. The glimpse into nineteenth-century gossip is juicy, slightly scandalous and shows us how far we really haven't come. Yes, "Clueless" is based loosely on this book, but please. Get it straight from the source. This is Austen's best book, and even though it's long, it is definitely worth it.
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jess: A classic in the truest sense of the word. Fitzgerald's iconic interpretation of life in the 1920s had the capability of becoming quickly outdated, but its popularity has only increased over the decades since it was published. Unlike most classics we've been forced to read, "Gatsby" is one of the rare few that is both easy and enjoyable to read. Fitzgerald walks a fine line and manages to make his writing clear yet full of symbolism and deeper meaning. He weaves a compelling, albeit tragic, story of one man's simultaneous success and sorrow and how his actions impact those around him. The American Dream is wonderfully detailed in this classic, proving that money can't actually buy everything. Had we been introduced to Fitzgerald at a younger age, maybe fewer people would detest classics today.
"The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde
Jess: The multiple cases of mistaken identity and the hijinks that ensue because of them rest at the heart of this comedic play. Two men claim to be named Ernest, when in fact neither is. There is no triumph of the human spirit, no protagonist overcoming adversity. All "Earnest" provides is a light, enjoyable read. At the very least, it can be considered a classic for the simple reason that it proves that people in the 1800s could, in fact, be funny. Shocking, I know.
Carrie: Oscar Wilde is kind of really funny. He's also kind of amazing. And, yes, this is his most well known work, but there's a reason for that. The pure nonsensicalness of the plot and the interplay between characters makes this one of the best "plays of manners" out there.
"The Inferno" by Dante Alighieri
Carrie: Many are daunted by this classic. Merely because it's by a 14th century Italian poet? Who knows. But all I know is that it's really fun to read about the nine circles of Hell. Maybe I'm weird. But one of my favorite passages of all time - what's written on the gates of hell when Dante and Virgil arrive there - is in this epic poem: "Abandon all hope ye who enter here." That may or may not be the sign on my bedroom door. Reading through this, pay attention to the description of each circle. Dante has a way with describing brutality and violence while still making it poetic and almost pretty. Now that's skill. I don't recommend "Pugatorio" or "Paradisio" simply because perfection - and near perfection - are boring.
"Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov
Jess: A 12-year-old girl is continuously raped by a 40-year-old man, referred to as Humbert, in the 1940s. Sounds like an absolutely horrible topic for a book, right? Well, somehow Nabokov turns this taboo subject into a freaking awesome exploration of the human psyche. It's not so much the storyline that draws the reader in as it is the style used to convey it. Written from Humbert's perspective, Nabokov's persuasive language convinces the reader that Lolita is a cruel temptress and that Humbert is a helpless victim. Reading this book proved to me that classics don't have to be dry and boring but can in fact be quite shocking. Some perceive it as a story of perverted lust. Others see it as one of all-consuming love. It is Nabokov's duplicitous language, which illicits such wide-ranging interpretations, that has made this novel a classic, as well as one of my all-time favorite books.
Join Carrie and Jess next week when they talk about TV's most underrated shows. Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.
(02/18/09 12:00pm)
The flu has afflicted many College students lately, but according to Janice Vermeychuk, director of Health Services, this year's flu season is not as bad as previous years.
"Last year was a horrible year for the flu - we had 300 students in here with it," Vermeychuk said.
This year's count hasn't reached those proportions yet, but the College's flu season stretches until the start of Spring Break.
"Spring Break tends to flush it out," Barbara Clark, an adult Nurse Practitioner with Health Services, said.
Tina Tan, the state epidemiologist for the Department of Health, said in a phone interview this season has not been "a more serious season compared to previous years. We'll have a better sense at the end of the season."
"All of the strains (of the flu) in the reported cases have been a match with the vaccine so far," she added.
A far greater number than those with the actual flu is the number of students with an influenza-like illness (ILI). ILI cases are defined by a fever greater than 100 degrees and a cough or sore throat. Anyone with symptoms like these should go to Health Services immediately.
"Treat ILI like it's the flu," Vermeychuk said.
According to both Vermeychuk and Clark, the best way to combat the flu is to get the flu vaccine. Health Services offered four clinics in the fall semester to get the vaccine. It was $20 and the fee was waived if the student had College medical insurance.
Health Services will continue to offer flu shots by appointment through Spring Break.
As of press time, fewer than 1,000 members of the College community had received the vaccine.
"Two things I want to stress to students: You can't get the flu from the flu shot or the nasal," Clark said, "and if you've never gotten the flu shot before, this is different. This is communal living. You're much more likely to get it here. It's time to look at things differently."
Health Services is also involved in the U.S. Influenza Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network in order to further improve the flu situation on campus.
Every week, Clark, who is in charge of the program, sends data on how many total students are seen with ILI and she asks approximately two students a week to participate in another flu test to send to the program.
The goal of the program is to collect data to better next season's flu vaccine.
"It doesn't help us in treating our patients, but it helps for next year's flu vaccine," Clark said.
Of the 26 students polled, about half had friends who had ILI and only three had the flu themselves. Two even had classes canceled due to their professors having the flu.
"I got a flu shot, so I'll be pissed if I get the flu," Caroline Bachmann, sophomore English major, said. "I haven't gotten the flu in years."
February is the peak of flu season at the College, so Vermeychuk had some advice for students to avoid getting the flu:
"Wash your hands, stay away from sick people, make sure you get your rest and eat well. Washing your hands is really important because the flu stays alive for a long time on surfaces. Just make sure your immune system is at its best."
She added, "When you don't feel well, take care of yourself. You can't do everything that you can do when you're fine when you're ill. If you do have a friend that has the flu, keep an eye on them."
Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.
(02/11/09 12:00pm)
Carrie: This week we're going to bash some of the movies that we'd like to forget ever happened.
"War of the Worlds" (2005)
Carrie: For an out and out sci-fi nerd like me, I was distressed with what Steven Spielberg did with this. He changed it from an action-packed movie in which scientists slaved to find a solution, to a movie about a pack of lemmings that said, "Let's run away and turn on the person in the basement with us." The original's focus on a scientist was much more entertaining than focusing on a guy from Newark whose only solution was to hide and try to find his ex-wife. The Cruise character's reaction was understandable, but it lacked the excitement of the original.
Jess: While I don't believe this is the worst Spielberg film ever made, it certainly didn't live up to its potential. It had the potential to be a very interesting, entertaining sci-fi picture, but it ultimately ended up being both drawn-out and rushed all at once. The ending was anti-climatic and left the viewer slightly confused and wanting a better explanation. Perhaps it wouldn't have been so bad had it not been trying to live up to such a classic.
