Lifestyles
NFL Picks Page 4
Counting Calories Page 13
u
September 11, 2007
Visit http://anchorweb.org for articles and archives
22
Sports
Vol. 80 Issue #2
AnchoR
The The
Free Access to Ideas... Full Freedom of Expression
New Alert System On Campus
By Joe Robillard Anchor Editor A new emergency alert system is being implemented on Rhode Island College’s campus. The implementation of this system comes as a response to last fall’s shooting on the Virginia Tech campus. The new system will send a text message, regardless of which cell phone/PDA service being used by the recipient, to any RIC campus members enrolled for the free service. “It’s something we hope we never have to use,” explained Dr. Richard Prull, Assistant Vice President of Information Services. If it does have to be used, here’s how it would work: If something deemed an emergency happens on campus, one of the ten or so administrators/security personnel with authority could author a notification to be sent to all cell phones enrolled for the service. The final list of who exactly will have authority is still being worked out by the 14-member committee created in the wake of last fall’s shootings. The committee is tasked with improving the campus’s ability to respond to these emergency situations. Enrollment is the key to the process. Using RIConnect, students and faculty can enroll for the service. The process consists of a few clicks of the mouse and then in-
putting your cell phone number. The RIConnect login page has a link to a guide desined to walk users through the process. The exact circumstances warranting use of the system is still being reviewed by the 14-person council. It’s still being decided if the system will be used to warn schools of very dangerous weather or other non-violence related emergencies. Prull cautioned that the administration would not be using it for simple class cancellations. The system used to send messages out to students is pretty secure. Authorized users will have to use a USB key with a specialized microchip in it to gain access to the message-sending system. In cases of power failure to the campus, there’s a process in place to have authorized users dictate the emergency message to Apogee Technology, the owners of the program. Apogee is located
in Texas, so its very unlikely that any power failure here would affect them at the same time. Administration is hoping to roll out a test run of the program sometime in October, after students have had a chance to enroll. The text messaging system gives the administration another tool to warn the campus of danger. An email and voicemail system was already in place. It’s remaining in place alongside the new text messaging system, which is particularly important to students with poor or no cell phone reception on campus. “We’re not putting all of our eggs in one basket,” continued Prull. This fall schools across the country are exploring options to increase their campus’s safety.
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: ECONOMIC MELTDOWN IN ZIMBABWE
By Ndahiriwe Bienvenue Anchor Staff Economically speaking, Zimbabwe — a country located in Southern Africa, is falling apart. In fact, with about 80 percent of the population out of job, every business nearly running out goods and commodities as a result of an endless hyperinflation, gas shortages, and sporadic power outages that sometimes amount to 20 hours in a day, Zimbabwe has at the moment the “worst-performing economy” worldwide. In July 2007 alone, Zimbabwe set a new record when government officials reported an inflation rate of 7,638 percent, though independent sources estimated it to be as high as 25,000 percent. Things are to get worse for the International Monetary Fund predict the Zimbabwean inflation to reach the bar of 100,000 percent by December 2007. Prices are endlessly increasing. Yet wages have never been more stagnant than in the last decade. As a BBC journalist reports, “One candle cost twice the official government wage for a farm worker.” Needless to say that immediate and far-reaching impact of Zimbabwe’s misfortunes on both a local and regional level is of wild and formidable magnitude. Millions of Zimbabweans have already fled the country. According to the latest estimations, it is believed that on a daily basis, nearly 3,000 Zimbabweans seek refuge in neighboring countries, Europe and the Americas. Along
with that massive exodus, there have been alarming reports of ever-increasing smuggling, booming of black markets and rampant profiteering that benefit only the wealthy and powerful. One might then wonder about the why, how and when of this more than chaotic situation? For economists and other experts of that part of the world, Zimbabwe’s woes have their roots in the land reform policy enacted by the current government in the late 1990s, early 2000s. In fact, with a white minority controlling most of the country’s fertile lands even two decades
after Zimbabwe’s autonomy from colonial rule, Robert Mugabe, current president and father of independence of that country, saw a solution to an ever-increasing poverty of the black majority and unequal distribution of wealth in the ruthless seizure of farms throughout the country. Given however the earnest with which the Zimbabwean government implemented that policy of land reform and more importantly the evident unpreparedness of those that took over, the Zimbabwean dream of post-independence prosperity rapidly turned into a bitter and hellish nightmare. In an act of solidarity with the Zimbabwean white minority, the European Union led by the United Kingdom —former colonial power quickly froze virtually all relations with Zimbabwe. Banned from the Commonwealth — a cultural and economic organization made of most of former British colonies and deprived of bilateral and multilateral partnerships that are necessary to the welfare of a country, many express the answer to the question, ‘Just how close are Zimbabwean authorities from the brink of a total collapse?’ Socially unstable, economically exhausted, and politically stretched on all sides, Zimbabwe, more than any other country worldwide is ripe for a costly and bloody upheaval. Meanwhile however, Zimbabweans are the ones that are being hardest hit, straining and struggling to keep food on the table and shelters over their heads.
F.Y.I @ RIC
Page 2
September 11, 2007
THE ANCHOR
Tidbits MANDATORY MEETING FOR FALL 2008 STUDENT TEACHERS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 12:30 P.M. - 2 P.M. IN HORACE MANN 193. VISIT WWW.RIC.EDU/OSPFP FOR MORE INFORMATION ANCHOR STUDENT NEWSPAPER MEETING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5TH, 12:30 P.M - 2 P.M. IN THE DUCEY MEDIA CENTER CAMPUS ACTIVITY DAY WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 12:30 P.M. - 2P.M. AT THE QUAD (RAIN LOCATION : STUDENT UNION BALLROOM). OVER 60 STUDENT GROUPS REPRESENTED. SIGMA IOTA THETA INFORMATIONAL MEETING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH, 7 P.M. - 9 P.M. IN STUDENT UNION ROOM 422. MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.WEBSTARTS.COM/SIGMAIOTATHETA MINDFULNESS MEDITATION THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 12 P.M. - 1 P.M. IN CRAIG-LEE 130. VISIT HTTP://WWW.RIC.EDU/COUNSELINGCTR FOR MORE INFORMATION
Erin Boucher
StaffMemberoftheWeek E D I T O R S Executive editor Managing editor News editor Editorial editor A & E editor Sports editor Photography editor Layout editors Copy editor Graphics editor Business editor Technology editor Public Relations Ads Manager Distribution Anchor Jr. Faculty advisor Professional advisors
Jessica Albaum Barry Nickerson Andrew Massey Dave Doyle Bob Kazarian Kellye Martin Casey Gaul & Joe Robillard Christine Cabral Nick Lima Alex Tirrell Marah Roach Sarah Peixoto Pete Birbuet
executive@anchorweb.org managing@anchorweb.org news@anchorweb.org opinions@anchorweb.org arts@anchorweb.org sports@anchorweb.org photography@anchorweb.org layout@anchorweb.org copy@anchorweb.org graphics@anchorweb.org business@anchorweb.org technology@anchorweb.org pr@anchorweb.org ads@anchorweb.org distribution@anchorweb.org anchorjr@anchorweb.org
Dr. Lloyd Matsumoto Rudy Cheeks
Staff : Adam Bram, Christopher E. Buonanno, Ryan Fox, Rob Lefebvre, David Matrisciano, Conor McKeon, Benny Ndahiriwe, AJ Paglia, Kimberly Puleo, Joe Roberge, Kameron Spaulding, Laura Tirrell
The Anchor Established 1928 Free access to ideas and full freedom of expression.
