Buzz Magazine: Jan. 22, 2004

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I’M THE BACK PAGE. | JANUARY 22-28, 2004 buzz

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Zoo Company makes acting debut (Page 6) MUSIC

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New Year equals new local music (Page 9) CALENDAR

Brian Jonestown Massacre at Nargile (Page 12) FILM

Torque lacks big screen power (Page 21)

Exploring hop’s Exploring Hip Hip-hop’s past, present and future

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I LOVE GOING INTO TOWN, EVEN IF IT’S ONLY FOR AN HOUR | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

BY MARISSA MONSON | EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Story 4 Hip hop: a song, a culture

S

itting at a stop light on a busy afternoon at the intersection of Neil and Springfield, the light turns green, but you are searching the radio stations for a decent song, a hefty task in this town.

You hesitate. A chorus of horns blare, and the middle fingers begin to rise. You are unaffected.

The ‘60s had the peace sign, the ‘80s had the annoying thumbs-up and we have the anti-peace sign, the bird. Yeah, “Fuck you” litters the streets, the dinner table, and now the airwaves. Since U2’s Bono uttered the previously considered “naughty word” at The Golden Globe Awards—as an adjective—the distinction the FCC used to OK Bono’s usage of “the F-bomb” in his statement, “This is really, really fucking brilliant.” The FCC decided to concede with the times and OK the use of the Fbomb on television.

However, the limits to how far you can take the F-word only reach so far. When referring to sex, the F-word is unacceptable. However, if used as an adjective, it is acceptable and quite colorful, like “rotund” or “robust.”

The Parents Television Council is concerned, as a committee full of parents who are concerned about TV should be. But is

Hip hop. These two words usually conjure images of rap superstars and multi-million dollar enterprises, not research centers and community...

Arts 6 Zoo Company debut

Champaign-Urbana has a wealth of community theater talent and eclectic venues. The newly assembled acting troupe...

Music 9 New year means new music When you’re hot, you’re hot— and right now, the Champaign music scene is hot. In 2003, local bands released..

Calendar 12 Brian Jonestown Massacre After more than a decade of making rock music, The Brian Jonestown Massacre continues...

Film 19 Monster grabs audiences Last year, Nicole Kidman donned a prosthetic nose for The Hours, and it won...

PHOTO | COURTESY OF THE PITCH

Volume 2, Number 3 COVER DESIGN | Andy Getz

Editor in chief Marissa Monson Art Directors Meaghan Dee & Carol Mudra Copy Chief Chris Ryan Music Jacob Dittmer Art Katie Richardson Film Paul Wagner Community Emily Wahlheim Calendar Maggie Dunphy Photography Editor Christine Litas Calendar Coordinators Lauren Smith, Cassie Conner, Erin Scottberg Photography Christine Litas, Steve Kline Copy Editors Chris Ryan, Erin Green, Jen Hubert Designers Mark Hauge, Adam Obendorf, Paul Wagner, Maggie Dunphy, Sue Janna Truscott Production Manager Theon Smith Editorial Adviser Elliot Kolkovich Sales Manager Lindsey Benton Marketing/Distribution Melissa Schleicher, Maria Erickson Publisher Mary Cory

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Buzz magazine is a student-run publication of Illini Media Company and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students.

Copyright Illini Media Company 2004

23

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | I BROKE A MIRROR :-(

editor’snote

insidebuzz

BUZZ STAFF

buzz

odds & end

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY one word as terrible as the piles of crap shoveled into children’s brains on a daily basis? Doubtful, but I’m sure people out there in TV-land are considering the notion that a censored Eminem video never looked so good. After all, how are advocating spousal abuse and gay-bashing different than using one of the seven deadly words? (note the sarcasm) I enjoy expressing myself through curse words. I always have. As a child, I called my dad a bastard, later explaining that I had heard the word from Bugs Bunny himself. With points for good measure, I was only banished from the TV, especially Bugs Bunny. I’m sure he thought he should check it out. With the lax FCC rulings, the PTC possibly sees this as a precedent for the future.

I doubt it. These adult words will remain adult words, and if they are used on adult shows, no harm done.

When we start questioning Bono’s moral character, that is where I draw the line. There is something to be said about public decency, but taking it too far means limiting free speech.

It’s nice to see the FCC rolling with the times ... well, at least for now. Let’s be honest: If Bono says it, it can’t be that bad.

Let’s get rid of something truly detrimental to society, the thumbs-up. Now that is something I can get behind.

-M.M.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): For many male athletes, having sex before a big game is taboo. They believe it saps their energy and hurts their chances of winning.The coach of the Chinese Olympic ping-pong team has gone even further, banning his players from falling in love. In my opinion, this approach is crazy and wrong.

According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the best way for you to prime yourself for your upcoming moment of truth is by enjoying as much sweet affection and erotic delight as you dare.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Picture two people you know who seem to believe they are superior to you. Maybe they imagine they're smarter or funnier or more popular than you, and therefore think they're justified in treating you carelessly. Maybe these elitists are under the impression that because they have higher social status or more money than you, you don't deserve their focused attention. Next, Taurus, consider the idea, taught by every decent spiritual leader, that people like this have a pathologically inflated sense of self-importance. Finally, place two white roses in a special place in your home. Beneath each, lay a piece of paper on which you have written the name of the person with the superiority complex, along with the words "I am free of your judgment" and a drawing of a winged heart.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Chinese Year of the Monkey begins this week. According to astrologer Shelly Wu (www.chineseastrology.com), it will be "rich in the unexpected," tweaking everyone's concept of what's normal. Ruses, half-truths, and tricks will proliferate, turning the whole year into an extended balancing act.Is anyone likely to thrive? Wu suggests it'll be those with agile intelligence, frisky imagination, and an affinity for risk and novelty. Sounds to me like she's describing the Gemini tribe.

Are you ready to be a leader and role model for the rest of us?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I got an email from a person who said he was the former president of the African nation of Liberia.

He said that if I helped him transfer his secret fund of $30 million from a Nigerian bank to an account in the U.S., he'd give me $9 million of it. I wrote back to him saying thanks for thinking of me, but I wouldn't take him up on his proposal.Why? I didn't tell him, but I'll tell you. Although it's true that Cancerians like myself are in an astrological phase when we can expect to benefit from other people's money and resources, maybe even in the form of a windfall, we also have to be careful not to get scammed by con artists and manipulators. The only collaborative offers we should consider are those that come from well-known sources and trusted allies.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Each of us has felt the pressure to be a more perfect lover. "Maxim" and "Cosmopolitan" magazines are two of many sources that barrage us with instructions on how to improve our techniques, expand our repertoires, and become telepathic masters of the art of dispensing pleasure. In the com-

ing weeks, I believe you Leos will probably be subject to some of this goading. That could be good if it motivates you in a healthy way; not so good if it makes you feel defensive and self-conscious. To ensure that the mood stays light, I suggest you round up a partner who is willing to collaborate with you in a Bad Sex Festival. During the designated holiday, the two of you will intentionally engage in an orgy of awkward, contrived, and slapstick sex.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It would be a good time to go on eBay and try hawking the invisible bath toys of your imaginary friend or the signature of the celebrity you were in your past life.

Other activities that would align you well with the cosmic ebb and flow: getting a gig moonlighting as a party planner; writing a witty, brazen appeal for a grant to someone who might actually give it to you; and brainstorming about how to have more fun making money and how to make more money having fun.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): My teacher Anne Davies told a story about a negotiation between a U.S. Army general and a cannibal chief in New Guinea during World War II.The general wanted the chief to rally his tribe to help American troops fight the Japanese.

The chief refused, calling the Americans immoral. The general was shocked. "We are not immoral!" he protested. "The Japanese are immoral." The cannibal chief replied, "The Japanese and Americans are equally immoral. You both kill far more people than you can eat." Let this story inspire you to take inventory of your own moral code, Virgo. Which parts of it are eternally valid, and which are shaped or distorted by the transitory beliefs of your culture and era?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The astrological omens suggest that you currently have an aptitude for extreme gardening. In its literal sense, the term refers to the cultivation of flowers and vegetables in places like desert oases or frigid terrains above the tree-line. Interpreting it metaphorically, I'd guess that you have a knack for creating something out of nothing.You could probably coax cautious people into helping you nurture daring plans, or jumpstart a project that seems to have little more going for it than hope.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Writing on salon.com, Farhad Manjoo and Katharine Mieszkowski predict that e-mail spam will ultimately lead to the downfall of Internet porn. Here's the scenario they foresee. By taking advantage of the various sexual enhancements offered via spam, millions of men will become well-endowed, hard-bodied masters of lovemaking. As their ability to date and satisfy real women soars, they will lose interest in porn's virtual pleasures.Voila! Web smut will decline precipitously. I prophesy an analogous development for you in the coming weeks, Pisces.You may find you're able to manipulate one of your enemies into defeating another. Or a compulsive part of your psyche could help solve a problem created by an immature part of your psyche. Or both.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Palm reader Beth Davis had a pithy analysis of actor-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger after scrutinizing his hand print at Grauman's Chinese Theater. "There is this odd kind of Teddy bear thing mixed with warrior energy," she concluded. I see a similar blend in your psyche right now, Libra.

You have the power to make people feel loved even as you express your fierce intention to shape the world to your specifications.You're an unbeatable combination of softie and dynamo.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your word of power for the coming weeks is incubate. Like a mother duck or father penguin, you should sit on your metaphorical eggs to keep them warm and prepare them for hatching. Like an artist, you should push your analytical mind to the limit as you seek insight about your next creative move, then relax and wait for your intuition to sprout.

Like a skilled lucid dreamer, you should formulate a good question about a dicey problem, and hold it in your mind as you fall asleep, fully expecting your dreams to reveal a brilliant solution.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): As I compose this horoscope, I'm sitting in an airport bar during a layover. Something odd is happening with the 16 televisions that stretch from one end of the bar to the other. Until ten minutes ago, they'd all been showing the same basketball game. Now each is tuned to a different station. On one TV, the Blue Fairy is waving a wand over Pinocchio. On another, cops are carrying a pig out of a fountain. I'm also keeping up with the story of an African princess learning to be a card shark and a game of camel polo in an Iraqi wasteland, but that's all I can handle.Your life may soon resemble what I'm experiencing now, Sagittarius. I advise you to be like me and don't let your attention split in more than four directions.

Roger Ebert’s

Overlooked Film Festival April 21-25, 2004

✍ HOMEWORK: If the aver- ☎ Rob Brezsny's Free Will age street cleaner in

Astrology beautyandtruth @ f r e e w i l l a s t r o l o g y. c o m 415.459.7209(v)• 415.457.3769 http://www.freewillastrology. com P.O. Box 798 San Anselmo, CA 94979

Cambodia were to trade places with you now, he'd think he'd been transported to paradise. What aspects of your life would he be most envious about? www.freewillastrology.com

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS Diagnostic aid Leaves stranded Mundane Fit 2003 Broadway musical whose name is an address 18 “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” duettist, 1976 19 Thimbleful 20 Roughed up 22 It’s cast 23 Takes care of 25 Dashboard item 26 Trio to the right of the D on a keyboard 27 Animal that may be striped 29 Emblem of St. Mark 31 Reddish purple 32 Marriage, for one 34 Three-time Major League Soccer champs 36 Show affection from a distance 1 8 15 16 17

Bun holder Ready for a drive Comrade in arms 1987 Pulitzer critic Richard 48 Pox 49 Controversial 1980’s proposal: Abbr.