"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984)
Carrie: I'm a huge fan of the Indiana Jones franchise (I practically fainted when I heard about "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"), but this was my least favorite of the four. They took Indy out of his element of fighting Nazis (and later Russians) to fight gangsters in Shanghai, and then some religious cult in India. Plus, he gets those super sidekicks to go along for the ride. It just didn't seem to fit the character they'd established in the first movie and revived in the last two. Plus, the scenes in the actual temple were just disgusting.
Jess: Seriously, change the main character and it's a completely different movie. The other Indy movies were based on renowned historical objects generally of a religious nature. While "Temple of Doom" kept the religious aspect intact, it shifted to a more obscure object many were probably unfamiliar with. Not to mention that unlike the other films, this one had ridiculous dialogue and a strange plot that ultimately didn't fit in with the rest of the series.
"Good Luck Chuck" (2007)
Jess: This movie just didn't know what it wanted to be. It had all the makings of a stereotypical guy flick, complete with nudity and crude humor. Had they left it at that, it would have been forgettable. However, the writers apparently wanted to appeal to the female demographic as well and attempted to throw in more sentimental moments. Maybe I'm just crazy, but showing a montage of a guy sleeping with 20 women one minute then confessing his love to someone else the next isn't romantic. It's just dumb and unrealistic.
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (2008)
Carrie: I had high hopes for this movie. Klactu's character is supposed to be slightly monotone, so I saw Keanu Reeves and I thought, "Score." But this movie was so not a score. Reeves was actually pretty decent and enjoyable as the "alien menace," but it was the plot that derailed this movie. I understand they were trying to make it more contemporary by making the issues global warming and pollution as opposed to the original's nuclear warfare and disrupting the galaxy's peace, but that was their mistake. Not only did making the aliens more warlike (in the original they were just watching and willing to help) and ready to destroy Earth, it took away all of the merits of the original. Plus, the ending made even less sense than "War of the Worlds."
"Forces of Nature" (1999)
Jess: Romantic comedies are supposed to be predictable, light and cute. So why then does the male protagonist not end up with the heroine in this movie? No one walks into a movie like this thinking, "Gee, I hope the main characters DON'T end up together." Then again, when you throw Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock into a movie together with a threadbare plot and poor writing, I guess you can't really expect anything more than what was delivered.
"Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" (1999)
Jess: With three such monumental films preceeding it, we all had high hopes for this first prequel installment. Although the special effects were nothing short of incredible, it lacked that certain something that made the first three so amazing. Besides, when you try to replace Chewbacca with the ever-annoying JarJar Binks, people are going to get pissed. It was inevitable that this film would draw criticism, but George Lucas definitely made it a little too easy.
Carrie: Where to begin? I almost had a heart attack when I heard Lucas was actually going to be making the first three movies (my greatest regret in life is that I wasn't alive for when four, five and six debuted). And then I saw this. JarJar Binks was a joke. The budding romance between Anakin and Amidala was just creepy (I still think Anakin should have been older). And the podrace, while exciting, went on way too long. Ewan McGregor was good as Obi-won Kenobi, but Liam Neeson in another mentor role? Really? I was happy when Qui-Gon died. Don't worry, Liam. You died in this one, but you came back as Aslan a few years later. Lions are way cooler than Jedis, anyway.
"Batman and Robin" (1997)
Jess: The earlier Batman movies were always a little comical, tending to follow the cartoons rather than the original comics. This, however, took it to an entirely new level. Two ridiculous villains, one bent on freezing the earth and the other wanting to repopulate it with plants? Come on. It's no wonder this was the last installment in the Batman series for more than a decade. Even though it sucks beyond comparison, it's hilarious to watch and see just how bad a movie can be.
Carrie: Batman is my favorite superhero. Well, after the Flash, but that's neither here nor there. And compared to movies about other superheroes (like the last two Superman movies with Christopher Reeve), his haven't been terrible. Except this movie. Oh George Clooney, why this one? Why? You're one of, if not the, best Batmans in the worst movie. Chris O'Donnell wasn't terrible as Robin. And Alicia Silverstone was forgettable, but not exactly bad, as Batgirl. But the nipples. They single-handedly ruined this movie. Of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger definitely helped as a very unbelievable and extraordinarily annoying Mr. Freeze. But, oh - the nipples.
Join Carrie and Jess next week when they talk about literary classics that were actually enjoyable to read. Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.
(02/11/09 12:00pm)
Students may be forced to change their plans, due to the cancellation of Free Transit Week this semester.
According to Courtney Carroll, a New Jersey Transit Spokesperson, the reason behind the cancellation is purely fiscal.
Carroll said the purpose of Free Transit Week, which usually occurs during September of Fall semester and February of Spring semester, is to promote the NJ Transit Student Pass Program.
The program, which started in 2004, is offered to New Jersey colleges for students traveling to and from school. These monthly passes are offered at a 25 percent discount, accoring to njtransit.com.
Students using the program cannot stop at any other station but their home station and the station nearest to their college.
"The fall (Free Transit) Week has a bigger impact on the purchase of those passes," Carroll said via telephone, "so we have decided to move (Free Transit Week) to the beginning of the fall semester."
Carroll also said the exclusion of the spring semester promotion was not strictly due to the current state of the economy.
"We're under budget constraints like everyone else, but it's mostly that the fall program is more successful than the spring one," she said.
Although the College does not participate in the Student Pass Program, Free Transit Week was still a favorite among College students. To participate in Free Transit Week, all students had to do was fill out a short survey on the NJ Transit Web site and print out a free pass.
When presented in the place of a ticket along with a valid student ID, the pass allowed the student to ride all NJ Transit rail lines and buses free for a designated week.
"My friends and I were depending on (Free Transit Week) to go shopping in New York," Ainjel McDonald, sophomore philosophy and economics major, said. "It's $20 to go to New York from Hamilton - that's expensive. I can't believe that. I'm shocked."
Joanna Fantozzi, sophomore English major, agreed.
"I like to take advantage of (Free Transit Week) - I usually forget, but I like the opportunity," she said.
Free Transit Week will only be taking place during the fall semester - sometime in late September of this year, according to Carroll.
Caroline Russomano can be reached at russoma2@tcnj.edu.
(02/04/09 12:00pm)
Carrie: This week we're talking about our musical guilty pleasures. And no, I do not have Cobra Starship's "Guilty Pleasure" running through my head right now. But, Jess, you worry me. I think I heard a song playing in your car the other day that made me question our friendship. "Burnin' Up"? Really?
Jess: OK, you caught me. Yes, I listen to the Jonas Brothers. But hear me out. I don't generally buy into the pop music phenomenon (I fully believe bands like The Ataris and Armor for Sleep have the capability to make an amazing impact on our generation), but there's just something about the JoBros that's catchy.
Carrie: I'll admit they're catchy too, but hooks don't make a band. What else is there about them?