Ducey Student Media Center Student Union Plaza Rhode Island College 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue Providence, R.I. 02908
RIC TRIP: PROVIDENCE WATERFIRE SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH, 6 P.M. - 11 P.M. LEAVING FROM THE STUDENT UNION LOOP. FREE FOR STUDENTS, IN CASE OF RAIN TRIP WILL VISIT PROVIDENCE PLACE MALL AND DOWNTOWN. CONTACT MARISSA WEISS AT MWEISS@RIC.EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION. MOVIE: OCEAN'S THIRTEEN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 8 PM IN GAIGE AUDITORIUM FREE! CONTACT STUDENT ACTIVITIES AT 456-8034 FOR MORE INFORMATION SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: PATRIOTS VS. CHARGERS!!! SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, 8 PM IN SU BALLROOM FREE! LIFE SKILLS: PERSONAL FINANCE 101 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 6 PM IN SU 307 FREE! CONTACT STUDENT ACTIVITIES AT 456-8034 FOR MORE INFORMATION LIFE SKILLS: HOW TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, 5 PM IN THE QUAD FREE! CONTACT STUDENT ACTIVITIES AT 456-8034 FOR MORE INFORMATION RIC TRIP: CANOEING ON THE WOOD RIVER SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 10 AM TO 5 PM $10 TICKETS FOR STUDENTS, $15 NON-RIC STUDENTS (18+) CONTACT STUDENT ACTIVITIES AT 456-8034 FOR MORE INFORMATION
contacts & fine print General ...............401.456.8280 Advertising...........401.456.8544 Fax.....................401.456.8792 Web ...........www.anchorweb.org General Info .info@anchorweb.org The Anchor is student-run and published weekly during the academic year. Editorial decisions for The Anchor are made by a majority vote of its student editorial board. No form of censorship will be imposed. Any material found to be unsuitable or unacceptable in the board’s opinion will not be published. The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or student body. The first copy is free. Each additional copy is $2.25. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2007, The Anchor. If you are a student organization and would like to have an event covered, please contact The Anchor at managing@anchorweb.org.
September 11, 2007
News
Page 3
THE ANCHOR
Five Easy Steps To Enroll For Emergency Notification 1) Log on to the Internet and head to riconnect.ric.edu to access RIConnect 2) Enter your user ID and password, just as if you were enrolling for classes. 3) From the menu on the left click on “Self Service”, then “Campus Personal Information”, and finally “Phone Numbers” 4) Click “Add A Phone”, choose cellular phone from the drop down menu, and enter your 11-digit phone number.
What’s Special About Today?
5) Click save. That’s it, you’re set up to receive emergency messages from the school if the need arises.
Rushing Into Rosh Hashanah By Barry Nickerson Anchor Editor Did you know New Year’s Day falls on a Thursday this year? Also, the New Year is falling this week, on September 13, for Israel and those of the Jewish faith. Rosh Hashanah is a holiday celebrated as a new year in the sense that the calendar’s year is now one greater, much like 2006 became 2007 on January 1 for much of the world. It begins the month of Tishrei, and is one of the few holidays that is celebrated for more than one solar day in Israel. The holiday begins on sundown on the final day of the month Tiel. When the year becomes 5768, a shofar (ram’s horn made trumpet) is blown to signify the new year. During mid-afternoon some people pray near flowing water; this symbolizes throwing away your previous sins into the water and washing them away.
This is a special holiday where Jews are not supposed to work. So if you have any Jewish friends or family, make sure you great them “Shana tova,” which is the Hebrew equivalent phrase for “Happy New Year”.
By Jessica Albaum Anchor Editor Besides the special days and month highlighted in last weeks issue September also celebrates and honors other important holidays. September Library Card Sign-up Month This month has been designated to remind people of all ages that a library card is very important. Libraries use this month to remind students and non-students alike of the resources that they provide. September 11 Patriot Day Patriot Day has been observed every September 11 since 2002. It is a day to honor the three thousand people who died that day in 2001. It is commemorated by flying the American flag at half-staff. There is also a moment of silence at 8:46am, the time the first plane crashed. September 17 Citizenship Day This special day was started to celebrate native-born and naturalized foreign-born citizens. In 1952 Harry Truman signed the bill to make it a national holiday. It is celebrated by honoring the constitution for being the oldest in the land according to the website www.patriotism.org.
Sports
Page 4
September 11, 2007
THE ANCHOR
Sports Shorts ANCHORWOMEN DEFEAT THE COLONELS 9-0 By Marah Roach Anchor Editor Rhode Island College’s Women’s Tennis team successfully opened the season with a 9-0 win over Curry College last Thursday. Junior Meg Funk and Senior Sasha Doonan Rodriguez won at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. They later combined to win at doubles. The Anchorwomen have won 14 consecutive matches, dating back to last season. They are 1-0 while the Colonels are 0-2. In upcoming action, RIC will host Emmanuel on Tuesday September 11 at 4 p.m.
PATRIOTS VS. JETS
Cup O’ Joe: Week 2 Musings By Joe Robillard Anchor Editor Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Rothlisberger is more man than J.P. Losman will ever be (I think he’s dating Chad Pennington). So, the Steelers win. New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers- I don’t really watch NFC South football. I heard Reggie Bush plays there, though. I pick his team. Green Bay Packers at New York Giants- Now that Brett Favre’s retired, the Giants will win this one easily. What? Oh, the Giants anyway. Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers- I don’t really care about this game. Instead I’m using the space to lobby the administration to implement a Citizen’s Bank ATM. As an alternative could you credit the $2 fees I’m gathering at an alarming rate towards my stipend? Get in touch. Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars- In what world could a falcon defeat a jaguar? Jaguars win, the food chain remains intact.
By Dave Matrisciano Anchor Staff The New England Patriots came out today showing off their new additions to their team, including wide receiver Randy Moss, linebacker Adalius Thomas, and wide receiver Wes Welker. The Jets’ defense just could not stand up to the stamina and excitement that the Patriots offered in this Sunday’s 38-14 win. The Patriots’ defense started off shaky but eventually came into its own with several sacks and several forced punts. Tom Brady led the Patriots’ offense with 22 completions and 3 touchdowns. Randy Moss proved to be a great addition to the roster with 9 receptions totaling 183 yards and 1
touchdown. Ellis Hobbs tied the record for longest return (108 yds) previously held by Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears. During the 3rd quarter, Jets fans had a scare when Chad Pennington started to limp off the field with a leg injury. Pennington, however, returned later in the game. Randy Moss looks like he is here to stay as a Patriot and with all the new talent the Patriots should be a contender for the playoffs as well as the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots get their first true test next week when they go up against LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers, who are still raw over last season’s defeat in the playoffs.