50 “Yipe!”

52 Fishing locale 53 “What ___?”

55 Kennel club’s interest 57 Auto protector 58 Pause that refreshes 60 Circling 62 Buttercup family member 63 Puccini aria 64 Armenia’s capital 65 Noncommittal reply 38 41 45 46

DOWN 1 Snake 2 Cheese holder 3 “Again …”

4 Term.

5 Fish bait 6 Follow ___ (do

detective work) 7 Vicks product 8 It’s put on the rack 9 In literature, the personification of purity 10 “Don’t ___” 11 Flake 12 Flipped 13 Decorative dining table piece 14 Was hot 21 Bombed 24 Short and thick 28 John ___, 1995 British Open winner 30 ___ de Noël (Christmas Eve): Fr. 31 Get smart 33 Run 35 Instant: Abbr.

37 Available for a pass 38 Compensation package amount 39 Traditional 40 Criticize harshly

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Puzzle by Bob Peoples

42 Slowly come (in) 43 Info that may be

stored with passwords 44 Important Wall St. number

47 Discovery of 1898 51 Title girl in a

Ritchie Valens hit 54 Salinger girl 55 Courtesy title overseas

56 Popular techno

musician

59 Erev ___ (Hebrew

good evening)

61 Fighter at

Chancellorsville

www.ebertfest.com

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film

TEACHER’S PET

moviereview

TEACHER’S PET ★★★

BY ANDREW VECELAS | STAFF WRITER

T

eacher’s Pet, the latest Disney animated film, proves that successful animated films are born out of heart and creativity, not technology. Based on a Saturday morning show that ran for a few years on ABC, the movie is centered on a young boy named Leonard and his dog Spot. Spot (Nathan Lane) wants to be as undog-like as possible. He dresses like a person every day so he can follow Leonard to school.

When Leonard and his mother travel to Florida over the summer, Spot unexpectedly tags along, hoping to meet Dr. Krank (Kelsey Grammer), a mad scientist he saw on a talk show who claims to be able to turn animals into humans. The family cat (David Ogden Stier) and canary (Jerry Stiller), follow suit when they realize Dr. Krank lives up to his name, producing horrible animal mutations.

The voice cast performs admirably, with all of the big stars perfectly suited to their roles.

Lane especially has a lot of fun. A scene where he is forced to play each of the imaginary members of Scott’s family in front of Leonard’s mom is a comic gem. Stiller hits all the right notes as a canary with some attitude.

And is there any better actor to voice a mad scientist than Kelsey Grammer?

The humor comes fast and should please adults as much as it does children. The film also contains nearly 10 songs, which lead to a running gag where characters anticipate when songs will break out and voice their disgust. The music is varied and provides some of the film’s most outrageous humor.

Teacher’s Pet is charming in its own weird way. It doesn’t look like any other animated film in recent memory, and its sense of humor is nothing if not eccentric. It certainly won’t find its way into the Disney hall of fame, but its strengths cannot be denied, and families looking for a fun time at the movies this winter should definitely check it out.

Drive-thru Reviews

A DOG GOES TO SCHOOL? LEAVE IT TO DISNEY | JANUARY 22- 28 2004 buzz

Walt Disney Entertainment

22

1/21/04

ALONG CAME POLLY ★★ BEN STILLER AND JENNIFER ANISTON Aniston does her best to make the movie shine, but even she can't make the trite interesting or the familiar compelling. She does make it completely painless to endure, and at moments makes it almost fun, but she isn't Superwoman. Her back, however strong, can only hold so much dead weight.(John Loos) Now showing at Savoy and Beverly CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN ★★★ STEVE MARTIN AND BONNIE HUNT Cheaper by the Dozen manages to use it all – humor, drama, and action to captivate and entertain audiences of every demographic. If one is looking for a few hours of relaxation, smiles, and a reminder of how fun and important being a part of a family is, Cheaper by the Dozen is the film to see.

(Jennifer Keast) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy THE COOLER ★★★★ ALEC BALDWIN AND WILLIAM H. MACY The Cooler uses its funny script and intelligent direction to highlight the three impressive performances. If viewers can take a leap of faith to believe in the powers of a cooler, they will be paid back in full by enjoying this safe bet for an Oscar nomination. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Savoy and Beverly HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG ★★★ JENNIFER CONNELLY AND BEN KINGSLEY Based upon the best-selling novel which was boosted by joining Oprah’s infamous book club, this film focuses on an Iranian couple forced out of the Middle East and a former junkie. When the junkie loses her house to the couple, a psychological battle ensues that provides brilliant performances but lacks some emotional depth.

(Jason Cantone) Now showing at Savoy THE LAST SAMURAI ★★★★ TOM CRUISE AND KEN WATANABE The Last Samurai is an epic adventure with a great soul and a great message. With so many bad samurai movies in the vaults, it is refreshing to see a film finally relate the concept of the samurai to moviegoers in a way they can understand: a Tom Cruise flick. One of the year’s best films and one of Tom Cruise’s best performances. (John Piatek) Showing at Beverly and Savoy

Boardman’s

PETER PAN ★★★ JASON ISAACS AND JEREMY SUMPTER For those looking for a magical adventure into Never Never Land (no–not the Michael Jackson ranch), the Disney animated film is the surest bet. This live action version is missing some of the magic that brought the story of Peter Pan into homes everywhere. Like its band of heroes, this film occasionally soars, but spends most of its time stuck on the ground. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy RETURN OF THE KING ★★★★ ELIJAH WOOD AND IAN MCKELLAN Even if The Return of the King doesn’t win the grand prize on Oscar night, anything short of Best Director victory for Peter Jackson would be an unforgivable injustice. He has raised the bar for fantasy and redefined themes of friendship, honor and courage on a grippingly grand and poignantly intimate scale at the same time. Besides its structural limitations, The Return of the King is more than a rousing ending to a celebrated legend; it’s a battle cry for epic filmmaking.

Now showing at Beverly and Savoy SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE ★★★★ JACK NICHOLSON AND DIANE KEATON This truly is Keaton’s film. While the always-remarkable Nicholson has some revelatory and tender moments, and the rest of the cast stands tall, the film gets its unmistakable shine from Keaton and her ever-sharp comic timing, her winning personality and charm, and the beauty that she effortlessly radiates throughout each scene. (John Loos) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy TORQUE ★ ICE CUBE Take The Fast and the Furious, remove anything that made that film worthwhile, and the result would be something like Torque. Loud, idiotic and predictable at a level that can only begin to be described, Torque has arrived to take over the local multiplex.(Andrew Vecelas) Now showing at Savoy and Bever

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LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING

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OPENING THIS WEEKEND BUTTERFLY EFFECT ASHTON KUTCHER AND AMY SMART Normal person Evan Treborn discovers he is not so normal. While reading old journals, he realizes that he has the ability to travel back in time. He uses his power to change life for the better, but things don’t alwaysgo as planned.(Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON KATE BOSWORTH AND JOSH DUHAMEL If you’ve ever wanted to win a date with a celebrity you may or may not be obsessed with, you’ll probably like this film. Kate Bosworth plays a small town girl who wins a date with a movie star, and the date turns out better than she could have expected. But nothing is as good as it seems, and problems she didn’t predict arise..(Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend

Art Theatre

126 W. Church St. Champaign, IL

The Company PG-13, runs 112 minutes, flat, presented in HPS-4000/DTS.

At the Lorraine Theatre in Hoopeston 324 E. Main St., Hoopeston, IL

Starring Neve Campbell & Malcolm McDowell, directed by Robert Altman Showtimes: Daily at 5:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m., & 10:00 p.m., matinees Sat/Sun at 3:00 p.m.

eTickets/reserved seats: www.BoardmansArtTheatre.com

Cold Mountain

R, runs 155 minutes Starring Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellwegger, & Jude Law Exclusive HPS-4000/SDDS Presentation!

Showtimes: Nightly at 7:00 p.m., matinees Sat/Sun at 2:00 p.m.

BOARDMAN’S THEATRES www.BoardmansTheatres.com 1-800-BEST PLACE (800-237-8752) 217/355-0068 eTickets/reserved seats: www.BoardmansArtTheatre.com

COLD MOUNTAIN (R) Fri. Thu. 12:30 3:40 7:00 10:00 TAD HAMILTON (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:40 1:00 TEACHER'S PET (PG) Fri. 3:00 3:00 5:20 5:40 7:20 7:40 Thu. 12:50 2:50 4:50 9:20 9:40 11:30 11:40 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 1:00 3:00 3:00 5:20 5:40 7:20 7:40 9:20 ◆ RETURN OF THE KING (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 5:00 9:40 7:20 9:00 GOSPEL OF JOHN (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 4:00 7:45 11:10 MY BABY'S DADDY (PG–13) Sun. - Thu. 12:30 4:00 7:45 Fri. & Sat. 5:40 9:50 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 5:40 9:50 BUTTERFLY EFFECT (R) Fri. - MYSTIC RIVER (R) Fri. - Thu. Thu. 12:20 3:00 5:00 7:30 10:00 1:00 4:00 7:00 10:00 ALONG CAME POLLY (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 12:40 2:40 5:10 7:20 9:30 11:30 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 2:40 5:10 7:20 9:30 BIG FISH (PG–13) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:45 12:10

PAYCHECK (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 1:20 4:30 7:00 9:30 12:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:20 4:30 7:00 9:30 SOMETHING GOTTA GIVE (PG–13) Fri. - Thu. 1:10 4:10 7:10 9:50

LAST SAMURAI (R) Fri. - Thu. 7:00 10:00 CALENDAR GIRLS (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:40 TORQUE (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 10:00 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:30 9:40 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:30 7:40 10:00 9:40 CHASING LIBERTY (PG–13) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 3:20 7:30 MONSTER (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 CHEAPER BY DOZEN (PG) (2 2:40 5:00 7:30 10:00 SCREENS) Fri. - Thu. 12:30 1:00 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:40 5:00 7:30 2:50 3:10 5:00 5:20 7:30 9:50

Showtimes for 1/23 thru 1/29

buzz

FIRST THING’S FIRST...

Dr. Death? More like Grandpa Jack MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | PROJECT GREENLIGHT? MORE LIKE PROJECT CRAP LIGHT

ou don’t hear much about Jack Kevorkian these days. It’s probably just as well, since he never really made a good Dr. Death, anyway. He looks like your grandfather.

Granted, he looks like your grandfather who just killed your grandmother, uncle, cousin and neighbor, but a grandfather just the same. While he may have slipped into oblivion, the right to die controversy hasn’t.

The Netherlands has been struggling with the issue lately. It’s been two years since they passed their right-to-die law and an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people take advantage of it each year. Hey, I don’t get it.

If I lived in Amsterdam, I’d try to hang on as long as possible just to iron-lung some fat legal hashish every day. Some folks are pussies, though, and they get enough pain and want to check out, legal drugs or not.