Jess: Honestly, it's hard to explain. I think part of it has to do with the fact that they're just so innocent. Don't get me wrong, I listen to plenty of bands whose lyrics, well, let's just say they won't be performing in churches anytime soon. The Jonas Brothers provide a nice break from this. It gives me a chance to listen to something honest and unassuming, a rarity in the music world today. People might give them flack for the way they dress or question their uncorrupted nature, but that's all just superficial bullshit. Fine, they may sing slightly childish songs and their love songs are reminiscent of sappy '80s ballads, but that's part of their appeal. After all, when the band members are 16, 19 and 21, it makes perfect sense that they haven't fully discovered their own sound yet: They're barely adults.
Carrie: So, we know tweens like them, but why do you like them?
Jess: Unlike all of their tween fans, I don't like them because I think Nick Jonas (Jailbait Jonas, in my mind) is "soooo cute," nor do I take all of their lyrics to be gospel. I realize their songs can be simple and naive at times, but it really doesn't matter. It's clear that they love what they do, and their songs are just fun. Are they the next great rock 'n' roll legends? No. Chances are they'll be all but forgotten in a decade or so, but for the time being, they're entertaining. Besides, let's be honest: If I had a kid, I'd much rather she run around singing "S.O.S" instead of "Womanizer."
Carrie: Yeah, well, anyone's better than Britney Spears in my mind.
Jess: Okay, your turn. Scrolling through your iPod, something sort of surprised me. Fess up - do you really like Fall Out Boy?
Carrie: I'd say no to protect my reputation as this paper's Arts & Entertainment editor, but I have to be honest - I kind of do. What saddens me is that I have to defend myself for liking them (not to you, but to the world). They used to be accepted before they "sold out." "Take This To Your Grave" is a great album. It has just enough anger, sarcasm and love-sickness to make it the ideal growing up album. But then "From Under the Cork Tree" came out and everything changed. Just because "Sugar, We're Going Down" was a mainstream success and the band embraced their fame instead of shying from it, they were labeled sell-outs.
Jess: So you would say the animosity started because of their new-found fame?
Carrie: Well, that's not technically true. When Pete Wentz got Jay-Z's number in his Sidekick, that was when the old fans started to abandon them. But I stand by bands I like. "Infinity on High" was a mess, I'll admit. It was too ambitious and it strayed too much from the band's style. But they were trying something new. Their newest record, "Folie a Deux," is like a sophisticated mix of their first three efforts (since "Evening Out With Your Girlfriend" doesn't count in my mind) - it's still not perfect, but it's the closest the band's come to the rawness of "Take This To Your Grave."
Jess: I'll give you that. "Evening" sounds like a different band. But, when it comes down to it, why Fall Out Boy?
Carrie: Through everything, there are a few things about Fall Out Boy that people need to know. Yes, Wentz is an asshole. But he has a kid now (poor little BMW), so show some respect. Second, Andy Hurley is a kickass drummer. And third, no matter how many pictures of Wentz's dick show up on the Internet, Patrick Stump's voice is a revelation and his arrangements aren't half bad either. I like FOB for what they are: a band. They're not martyrs, saviors or the next Beatles. They're a band making decent music. And they have one of the best lead singers of this decade.
Join Carrie and Jess next week when they talk about movies they'd rather forget ever happened. Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.
(01/28/09 12:00pm)
Number 8 - Justin Timberlake (and anything he does)
Jess: The epitome of a squeaky-clean boy band-er gone bad . in all the right ways.
Carrie: Whatever the boy touches turns to gold. I hate Madonna and just about everything about her. But "4 Minutes" is one of my favorite songs of '08 cause of JT.
Jess: It didn't hurt seeing him in a speedo in "The Love Guru" either. Sexy and able to make fun of himself. What's not to love?
Number 7 - "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," by J.K. Rowling
Carrie: Not to be five years old, but the release of anything remotely Harry Potter is cause for celebration in my world.
Jess: It provided fans with a much-needed fix for their post-"Deathly Hallows" depression. We laughed. We cried. We wondered what the hell we read before Rowling entered the writing scene.
Number 6 - "Psych" (on USA Fridays at 10 p.m.)
Carrie: I like a lot of TV shows. Like a lot. But this show on USA ranks right up there with some of the best on TV. A show about a hyper-observant guy who tricks the Santa Barbara Police Department into thinking he's psychic? Yes please. James Roday, who plays the fake psychic Shawn Spencer, is a comic genius. As is Dulé Hill, who plays his best friend. They're the next Abbott and Costello. I swear. Everyone should watch this show.
Jess: Think of it as a mix between "CSI" and "The Office." The comedic timing is perfect, and there's something oddly endearing about Roday. It could be his dry wit, or the fact that he makes perfect sense one second and seems fit for a straight jacket the next. Either way, it's a hit.
Number 5 - "Eat This, Not That!" by David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding
Carrie: This book is a great idea for people who hate dieting as much as I do.
Jess: Finally, a book that tells you in plain English what you should and should not eat from restaurant chains. Not exactly the most feel-good read (especially if you're a repeat offender of ordering the "not that's" listed in the book, as I am), but its well worth the $20 to know what you're really eating. Highly recommended for those looking to stick to that ever-lurking New Years' Resolution.
Number 4 - "Twilight" (books and movies)
Carrie: I resisted for more than a year. But I couldn't help it. I'm a sellout. I read the books, went to the midnight release party for "Breaking Dawn" and saw this movie the day it came out.
Jess: A part of me is ashamed to admit I bought into the "Twilight" phenomenon. A bigger part of me says, "Who cares," because it's awesome. The books made me wish I had some Xanax on hand, yet the movie was hilarious in its own twisted way. I don't care what the haters say.
Number 3 - Panic at the Disco's "Pretty. Odd."
Carrie: There are a few bands in the world that you either love or hate. And one of them happens to be Panic at the Disco. I don't care what anyone says, I think they're one of the best bands on the scene right now. When "Pretty. Odd." came out in March, everyone expected it to sound exactly like "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out." But instead, it was a healthy mix of Beatles influence and Panic's own pot-induced lyrics and arrangements. It's a musical smorgasbord from start to finish, with each song never sounding like the previous. At least they tried something different.
Jess: Finally, a band that reinvented itself into something original, and not a carbon copy of 30 other bands already on the radio. The first time I heard this I didn't know what to think. A part of me thought the album would make more sense if I was tripping on acid. Once you give it a chance though, you might be pleasantly surprised. Love them or hate them, you can't deny Panic's sound is their own.
Number 2 - "Saturday Night Live"
Jess: SNL's been lagging for quite some time. Leave it to Tina Fey and the cast to turn one of the most important elections of our time into a comedic sketch. It might not have always been politically correct, but in a time when the politicians themselves aren't always correct (Seriously, who tries to auction off a senate seat?), it's just far too easy to take advantage of their missteps and turn them into comedy, and the SNL cast did so to perfection.