RIC SOCCER OPENS WITH A WIN By Kameron Spaulding Anchor Staff Ryan Kelly’s driving header in the 65th minute was the decider as RIC (2-1) beat Roger Williams (0-3) 1-0 in the h o m e opener. The Anchormen seemed to control the game early and were on the attack often. Freshmen Miguel Sagastume was able to use his speed and agility to wear on the Roger Williams defenders. The win is RIC’s second straight
shutout. The goal came on a free kick from Bobby Sturdahl. It was the first collegiate goal for Kelly, a sophomore transfer from the University of Maine. Goalkeeper Jadon Neves made five saves to get the win. He is three shutouts away from Frank Kowalik’s 1991 all-time RIC career mark of 18. RIC’s defense continued to be on target. Lead by the play of James Nigrelli and Josh Silva they have not allowed a goal in 198 minutes of play. Next up for Rhode Island is M.I.T. on Saturday, Sept. 8th at 3:30 PM.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans- Peyton Manning’s crew wins easily, and he releases the long-awaited sequel to The Bible. Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns- I might be quarterbacking for the Browns this week. I believe they consider me a slight better option than Charlie Frye. Therefore, I have to pick the Bengals.
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams- Alex Smith takes the next step. Everyone realizes the Rams are too old. 49ers win. Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals- Seattle’s a mere city, but Arizona is an entire state! It only makes sense that the Cardinals win. Dallas Cowboys at Miami DolphinsI’ve always hated Dallas. Therefore, based off these facts, Miami will win easily. Minnesota Vikings at Detroit LionsI’m nearly in love with Vikings RB Adrian Peterson. Man, I love him. Vikings win. Oakland Raiders at Denver BroncosI miss Jake Plummer... Denver wins anyway. New York Jets at Baltimore RavensThe Ravens score 13 points and the Jets gain a total of 13 yards. Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears - Rex Grossman throws 3 more interceptions and fumbles at least once. However, the Chicago D scores 17 points for the victory. San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots- Patriots win easily since the Chargers aren’t very good. Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles- Donovan McNabb throws for three touchdowns, but also breaks three ribs. Clinton Portis is a jerk. Eagles win.
Sports
September 11, 2007
Page 5
THE ANCHOR
Fox on Fire: Week 2 NFL Picks By Ryan Fox Anchor Staff 1:00 PM Games: Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers - The Bills lost a lot of defensive talent during the off-season and have to rely on younger, less experienced players. This will prove to be fatal against a tough, rigid Steelers defense. Winner: Steelers New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay is still in rebuilding mode. With an aging defense, it will be hard to contain the Saints’ explosive offense. Winner: Saints Green Bay Packers at New York Giants While Favre can light up the Giants’ secondary, he’ll probably spend his time on the sideline due to the fact the Packers’ defense can’t stop the Giants’ giant running back duo of Jacobs and Droughns. Winner: Giants. Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers - A weak Texans offensive line going up against a powerful Panthers defensive line. Expect the Panthers’ DE Julius Peppers to have a big day against the Texans’ offensive. Winner: Panthers Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars - Both teams have tough defensive lines, a strong running back duo, quarterbacks that are unproven, and a receiver core that has performed poorly in the past. What makes them different is that Jacksonville’s defense is tougher and has a better shot at shutting down the Falcons’ offense. Winner: Jaguars. Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans - Both teams have talented offensive lines and average defensive lines. If it comes down to a shoot-out, expect Manning and the Colts to overpower Young and the Titans. Winner: Colts Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns - The Browns must find a way to get at Bengals’ quarterback, Carson Palmer, in order to win. Unfortunately, they won’t be able to stop him or Señor Ocho-Cinco. Winner: Bengals
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams - This will be a close game with both teams giving it all they’ve got. Unfortunately, the Rams have more offensive power than the 49ers. Winner: Rams 3:05 Games: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals - If Seattle’s RB Shaun Alexander can produce big against an unproven Cardinals defense, the Seahawks could win. If he doesn’t, expect QB Matt Hassleback to have a turf sandwich all day. Winner: Seahawks 4:05 Games Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins – This will be classic battle between two teams with talented defenses. But much to the Cowboys’ dismay, the Dolphins can actually score against them on both offense and on defense. Winner: Dolphins Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions - While nobody gives the Lions credit, they have a solid offense with their receiver core, a dependable running game, and a scrappy defense. Expect them to win against a Minnesota team with an inexperienced defense and offense. Winner: Lions 4:15 PM Games Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos - The Raiders have a tough defense, but the Broncos have an even tougher defense that can easily shut down any hope the
Raiders have on offense. Winner: Broncos Upset Pick: New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens acquired RB Willis McGahee to help their running game but that was the only big move they made during the off-season. Expect Jets Head Coach Eric Mangini to show some tricky offensive plays and tough defensive moves that will expose the weak points on the Ravens. Winner: J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS! Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears - The Chiefs have one of the game’s strongest RB in Larry Johnson; the Bears have one of the best defenses in the game. Expect a bear-mauling when the Chiefs come to visit. Winner: Da’ Bears Sunday Night 8:15 PM Game: San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots - Still without the presence of Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour battling injuries, the Patriots’ Defense will have a hard time stopping LT and the Chargers offense. Winner: San Diego “Super” Chargers Monday Night 8:30 PM game Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles - If Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb can stay healthy, they can win. Expect the Eagles defense to give the Redskin offense a hard time all night long. Winner: Eagles
Bob’s Week Two Winners Bobby Kazarian Anchor Editor Cincinatti @ Cleveland- I’m pretty sure Carson Palmer can throw left handed and still beat the pathetic Browns. WinnerBengals Indianapolis @ Tennessee – Who knows what defense will show up for Indy, the incredible one from last week against the high flying Saints. And then there is the one who couldn’t stop my grandmother from rushing for 250. Either way too much Peyton, Colts win big. Winner- Colts San Francisco @ St.Louis- Bulger’s arm Steaphen Jackson’s Legs too much for the 49’ers to overcome. Winner- Saints Green Bay @ N.Y. Giants- The Packers Defense is back and back big. They
stonewalled the eagles last week and can easily do the same to a Giants offense who now has a gimpy Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs. Winner- Packers Buffalo @ Pittsburgh- The Bills Losman might spend more time on his back during this game than upright throwing the ball. Winner-Steelers New Orleans @ Tampa Bay- The Saints offense looked terrible last week against an average Colts D, don’t expect that again. Saints win in a laugher. WinnerSaints Houston @ Carolina – Tough game to figure out just because of the inconsistencies that Carolina has shown over the years. My heart says Houston in an upset so I am going to stick with it. Winner- Texans
Atlanta @ Jacksonville- Atlanta is in a tale spin after the Mike Vick incident, and I don’t see their offense mustering anything against a very good Jaguars defense. Winner- Jaguars Minnesota @ Detroit- Detroit has too many aerial weapons for a secondary who last year was among the leagues worst. Winner- Lions Dallas @ Miami- New QB for Miami same bad offense. On the Flip side Dallas’s offense was nearly unstoppable against the Giants last week. Winner- Cowboys Seattle @ Arizona- My girlfriend says she likes the Cardinals jerseys so I guess they get the edge( no pun intended). Winner- Cardinals Kansas City @ Chicago- The Chiefs will cure all the Bears offensive woes. Winner- Bears
Oakland @ Denver- I would not want to be the Raiders QB next week, we all know of the o-lines struggles now they have to face a very good defense who blitz them back to Oakland. Winner- Broncos New York Jets@ Baltimore- In a nut shell I think the entire Ravens team is overrated. Winner- Jets San Diego @ New England- Too much of everything from the Pats, not even LT can save them this game. Winner- Patriots Washington @ Philidelphia- If u can believe Clinton Portis played a whole game last week injury free! I just had to give him some props for not being made of plastic last week, his team will get wiped by an Eagles team looking for revenge from their week 1 opening loss at the hands of the Packers. Winner- Eagles
Sept. 11, 2007
ComicS
Pages 6-7
Opinions
Page 10
September 11, 2007
THE ANCHOR
The Good, the Bad and the New Residence Hall By Jessica Albaum Anchor Editor I have been living in the New Residence Hall since Saturday, September 1st. In that time, I have discovered some things that I really like about it and some things that I really don’t. Overall, I would say it is a lot better than the other residence halls on campus. The coolest thing about the New Residence Hall is that it is completely green; meaning that it is environmentally friendly. All of the building materials, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies are completely safe for the environment. The rooms are bigger and there is more storage space than in the other residence halls. This is an improvement that I really like given that I have a lot of stuff. Some other nice perks of living in the New Residence Hall are that they supply a microwave and a refrigerator. Since I live in a suite, I still brought my own. The suite style areas only have a small refrigerator. Now here is what I do not understand: Each area of the residence hall is supplied with a kitchen area yet there isn’t a stove in it. I used to go to another college and the housing there had with full kitchens. There is plenty of room in the New Residence Hall’s living areas to fit a stove, but those in charge still did not put one in. Since the only kind of cooking you can do is in the microwave, Donovan provides a smaller meal plan for those living in the New Residence Hall. The shower and
toilet are in two different rooms. This is a really smart idea but the room for the toilet is inordinately big. How much space do you really need to go to the bathroom? The only thing I can think of is that every room was made to be handicap accessible. If that is case, the extra space would be understandable. The floors are another issue for me. They are brand new yet there are already cracks in them; not to mention that they are ugly in my opinion. The floors are concrete and get extremely cold. Speaking of cold, and this may just be a problem in the basement, but it is freezing in my room. Even after I have turned off the air conditioner, the room is still cold. According to the thermometer, it is an average of sixty five degrees in my room. My biggest issue with the New Residence Hall is that the college refuses to name it until someone donates enough money to have it named after them. The “New Residence Hall” is not a name. It should be named something generic until a donation comes in. Then the college can rename it. I do recommend that students who live on campus try to get into the New Residence Hall. It is the best option for on-campus housing. Just keep in mind that it is not perfect and it is decent walk from the hall to the rest of campus.