Now, people plan their deaths there. You can hear your favorite song, have a last meal, kiss everyone and then give a big wave goodbye. It seems strange, but it sort of makes sense. It’s a luxury we offer killers sentenced to die. Why shouldn’t we offer it to someone with cancer? Sometimes you just know when it’s time to move along.

It’s also important to realize that folks are just offing themselves willy-nilly. The law is intended for those who are beyond repair and suffering. They have no hope of recovery and are getting progressively worse. They are in pain and just want to die with a bit of dignity.

This concerns some people. These people are Christians. Euthanasia is against their religion. Christians are always concerned when people don’t think exactly like they do. Seriously, it’s a good thing God loves them because the rest of us are really getting tired of their crap. They try to convince you that pizza parties are fun without beer, premarital sex is wrong, and that you will go to hell if you say “fuck.” Of course, they don’t want anyone to die prematurely.

They want you to stay around and suffer alongside them until the last possible moment.

I suppose it is a religious issue, though.

As I understand it, some people think the only way you can’t get into heaven is if you kill yourself. If you have someone else kill you, though, it’s possible to skirt the issue.

Um, whatever. Do you really think you’re going to get God on a technicality? “Wait a second, you had someone else kill you?

Here I am, the supreme being, and I didn’t

see that coming at all. You got me, you sneaky bastard. Come on through the pearly gates.”

I have enough trouble worrying about myself, let alone pleasing God’s uppity ass.

Still, the time will come when I have to worry about my parents. Luckily, they took the ball out of my hands when they each signed a living will. They have no desire to hang on past their time, and I respect that.

They’ve even taken care of the aftermath.

All I have to do is find a place for the ashes.

Dad is easy on that one. There’s a big field behind the house where I grew up.

Every morning, my father would take the dogs for a walk back there. When that walk was over, he was always happy. I fear the day my dad passes, but I’ll dump his ashes back there and feel OK about the whole deal.

My mom’s a different story. She always seemed happy, but it’s hard to remember when she was happiest. I’m not sure what sort of policy Wal-Mart has on dumping the ashes of the dead in their clearance aisle, but if it’s cool, that’s where she’s going.

Wherever and whenever I dispose of my parents’ ashes, it’ll be terrible. I don’t want to see them die. I love them and I will miss them more than anything. Still, even as I say that, if either of them were suffering with no hope of getting better, I would kill them in a second. I wouldn’t do it for me, necessarily, but for them.

They put their time in here on Earth and they deserve the right to go out as they were. I want to remember my dad hunting and throwing me a baseball. I want to remember my mom hugging me and teaching me to read. I’m sure they’d be fine if that’s how they were remembered. I’m sure neither one of them wants to be remembered lying in a tormented bed, a shell of what they used to be. They’re too proud for that.

Look, nobody wants to die, but at the same time, very few people want to be kept alive just for the sake of being alive. Life is tough, but most folks find a way to get through it. They persevere, they work and they make life better for others around them. They live their lives with dignity.

They probably deserve to die the same way.

Michael Coulter is a videographer at Parkland College. He writes a weekly e-mail column, “This Sporting Life” and has hosted several local comedy shows.

News of the weird LEAD STORY Happy New Year: Once again, authorities in the Hillbrow district of Johannesburg, South Africa, were unable to stop the traditional midnight celebrations, in which residents of highrises toss refrigerators, ovens, beds, trash cans and other furniture off their balconies, and police, wearing crash helmets, try to dodge the fusillade.

(By the way, in January in San Antonio, Texas, Chad Allen Tolleson was arrested for burglarizing a store by climbing in through a ventilation duct; however, he got stuck, and early-arriving employees who found him dangling from the ceiling now refer to him as “Hanging Chad.”)

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES

Scientists on the cutting edge have recently developed cholesterol-free mice (by Quark Biotech), bisexual butterflies (by Butterfly Park in Singapore), and the “perfect” slice of buttered toast (by Arla Foods, Leeds, England)

The Los Angeles Kabbalah Centre is enjoying soaring income due to the Jewish mysticism’s recent embrace by pop celebrities (e.g., Madonna, Britney Spears), according to a December New York Times report. Kabbalah bottled water (which has supposedly absorbed the energy of the Torah by osmosis from being in the same room with it and which “changes you on a molecular level,” said a Centre employee) costs $3.50, and red string bracelets, which supposedly ward off negative spirits (which Jewish traditionalists say is an appalling oversimplification of their purpose) cost $26 to $36.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN In January, in Florida’s first election using all touch-screen balloting, Ellyn Bogdanoff won a special election for a state House seat from Broward County by 12 votes out of about 10,000 cast, but the losing candidate was considering a challenge over the 134 “voters” who had gone into the booths but for whom no votes were registered.

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JANUARY 22-28, 2004

buzz

Hip Hop–more than music

moviereview

TORQUE

Will Patterson works to establish center for hip-hop studies

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PHOTOS BY | CHRISTINE LITAS

ip hop. These two words usually conjure images of rap superstars and multi-million dollar enterprises, not research centers and community outreach programs. For individuals like Dr. William Patterson, though, hip hop is much more than just music. Hip hop is a way of life, a culture; a culture that emphasizes the sprit of self-determination and encourages its youth to become not only politically active but socially aware. And a culture Patterson sees as being able reach out to members of the Champaign-Urbana community.

Patterson, a visiting assistant professor in the Afro-American studies program at the University of Illinois, is currently in the process of forming a center to research, study and encourage the hip-hop culture. Hip hop, whose four most recognized activities include MCing, DJing, break dancing and “tagging” or graffiti, has influenced many different facets of society, from music to politics, and even economics.

It is Patterson’s hope that the Center for the Study of Hip-Hop Culture will be able to explore hip hop’s different areas and influences. The center will serve a multitude of purposes; it will include a research center, library archive, multimedia facilities and it will house community outreach programs. Such a center will have the ability to blur the boundaries between the many aspects of hip-hop culture. “(It will deal with) hip-hop culture more than rap,” said Patterson. “The center will be a space to practice different cultural aspects of hip hop on a daily basis. It will have the synergy to bring it all together.”

Patterson first began to develop the idea of a

center to study the growing hip-hop culture as a graduate student in educational policies at the University of Illinois when he saw the need for a place to study the social policy of urban youth culture. Patterson started discussing with professors the possibility of using his degree to study his own life and the lives of people who grew up with him using the medium of hip hop.

While growing up in Champaign-Urbana, Patterson first witnessed the emergence of hiphop music in eighth grade with the debut of the song “Rapper’s Delight.” That song’s success ensured hip hop’s place in the spotlight, both locally and nationally, for many years to come.

“I remember two kids, one black and one white, walking down the halls at school with those big boom boxes, bumping ‘Rapper’s Delight,’ “ recalled Patterson. “Everyone, both black and white, just gravitated to it. I knew then I had found my thing.”

Shortly after that, Patterson ventured out into other different areas of hip hop, including dance and radio. He started putting on talent shows at local high schools and in the Douglass Park area and booking gigs for college and school parties. Though he did not realize it at the time, Patterson had his own party planning company, encompassing what would become many of the different areas of hip-hop culture.

It was around this time in Patterson’s career, the mid-’80s, that the formation of a vivid and distinct hop-hop culture occurred locally. It

Patterson spending time at WILL radio station.

was also around this time that crack cocaine entered the hip-hop scene and quickly changed the culture. The social environment became more violent and urban strife was even more prevalent.

The youth of the hip-hop culture were affected by this change and their lyrics began reflecting relevant social issues. In 1998, N.W.A. debuted their Straight Outta Compton CD. Their single “Fuck the Police” showcased the harshness and violence that urban youths faced daily. However, as more and more youths flocked to this music, many members of society, in particular those from the civil rights and Black Power era, began to feel alienated.

“During this time, hip hop had youth spouting off these lyrics that they thought were just reflecting their lives,” said Patterson. “What they didn’t realize was that they were making a political statement. They were also stating the fact that they didn’t need to be accepted into mainstream culture; they could create their own.”

Now, the members of that hip-hop generation have grown up. Hip-hoppers, as Patterson calls them, are once again challenging institutions, only this time with more education and credentials behind them. Patterson also sees hip hop as having moved beyond black culture

into a worldwide phenomenon, especially with the prominence of media images relating to hip hop.

The prominence of hip hop and its message of struggle and strife has made it into a universal medium. The Center for Hip-Hop Studies will allow those media, including the economic and political aspects, to be researched. This research will allow youths to take hip hop and its media images, which for some, are part of their everyday life, and apply these in ways to better themselves and their communities.

“We want to teach to youth how to control media images by preparing with them the tools to do so,” said Patterson. “For example, Nas has a song called ‘I Can,’ and kids know those lyrics and believe those lyrics. We need to teach kids to take those lyrics and apply them to a school or a test.”

The Center for Hip-Hop Studies will provide a variety of programs, some of which are already in place, in order to aid children in the Champaign-Urbana community. Currently, Patterson has implemented several programs, including an “All Girlz Radio” to reach out to youth. One tool Patterson knows is fundamental to the success of these and future programs is University of Illinois students. Jayda

★

Universal Pictures

BY EMILY WAHLHEIM | COMMUNITY EDITOR

film

buzz JANUARY 22- 28, 2004 | MOTORCYCLES, BALLET, AND ROMANCE SEEM LIKE GOOD IDEAS...

ALONG CAME POLLY | JENNIFER ANISTON

moviereview

ALONG CAME POLLY ★★

BY JOHN LOOS | STAFF WRITER

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lthough her slender build doesn't show it, Jennifer Aniston has been developing some incredibly strong back muscles. She held up more than her share of last spring's Bruce Almighty, and now she's practically the entire foundation for the sloppy, inconsequential romantic comedy Along Came Polly. Without her unavoidable charm and effortless comic flare, this film would be reduced to rubble.

Directed by John Hamburg, Polly involves a hyper-cautious risk assessment manager named Reuben (Ben Stiller) whose sunny wife (Debra Messing) cheats on him with a French SCUBA diver during their tropical honeymoon. On the rebound, Rueben, a very typical Stiller character, runs into a middle school friend named Polly Prince (Aniston) and the two begin a casual, quirky relationship.

The film features a few gross-out scenes, a nearsighted ferret that runs into walls, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman steps in as Rueben's best friend Sandy, a slobbish, impetuous hasbeen actor who starred in one 1980s film involving bagpipes. Hoffman is funny as often as he borders on obnoxious, but his character actually feels reasonably original.

Where the film falters is in the tepid, restrained screenplay that doesn't allow Rueben or Polly do to anything that dozens of other on-screen couples haven't already done.

Audiences have seen the nervous neurotic changed by the unhinged, carefree spirit. They have seen a protagonist's past love return and threaten his or her present relationship. They have seen what Polly has to offer.

Granted, the reason such plot devices have been so thoroughly treaded is because they work. But without anything truly innovative to accompany them, the relationship between the characters feels old and tired.

Aniston does her best to make the movie shine, but even she can't make the trite interesting or the familiar compelling. She does make it completely painless to endure, and at moments makes it almost fun, but she isn't Superwoman. Her back, however strong, can only hold so much dead weight.