Carrie: Not to mention the fact that Tina Fey did a better impersonation of Sarah Palin than Palin herself.
Number 1 - "The Dark Knight"
Carrie: I will never look at a pencil the same way again. If Heath Ledger doesn't get his posthumous Oscar, I will seriously cry. This was the best movie of '08 and I think one of the best things that happened all year, besides "Yes, We Can" of course. What do you think?
Jess: I was skeptical at first. I didn't think it could possibly live up to all the hype. Much to my surprise, I was mistaken. Amazing effects, brilliant acting and just an all-around amazing movie. It'll leave anyone who sees it with a renewed faith in the movie industry while simultaneously causing everyone to go around asking the quintessential question of '08: "Why so serious?"
Join Carrie and Jess next week when they talk about their Arts & Entertainment guilty pleasures. Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.
(01/21/09 12:00pm)
Stuffed from all that turkey? Tired of all the football? Afraid to see one more fruit cake? Then you are ready for the new semester to begin. And the College Union Board (CUB)'s here to brighten it.
The festivities start today in Kendall Hall at 8 p.m. when Frank Warren, the creator of PostSecret, visits the College to talk about his pet project turned phenomenon. PostSecret is a Web site that features anonymous postcards containing silly, sultry and sometimes scary secrets sent in by people from around the country. Warren has published several PostSecret books and PostSecret has been featured in the All American Rejects' music video for "Dirty Little Secret." Admission is free to College students.
On Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. in Kendall Hall, Brand New, along with opener Kevin Devine, will headline the Welcome Back Week Concert. Devine is a Rathskeller favorite and has performed at the College for the past two years. Tickets are five dollars at the door.
Later on in the semester is the Spring Concert. After Rihanna declined CUB's bid at the end of last semester, CUB needed to come through. So Lupe Fiasco and Ludacris have signed on.
"We also have another opener which is not confirmed," Katerina Gkionis, CUB Director, said. "This will most likely be a rock/pop group to make this concert more of a music festival."
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. The concert itself will occur on Friday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. in the Recreation Center.
Two comedy shows will also take place this semester. The first will feature Demetri Martin and is on Tuesday, April 7, at 8 p.m. in Kendall Hall. The second was offered to Wanda Sykes, but she declined the bid. A second performer is not scheduled at this time. However, Gkionis promised a second comedy show will take place this semester.
So, go out, see a show, laugh at a comedian and rejoice in all that is good and Brand New. It's a new semester at the College. Welcome and have fun.
(12/03/08 12:00pm)
For four magical nights on the Kendall Hall main stage,
"Seussical! The Musical!" was definitely all the rage.
A fun time was had by everyone there
Thanks to TCNJ Musical Theater (TMT)'s great care
In their rendition of the tribute to the great Dr. Seuss.
The singing was tight and the dancing was loose.
Nov. 20th through the 23rd,
The stage was overrun by a cat, an elephant and a bird.
The theater was populated with young and old alike.
Not a seat was empty - in each sat an adult or a tyke.
Act one started with the appearance of Seuss' famous coot -
Senior business major Dan Keyser as the Cat was a hoot.
The story revolved around an elephant named Horton
Who went through everything, even went on the run,
To save the Whos of Whoville from a terrible fate.
He helped others understand and get past their hate.
He continued to quote to one and to all,
"A person's a person, no matter how small."
As Horton, senior history major Vinny Scafuto was great.
His singing was beautiful and his acting top-rate.
In the song "Alone In The Universe," he and JoJo were a fit.
JoJo was played by senior English major Kristin Bennett.
And "The One Feather Tail of Miss Gertrude McFuzz"
Junior communication studies major Elaine White had all abuzz.
"Amayzing Mayzie," sung by Carly Cosentino, was a musically sashaying occasion.
The senior chemistry major was terrific as Mayzie, a bird with parental evasion.
And "It's Possible (McElligot's Pool)" was a feel-good affair
Where Keyser the Cat told JoJo he could be anything he dared.
Act one ended with the company joining together to sing
"Horton Sits On The Egg," where the title describes everything.
Act two was the final act, which is as sad as it sounds,
But TMT somehow continued to astound.
Highlights were a beautiful lullaby named "Solla Sollew"
And Gertrude's love confession, titled "All For You."
"Oh, The Thinks You Can Think" ended the show.
The cast sang "Green Eggs and Ham" before they had to go.
The entire cast was talented, without a doubt,
But as happens with such things, a few stuck out.
White was cute and chirpy as Gertrude McFuzz, the bird.
As Horton, Scafuto was the best singing elephant ever heard.
Bennett as JoJo was a good boy and tough to beat.
She interacted well with the Cat, which was no easy feat.
Speaking of the Cat, Keyser was the best in town.
He stole the show as the Cat, hands down.
His one-liners and accents were wacky and fun.
He kept them coming until the show was done.
Almost everything he said was followed by giggles.
His delivery was awesome, and so were his wriggles.
On the whole, the show was amazing.
It wasn't even tiring with Seuss phrasing.
I recommend every TMT show to come.
They're always enjoyable and always fun.
Now this is the end - I've run out of rhymes.
Enjoy your winter and have the best of times.
(11/12/08 12:00pm)
Have you had the Best Week Ever? You might not have, but Chuck Nice, Sherrod Small and Judah Friedlander were having a pretty good one when they stopped at the College on Friday, Nov. 7 as part of the "Best Week Ever Tour."
"Best Week Ever" is a VH1 news spoof in which comedians comment on the pop culture happenings of the past week - including celebrity gossip, TV and movies. The tour, however, seemed to be less about what is normally featured on the show and more about each comedian's personal comedy.
The show kicked off on the Kendall Hall main stage with Chuck Nice, a regular on the show, and someone who was very concerned about College students.
"You're so quiet, it's like at a seminar or something," he said at the beginning of his set. "This is a pretty tough school though, right? No wonder you're sitting there so ass tight."
Nice focused mostly on money issues, race and girls.
"Women travel in a pattern," he said to the audience. "One hot chick and then the three linebackers with her."
According to Nice, women take care of their friends when they go out, but guys don't give a damn about each other.
"You go out, girls, and we go on safari," he said, "We wait 'til one strays from the herd . she's drunk and limping. I think I can take her out."
Nice, who is black, also commented on recent political events.
"I was watching the election and I was like, damn, my momma was right. I could have been fucking president," he said. That line got one of the biggest laughs of the night.
Finally, Nice warned College students not to be judgmental, even though he himself can't seem to break the habit. He recapped a story about when he was on the subway in New York and decided to be a hero and "watch" a suspicious-looking man of Arab descent with his "big-ass bag, terror beard and toilet paper swirly hat."