All opinions in The Anchor are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Anchor. We urge all members of the RIC community to take advantage of The Anchor’s editorial pages and send us their opinions. We remain true to our motto “free access to ideas and full freedom of expression”. Submissions must be under or around 700 words. Since we receive so many letters each week, entries will be published based on relevancy and time sensitivity. All entries are considered and carefully read.
The Never-Ending Scam Story By Barry Nickerson Anchor Editor If you were around the Quad area or in Donovan on Thursday around 12:30 p.m., then you may have received flyers advertising how to make a bunch of money with a guaranteed gold-mine job. It didn’t take a major investigation to undermine that it was the biggest crock of bull on this side of campus. Having received flyers from an overly-dressed 19-year-old who claimed to have become rich from this job, my friend, Ericka (WXIN’s Public Relations officer, not a scam artist) and I were really suspicious of his motives. A dead giveaway was when he pointed to the $100,000 car parked in the Student Union loop which he claimed as his very own; complete with a quality illegal parking job on the curb that blocked the 15-minute parking spaces. It didn’t take much research to recognize that the car had Massachusetts plates and that his contact information on the paper began with 401 (R.I.’s area code). Either the guy was from Massachusetts, or he had a company car with him. The car, however, had no company emblems on it.
Jessica Albaum is a Theatre major. She currently resides in the New Residence Hall.
Semester Startup By Kimberly Puleo Anchor Staff Arriving back at school a little over a week ago, I started thinking of all the things, yes things, which needed to be plugged into outlets in my single room in Weber Hall. Let’s see, my T.V., computer, clock, fridge, phone, fan… All this electronic equipment had to be plugged into outlets in my room. Speaking of outlets, some of them are loose and do not hold the plugs. Therefore, they are useless. This begs the question: Isn’t it a dangerous thing to have loose outlets and have them in use? Anyway, the point of this article is energy. The enormous use of it on this campus is mind boggling; yet it can’t be helped with the latest gadgets and technologies coming onto the market to consumers. Yet that is what is making our planet excessively warmer during the summers and winters. Doesn’t everyone have parents who sit and think about the times when there weren’t computers, digital clocks, DVD players, and laptops? It is amazing to me that life used to be simpler without all these gadgets. Sure there were great minds who were thinking them up a
Looking further into the flyers, it seemed that all they advertised was to how to quickly get rich by calling this miracle number, whose area code didn’t match the plates on the car. We asked the guy, “Hey, where are you from?” He replied, “I’m from West Warwick.” When asked about his Massachusetts plates, he said, “Oh, company plates.” It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the obvious—company plates don’t exist, but company cars do. You can’t swap around license plates like outfits; cars only have one registration with one set of plates. Does he think that we’re stupid college students? Obviously it wasn’t his personal car, so he was lying—probably to convince people that he made enough money through this public relations job to buy a new one. If he really made that much money, why would he be giving out flyers by the dozen to college kids? Are they that desperate for employment at his
mere four decades ago. However, they had yet to be produced and were not yet available to consumers. In this day and age, there are more and more drivers and consumers of products that make this country that much more dangerous to their users. We are effectively causing global warming, greatly so, in this country to the point that it is warming up to a rate that is unknown to our grandparents. It is creating more hurricanes that are deadly when they impact land. This excessive use of electronics and products that release gases which are harmful to our ozone layer as well as this country, is putting the citizens of Earth at risk. It is a risk that college students living both on and off-campus will live with after graduation. Shouldn’t we, as college students who are in fact the next generation of people who will rule and occupy this country, take charge against this? When I think about it, it highly disturbs me that I am one of those people who continually leaves the TV on when I go to class, and leave my fan and computer on at all times. Take the time and shut those devices off. Think back to your grandparents, even great-grandparents, who suffered through heat and cold just like we do, who did
company that they need to hope one poor sap calls the number? People like this come to schools every day, looking to scam some young college students into dropping out and working full time at a deadbeat job with no benefits. Advertised as “Start making $8 to $12!” it is obvious that you will be making the eight dollars rate, which is pocket change above minimum wage. Public relations people work for every company imaginable. For example, RIC’s own Public Relations department runs What’s News, which most of you receive in the mail. The newspaper’s primary purpose is to make RIC seem like the hottest thing on earth so that the alumni will donate more money to the school. Spokespeople for public relations are paid to market their product. Many will resort to lying in order to get you to sell out. This is a case of people who were paid by some slob from Massachusetts to drive his or her car and convince you that selling cutlery is a proper lifestyle. Keep in mind that public relations could make anything sound like a good thing. Turn on FOX News; the Iraq war becomes something wonderful. While some things are indeed wonderful, like joining a student organization on campus because you heard about it from the public relat i o n s spokesperson (like Ericka or Marah, Anchor PR!), selling cutlery in rural Exeter is not going to make you an Armani suit-wearing picture-perfect Abercrombie model with a nice car. Actually, it’s going to cost you a lot of gas money, and you’ll wind up with less money than you started with. Always remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it is! That get-rich-quick dream job simply does not exist. If it did, everyone would be working one. Keep in mind that when there is no job description, the job is going to suck and cost you money in the long run. Nothing’s free in life; why would some make-believe rich guy and some on-paper testimonials convince you otherwise? If you want something for free, you have to take it. I wanted that Lamborghini for free. I should’ve taken it because selling cutlery isn’t gong to buy it for me. Barry Nickerson is the vice-president for the Anchor Newspaper. He is a Mathematics major and a member of the junior class.
not have access to the necessities to keep warm like we do. They survived through it. Because they did, newer generations are inventing more and more things; yes things, to keep us happy. Yet the things that keep us happy are also killing the world around us. We must stop and shut off certain products that use energy and emit gases that harm our environment. If you’re in your car and it’s warm, don’t use the air conditioner. Save money on gas. If you and your friends commute to school, use one car instead of two. If you’re leaving your room, shut things off that you’d normally keep on. These simple acts save this planet; the one in which we are going to run, rule, live and work in. This is the country that we are going to build families and grow old in. Do we want our future families to grow up in a world that is so harmful to them that doing everyday things will put them at risk? Come on people, the amount of energy one student on the RIC housing campus uses is enormous. Think about cutting it back!! Kimberly Puleo is an English major in her third year at RIC.