BY ANDREW VECELAS | STAFF WRITER

T

ake The Fast and the Furious, remove anything that made that film worthwhile, and the result would be something like Torque.

Loud, idiotic and predictable at a level that can only begin to be described, Torque has arrived.

Torque stars Martin Henderson as Casey Ford, a biker who returns to California from an extended flight to Thailand, only to find himself caught up in a couple of major complications. First, he wants to win back the love of Shane (Monet Mazur), who understandably dumped Ford after he fled the country to avoid drug charges. There is also the problem of a rival biker and gang leader named Trey (Ice Cube), hunting Ford because he thinks Ford murdered his brother. Yet another biker gang leader, Henry (Matt Schulze), is hunting Ford down because he wants back the stash of drugs he left with Ford for safekeeping. If that is not enough, Ford also has to contend with a couple of FBI agents who believe he is guilty of both the murder and the drug charges. He is, of course, being set up for both.

The movie doesn’t have a plot so much as it has setup and transitions for numerous chase and fight sequences. It doesn’t pause for any-

moviereview

THE COMPANY ★★

BY SYD SLOBODNIK | STAFF WRITER

I

t’s a rather disappointing cinematic experience to see a veteran director’s film that is so uninspired and lacking of significance. This is the case in Robert Altman’s newest film The Company, which stars Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell and much of the Joffrey ballet company, as it ever so casually tells of a year in the life of one of this nation’s greatest dance groups.

For decades, Altman has made films that defy traditional genre labels. In fact, some of his best works like M*A*S*H or Short Cuts reinvented storylines from various genres in refreshing contemporary ways, adding elements of satire, parody and unique personal perspectives focusing on the psychology of human interaction.

Similar in style to an improvisational documentary, The Company deals with the yearlong season of rehearsals; creative and artistic conflicts with directors, choreographers and dancers; petty jealousies and ultimately, a grand performance of an innovative new piece called “The Blue Snake.”

Unlike the melodramatic classic ballet-

thing as trivial as character or story development. Occasionally, it slows down a bit so Ford can utter some corny love spiel to Shane, but then the movie dives right back into the explosions and chases.

Thankfully, the cast members do not seem to take themselves too seriously. Henderson is suitably bland as the hero, and Ice Cube scowls his way through all of his scenes, getting most of the memorable lines. Jaime Pressly plays the bad girl, spending the vast majority of her on-screen time licking her lips and playing with a knife.

The constant chase/fight/explosion rotation would be more tolerable if the action was somehow exciting. But the action sequences rely so heavily on the suspension of disbelief and overdone effects that they mostly fall flat.

Many of the chase scenes use computer effects to create the illusion of extreme speeds, a technique that is overly disorienting. Thanks to this and the fact that most everything is shot in extreme close-up, most of the action in the film is just plain confusing. The climactic chase through the busy streets of Los Angeles is downright surreal thanks to the poor visual effects–the bikes are going so fast that parking meters explode–and is so preposterous that even the most dimwitted of audiences will have a hard time swallowing it. Another fight between the two female leads is inept to the point that it plays as straight comedy.

The director, Joseph Kahn, has previously worked on a number of music videos. Perhaps this explains the blaring rock music that comdance films of the past, Altman’s narrative avoids most of the offstage romance and passion of young dancers. The movie’s main character Ry, played by co-producer and co-writer Neve Campbell, has a romantic interest in a young hunk named Josh (James Franco), but it’s handled as an afterthought.

Instead, Altman delivers episodes of rather expected scenes of the Joffrey’s inner workings–executive planning meetings, financial discussions of the company’s annual budget, large-scale rehearsals and discussions with the flamboyant artistic director Alberto Antonelli, played with flare by McDowell–in a bland, emotionless documentary style. But who can believe McDowell’s an Italian-American from Chicago?

Choreographer Robert Desrosiers, a professional with the Joffrey, adds much humor as he tries to sell the company with his conceptual dance ideas. But at best, screenwriter Barbara Turner offers sparse snapshots of what a dance company goes through in one season. There is no compelling thread of interest for viewers to care about these creative artists.

Altman’s standard use of multi-layered casts of well-known celebrities and interesting newcomers seems sparse in The Company.

McDowell’s “Mr. A” character spouts stereotypical superlatives about his colleagues, calling them “geniuses” one moment, then affectionately referring to them as “my babies” the next. Campbell, who received early training in ballet, can dance quite well for the limited dance scenes in which she is featured, but she’s still very limited in her dramatic abilities.

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Warner Brothers Entertainment

1/21/04

TORQUE | ICE CUBE prises half the movie’s music. Several scenes seem as if they were lifted directly out of a beer commercial, complete with girls in wet T-shirts and close-ups of huge, sweaty mugs of beer.

Throw in some of the most blatant product placement in recent memory, and Torque starts to look like one long, annoying advertisement.

Torque is a movie that does not pretend to have much to offer outside of a lot of energy.

Surely some audiences will like the approach and find the movie fun, and not at all challenging. But just because Torque knows that it is garbage does not excuse it for being garbage.

Hopefully most moviegoers will treat it accordingly.

THE COMPANY | NEVE CAMBELL The rest of the cast, minus a few well known Chicago actors like U of I theater graduate Barbara Robertson, and the Steppenwolf’s Mariann Mayberry and Robert Breuler, are mostly unknown, but talented dancers.

Ultimately, viewers are left wondering, What is Altman’s point? The Company is not a documentary expose, or an exploration into the real workings of a dance group. Nor is it a melodramatic crowd-pleasing dance spectacle.

And unlike most of Altman’s best works, The Company is not even a satire on the corruption of creative minds and artistic ideas. As far as this film about dance goes, many might conclude this Altman dance simply has flat feet.

Sony pictures Entertainment

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moviereview

MONSTER ★★★★

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

T

ast year, Nicole Kidman donned a prosthetic nose for The Hours, and it won her the Best Actress Oscar. This year, Charlize Theron packed on 30 pounds, wore fake teeth and a smattering of makeup to morph into real-life Florida prostitute turned serial killer Aileen Wuornos. But if Theron takes home an Academy Award, it won’t be a product of her transformation; her performance in the raw, raging Monster is the commanding force in a biopic that almost always feels completely real.

That’s a testament to the immense research of writer/director Patty Jenkins and makeup artist Toni G, who mentally and physically converted Theron, a former model, into Wuornos, the dead-toothed, bug-eyed killer who began life as a hooker at the age of 13.

Right down to the barely-there eyebrows, flattened hair and fiery demeanor, Theron’s performance is glamorous in its unsightly, ter-

moviereview

THE COOLER ★★★★

BY JASON CANTONE | STAFF WRITER

T

he Cooler begins with the odds against it.

Despite a powerful cast, the idea of a loser making his way through Las Vegas has been done a thousand times before. There’s the angry pit boss refusing to lose money, the hooker with a heart of gold and the lovable loser everyone starts to root for. Yet The Cooler beats the spread and comes out a winner by taking the normal Vegas cliches and immersing them into a black comedy that will make even the biggest Vegas-hater smile.

In Wayne Kramer’s smart and funny The Cooler, character actor William H. Macy plays Bernie Lootz, the unluckiest man in Las Vegas.

From a failed marriage and estranged child to the green blackjack tables at an old casino, everything he touches turns bad … until he begins touching Maria Bello during an awkward sex scene.

The Cooler breathes life into the Las Vegas genre, which recently stumbled with the awful Kevin Costner film 3000 Miles to Graceland.

That film featured more than 100 Elvis impersonators. This film features none, which is truer to the real Vegas. From the aerial shots of the neon glow to the narrow back casino rooms punctuated by blood spots on the floor,

rifying rage. As Monster reveals the woman behind the murderer, Theron exposes a previously unseen, scorching energy that signals her newfound eligibility for meatier roles.

The film moves quickly through Wuornos’s childhood, in which she flashes classmates for money as soon as she has anything to flash. In no time, Wuornos, a victim of sexual abuse running away from her family, begins living her life hitchhiking her way into customers’ cars along Florida highways. When a client becomes abusive and threatens to kill her, she shoots him with his own gun.

Monster delves much deeper into Wuornos’s life, which quickly unravels as her paranoid anger grows and victims begin to accumulate.

Early on, she meets Selby Wall (Christina Ricci), a meek, dark-haired girl sent away from home as a result of her homosexuality. Until this point in the film, Wuornos is not gay, but she takes a liking to Selby’s vulnerable, trusting nature.

Theron’s voice-over reveals that Wuornos believes Shelby could learn to become anything. The two soon move into a motel room on the money Wuornos earns as a prostitute, and after a life of shattered dreams and disappointments—in men, in family, in herself—she finds happiness in their caution-free romance.

While their relationship develops quickly, the film slowly makes their bond feel substantial, in part because of the bold performances of Theron and Ricci. Selby and Lee (as

this film presents Vegas with brutal honesty.

Shangri-La manager Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin) balks at any attempt to change his nostalgic casino. Shelly makes a hefty profit but his casino can no longer compete with the thematic abominations of the new Vegas.

Despite new ideas to turn the old casino into a modern marvel, Shelly refuses to change.

When players cheat, he doesn’t report them; instead, he breaks their legs or kills them.

When players are doing well, he sends in Bernie, who literally cools down the big winners by simply standing next to them.

Kramer could not have asked for a more talented cast. While Macy was brilliant as a fasttalking racehorse expert in this year’s critically acclaimed Seabiscuit, here he proves he can bring bittersweet irony and depth to the most downtrodden man in existence. Baldwin, on the other hand, proves he can still act despite miserable comedic attempts in such films as The Cat in the Hat. Completing the trio of masterful performances is Maria Bello as a cocktail waitress who seems down on her luck until she meets the unlucky Bernie. She rewards his kindness with some realistically staged sex scenes that seem over the top and natural at the same time. In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, the pair loudly fakes orgasms to irritate the man next door at their seedy motel in order to avenge his sexual exploits from earlier in the week. Despite the nudity and orgasmic screams, each sex scene remains realistic and hinges more on funny and true than seductive.

buzz

Thompson, a sophomore at the University, is one of Patterson’s students who has been involved in several of his classes as well as volunteer projects.

“We can enrich the community through the University,” said Thompson. “The center could be a link that would bring together students and the community.”

The center will create that link by having University students serve as mentors and role models to children who otherwise may not come into contact with college students. The research and archive aspect of the center will allow for the study of other successful outreach programs.

This collaboration between the University and the Center for Hip-Hop Studies is necessary not only for the success of the center, but for the beginning of it as well. Patterson is

Movie News Compiled by Jason Cantone

MONSTER| CHARLIZE THERON Wuornos preferred to be called) don’t know much about each other, but they know they want to be together. Wuornos was not a psychopath without feelings for anyone else.

Rather, she was a troubled woman for whom years of anger and abuse finally became lethal.

That sense of shattered spirit is perpetually present on Theron’s face, as her eyes constantly appear ready to pop out of her freckled face.

Great actors can turn expression into emotion, and throughout Monster, Theron’s eyes become dark, giant orbs of violent desperation, frozen open as if Wuornos is always waiting for something to go right.