After staring for a while, Nice realized the man wasn't going to do a thing and had an epiphany: "Now I know how white people feel at 3 a.m. when we're standing by them at the ATM."
Next up was Sherrod Small, a semiregular guest on the show. "Oh, wow," he said during his opening, "Some of ya'll are just staring up here at me like . he's made of chocolate."
Most of his set revolved around money and race.
"I get out-blacked by young white kids every day," he said.
And according to Small, there's no middle class - only rich people and not rich people: "People who say 'I'm middle class' - you're adorable."
Small also explained why people get married and why women are better than men.
"A vagina is a formidable opponent. It beats everything . rock, paper, scissors ."
Small closed with a backhanded compliment for the College. "I've heard this is a really good school - it's really tough, right? But . The College of New Jersey - on paper, it sounds like the dumbest school in the nation."
Finally, Judah Friedlander took the stage. The most well-known of the three (he is a regular on NBC's "30 Rock"), he was also the least entertaining.
During the preshow interview, he said, "We don't really plan what we're going to say - on the show or the tour. We just make it up as we go along."
And that's exactly what he did.
Most of his set consisted of him asking College students what they were good at (mostly sports) and then claiming he was better and giving reasons why.
When a student expressed an interest in bowling, he said, "Yeah, they won't let me bowl anymore. I once had a 580 in the fourth frame. I got a strike with a golf ball. They made me stop after that."
The highest score one can get in bowling game is a 300 (in 10 frames). His set got the fewest laughs, as it wasn't relevant like Nice's and Small's, and was also less thoughtful.
After the three comedians had their say, they invited an audience member to the stage (sophomore political science major Kelly Rossiter) to partake in a short segment very much like the show. They looked at pictures on the big screen at the back of the stage and commented on them off the top of their heads.
Finally, they selected five audience members to come on stage and tell the crowd why they had the best week ever. The girl who had just ended her 10-month celibacy was the clear winner.
(11/12/08 12:00pm)
Tweens to the right of me. Tweens to the left of me. Tweens to the front and back of me. I'd never felt so old in my life. And once the young girls in their newly bought matching shirts filed into the row in front of me, I knew I was doomed.
But that's what I get for going to see Panic at the Disco.
The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., a venue almost identical to Madison Square Garden on the inside, though smaller (with a much better sound system), was completely full on Nov. 2, one of the last dates on the inaugural Rock Band Live tour. The Cab, Plain White T's and Dashboard Confessional were also featured.
The show kicked off with the Cab, one of indie label Fueled by Ramen's newest discoveries. The Cab aren't bad live, but they have the nasty habit of sounding like a '90s-era boy band. Lead singer Alex DeLeon actually sounds like *NSYNC-er JC Chasez.
Plain White T's then took the stage. After getting the prerequisite "new songs" out of the way, they finally played the only song they ever wrote that anyone really cares about, "Hey There Delilah."
It was more like, "Hey There Squeaky Pre-Teens Singing." I actually liked the song when it first came out, but overexposure and a good smack to the head cured me of my temporary insanity. Plus, I heard the girl that lead singer Tom Higgenson wrote about dumped him.
Finally, some semblance of music returned to the show when Dashboard Confessional took the stage. Chris Carrabba, lead singer and emo king, was as brilliant as always. The band played new favorites like "Vindicated," the hit song from "Spiderman 2," but also fell back on old reliables like "Hands Down" and "Screaming Infidelities."
Unfortunately, the markedly young audience didn't appreciate the sheer brilliance that is a 33-year-old man singing about teenage heartbreak. I had to physically restrain my friend from throwing her shoe at the three prepubescents in front of us when they started screaming "You suck" during "Hands Down." The 12-year-olds were not available for comment.
In an effort to connect with the younger crowd, Carrabba and company actually covered a Miley Cyrus song. Which song? I have no clue (and I am so thankful for that). All that mattered was that was one of the only times the crowd went nuts for the practically legendary band. I weep for our younger generations.
Finally, Panic took the stage. One of the most talked about - and bitched about - bands of this decade, Panic, despite all the hype about how they were signed and how they're trying to be the Beatles on their newest album, can put on a show. And a damn good one, at that. They started, predictably, with "We're So Starving," the first song from "Pretty. Odd," their latest album. From there, they traveled through an array of songs from their two albums, including a memorable performance of the ballad "When the Day Met the Night," a song about the romance between the sun and the moon. It sounds corny, but it's one of the most beautiful songs the band has written.
Another highlight was "Northern Downpour," which is, according to the band, the most important song they've ever written. I don't know whether I agree with that, but nevertheless, the song was one of the many showstoppers of the evening. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," the infectiously catchy tune that won Panic the 2006 VMA Video of the Year award, was also fantastically done.
One drawback to the performance was the singing. Lead singer Brendon Urie's voice is amazing, and he executes wonderfully live, but the newest vocalist in the band, Ryan Ross (also the lead guitarist) did nothing to help. Whenever he sang, all he did was make Urie sound like he had a cold. There's a reason the band replaced you with Urie back before you were signed, Ross.
Besides a showy instrumental rendition of the Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," Panic only played one cover (and thankfully it wasn't a Jonas Brothers song) - "Shout" by the Isley Brothers, as their closer. And no offense to the Brothers, but Urie nailed it. His writhing, dancing and ridiculously dead-on vocals drove home the fact that the show belonged to Urie. He owned the stage and made me remember why I was the only one over the age of 18 in the audience.
(10/29/08 12:00pm)
The Art Student Association (ASA), one of the newest clubs and the only art club at the College, held a campus-wide event on Wednesday, Oct. 15 to celebrate one of the United States' most famous painters, abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock.
Pollock developed his famous "drip technique" by laying canvases on the floor and using hardened brushes, sticks and basting syringes to drip and pour paint onto the canvas. This technique is thought to have influencd the term and movement of "action painting."
Pollock's most famous paintings were during this "drip period," from 1947 to 1950. During that time, he had a four-page spread in Life magazine that asked, "Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?" Mysteriously, at the peak of his fame, Pollock abandoned the drip style.
It was this drip technique the ASA attempted to mimic in honor of Pollock at the event. The club took two large pieces of plywood, covered them with paper and propped them up against the wall under the overhang of Holman Hall. They attached balloons filled with paint to the plywood and the fun began.
Participating students threw darts at the balloons and when they hit their targets, paint splattered everywhere, like in Pollock's dripping technique. Refreshments, music and information about Pollock's works were also provided at the event.
The Pollock-inspired painting was publically displayed in front of Holman Hall for a week. After the painting was dismantled, participating students could take their own piece of the contribution with them, demonstrating the collective and individual nature of this piece.
Rachel Razza, ASA co-president, was pleased with the event's outcome.
"I thought we had a pretty decent turnout for an event that was held on Wednesday (a day when students don't normally have many classes)," she said. "I think our event was effective because students who aren't members of our club came and participated in creating art as well as learning about Jackson Pollock."