Opinions
September 11, 2007
Page 11
THE ANCHOR
paranoid rock-stard o m , D a v i d Big Brotherʼs Solution for Racial Profiling B o w i e tried to make an By Stephen Morse entire album based on Orwell’s epoch Senior British Correspondent defining novel - there is definitely a more sober basis for such twitchy and distrustJust yesterday, I spotted a man wear- ing behaviour. ing a t-shirt bearing the slogan ‘Just BeThis week, one of the country’s senior cause I’m Paranoid, Doesn’t Mean They judges suggested that the whole populaAren’t Out to Get Me’. After instinctively tion of the United Kingdom, plus all visiquestioning the grammar of this sentence, tors, should be placed on a national DNA I pondered the notion. Whilst the wearer database. Naturally, this has ignited the may not necessarily have been trying to age-old debate of civil liberties versus nadraw attention to himself, anyone who did tional security. What is interesting, howread it would probably think ‘what an ever, is that this is being heralded as a way idiot’ and, as such, be disinclined to start a of combating ethnic divisions and thus conversation or give a sexy subtle wink in breeding equality. his direction. In fact, if I were in a life or The present database that exdeath situation with someone of the cali- ists contains the DNA informabre of, say, Jason Bourne, and had to tion of everyone arrested for a choose a candidate to take a bullet for me, recordable offence (all but the it would almost always be the chump in most minor) in England and the ‘oh so clever’ t-shirt. Therefore, in an Wales since 2004, regardless of indirect way, I was out to get him – as- whether or not the arrested party suming that I was being threatened by a was prosecuted. Lord Justice fictional ex-assassin. There’s truth in them Sedley suggested that this means there slogans. that “where there is ethnic profilActually, I would go as far as to say ing going on, disproportionate that it is symptomatic of a growing fear of numbers of ethnic minorities get the state; of a collective paranoia that onto the database.” In fact, forty causes everyone to believe that they’re in percent of black men are cur1984 and that their termination at the rently on the database, compared hands of ‘Big Brother’ is just around the to only nine percent of white corner. If you ask the man in the street, men. If the database contained who we have previously referred to in Let- everybody’s DNA, then techniter to America as Ian, for an explanation of cally all men and women would this trend, they are likely to cite drug use be recorded - leaving no room for as the answer. Whilst this is certainly one racial discrepancies. explanation - especially given that, at the Aside from all the logistical height of his cocaine-addled and über-
LETTER TO AMERICA
and privacy problems that Sedley’s proposal presents, there is another major hurdle. Nothing suggests that an all-encompassing genetic list would actually stop young black men for being routinely arrested for crimes that they haven’t committed. Altering the running of the database procedures merely attacks the symptoms, not the cause, of institutional racism. Moreover, it is likely that the “race card” has been played in order to make the suggestion more palatable to the general public. This is a public, after all, that has been vehemently against carrying ID cards despite the national security benefits that the authorities insist the cards would provide. If Lord Justice Sedley had his way, we Brits would be carrying an ID card around in each and every one of our bodily cells.
Who can blame us for being weary of such profiling if we open our morning papers to discover that the man who singlehandedly devised the language of totalitarian paranoia was, himself, spied upon? It emerged this week that George Orwell had been tracked by MI5, who suspected him of being a Communist because of his “advanced leftwing views” and “bohemian fashion”. Although the secret services eventually concluded that Orwell had “strong leftwing views, but (was) a long way from orthodox communism”, this cements Orwell’s longstanding allegations that he was being monitored, an experience which undoubtedly led him to pen 1984. Just because he was paranoid, it didn’t mean they weren’t out to get him.
ROVING REPORTER By: Kellye Martin
:
What type of activities do you hope to see this year on campus? What would get you more involved?
Amy Departhy Biology 2009 I would love to see more dances happen; it’s a great way to get everybody out of their dorms and meet people. It’s fun too.
Diana Andreozzi Anthropology 2009 There should be more activities involved with the community; involvement on campus with more outreach, or non-profit organizations. There should also be more activities or functions for students in the evenings, especially for first year students.
Paul Larocque Anthropology 2010 I think that it would be great for WXIN to have more concerts on the stairs in front of the Student Union.
Elizabeth Ramulus Social Work 2009 Music out on the quad is fun, it gets people’s attention. I would also like to see more student support groups.
Do you have a question you want answered? Send your question to photography@anchorweb.org
Opinions
Page 12
September 11, 2007
THE ANCHOR
HOW FREE IS FREEDOM? By Andrew Massey Anchor Editor Everyday we wake up, drive to school, go to class if we feel like it, get homework and put it off, go to work and try not to throttle the aggravating customer we’re dealing with, go home, watch what we want on TV, and go to sleep. Everyday we wake up in a free world, a world where no one controls us but ourselves and our consciousness, but how many of us wake up, breathe in the fresh air, and thank whatever deity we pray to for the freedom we have and how many just take it for granted? Until today, I was among the latter, as are so many of us. I try to avoid talking about myself in my articles but today I feel the need to. On Thursday, September 6th, I went to my Freedom class. I picked it because it was my Core Four requirement. The irony of having to go to a ‘Freedom’ class was not lost on me. I went there expecting a lot of dull lectures that would put me into a near catatonic state. I left there with my mind buzzing full of new questions and viewpoints that I had never bothered to think of until that day. The biggest question was “How free is our freedom?” Most of us were born in America. We never lived under the rule of a tyrant or oppressed by the ones in power. Many of us don’t know what it is like having to keep our thoughts to ourselves in fear for our well being and that of those we love. We were born into freedom, we’ve lived in freedom, and we know nothing but it. So you would think with all this experience we could answer the question: “What is freedom?” We can’t, other than to say that it is “the ability to do as one pleases without restraint.” Even that is not completely right. If I could do whatever I pleased, I could steal a computer if I wanted it, hit someone I didn’t like, or break something I thought was ugly. While I can do these things, my actions would have consequences. Even a person under the thumb of tyranny can do these things; they would just face much worse consequences. It is the consequences of actions that restraint us, and everyone faces those restraints. A country without any such restraints would fall into anarchy. So the paradox of freedom is that in order to have freedom,
you must be able to keep it in line. Where is that line? How many freedoms can you take away before it is considered tyranny? How much leniency can you give before your system crumbles into anarchy? What is the exact price of freedom and is it worth it? I think it is. As much as I love freedom, I know we need laws to govern us. The alternatives are not pretty. What I still wonder about is the value of my freedom. What is it worth? I doubt I’ll ever know, no matter how many Freedom classes I take. I think the only people who will ever know the true value of freedom is those who have had it taken away, whether they are POWs or the people under a tyrant’s thumb. It is said that we only learn the true value of something once it is taken away and I believe that to be especially true in the case of freedom. Now I’m not saying that people don’t love their freedom since they have always had it. I’m saying that only those who know what it is like to be oppressed can truly grasp how wonderful it is to have freedom. A man who is paralyzed and regains the ability to walk is likely to never again take something as simple as walking for granted. I do not write this article to inform or convince my readers like I normally do, but to inspire them. I want to get their brains thinking deep and hard about this. So many of us never bother to think about how much our freedom means to us, and with all that is going on, we should. Freedom isn’t free, but nothing in life that is worth it ever is. Andrew Massey is a Psychology major and is the current Opinions Editor of the Anchor. Despite the graphic for his column, Andrew Massey has never been allowed to drive a tank.