As much a murderer’s biography as a death rattle for youthful optimism, Monster is unflinching in its harsh realities. While the narrative slows at some points, it is never dull.

This unsettling story is transfixing in its gutsy lack of style. It’s as brutal as a death sentence and soars from its unsentimental objectivity.

Tom Cruise nearly lost his head last year and it didn't involve having a celebrity temper tantrum. According to World Entertainment News Network, a swordfight in the Golden Globe nominated The Last Samurai almost turned bloody when equipment malfunctioned and Cruise was close to being decapitated. Why announce this now a month after the film's release? I'd call it be a last minute pity play of "Tom Cruise risked his life for this role! Give him an Oscar nomination."

Upcoming film The Dreamers will be the first major NC-17 rated film since the bomb (but video sensation) Showgirls. Supposedly, it got the mature rating from constant scenes of masturbation, sexual perversity and an incestuous relationship where a brother and sister keep having sex and want to create a threesome. That's all? I've seen more during a Jerry Springer episode.

WillPatterson

★★★★ Sean Milnamow Champaign

"Wop-bop-a-loo-bop I love that flick."

★★★

It’s called “KRS-One—Hip-Hop Artistry and Social Activism.” It’s a course that will examine the life, artistry and persona of KRSOne to understand how social artistry influenced life and to gauge the implication of social policy on artistry on national and international policy.

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unwatchable

Will Patterson’s interests and involvement in Champaign-Urbana extend far beyond the hip-hop community. Besides teaching at the University of Illinois, Patterson is involved in a variety of outreach programs and consulting projects, including Innovative Ed, a local consulting firm. Patterson resides in Urbana with his wife and three children.

I am a board member of the Regional Board of Education. I am also involved in the Temple of Hip-Hop, the Community Leadership Forum, the NAACP and the 40 North and 88 West Board. I also worked with Provena Medical Center to put together “All Girlz Radio,” which provides information to AfricanAmerican girls on issues relevant to their lives.

I am also the principal investor and program director for Innovative Ed. What is Innovative Ed? We do so much. But I would describe it as a multimedia-based educational programming and action research consulting firm.

Urbana

"I'll never eat mixed nuts at a bar again."

Jeff Teare Champaign

"Intriguing plot that kept me laughing the whole time."

Vision World Voted CU’s Best 4 out of 5 Years tattoos and piercings on University in Urbana 328-7131

Need a ride?

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What is the best part of your job?

The flexibility to try new things and the access to my children and family when necessary.

What do you think is the best part of Champaign-Urbana?

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1209 N. Prospect Ave • Fax 351-9878 Hours: Mon-Sat. 10:30am-11pm Sun. 10:30am-10:30pm No Personal Checks

and dreams and turn them into reality. Also, developing innovative ideas and programs and seeing students benefit from those visions.

Personally, it is being married for 12 years and having three children.

What would you do if you won a million dollars?

The willingness to collaborate. People are willing to come to the table and try new things.

Build a major company.

What is your favorite place in ChampaignUrbana?

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

Dr. Ellis Drive and the Douglass Park area. It’s where I grew up and the spirit of my community.

Be the captain of your own ship and the dreamer of your own dreams because no one can kick you off your ship or out of your dreams.

multimedia

production

What are some of your other interests?

Music production, digital movie-making, motorcycling. I am a hot-rod and motorcycle enthusiast. Raising my children and working with youth. Those are my passions. I love working with youth, with their new ideas, energy and passion.

If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be?

Martin Luther King for his social responsibility, and Puff Daddy and Jay-Z for their b-boy entrepreneurship and hustlerism.

Who is your favorite hip-hip personality?

What is your greatest accomplishment so far?

Professionally, it is being able to take visions

Courtney Hainline

★★★ SCREEN REVIEW GUIDE

What is the class you are teaching this semester?

In what community organizations are you involved?

Along Came Polly

Patterson enters a studio at radio station WILL.

Q & A

Speaking of Jerry Springer, the new London musical Jerry Springer: The Opera! was just nominated for Best Musical in London's prestigious Olivier Awards. I think I've seen a musical like this before: women get on stage and move back and forth and then they take off their clothes and go into the audience.

Oh, wait, that's a strip club. Never mind.

Compiled by Adam Young

Unlike recent Vegas efforts, The Cooler isn’t just about sex and stacks of poker chips. Told through a yellowed, smoky lens that gives the film a feel of Rat Pack nostalgia, The Cooler uses its funny script and intelligent direction to highlight the three impressive performances. If viewers can take a leap of faith to believe in the powers of a cooler, they will be paid back in full by enjoying this safe bet for an Oscar nomination.

well-aware that a cutting edge idea such as the center would need University support, both from a scholarly and financial standpoint, in order to be successful.

“I foresee the center up and running when the provost’s office decides to fund a pilot phase of the center,” said Patterson. “We have many of the programs already running; we just need the space and the seed money.”

Until the center is up and running, Patterson will continue to work at various local outreach programs using hip hop as a medium to engage the youth of Champaign-Urbana. He hopes that a successful Center for Hip-Hop Studies will show that hip-hop culture can benefit all aspects of society. After all, hip hop is much more than rap superstars and multimillion dollar enterprises. Hip hop is a culture.

As Patterson puts it, “Hip hop is not some-

5

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THE COOLER | BALDWIN, MACY

community

JANUARY 22-28, 2004

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

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BEING KILLED BY CHARLIZE THERON SOUNDS OK TO ME| JANUARY 22- 28, 2004 buzz

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

4:10 PM

New Market Film Group

1/21/04

Lion’s Gate Entertainment

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Tupac (Shakur) from a vocal delivery standpoint and for the passionate words.

YOGA

INSTITUTE OF CHAMPAIGN-URBANA

Sp rin gc Re l gis Febasse ter ru s b at ary egi ni firs . n tc las s.

Daytime and evening classes.

Special classes for beginners, women’s health, men’s flexibility, plus size, seniors and teens.

Classes are progressive to facilitate learning

407 W. Springfield, Urbana •

344-YOGA (9642) • www.yoga–cu.com

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WAITING FOR GLUE TO DRY ... | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

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Geology Field Trip Workshops – Join Parkland Earth science instructors Dean Timme and Bob Vaiden for two geology field trips this spring.

Participants will venture to the Starved Rock State Park area on April 17 for a workshop entitled "Canyon Development Along the Upper Illinois River Valley." The workshop runs from 8am-5pm and transportation will be provided. On June 5, a second workshop called "Sand Dunes and an Ancient River Valley" will take participants west to the Havana area to see land sculpted by glaciers, water and wind. The cost for each workshop is $29.

New theater company hits The Virginia C

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

hampaign-Urbana has a wealth of community theater talent and eclectic venues. The newly assembled acting troupe The Zoo Theatre Company will present their

debut performance of Ain’t Misbehavin’ in the full grandeur of the Virginia Theatre, showcasing both. The musical, which has enjoyed enormous success in its Broadway productions, will open with its first performance Jan. 22.

Greg Wolf, the show’s director and chief instructor at the Actor ’s Academy in Champaign, is eagerly

anticipating the company’s premiere. “I was talking to Rebecca Caine at the Virginia, and she asked me how classes were going. She suggested doing a show,” Wolf says. While the group is comprised of community members, there is some overlap with his students, who will be assisting with much of the production’s technical work.

Deciding on Ain’t Misbehavin’ Practice for Ain't Misbehavin' was a logical choice for the director, who produced the same cannot necessarily do in most cases. The show with his company in New York company will also offer a great opportunity City two summers ago. to acting students looking for roles off-camFurthermore, the setting pus. If the company is ever to reach that seemed complementary level, these actors and others involved in the to the musical’s style. production are the ones laying the ground“The Virginia has that work for it to happen.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” says Ameena vaudeville quality to it,” Wolf says. The theater, Chapman, a student in the University of built in 1921 in the Illinois acting program playing the part of vaudeville tradition, Charlaine. The cast has been putting in provides an incredi- about seven hours of practice each week.

A musical production of this scale has also ble stage for musical p ro d u c t i o n s a p p e a r - tapped a great deal of instrumental talent ing there throughout from the University. The Virginia, then, not only offers opportunities for the community the year.

Fittingly, the first but for talented students who want to show of th year reflects stretch beyond theater offerings at the this classic theater style. University. “The band is mostly graduate T h e Z o o T h e a t r e students from the University’s music C o m p a n y w i l l a d d department,” says Wolf.

Gordon Schermer, a University student in another dimension to C h a m p a i g n - U r b a n a ’ s fine and applied arts, has served as the assisalready rich community tant musical director, as well as the piano theater tradition. Unlike accompaniment. “It’s a lot of fun, but it’s many other groups, the also really hard,” he says.

The actors and performers feel that the performers will be paid.

“The difference is about show’s quality will reflect the amount of the quality. Theater is work that they put into the production. something that others Sherrika Ellison, a graduate student at the do as a hobby. This is University performing in the show, agrees that the amount of work put forth has made my job,” says Wolf.

The company hopes the final product worthwhile. “It’s been a to become a stepping- wonderful opportunity,” she says. buzz stone for aspiring actors in the community. Their Ain’t Misbehavin’ will offer the community plan is to eventually be a wonderful example of a vaudevillian style able to offer a chance to musical. The company will perform the actors looking for pro- show Jan. 22 and 23 at 7 p.m., as well as a 1 fessional stage experi- p.m. matinee Jan. 24. Tickets are available ence, something that by calling (217) 356-9063. The Virginia people with families Theatre is located at 203 W. Park St., and jobs to maintain Champaign.

Lunch Break Strength Training – Squeeze a workout into your busy schedule by joining this noontime fitness class. This 30-minute workout will include strength training and mat-based exercises.

Springer Cultural Center. Begins Jan 27, meets Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:15-12:45pm. Fee is $30.

For more information, call 398-2376.

PHOTO | BRIAN WARMOTH

BY BRIAN WARMOTH | STAFF WRITER

calendar

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Auditions for "1776" – Parkland Theatre is pleased to announce open auditions for the play "1776" by Sherman Edwards, based on the novel by Peter Stone. Auditions will be held Sun, Jan 25 from 125pm at the Parkland College Theatre. Callbacks, if needed, will be Tue, Jan 27 from 6-8pm. Members of the community are encouraged to audition. The director, J.W. Morrissette, will be casting 25-40 men and several women, ages 16-60. Those who plan to audition need to prepare 16 bars of a song (ballad or up-tempo), bringing music for the accompanist. They should also prepare a one-minute or less patriotic memorized presentation. A resume and headshot (photo) are preferred but optional.

Rehearsals will begin in February. Performances will be April 14-May 1. For more information, call 359-2529.

MIND BODY SPIRIT

Core & More – This beginner/intermediate level class will use Pilates-based movements to stretch and strengthen core muscles (abs and back) as well as legs and glutes. Stability balls will occasionally be incorporated to add resistance and improve balance. Springer Cultural Center. Begins Jan 26, meets Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:15-7pm.

Fee is $35. For more information, call 398-2376.