The ASA has many events planned, including an Open Mic Night on Friday, Nov. 14 in the common area on the first floor of Holman Hall, which will feature student bands. The twist is that there will be easels with drawing pads set up all over, prompting students to create art based on the music being played. So for those who missed the Pollock event, or who have always wanted to illustrate a favorite song, be sure to check this out.
(10/08/08 12:00pm)
After years of hard work, planning, scheduling, juggling and sheer willpower, "Wilder in the Twenty-First Century," the First International Thornton Wilder Conference, took place at the College from Oct. 2-4 under the supervision of the Thornton Wilder Society, which is headquartered at the College. Its executive director is Lincoln Konkle, professor of English.
Thornton Wilder, while considered an excellent playwright and author (he won three Pulitzer Prizes and is still the only person to win for both drama and fiction), is "one of the most underappreciated American writers of 20th century," according to Konkle. He said there is "a Wilder renaissance occurring" in the world of academia, which Konkle has worked diligently to promote.
The conference has played a major part in this revival, bringing Wilder appreciation into a global perspective. This year's conference is the first to include guests from England, France, Italy, Croatia, China and Japan, demonstrating the appeal of the playwright extends far beyond the American spectrum.
Wilder was one of the most important contributors to the American literary canon in the mid-20th Century with such classics as "Our Town," "The Skin of Our Teeth" and "The Eighth Day," and he did much of his writing here in New Jersey.
Wilder taught French at the Lawrenceville School from 1921 to 1928, with a break from 1925 to 1927 to earn his master's degree in French literature from Princeton University. Wilder set a majority of his works in New Jersey, making the College an appropriate place to hold a conference dedicated to his creations.
The conference featured many events, including multiple panels with scholars from all over the country and the world, three performances of Wilder's "The Skin of Our Teeth" by the Shakespeare '70 Company, a panel and reading featuring the American playwright Edward Albee and another reading featuring Academy Award-winning actress Marian Seldes.
After the conference was said and done, Konkle had this to say about what he felt:
"Relief. My life will forever be defined in terms of B.C. and A.C. (before and after conference). But also great pride and excitement that we could put together such a great event for the enjoyment and education of (College) students, faculty, staff, N.J. teachers and members of the general public."
(10/01/08 12:00pm)
The Shakespeare '70 Company debuted its newest production, Thornton Wilder's "The Skin of Our Teeth," on the Kendall Hall Main Stage Friday Sept. 26, in preparation for the Thornton Wilder Conference taking place Oct. 2-4 at the College.
The play is one of Wilder's most ambitious and also one of his most hopeful. Taking place in the mythical Excelsior, N.J., the 1942 play revolves around a typical American nuclear family, the Antrobuses, who have been around for more than 5,000 years and have invented and done just about everything in history, starting in the Ice Age and ending in the midst of the World Wars.
One of the allures of "The Skin of Our Teeth" is that the characters in the play are aware they are actors, breaking the fourth wall between the stage and the audience.
In the midst of Act I, when junior English major Heather Duncan, portraying the family's maid, Sabina, gets frustrated with Wilder's dialogue, she turns to the audience and says, "I'll say the lines, but I won't think about the play - and I advise you not to think about it, either."
The act ends with Sabina pleading with the audience to "Pass up your chairs, everyone! Save the human race!" to feed the fire to fend off the impending Ice Age. Some of the ushers ran up to the stage with chairs that looked like the theater's, in keeping with the fourth wall theme.
During Act II, the madness continued with Duncan refusing to do a scene because a friend of hers in the audience had gone through something similar to what was about to occur. While the other "actors" pleaded with her and the stage manager screamed that he would to get her understudy, Duncan merely flipped her hair and said, "I sent the understudy to the student center for a cup of coffee."
Yet, crazy interruptions aside, at its core the play explores how a family can stay together through anything, even when separated, and how members come back together against all odds. Though some of the dialogue and familial interactions do feel slightly dated, other aspects (whether modernized for this particular production or just timeless in their original form) honestly felt like daily life in 2008. Since it was written during World War II, when so many families were being torn apart, the message of hope in times of crisis is as relevant now as it was then.
While clearly an ensemble piece, some performances did stand out. Janet Quartarone was first-rate as Mrs. Antrobus - she had just the right mix of earnestness, sincerity and sarcasm every wife needs. Tom Stevenson was also very good as Mr. Antrobus, though some of his more serious scenes seemed to be overshadowed by his goofy ones. Damien Gaeta played the slightly annoying Henry Antrobus with striking accuracy, and he showcased his versatility as the character blossomed in Act III, dominating one of the most serious scenes in the play.
Though all of the performances were great, Duncan stole the show as Sabina. She was sarcastic, rude, glamorous, overdramatic and understated all at once. It was no wonder she got the loudest ovation at the end.
"The Skin of Our Teeth" is playing on the Kendall Hall main stage from tomorrow until Sunday.
And when it's over, as Duncan says in final parting, "You go home now - the end isn't written yet."
(09/24/08 12:00pm)
David Blake, professor of English, began the Close Reading Series last year, and he was overjoyed that at the first close reading of this year, the tradition was going to continue with Nagesh Rao's attempt at dissecting a notoriously difficult poem.
The English department's close readings have featured poems, segments of longer poems and small passages from prose. The literary selections are broken down and analyzed line by line, image by image and even word by word in some cases.
Rao, a professor of English, dived right into "Carrion Comfort," one of Gerard Manley Hopkins' poems published posthumously. The poem is part of his collection of "Terrible Sonnets." The sonnets aren't terribly written, but their subject matter is horrible in nature, Rao said.
Right off the bat, Rao said, "I won't be able to explore everything in detail - this is Hopkins we're talking about." And for anyone who has read or studied Hopkins' poetry, it's perfectly understandable. Hopkins style is as daunting as any of the greats.
The poem is seemingly about the narrator's struggle with an unknown force putting him through all sorts of trials because of his struggles with faith. Rao divided the poem into five "movements" (though there are only three stanzas), or places where he saw the action in the poem change.
The first movement was made up of uncertainty - questions, negations and hesitations - which suggested it's about the narrator's will, Rao said. The second movement features the narrator questioning why the invisible force is tormenting him. The third contains one word at the beginning of the third stanza: "Why?"
If the poem ended there, Rao explained, everyone would have been happy for the narrator because he found peace. But the poem goes on and accuses God of being the tormentor. And it ends with the harrowing line, "Of now done darkness I wretch lay wrestling with (my God!) my God."
Rao interpreted the poem to be a reflection of the narrator's anguish and his wonder at the end that all along he was fighting his God.
"No wonder that Hopkins kept his poetry safely away," Rao said at the end of the reading. "He discovered that poetry is not far from blasphemy."