A Day To Reflect
By Kimberly Puleo Anchor Staff Six years ago to this Tuesday, many lives were lost in NYC, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Six years ago, on Tuesday September 11th, 2001, Osama Bin Laden attacked our country and brought it to its knees by mercilessly murdering many innocent lives to get a point across. Now six years later, on Tuesday September 11th, 2007, we gather to remember those lives lost to terrorism. My prayers and thoughts are with those who lost loved ones that day. However, I implore our government to fix what was found in the 9/11 Commission Report. What they found is that our country, government was ill prepared and ignorant to what was going to happen on 9/11. It
makes me sick to think that the warnings from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) were ignored because they were the same threats that had been coming to them day in and day out. Yet, these threats were very real. It amazes me that in NYC at the World Trade Centers, which a whole stairwell, Stairwell A, was left virtually empty while people suffered in the upper floors of the WTC. We missed many opportunities to stop this horrible day. Six years later, are we any safer than before? Sure we went to Afghanistan and took custody or killed many of the higher ups in Bin Laden’s clan. Yes, thereafter Afghanistan we ended up and still are in Iraq. Yet did we find any of the so called, Weapons of Mass Destruction? No we didn’t. We are still there. Yes, it was great that we took down an awful leader that would willfully torture
his country’s citizens. The attacks on American soil on that fateful beautiful day, September 11th, 2001 led to where this countries military is today. It is beyond me that in the 9/11 Commission Report, one will find a myriad and plethora of information on what the United States missed in order to stop the events of September 11th, 2001. It makes me sick that this has happened to our country. Yet it opens my eyes to how vulnerable our country might still be in to this day. I also ask that our student body, to, whenever they feel most comfortable, a moment of silence for those lives lost that horrible hate-filled day and for those who are still fighting for our freedom. Some may think it is time to lessen our memorials for those lives lost; however, I do not feel that way. I don’t think that time, for the time being; will ever heal the wounds created that day. I also feel that we should always keep those lives lost that day, in our minds, hearts and prayers on a daily basis. For those families, mostly unknown to those at RIC, are still grieving with the loss of what happened that awful day. Kimberly Puleo is an English major in her third year at RIC.
September 11, 2007
Lifestyles
Page 13
THE ANCHOR
Health Hype: Calorie Counting By Casey Gaul Anchor Editor One of the most visible and talked about elements of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a healthy weight. A healthy weight is dependent on characteristics of each individual. So what is a healthy weight for you? By finding your Body Mass Index, or BMI, you can easily determine whether or not your weight is healthy and what your healthy weight window is. Your BMI is calculated via a fairly simple equation: Your weight in pounds x 703 / Your height in inches / Your height in inches again = Your BMI If the resultant number is below 18.5, you are underweight. If it is between 18.5 and 24.9, you are a healthy weight. If it is between 25 and 29.9, you are overweight. A BMI of 30 or over indicates obesity. As an example, let’s take a 130 pound woman who is 65 inches tall. 130 x 703 / 65 / 65 = 21.6 BMI That would be a healthy weight for that person. So, if you find yourself at a BMI of 25 or higher, what can you do about it? The answer is to either cut back on the number of calories you take in or up your activity level. It is important to note that they work best when implemented together. It is generally not healthy to try to lose more than two or three pounds a week (despite what some diet fads might claim). One pound of body fat is roughly equal to 3500 calories. In order to lose two pounds a week, you’d have to burn seven thousand more calories. This means that you would need to burn one thousand more calories than you ate each day. The next question you need to answer for yourself is how many calories you burn in a normal day. In order to determine this number, you must first determine your Basal Metabolic Rate, or BMR. According to the American Dietetic Association’s Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, BMR makes up sixty percent of your body’s energy use and is the amount of calories that your body uses just to pump blood, breathe, think, and do everything else that your body does involuntarily. It can be determined by multiplying your weight by ten (for women) or by eleven (for men). For example, take a 140 pound woman and a 180 pound man: 140 x 10 = 1400 calories 180 x 11 = 1980 calories This number only represents about sixty percent of what your body burns in a day so the total number of calories that each of these people burns in a day would be: 1400 x 100 / 60 = 2333 calories 1980 x 100 / 60 = 3300 calories If these people chose to lose two pounds a week by reducing their caloric intake alone, the woman would have to limit herself to 1333 calories and the man would have to limit himself to 2300 calories per day. The next difficulty to overcome is the actual calorie counting. While most snack foods come with nutrition information on the package, most of what you’ll get to eat at Donovan won’t have a nifty serving size and calorie marking. Even so, estimates for most meals can be found with a quick Internet search. Keeping a food and activity journal where you write down everything you eat each day will help you cut back on your intake regardless of whether you add up the calories or not. Better yet, there is an online resource worth mentioning. You can sign up for a free account at www.fitday.com. The account will allow you to input foods and extra activities that you accumulate over the course of the day to a fair point of accuracy. It will also determine how many calories you burn each day based on your BMR and activity level, as well as letting you know if you’re getting all the nutrients you need, and let you set personal weight and nutritional goals. Next week’s topic: Good fat vs. bad fat.
Pistol Pete’s Guide To Survivin’ By Pete Birbuet Anchor Editor This is a list of a few things I’ve noticed during my time at RIC. Is this your first year here? Welcome then. The parking always stinks around here and the sheer idiocy of some drivers will never cease to shock and awe you. Donovan does actually serve decent food, but you will pay for it—and not just from your wallet. You will not have enough time for ‘everything; same goes for money. Make the best of what you’ve got. We surprise ourselves with how creative we can get around problems; especially when it comes to food. I suggest getting a rice cooker or similar appliances. There are a couple supermarkets in the area; if it’s costing a lot to eat at the cafeteria, than make time to get some food there. One thing I’ve also noticed is I can’t stay up as late as I used to. Sleep deprivation is a permanent state for nearly everyone I know around me. The amount of time I spent almost comatose after school slightly reminded me of the importance of rest. Sure you can get away with 6 or less hours of sleep, or even an all-nighter. But it catches up with
you. Actually it’s sheer irony to be writing this since sometimes you have to stay up, like many people at the Anchor newspaper working during the dreaded layout night. I’ve been up until dawn with the staff on more than one occasion. Actually, being drunk and being sleep-deprived are pretty close, except being sleep-deprived doesn’t make you want to throw up. Finally, try and get involved with activities on campus. Join a club because you will be surprised at what you will learn and who you will meet.