Sunday Zen Meditation Meeting – Prairie Zen Center, 515 S Prospect, Champaign, NW corner of Prospect & Green, enter through door from parking area. Introduction to Zen sitting, 10am; full schedule: Service at 9am followed by sitting, Dharma Talk at 11 followed by tea until about noon. Can arrive at any of the above times, open to all, no experience needed, no cost. For information, call 355-8835 or www.prairiezen.org.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Prairie Sangha for Mindfullness Meditation – Monday evenings from 7:30-9pm and monthly retreats on Sunday. Theravadan (Vipassana) and Tibetan (Vjrayana & Dzogchen) meditation practice. Meets in Urbana. For more information, call or email Tom at 356-7413 or shayir@soltec.net. www.prairiesangha.org.

Community Coalition on Medical Debt – Illinois Disciples Foundation in Champaign. Public meeting to review local, state & national progress; plan next steps. Wed, 6:30pm. For more information, call 352-6533 or email to cchcc@prairienet.org.

University YWCA Welcome Reception – Join the YWCA at the University of Illinois in a reception welcoming new Executive Director Lisha A. Banks.

The YWCA is an interracial, not-for-profit organization that was established in 1884, serving university students and the Champaign-Urbana community. It is run by women for women with the mission of empowering women and girls and eliminating racism. University YMCA, Murphy Room.

Thur 4:30-6pm. Open to the public.

McKinley Toastmasters Club – Guests are invited to learn more about the Toastmasters’ communication and leadership program. Springer Cultural Center. Thur 6:15pm.

The Woman's Room Cancer Support Group – Meetings are open to women with female-specific cancer. Carle Foundation Hospital, room B in the cafeteria. Tue 12-1pm.

THEATRE The Britles – A 40th anniversary tribute to Beatlemania, with special appearance by Louise Harrison, George Harrison’s sister. A benefit for the Carle Children's Cancer Program, this concert celebrates The Beatles’ 40th year anniversary of the band’s premiere on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Virginia Theatre, Feb 7, 7pm. Tickets $100-Front & Center, $20-Main, $16-Mezz & Balcony. For more information, visit www.thebritles.com.

Elysium on the Prairie, Live Action Roleplaying – Vampires stalk the city streets and struggle for dominance in a world of gothic horror. Create your own character and mingle with dozens of players who portray their own undead alter egos. Each session is another chapter in an ongoing story of triumph, tragedy and betrayal. Fridays,“Vampire: The Masquerade.” For more information, visit www2.uiuc.edu/ro/elysium/intro.html. Check site for location, 7pm.

The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? – This play revolves around Martin, a man who has it all. He is at the pinnacle of success, but he has a secret–a secret that has the potential to destroy his marriage, his career and his life. Comic moments are interwoven with classic elements of true tragedy. The Station Theatre, 223 N Broadway, Urbana. Jan 2225, Jan 28-Feb 1, and Feb 4-7 at 8pm, except Sun matinees at 3pm. Wed, Thur and Sun tickets are $8, Fri and Sat tickets are $10. Wed tickets are 2for-1. For reservations, call 384-4000.

Artist’s Way Group – A 12-week adventure in recovering and celebrating our creative spirit.

Wednesdays, Jan 28-April 28 (no session March 24) from 5:45-7:15pm at McKinley Foundation (free parking). Free introduction Wed at 5:45pm. Drop by and bring a friend! To register or for more information, contact Jo Pauly at 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org.

Walking in This World Group – The new sequel to the Artist's Way with 12 new weeks of strategies and techniques for expressing our creative spirit.

Wednesdays, Jan 28-April 28 (no session March 24) from 7:30-9:00pm at McKinley Foundation (free parking). Free introduction Wed at 7:30pm. Drop by & bring a friend! To register or for more information, contact Jo Pauly at 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org.

Life Map Workshop – A life map is a collection of visual images, a method of connecting with your intuition, a tool for visualizing your dreams or goals. Come explore life mapping–approaches, uses and the opportunity to create your own life map. 9:15am-1pm Sat at McKinley Foundation.

Course fee is $45. To register or for information, contact Jo Pauly at 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org

B A S E P A Y

R A V I O L I O L D L I N E

I R E P E A T B L I S T E R

S C A N T H L Y N U E Q M A U S D I N D L U A L B L O W B Y P I Y E D E E D O S T O P M O N E E V A N

B I K E L O C K

L A I D A N E R G A G D I U M

E A C H E N S H A P I K I D E D P A R F G N W I N U N I T E I S S T E E D U C U R S D P I E O M B R N O R B I N B E L D A Y B E S

PHONE: 217/337-8337 DEADLINE: 2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

INDEX Employment Services Merchandise Transportation Apartments Other Housing/Rent Real Estate for Sale Things To Do Announcements Personals

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• PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD! Report errors immediately by calling 337-8337. We cannot be responsible for more than one day’s incorrect insertion if you do not notify us of the error by 2 pm on the day of the first insertion.

• All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher. The Daily Illini shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement, at any time.

• All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to the City of Champaign Human Rights Ordinance and similar state and local laws, making it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement which expresses limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, source of income, or the fact that such person is a student.

• Specification in employment classifications are made only where such factors are bonafide occupational qualifications necessary for employment.

• All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, and similar state and local laws which make it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement relating to the transfer, sale, rental, or lease of any housing which expresses limitation, specifications or discrimination as to race, color, creed, class, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual oientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or the fact that such person is a student.

• This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal oppportunity basis.

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RATES: Billed rate: 34¢/word Paid-in-Advance: 25¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue Garage Sales 30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free.

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CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

HELP WANTED | Full Time

Security Building

502 E. University, C.

Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

Services

100

1 and 2 bedroom apartments, large rooms, AC, furnished, parking, quiet building. Aug. 04 369-0237. www.zhengrentals.com

JOHN SMITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT www.johnsmithproperties.com (217)384-6930 “believe the hype”

BUSINESS SERVICES Graphic design studio is seeking models for beauty and style photography. www.victoriasphoto.com Victoria’s Photographics 217-328-3013

Local professional ready to record your band, choir, soloist and more.

Your place or mine. Only $15/hr.

Call Kyle at Orangetree Studio. 4690206

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign.

Call Manchester Property Management at 359-0248 for an appointment.

SUBLETS 1 bedroom in Town and Country Apartments in Urbana. Nice. Feb.June. $595/mo. 714-0876

CLEANING Exact Extraction. Carpet & upholstery cleaning. Free estimates. 6883101.

LAWN CARE FREE ESTIMATES: Tree trimming, Topping, Removal, Stump Grinding.

384-5010.

Merchandise 200

Sublet $357/mo. Spring semester starting January 1st with possible summer. Female roommate to share quiet 2 bedroom furnished apartment. 1 block east of Krannert. 903 W. Oregon. Air conditioning, laundry, off street parking. E-mail teska@elknet.net or call 262-7236930.

Other Rentals 500

BOOKS COMPARE TEXTBOOK PRICES! Search 24 bookstores with 1 click!

Shipping and taxes automatically calculated. http://www.bookhq.com

Apartments

Studio, furnished, hardwood floors, W/D, cozy, on campus, $565, available 01-01 1108 W. Nevada, 334-9342.

400

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

107 N. Busey, U.

August 2004 3 level townhouse, cathedral ceiling living room, loft deck. Must see to appreciate. Sleeps 4, 2 full baths, gas heat, central air, washer/dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, internet, and cable ready. Two free parking spaces. $1380/month.

Call 352-3674 or 377-1552

HOUSES Rent a room in a civilized and healthy house where you won’t be embarrased to invite people who care about you. *5 bedrooms available from $250400 *Entire house $1700 *Located at 211 W. High St., Urbana Call for more info (773)936-2680

Things to Do 700 VACATION | TRAVEL *** Act Now! Book 11 people, get 12th trip free. Group Discounts for 6+ www.springbreakdiscounts.com or 800-838-8202

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“Ethereal Organics” – Photographs from Jim Hultquist on display at Café Aroma through Jan. Hultquist:“A project in the study of light interacting with natural forms.” 118 N Neil, Champaign.

Open 7 days a week, 7am-midnight. For information, contact Amanda Bickle. 356-3200. art4aroma@yahoo.com.

“Whistler and Japonisme: Selections from the Permanent Collection” – Marking the 100th anniversary of James McNeill Whistler’s death, this exhibition highlights his works on paper and examines the influence that Japanese woodcuts had on his artistic technique. On display at the Krannert Art Museum through March 28. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Sug Donation: $3.

“Continuum” – Presented as part of the Springer Cultural Center Art Exhibition Series, visit this month's exhibit of contemporary artwork by local and regional artists. This month's featured artists are Brenda Beck, Barbara McDonnell and Linda Tudor. Springer Cultural Center, Jan 28-Feb 22. For more information, call 398-2376. All are invited to an opening reception Jan 30 from 6-8pm. That night, from 6-7 we will have live music by M.J. Walker, followed by an artists' talk at 7. Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 12-5pm.

UPCOMING EVENTS Super Bowl Extravaganza at Staerkel Planetarium – Area football fans can watch the biggest football game of the year on the city's largest screen and enjoy snacks with friends beforehand. The William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College, Pepsi-Cola, Papa John's Pizza, and Mix 94.5 FM will host the next Super Bowl Extravaganza on Sun, Feb 1 beginning at 4pm. A donation of $15 per seat will cover the game and refreshments and supports the educational programming offered by the planetarium. Tickets may be purchased in advance by visiting the Staerkel Planetarium from 8am-5pm Mon-Fri or during public show hours on Friday and Saturday evenings. For more information, call 351-2567.

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

Academic Challenge – Parkland College will host the regional competition for Academic Challenge.

Teams from eight area high schools will be tested in math, English, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering graphics and computer science. Parkland College gym. Feb 13, 9am-2pm.

Wine Tasting – Krannert Center teams up with Sun Singer Wine & Gifts, Ltd. to host wine tastings at the Interlude bar at 5pm on Thursday evenings.

Each week, two or three wines are introduced for tasting. During this time, there will be free wine tasting and $3.50 glasses of wine. The featured wines will be available throughout the week for patron sale at regular price when Interlude is open for performances. Come relax and enjoy a combination experience of great-tasting wine and a wonderful performance. Krannert Center lobby.

Thur, 5pm, free.

WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS A Political and Geographical History of Champaign – Explore area history with one of Champaign County's most notable historians, former Champaign Mayor Dannel McCollum, assisted

by Champaign County Historical Museum Director Paul Idleman. The class will cover county history from the distant past through the 20th century.

Feb 5-26. Registration deadline: Jan 29. Champaign County Historical Museum, Thur 7-8:30pm. Course fee $33. For more information, call 403-4590.

Interior Design: Doing a Lot with What You've Got – This Parkland course encourages participants to bring their design problems along to this lighthearted explanation of "What is interior design?" and "How can I do a lot with what I've got?"

Innovative ideas about ways to make a simple improvement or a complete makeover will be discussed. Questions and problems will guide the discussions in class. The class meets Thursdays 7-9pm in room D146 on the Parkland campus.

Registration deadline is Jan 29. Registration fee is $37. The class runs Feb 5-26. For more information, call 403-4590.