Though it seemed odd for Rao, the College's resident Marxist, to choose Hopkins, an Oxford-educated scholar and poet-turned-Jesuit priest who struggled greatly with the clash between his poetry and faith, there was apparently a method to the madness.
Blake said his office is next to Rao's, and he always heard Rao having the most complex and interesting conversations with his students. Blake said he couldn't wait for Rao to take on a poet as nimble, ingenious and extraordinarily difficult as Hopkins.
The turnout was impressive for the first event of the year and went very well despite some technical difficulties, as all of the Business Building's microphone's seemed to be missing.
"The School of Business' microphones disappeared just like the stock market," Blake quipped.
(09/17/08 12:00pm)
Anthony Fiumano decided he was going into the studio to record an album. He had enough material, he had the drive and had more than enough experience from performing live. But that was a year ago.
"It took some time to make this record. Definitely longer than I anticipated at first ... We were spacing out the recording sessions throughout most of the process, sometimes by as much as a month," the New Jersey native said of the delay via email.
"I didn't want my gigging schedule to slow down either just because I was making this record . so that limited the amount of time that I could afford to be in the studio," he added.
But the wait was worth it. On July 26, Fiumano released his studio debut, "When Strangers Say Hello." The album consists of material Fiumano compiled over the years on his own and with the band that plays and tours with him, the Medicine Chest.
According to Fiumano, the protracted recording process made for a more relaxed atmosphere in the studio. He also said the studio's casual setting was a contributing factor to the record's success.
"We made (the record) in a basement, so even though it was technically a studio, we didn't feel the stress that sometimes comes along going into a big recording facility," he said.
Fiumano's inspirations are not purely musical, but include authors like Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Edgar Allan Poe. His songwriting process varies from song to song and is not as regimented as that of many artists.
"Typically, I'll finish the music for a song, then I'll finish the lyrics and look back on it and get the 'idea' for the song, so to speak," Fiumano said. "A lot of times I have no idea what my songs are about until they're done or almost done, because I don't force myself to stick to some outline with my content . Sometimes I'll think of a title and then write a whole song around that."
His lyrics are introspective and diverse, but a specific theme, according to Fiumano, seemed to take over "When Strangers Say Hello."
"I realized when I put the record out that this 'searching for acceptance' theme pops up throughout it," Fiumano said. "I don't mean acceptance in the social sense necessarily, it's more of a search for somewhere or something that puts you at peace. It's ironic because I never really noticed it in most of the songs until I put them all together. I think it's very relatable though, everyone goes through that in life."
"When Strangers Say Hello" is folk- rock at its finest. The record's lyrical style and easy guitar rhythm suggest Bob Dylan and other artists. But the crackling intensity of emotion conveyed in each song is reminiscent of recent emotive artists like Conor Oberst, though Fiumano's voice is clear and true, unlike the Bright Eyes singer's.
Songs like "Lucky Numbers" and "Restless" are backed by acoustic guitars and have a slow, melodic quality. Other tracks, like "Myths and Strings," evoke a heavier sound Fiumano is just beginning to explore. His favorite song on the record (which is also his favorite to play live), "Darlene" is a lullaby with bite.
Overall, "When Strangers Say Hello" is a cohesive effort reminding listeners why folk-rock can be an amazing musical experience. If more musicians embraced their inner Fiumano, the world would be a more expressive and meaningful place.
(09/10/08 12:00pm)
There have been hundreds of romantic comedies made over the years, and most of them tend to follow the same formula: Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy hurts girl, girl leaves, boy makes good and they live happily ever after.
But picture this: Girl goes to shore, girl's job is literally demolished, girl gets job at stuck-up country club instead, girl falls in love with Spanish summer worker and girl learns about life and love, all with a robust sense of humor and beautiful Lavallette, N.J., in the foreground.
Which would you choose to watch?
If you picked the second, "Greetings from the Shore" is the movie for you. It deviates as far from the norm as it can, while still keeping the story genuine and realistic.
"We didn't want to tell anything that was a straight genre film or a straight romantic comedy or straight coming of age," Greg Chwerchak, the director and co-writer of the film, said.
The movie not only takes place at the Jersey Shore, but was shot there as well.
"We wouldn't have shot it if it couldn't be shot in New Jersey," Gabrielle Berberich, the producer, casting director and other co-writer, said. "(The Jersey Shore) is so beautiful, but in Malibu, if you talk about the N.J. shore, they look at you like you're crazy."
Most of the events in "Greetings from the Shore" are taken directly from Berberich's own experience spending her summers in Lavallette with her family while working as a waitress.
"(This film) is a dream come true," Berberich said. "It's about my father's life . It's like having little pieces of him back again, and I got to celebrate him with an audience."
"(The film) is a love story to New Jersey," Chwerchak added.
"The story is about a young girl who loses her father in her last year of school and comes out to the shore where they used to spend summers together," Kim Shaw, the actress playing protagonist Jenny Chambers, said. There, she finds love and a renewed sense of hope in the world and her own life.
It was Chwerchak, (who was born in New Jersey) and Berberich's faith in the beauty of the shore and those who live there that pushed them to not only shoot there, but also include many locals as extras in the film.
Lavallette is considered as much a character in the story as any of the actors.
"A lot of the events actually took place in Lavallette," Berberich said. "Lavallette is like a second home to me. This is a coming of age movie - Lavallette itself has a coming of age."
The film has traveled all over the country to various film festivals and the overall response has been very positive, with just a few bumps in the road.
Berberich was at a showing in California and a "woman stood up and said, 'You shot my story. My father died too! Where'd you film it?'"
When Berberich told the woman it was filmed on location, she couldn't and wouldn't believe her.
"This is what New Jersey looks like," Berberich said. "People cannot believe it . Some people don't even realize New Jersey has beaches."
Even though Berberich hopes "Greetings from the Shore" gives the Garden State a better name, she's more anxious about what the home crowd will think.
The film opens in select theaters all over New Jersey Friday.
"New Jersey is who I made it for," she said. "It's like wanting your parents to be proud of something you did. But this film needed to be made to show (New Jersey's) coming of age."
With a trilogy of N.J. films in the works, it looks like Berberich and Chwerchak aren't likely to stop promoting and adoring the Garden State any time soon.
"Don't forget to appreciate all of the wonderful things New Jersey has to offer," Berberich stressed to College students. "I won the lottery of humanity being raised in New Jersey."
(09/03/08 12:00pm)
Many people are hard-pressed to take time out of their busy schedules to help a friend or colleague in need, let alone a stranger. Most sympathize and wish they had the time to lend a hand, but school, work and other obligations often rule out the possibility.
Enter James Introcaso, a class of '08 alumnus, Zach Wiseley, a Rutgers alumnus, and Tim Urian, a Drexel alumnus, three childhood friends who have made it their mission to prove that the spirit of humanitarianism is alive and well.