Transforming Your Machine and Internet Telephony By Alex Tirrell Anchor Technology Editor Do you have a slightly old computer that you want back in tiptop shape? Over the years, I’ve worked on many such machines that people are frustrated with. In the Windows world, a little refreshing can go a long way. Restoration basics As with many machines, the easiest things to upgrade can quickly get your machine running faster. The first thing that is always recommended is to replace or add more RAM (random access memory). You can usually find out what type through your manufacturer’s website or by visiting a site like DealRAM (www.dealram.com) and looking up your machine to find some of the lowest prices on the internet. Buy and install as much memory as possible. Your manufacturer’s guide or website will tell you how much you can install and how to do it. If you’re running low on space, a new hard drive may be in order. If you have an older machine, prices on ATA/IDE drives are dropping fast, but that’s because they are not being manufactured anymore. It might be a good time to pick up a bigger drive and adding that in. SATA is the new standard. These drives are also coming down in price and increasing in volume. The last hardware medium that most people can install is a video card. The standards for video cards are changing rapidly, but most machines still have AGP or PCI Express. A video card is important if you’re planning on upgrading to Windows Vista or playing PC games. Any modern 256MB or higher video card should do the trick. Be aware, however, that some PCs may not have a card slot that will support a modern video card. Again, it is very important to know your machine specifications before making any hardware purchase. For buying memory and hard drives, video cards, and anything in between, Newegg (www.newegg.com), featuring user reviews, great prices, and fast inexpensive shipping, is one of the most frequently used and trusted online technology stores. Finally, my last recommendation is one that should only be taken with careful preparation. That would be to back up, reformat, and reinstall Windows. This is the definite way to clear out all of the unwanted crap that builds up and hides in your system, leaving you with a fresh, shiny surface to get started with. A future Tech Tips will focus on making backups and day to day cleanups of your system. Using your computer as a phone In the past week, I’ve heard many complaints about the lack of cell service in the New Residence Hall and other buildings. I have a solution that might work for you. It’s called Gizmo Project and it works on the SIP (session initiation) protocol. You can have a local phone number for incoming calls that will ring at your computer for as low as three dollars a month with Call In. Outgoing calls are less than two cents a minute. If having one phone number set to ring at both your cell phone and Gizmo Project sounds good, they also offer a service called Area775 for that with affordable pricing options. To get started, just visit www.gizmoproject.com. All you need is a high speed internet connection, a microphone, and speakers or headphones. The Gizmo Project website also features links to compatible USB phones and handsets. Alex Tirrell has worked in RIC’s User Support Services for three years in Mac and PC support and has extensive background experience in desktop & server support and management.
September 11, 2007
Arts + Entertainment
Page 15
THE ANCHOR
CD Review: As I Lay Dying: An Ocean Between Us By David Doyle Anchor Editor As I Lay Dying’s third album on Metal Blade Records, An Ocean Between Us, is an essential must get for any Metalcore fan. The first album by As I Lay Dying not to be a concept album, An Ocean Between Us has an overall concept of rock and roll. It is easy to identify the roots of As I Lay Dying’s influence. The double bass only stops when it has to, and it is easy to pick out the punk undertones. The dynamic sound of melodic thrashing guitars and a pulverizing bass only make you want to continuously turn it up. The vocals are just as raw and hardcore as presented in previous albums Shadows Are Security and Frail Words Collapse. About taking a step in the direction of not creating a concept album, lead vocalist Tim Lambesis said, “I tried to write about whatever was on my mind.” Explaining the title An Ocean Between Us, Lambesis stated, “The title is about the separation we need to have between the expectations of the rest of the world and what our goals are. There are dreams we’re taught are normal… but we shouldn’t believe in those things if they are not important to us. There is an ocean between our real lives and what is expected of us.” As I Lay Dying is currently touring in Europe, and will begin their North American tour at the end of October. As I Lay Dying will be playing in Worcester at The Palladium on November 10. I know if any of you have been to an As I Lay Dying show, you will definitely be there; for those of you who haven’t, you need to clear your schedule, skip class, call out of work and tell the wife not to wait up, because you have some serious headbanging to do.
Weekend Adventures By Jessica Albaum Anchor Editor There are many exciting events going on this coming weekend, in Rhode Island and the surrounding area. Some of the events listed in the last issue are still going on, for example, King Richard’s Faire. I will only list things that are starting this weekend. If an evening of theatre is what you’re after this weekend, head to the Trinity Repertory Theatre. “All the King’s Men” will be running from September 14 thru October 21. It is a drama about human frailty. Also at Trinity is a special performance of “But for the Grace”, a play about the injustice of hunger. It is playing on Sept 15 and 16. For times and prices, go to www.trinityrep.com. Another dramatic event this weekend is “Waterfire” If you are not native to Rhode Is-
land or have never been, you should experience this one-of-a-kind event held in downtown Providence. It will be this Saturday from 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m. If you are more interested in the music scene, then walk a couple of blocks from Trinity to AS220. There is a $6 cover for all events this weekend; they all start at 9 p.m. Friday is Heavy Metal Night with bands like Anomolous. Saturday is a mixture of dance music and hip-hop with groups like Mahi Mahi and Lorna Doom. The weekend will be summed up on Sunday with punk rock, including a Danish group called Cola Freaks. If you are looking for something more historical Bristol, R.I. is the place to be Sunday night. The Providence Brigade Band will be playing on the lawn of Linden Place Mansion. General admission is $10. If there is an event coming up that you would like included in the Weekend Adventures, please email the information to executive@anchorweb.org.
The Nanny Diaries Is a Delight By Marah Roach Anchor Editor Typical college student Annie Braddock, played by Scarlett Johansson, doesn’t know what she wants out of life, but when opportunity is thrust upon her one day she just can’t say no. And who could if it was a cute three-foot-tall boy named Grayer. Annie, with all for the desire to find herself while making some money, takes a job as a nanny for this rich couple named Mr. and Mrs. X, played by Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. She is thrown into the world of Upper East Side Manhattan that she never could’ve imagined. The women get botox like they get their daily exercise, the children know the difference between caviar and shrimp scampi, and a dysfunctional marriage is inevitable. Annie sums it up in one comical sentence, “In Africa they have the saying, it takes a
village to raise a child. But for the tribe of the upper-eastside of Manhattan, it takes just one person. The nanny.” That’s just one example of the humor throughout the movie and Johansson
masters it with her quick wit and often voiced opinions about the “Stepford Wives”. It’s the kind of life that Mr. and Mrs. X’s son Grayer lives that concerns Annie, and while her and Grayer grow more and more attached, she is forced to wonder what she is doing with her life. Annie strives to show Mrs. X that there is more to life than cocktails and spa days, all the while trying her best not to act on the romantic feelings she has towards the “Harvard Hottie” upstairs. The Nanny Diaries, based on the novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, is a cute chick flick, and will not disappoint those in the mood for a light-hearted comedy. So go see for yourself if Annie Braddock sheds some light on Mr. and Mrs. X’s meaningless lives, or if she gets the “Harvard Hottie”, who is played by the super cute Chris Evans.