Fiction Writers Workshop – Learn the elements of good fiction, such as characterization techniques, character development, dialogue, setting the scene, plot development and point of view.

Students will read aloud and critique each other's work in class. By the end of the course, students will write one complete short story or novel chapter. Classes will meet Wed 5:30-7:30 pm. at the Parkland College Bauman Center in Champaign.

Registration deadline is Jan 28 and fee is $91. The class runs Feb 4-April 14. For more information, call 403-4590.

Beginner, Beginner Computers – Designed for those who have never touched a computer, this hands-on class will start with the very basics: how to turn a computer on, what it is and what it does.

There will also be a discussion of what to look for when buying a computer. Classes will meet Mon 68 pm at the Illinois Employment and Training Center in Champaign. Registration deadline is Jan 26 and fee is $41. The class runs Feb 2-16. For more information, call 403-4590.

Falun Dafa Teaching Workshop – Falun Gong is an advanced meditation exercise that improves health, reduces stress and increases energy. The practice involves slow, gentle movements of the body, while it teaches the principles of truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance. Similar to other popular Oriental practices, Falun Gong is easy to learn, enjoyable to do and enhances practitioners spiritually, mentally and physically. Springer Cultural Center. Jan 31, Feb 7 & 14. 10:30-11:30am.

Fee $5. For more information, call 398-2376.

Home Buyer's Seminar – Learn important steps in the home-buying process including pre-qualification, inspection and closing. Classes will meet Thur 7-9:30pm at the Parkland Business Development Center. Feb 5 & 12. The course fee is $20 for individuals or same-household couples and includes a workbook. To register or for more information, call 351-2235.

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DISC Customer Service Personal Profile – Participants will be able to increase customer satisfaction and service, build productive teams and ease frustration and conflict within their organizations by identifying customers' primary dimensions of behavior and their preferred approach to communication and problem-solving. The class will meet Wed 8:30am-12:30pm at the Parkland Business Development Center. Feb 4. The course fee is $110. to register or for more information, call 351-2235.

The Leader in Each of Us – Learn what defines leadership behaviors common to each individual in an organization and five strategies to increase job effectiveness. Class meets Thur 8:30am12:30pm at the Parkland Business Development Center. Feb 5. The course fee is $99. To register, call 351-2235.

“Evolution: The Myths and the Realities” – A noncredit workshop offered by Parkland biology instructor Mary Severinghaus. The workshop will explore misconceptions about biological evolution. March 16 and 18 from 6:30-8pm. To register, visit www.parkland.edu/parklandconnection. For more information, contact Dave Leake at 351-2567 or Karen Tillman at 351-2285.

Weather Workshops – WILL meteorologist and Parkland Earth science instructor Ed Kieser will offer two workshops in February. First, Kieser will discuss the challenges of forecasting in central Illinois and the different types of weather we experience in "Central Illinois Weather," offered Sat, Feb 7, 9am-3pm. On Feb 14, Kieser will present "Severe Storms," a workshop focusing on tornadoes, downbursts, derechos, hail and lightning, as well as storm prediction and storm safety. Both workshops include a tour of WILL's meteorology center and studio. The cost is $29 per person for each session.

NECK PAIN RELIEF

What to look for . . .

1. Person is unconscious or semi-conscious and cannot be awakened.

2. Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin.

3. Slow or irregular breathing: less than eight times per minute or ten seconds or more between breaths.

4. Vomiting while “sleeping” or passed out, and not waking up after vomiting.

What to do . . .

1. Call 911 for emergency assistance. If living in a residence hall, contact a staff member.

2. Take action – how can your friend be angry about you caring for him or her? Better safe than sorry.

3. Do not leave the person alone. Turn them on their side to prevent choking in case of vomiting.

FREE EXAM & X-RAY (IF NEEDED) NEW PATIENTS ONLY

Without Drugs... chiropractic health care honors the body’s ability to heal itself, naturally!

If you are suffering from reoccuring neck pain, please call for an appointment!

COVERED BY STUDENT INSURANCE

CALL 352-9899

(24 Hr. Answering Service)

If a person has any of these symptoms, he or she likely is suffering from acute alcohol poisoning.

If you have questions, please call the ALCOHOL & OTHER DRUG OFFICE AT 333-7557.

SNELL CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC 1802 Woodfield Dr., Savoy 2 Blocks North of Savoy 16

Dr. Joseph Snell...

Your First Choice In Health Care!

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JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | THERE’S A CHANCE WE CAN MAKE IT NOW, WE’LL BE DANCIN' TILL THE BREAK OF DAWN ... GOOD JOB!

VINX

The Adventures of the Magnificent, Mystical, Magical Sas, the Mischievous Muckletail

DRUMMER AND SINGER

“The Anointing of Orko”

with Andrew Daniels and Jason Hann, drummers

BY MARQUE TERRYNAMAHR STRICKLAND | COLUMNIST

“

R

ushing are you? Today must be the date,” Orchis said, staring at her beautiful daughter with awe, watching her cheeks become a dark purple as she blushed.

Sas had pretty black skin, the body of a maturing young woman, the curiosity and mischief of a child, the wings of a fairy on her back and ears, and a long, pretty tail with a tuft of straight, black hair at its tip.

She also, like her mother, had the gift of magic.

“Methinks you should tell a little more about him,” Orchis said excitedly.

“Ooooh mummy, he’s beautiful! His name is Nasturium, and he’s an elf with creamy white skin, dark eyes, long golden hair and lips that women would kill to taste!”

“What the bloody hell are you talking about, missy?! You’re too young to know anything about a man’s lips, you snottynosed ragamuffin!” she said, laughing.

“No, you misunderstand, mummy! I just meant that he has a pretty mouth, that’s all,” Sas teased, as she kissed her mother’s cheek and went to wash.

Orchis, humored by her daughter ’s innocent but debauched frame of mind, turned to do her chores. Her hands glowed, emitting multi-colored clouds as she stepped into the garden, making trees spring from the earth as if they were wells of water. Magical creatures scurried about as Orchis’s hair tentacles ripped nasty weeds, vines and dead trees from the earth, causing them to vanish at once as if they had never existed. Newborn shrubs, bushes, vegetation and beautiful flowers erupted in all directions, spreading as far as the eye could see.

Soon, Orchis was done with her gardening, and her daughter was on her way. Sas yelled over her shoulder as her flapping wings carried her away into the distance.

“Love you, mummy … If it gets too late, I’ll conjure the wind to bring you a message.”

“Be careful, and don’t go using your magic for silly pranks, you little snot! You’ll get me worried, and then I’ll have to swat you like a spoiled toddler!” She smiled worriedly, hoping that this young man would mind his manners. continued on Page 8

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Vinx moves through the worlds of jazz and blues, salsa and pop, transcending language and borders with a fiery passion for Community Drumming Circle

music and life.

Krannert Center Lobby 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana Friday, January 23, 5:30pm Free

In Concert

High Twelve Lounge/ Masonic Lone Star Lodge 18 208 N. First St., Champaign Saturday, January 24, 7:30pm Free (capacity of 200)

Presented by Krannert Center and the Masonic Lone Star Lodge 18 in cooperation with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week Committee. For info: KrannertCenter.com or 217/333-6280.

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FINGERS DO NOT GO IN THERE | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

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ARTIST CORNER

How early did you begin painting, and how would you characterize your work’s evolution?

I came to U of I in ‘89 for textile design. My professor at the time, Jenny Southlynn, inspired me to go into painting. So I really didn’t start painting until I was 18. That’s when I started, and I haven’t stopped since. There’s a

Adventure continued from Page 7

The lifelines are the biggest ones. Those are critical from veins to the heart, anything that carries blood. The stem of the rose. Text: I don’t plan it out, but as I’m working, it’s an important part of the image-making, though I don’t consider myself an abstract artist.

Explain your juxtaposition of the “cliche”with “the less obvious”in your work.

For instance, in Twincake, you have these Barbie images with the color pink next to some more sophisticated imagery. That’s what interests me: when someone sees a tangible image and it draws them in because it’s something they recognize, and it causes them to look at it longer.

Who and what have been central influences for you as an artist?

My first professor. Georgia O’Keefe. Frida Kahlo. I went through a feminist phase. I was very influenced by feminism when I was

younger. I still deal with feminism, though much more calmly. I think I’m really influenced by local artists, too. I like to see what other people are doing.

How do art and teaching come together for you?

For me, it’s that being an artist can be really consuming in a selfish manner.

Teaching has been a wonderful outlet for me to the world, seeing that spark of independent thought. I’m thankful that I took this step.

Nasturium, and whether or not her sweet elf would greet her with flowers this day. As more blissful remembrances of his enchanting presence crept into her mind, Sas’s thoughts were interrupted by a most disturbing sight.

This painting was created by Marque Terrynamahr Strickland.

Girl Scouts Workshops – The William M. Staerkel Planetarium will offer several sessions this spring for Scouts working on merit badges. Girl Scouts can get help with their "Sky Search" badges by attending one of two workshops taught in the planetarium dome on April 6 or April 15 from 78:30pm. The cost is $4 per scout, including materials. Must pre-register.

"Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" – For adults who have always wanted to learn to draw, but felt as if they lacked talent or confidence.

“Making Monoprints,”“Art With Intention” – open studio. For information, visit www.spiritofsandra.com and click on "classes," then e-mail or call for reservations.

Boy Scouts Seminars – Boy Scouts may attend one of three Astronomy Merit Badge seminars held from 7-9pm. on May 5, 13 or 18 at William M. Staerkel Planetarium. The cost is $5 per Scout. You must preregister to attend any of these workshops. Bring a red flashlight.

ART EXHIBITS & GALLERIES Boneyard Pottery – Ceramic Art by Michael Schwegmann and more. 403 Water St, Champaign.

Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 355-5610.

Write On! – Bring your pencils and imagination for an adventure in creative writing with librarian Elaine Bearden during this session at The Urbana Free Library, Tue, Feb 10, 4-5pm. Registration for third-graders and up begins now. For more information, call 367-4069.

Broken Oak Gallery – Local and national artists.

Original art including photography, watercolors, pottery, oil paintings, colored pencil, woodturning and more. Refreshments served by the garden all day Saturday. 1865 N 1225 E Rd, White Heath. ThuSat 10am-4pm. 762-4907.

“Maroonapalooza” – The Central High School Band Boosters are organizing a fund-raising event that will showcase student bands. So far, you will be able to hear 10 student bands at the event, which takes place Feb 22, 12-6pm.

ART NOTICES

What are some examples of entries from your “visual dictionary?”

Beneath her, in a large crevice of the mountain, was a girl cornered by loathsome creatures, who appeared to be bent on relieving the young woman of her virtue. Sas recognized the beasts as Piglin, Asfart, Smulp, Huss and an elementary goblin wizard named Orko.

Piglin was a fat glob of sweaty flesh with pale, pimply skin and a boar’s face. He stood on two legs and went about naked most of the time. Smulp was equally repugnant, only skinny, fully clothed and with a better complexion. Huss was a large green ogre with a hairy back and chest. Asfart, however, was probably the most vile of all, as he came from a group of trolls called the Stynks. These creatures constantly smelled of bodily waste, as they live on a diet of their very own feces!