These three are the brains and driving force behind the "Good Works Tour," a journey across the country with the aim of hailing the unsung heroes who dedicate their time to volunteering for worthy causes.
The three friends drive across the country, doing good deeds along the way and making a documentary about the experience.
However, as their Web site says, "they don't want to just observe ... At every site they visit, they will get their hands dirty volunteering, as well as actively pursue random acts of kindness while on the road."
"It's easy to complain about the world but it is another thing entirely to get up and do something about it," Introcaso said.
"We decided we should take a trip with the purpose of helping people. Blowing into town and solving a problem for someone before moving onto the next - like the Lone Ranger or something. It would be a real adventure," he said.
According to Urian, "I was really excited to get back to doing volunteer work. It seemed that during high school there was a chance to help your community out every other day, but once I got to college everything really took a back burner to schoolwork, plays, etc. I think everyone should go on a Good Works Tour . It's given me a way to see what people all around the country are like, a chance to determine what is really important in my life."
In addition to traveling all over the country in a minivan (the tour motto is "Three guys. Two months. One van") and arranging to help in soup kitchens, animal shelters, Habitat for Humanity and other programs, the guys are also filming their progress in the hope of making it into a documentary.
They are currently looking for a distributor and ask all College students to spread the word.
"Pass the word on to (your) friends, family and Oprah. Seriously, Oprah," Introcaso said.
The three young graduates feel very passionately about the documentary, hoping its message of selflessness will inspire its viewers.
"If we documented it through film and showed people how easy it is to help a neighbor, friend, family member or your community, the world would be a much better place," Introcaso said.
"Imagine, if you will, someone says, 'Every day I will make a conscious effort to do one kind act for one person.' The world would be a lot better. I thought instead of preaching and telling, the best way to do it is to lead by example. If I can go to Salinas, Calif., and help out at a soup kitchen, someone at (the College) can certainly go visit the Habitat for Humanity office, or even just help someone pick up their books when they drop them all over the floor of Forcina Hall," Introcaso added.
Since the tour is not yet complete, they are still in the stages of stockpiling footage for the final documentary, which they hope will be shown at festivals and venues, including the College.
Compiled footage, their documentary proposal, a place to donate to the causes they've discovered and more specific information about the Good Works Tour and its mission can be found at their Web site, goodworkstour.com.
"I hope that this will inspire people at (the College) to get active and passionate about something," Introcaso said.
"Get out there and put a smile on someone's face. Our school has been living on its own little island far too long," Introcaso said.
He said, "(Our goal is to) make the community understand we have the power to change and make a difference for at least one person, everyday."
(04/23/08 12:00pm)
Students at the College had the power when it came to this year's Spring Concert. They sifted through a variety of choices and eventually voted for'90s rock band Third Eye Blind. With opener Absentstar, the quartet rocked the College's world on April 19 in the Student Recreation Center.
According to event coordinator and College Union Board Director Alex Mazella, the crowd of more than 2,000 was by far the largest at a College concert in at least five years.
"The students picked their concert and it showed in the amount of people who came out," Mazella said.
The show kicked off with a tricked-out version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the electric guitar courtesy of Stephen Dadaian, junior psychology major and winner of Guns N' Roses axe-man Slash's "Ultimate Guitar Showdown."
Then, little-known opener Absentstar, hailing from Chicago, pumped up the crowd with a nine-song set. Vocalist Derek Ingersoll's energy filled the room, and his band was the perfect choice to kick off the show. Their music was tight, their vocals were smooth and it was pretty impressive.
And then the moment the entire gym had been waiting all night for finally came: Third Eye Blind took the stage while playing the first song from their first album, "Losing a Whole Year." The crowd went, to put it mildly, absolutely insane.
Since the band's new album is slated for release in the fall, the band tested out a lot of new material. Guitarist Tony Fredianelli said of the new album, "It's got that sort of classic rock kind of vibe to it. We've kind of always been at the edge. Our band was kind of the forerunners of emo music so . it's kind (of) like a thread between emo and classic rock."
The crowd was less than enthusiastic about the new songs at first, which could be because they revolve around a much different topic than their fans are used to - politics.
"(Vocalist Steven Jenkins) became a very big supporter of Barack Obama and hung out with him and everything, so he really got motivated on that and we're kind of having to deal with the fallout from it," Fredianelli said. "I think politics and music are not good bedfellows. I don't think people want to hear what your politics are for the most part, 'cause you'll always be alienating at least half the people, you know?"
But the crowd soon warmed to such songs as "Non Dairy Creamer" and "You're Not Gonna Break Me," especially since Jenkins announced before the former, "The school we played last night wouldn't let us play this song because it was too dirty."
That definitely got everyone excited.
Whatever school that was, it must have been a college (and an oddly clean one at that) because most of the stops on the band's Fall tour have been colleges. But, according to Fredianelli, there's a method to the madness: "If you're in college, you've got a certain amount of intellect. You kids are able to be affected by the lyrics rather than just the music, so it's an interesting interplay."
A lot of the new songs are available online, and Fredianelli said, "I was kind of the one that said, 'We've got to do something. We have a real fan base. We have the sort of early 2000 mentality of radio stations.' But things like putting together the MySpace thing are just things you have to do now. There's not record labels and all that crap. They don't matter anymore."
The band also played a lot of old fan favorites like "How's It Going to Be" and "Deep Inside of You." Practically the entire crowd screamed along to "Graduate," and the second Jenkins said, "This is about orange cones and . driving by them," the room exploded because "Motorcycle Drive By" is, by far, the most popular song the band has ever released.
At the end of the song, none of the members were left on the stage except Jenkins. The crowd was obviously confused, considering it was only the ninth song they'd played. But suddenly, the music started up again and a smaller stage in the back of the gym lit up.
"Those sneaky bastards," one delighted fan yelled as the crowd flocked to the miniature stage.
"We did this for the people who always show up late for concerts. We decided to move to the back for them," Jenkins announced with a conspiratorial smirk.
When the show was nearing its end (and the band was safely back on the main stage), the band, which was already impressive with its fancy musicianship, showcased its individual talents during an interlude inserted into "Jumper." Both Fredianelli and bassist Leo Kremer performed sprawling solos, but it was drummer Brad Hargreaves who tore up the stage. His display of super-fast drumming definitely wowed the crowd.
The band almost brought down the house with its final song - "Semi-Charmed Life," which was number four on the Billboard charts back in the '90s. And with chants of "one more song" ringing in the air, the band retook the stage to play hits "Slow Motion" and "God of Wine." One huge ovation later and they were finally exiting to the chant of "oh woah, woah" they had started.
All in all, it was a throwback to a lot of College students' childhoods, and it was a great way to spend a hot spring night - screaming and moshing like it was 1997.