Casshern: A True Anime Style Beat-Em-Up By Joseph Roberge Anchor Staff Robots, sword fights, explosions, and special effects that will blow your mind. These are just a few things that you’ll see in the Japanese smash hit, “Casshern” (pronounced: cass-hern). If you liked “The Matrix”, then chances are you will fall in love with this movie. “Casshern” is the embodiment of a true sci-fi cult film, becoming what movies like “The Matrix” and “Equilibrium” should have been. Instead of the black trench coats and sunglasses that have become such a common place in films of the sci-fi cult genre, “Casshern” uses unique and stylized outfits that compliment each individual character. Instead of the same 360 degree, stop-motion, bullet dodging moves you have seen over and over again, “Casshern” gives a new edge to the art of fighting an ocean of robotic death machines with your bare hands. Through and through this film does not disappoint in having amazing visuals, actions scenes to die for, and a plot line that is steeped in vengeance, betrayal and endless love. “Casshern” takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where war has left the world barren and polluted with disease. A geneticist named Dr. Azuma has found a treatment to these diseases through his genetic research
called “Neo-Cells”. Dr. Azuma presents his findings to the ruling government leaders and is turned down. He then decides to continue his “Neo-Cell” project through the aid of a secret military branch. A huge accident in Dr. Azuma’s lab ends up creating a race of mutant humans known as “neo-humans”, with super strength among other powers. Knowing what the repercussions of his actions are, Dr. Azuma revives his son Tetsuya, who had died in the war. Tetsuya then becomes the warrior known only as Casshern and starts to combat the impending mutant and robot army, all the while protecting the girl he loves. All and all “Casshern” is an over the top, non-stop, action, sci-fi explosion with such devastating visuals that it will leave you wanting more. Unfortunately, “Casshern” is not sold in any major U.S. stores, so the only way to obtain a copy is either on the Internet or to buy a VCD of it from one of the many local Asian markets for a few dollars (yes, they should have it, I have personally checked for it). There is however some good news for anyone who watches this film and enjoys it. “Casshern” is a live-action movie based on the 1973 anime classic of the same title. So, if you are craving more “Casshern”, then I would suggest picking up the classic anime, which you will most likely have to import or find at an Asian market. Happy hunting!
Arts
Entertainment Transmission Down:
WXIN suffers from weak stream
RIC EVENTS Comedian Wed. Sept. 12 8-10pm Student Union Ballroom FREE ~ The Real World TV Casting Call Thurs. Sept. 13 8-11pm Student Union Ballroom FREE ~ Ocean’s Thirteen Fri. Spet. 14 8pm Gaige Auditorium FREE ~ RIC Trip: Waterfire Sat. Sept. 15 6-11pm Student Union Loop FREE ~ Sunday Night Football Sun. Sept. 16 8pm Student Union Ballroom FREE
PAGE 16
By Christopher E. Buonanno Anchor Staff “Beep, Beep, Beep. We’re sorry; you’ve reached a station that is unavailable at this time. Please try again later.” This is what loyal listeners have been hearing when trying to log on to listen to 90.7 FM WXIN online. And even in their cars on their way into campus, or in their dorm rooms, all that is coming through the speakers when 90.7 is tuned in is static. No, the station has not failed to pay any bills, and no, neither the college nor the FCC has thrown the station off the air. However, Mother Nature did silence RIC’s radio station, but only temporarily. “The best theory is that during a severe thunderstorm over the summer, our transmitter was hit by lightning,” says WXIN General Manager Michael McKenna. “As of right now, we have a temporary solution so that we can still be heard in the quad.”
The transmitter in question is located on top of the roof of the Student Union, and upon being hit by lightning, it slowly fizzled out and fried itself. “The engineer is looking very closely at the issue, and it is at the top of our priority list,” McKenna says. “The solution to the problem is still unknown, however by Wednesday, we should know the severity of the issue, and we will know how long it will take to get fixed.” The transmitter is essential to both the Internet broadcast as well as the broadcast that can be heard over the radio. There are lines that run from the studio in the Media Center, up to the transmitter and the antenna. Those then pump out radio waves at about one watt of strength throughout the RIC area. Then, regular radio units pick up the waves from the transmitter and these units are connected to Live 365 (which is the Internet broadcaster RIC radio uses) and also to the speakers in the quad. Using this setup, the Internet broadcast is also unavailable until the transmitter is fixed.
McKenna says that this situation may be changed if in fact the repairs to the transmitter are too time consuming. “It can be arranged so we are online without the transmitter if the need is there,” he said. He continued, “Make no mistake, transmitter, or no transmitter; shows on WXIN will be beginning on Monday, September 24, which is right on schedule. We will be on the air, in some capacity, for the students by then one way or another.” McKenna goes on to say that while WXIN will be on the air, and students will be able to listen, he does not know if the situation will be totally fixed by then. “We find that out Wednesday,” he said. So if those loyal listeners thought that we lad lost our radio station, fear not; WXIN will return and return strong. Their Jazz Director put it best: “You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than of WXIN not making a strong comeback soon.”
CUISINE CORNER
CILANTRO: NACHO TYPICAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT By Nick Lima Anchor Food Critic Forget crossing the border. If you want great Mexican food, all you need to do is cross Weybosset Street in Providence, for there you’ll find Cilantro Mexican Grill. A far cry from your standard Mexican restaurant, Cilantro features an unique design-your-own taco line that offers near limitless combinations. After hearing much of the hype about the locally famous establishment, I finally managed to make a trip there last week. While my colleagues all decided to go for their usual favorites, ranging from enormous burritos to freshly made quesadillas, for my first experience I decided to go for their tacos. Beginning at the corner wall of a cafeteria-style serving line, Cilantro tantalizes you with a vast assembly of taco ingredients, spread more than ten feet across. A server waits behind the line to promptly attend to your
custom wishes, starting with the essence of choices in taco cuisine: hard or soft? Wanting to try as many of Cilantro’s offerings as possible, I opted not to side with the very low priced taco combos, featuring either three soft or four hard tacos, and instead tried a couple of each. For fillings, I chose the staple seasoned beef for my first taco, in addition to spicy grilled chicken and steak. While the beef left something to be desired, particularly in its flavor, the chicken was tender, well cut, and delectably juicy. While I made the mistake of adding it to a hard taco instead of a warm, soft tortilla (of which both wheat and flour are available), it still
blended well with my personal combination of sour cream, extra shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, and salsa. And speaking of salsa, Cilantro has three distinct, homemade varieties to choose from. The first, and milder, consists of chopped tomato and red onions with a light sprinkling of spices. The medium version is comprised mostly of corn and sweeter elements, including mango, while the hottest, red jabanero matches closest with the traditional view of salsa. Any of the salsas go terrifically with any taco filling, but are even more fantastic with a side of Cilantro’s fresh tortilla chips. Deep fried daily and garnished with lime salt, the chips go well with either Cilantro’s homemade guacamole or salsa, but unfortunately, the watery sour cream is not
a great choice. Also of note is that you won’t find any chips and cheese options in Cilantro’s custom food lines, the Monterey and white cheddar being reserved for tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Whether you’re a Mexican food fanatic, looking for a late night bite (they’re open until one a.m. on weekends), or even if you’re a vegetarian looking for a meatless alternative, Cilantro Mexican Restaurant has something for you. Unlike the high priced, chaotic atmosphere presented by South of the Border, Tito’s, or Chevy’s, Cilantro offers a quaint, neighborhood atmosphere that cuts out the middlemen between you and delicious Mexican food, prepared just the way you like it. Service: 4.5 / 5 Atmosphere: 3 / 5 Food: 4 / 5 Mozzarella Sticks: N / A Overall: 3.5 / 5