Sas noted that Orko stood alone in a corner, enjoying the deeds that were about to take place.

Swelling with fury, she swooped down, complete-

ly forgetting that she had to meet Nasturium.

“DON’T TAKE ONE MORE STEP TOWARD HER!” Sas roared as she landed, blocking the path to the frightened girl. Her tail whipped viciously about, and long, sharp claws erupted from her fingertips. The others were immediately taken with fear, as Sas had dealt with them before.

“Jus’ tryin’ ta show da lady a good time …

As ya can see, she wants to be here!” Huss, the ogre, said with a lying gulp.

Sas snapped at them as she looked over her shoulder, observing the shivering girl.

“Hmm ... As if the five of you have an aura that’s so obviously alluring! Orko, the goblin wizard with the most rudimentary spells the magic world has ever seen. Surely you could charm the garments off a woman! Smulp and Huss, pathetic as can be—you’re only here on order from a novice wizard! Piglin—a sweaty, fat-ass with a prize-winning, oneinch killer betwixt his thighs! And the mighty Asfart, who has a body and breath that smell like shit pot pie! Yes, I’m positive that the young lady is here, because you all are the very essence of what women find attractive!” Sas retorted with violent sarcasm, ready to attack.

On order from Orko, the murderous fight began. buzz To be continued …

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JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

FUND-RAISING

What themes do you explore in your work?

Love and loss. Isolation. Between those things, I’m really sure what they’re saying, and then someone will say there’s certain images I’m drawn to, not just the colors.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARQUE TERRYNAMAHR STRICKLAND

While soaring over Buru mountain, Sas daydreamed about the devilishly handsome

group of symbols that have followed me over the last several years.

Right now, I’m trying to become better at rendering through oil painting.

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

hannon Batman is a local artist as well as a full-time art instructor at Centennial High School in Champaign.

She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Illinois in 1991 and went back to get her master’s degree in art education in 1997. Her work with oil paint and collage often explores various layers interacting with each other to lay recognizable icons within new contexts. The results are pieces of pop art with abstract and/or surrealist overtones. She has work currently displayed at Cafe Kopi in Champaign, as well as at Caro Mio restaurant in Chicago.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANNON BAT-

S

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Portraits – Award-winning portrait artist Sandra Ahten is currently accepting commissions for portraits for holiday giving. Portraits are priced at an affordable range and professional exchange or barter may be accepted. For examples of work and a quote, contact Sandra Ahten at 367-6345 or spiritofsandra@hotmail.com.

Join Artists and Workshops at Gallery Virtu – Gallery Virtu, an artist-owned cooperative, now invites applications from area artists. The gallery also offers workshops for adults, teens and children in knitting, embroidery, photography, jewelry making, printmaking, papermaking, bookbinding and ribbon flowers. Gallery Virtu offers original works by the members including: jewelry, pottery, collages, sculptures, journals, hats, handbags and other textiles. For more information, call 762-7790, visit www.galleryvirtu.org, e-mail workshops@galleryvirtu.org or visit the gallery.

Regular hours: Thu 12-4pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 10am6pm. 220 W Washington Street, Monticello.

Art Classes at High Cross Studio – All classes are held at High Cross Studio in Urbana. 1101 N High Cross Road. E-mail or call for reservations and details, 367-6345 or spiritofsandra@hotmail.com.

“Portrait Paintings with Oils” – This course will provide instruction in painting portraits from photographs. Paint a portrait of your loved one or yourself. Mon-Fri daytime class and weekend workshop offered.

"Collage for the Soul" – Students will learn a variety of collage techniques, including photo and photocopy transfer, papermaking and manipulation and frontage, while exploring a particular subject, such as a place, a memory, an experience or a relationship. No experience necessary.

GUITAR LESSONS Individual or Group

all styles and all levels

Good, clean fun!

Guitar Shop 344-7940

Cafe Kopi – Work from local artist Shannon Batman on display through Jan. Artist statement:“Collage technique layered with oil painting is the process that I have been attempting to master for several years. This medium allows tangible images to communicate while the color fields and symbolic imagery speaks to areas of intuition and emotion.”

109 N Walnut, Champaign. Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 11am-8pm. 359-4266.

Creation Art Studios – Featuring original art by students and members of the studio. 1102 E Washington St, Urbana. Mon-Fri 3-5:30pm, Sat 14pm and other scheduled studio times. For more information, call Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

Country in the City – Antiques, architectural, gardening, home accessories. Custom designing available. 1104 E Washington St, Urbana. Thu-Sat 10am5pm 367-2367.

Framer's Market – Frame designers since 1981.

Ongoing work from local artists on display. 807 W Springfield Ave, Champaign. Tue-Fri 9:30am5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 351-7020.

Furniture Lounge – Specializing in mid-century modern furniture from the 1920s-1980s, retro, Danish modern, lighting, vintage stereo equipment and vinyl records. 9 E University, Champaign.

352-5150. Sun-Mon 12-4:30pm, Wed-Sat 11am5:30pm.

Glass FX – New and antique stained glass windows, lamps and unique glass gifts. Gallery is free and open to the public. Interested in learning the art of stained glass? Beginning, intermediate and advanced stained glass Classes offered. 202 S First St, Champaign. Mon-Thu 10am-5:30pm, Fri 10am5pm, Sat 9am-4pm. 359-0048. www.glassfx.com.

Griggs Street Potters – Handmade functional and decorative pottery. 305 W Grigg St, Urbana. MonFri 11am-4pm, or call for appointment. 344-8546.

Gallery Virtu Cooperative – Original works by the nine artist-owners: jewelry, pottery, paintings, collages, hats and other textiles, sculptures and journals. The gallery also offers workshops. 220 W Washington St, Monticello. 762-7790. Thur 12-4pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm. galleryvirtu.org.

Hill Street Gallery Inc. – Oil and watercolor paintings, hand painted T-shirts, handmade jewelry. 703 W Hill, Champaign. Sat 12-5pm or by appointment during the week. 359-0675.

Larry Kanfer Gallery – Personalized gift certificates for Valentines. Unique University of Illinois images.

New, original limited and open edition photographs by Larry Kanfer, nationally acclaimed photographer. 2503 S Neil, Champaign. Free and Open to the Public. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 398-2000. www.kanfer.com.

LaPayne Photography – Specializes in panoramic photography up to 6 feet long of different subjects including sporting events, city skylines, national parks and University of Illinois scenes. 816 Dennison Dr, Champaign. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and by appointment. 356-8994.

Old Vic Art Gallery – Fine and original art, hand signed limited edition prints, works by local artists, art restoration, custom framing and periodic shows by local artists. 11 E University, Champaign.

Mon-Thu 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am-4:30pm. 3558338.

Steeple Gallery – Vintage botanical and bird prints, antiques, framed limited edition prints. 102 E Lafayette St, Monticello. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 762-2924. www.steeplegallery.com.

Verde Gallery – Showing in main gallery: Sculptures In Wood by Joe Gower. In café and halls: paintings

by Jess Byler. In the newsroom: New works by Toni Putnam and sculptures by Jim Zimmerman. 17 E Taylor St, Champaign. Cafe hours: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm; Gallery Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

Ziemer Gallery – Original paintings and limited edition prints by Larry Ziemer. Pottery, weavings, wood turning and glass works by other artists.

Gallery visitors are welcome to sit, relax, listen to the music and just enjoy being surrounded by art.

210 W Washington, Monticello. Tue 10am-8pm, Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 762-9786. www.ziemergallery.com.

ART EXHIBITS – ON VIEW NOW “Picturing Performance: Japanese Theater Prints of the Utagawa School, 1790–1868” – The focus of artistic production in 18th and 19th century Japan (Edo period) was the world of entertainment. This exhibit captures and celebrates a variety of views of this world of illusion and fantasy (Ukiyo) through richly-colored and compositionally provocative woodblock prints know as Ukiyo-e.

In the 19th century, Ukiyo-e prints provided Japanese theatergoers with pictures of their favorite actors. At the same time, Japanese woodblock print technology grew to be so efficient that these prints could be mass-produced. The prints in this exhibition give visitors a glimpse of Japanese art, dress and culture that flourished over 150 years ago. The exhibition is curated by Ronald Toby and is on view through March 21. Opening reception is Fri, Jan 23, 5-7pm at the Krannert Art Museum. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860.

Suggested Donation: $3.

YOGA

FOR MEN

17

Bon Coiffure: Hair Signs from West Africa – Sculpture from the permanent collection of African art and a private collection of hairdressing signs from Benin and Togo dating from the 1970s to the 1990s. In sub-Saharan Africa, la coiffure, or “hairdressing,” is both an art and a vocation. Even the earliest European explorers were struck by the complexity and diversity of African hairstyles.

African hair designs, both aesthetic and symbolic, proclaim many things, such as ethnic origin, gender, religious or political affiliation, social status or even the profession of the wearer. Hairdressers commission artists to hand-paint signs to advertise their skills and represent their repertoire of coiffures. This exhibition offers viewers a fascinating glimpse into three different art forms: the art of African hair styling, of hair sign painting and the depiction of elaborate hairstyles in traditional masks and sculpture. Bon Coiffure is on view through March 21 and is curated by Dana Rush.

Opening reception is Fri, Jan 23, 5-7pm at the Krannert Art Museum. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 3331860. Suggested Donation: $3.

“Beyond East and West: Seven Transnational Artists” – Throughout history, various cultures have been lumped together into the broad categories “East” and “West” in order to distinguish an “us” from a “them,” according to art historian David O’Brien. This habit continues today, he says,“but at the expense of cross-cultural understanding, and despite the fact that the lives of many people now cross the East/West divide.” The Krannert Museum has put together a traveling exhibition bringing together the work of seven major contemporary artists who share a connection to both worlds are now traversing boundaries, dismantling stereotypes and seeking to broaden perceptions on both sides of the global divide. Opening reception is Fri, Jan 23, 5-7pm at the Krannert Art Museum.

500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested Donation: $3.

“Verde Retrospective: New Works by Old Friends” – New show featuring new work from featured gallery artists of the past year on display at Verde Gallery through Feb 7. 17 E Taylor St, Champaign.

Cafe hours: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm; gallery hours: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

“One Place After Another” – The Illini Union Art Gallery presents this non-traditional 3-D show through Feb 4. 1401 W Green, Urbana. Open every day 7am-10pm.

Creation Art Studios – Artwork by instructors Jeannine Bestoso, Amy Richardson and Shoshanna Bauer, along with art by family and friends of the studio on display at Creation Art Studio. 1102 E Washington St, Urbana. Hours: Mon-Fri 3-5:30pm, Sat 1-4pm and other scheduled studio times. For more information, call Jeannine Bestoso at 3446955. 1102 E Washington St, Urbana.

“Digital Dabblings” – An eclectic selection of digitally processed photographs by John Sfondilias on display at Aroma Café through Jan 31. Subjects include the University’s South Farm and Quad as well as locations as far away as Greece and Turkey.

118 N. Neil, Champaign. Open 7 days a week, 7amMidnight. For information contact Amanda Bickle.

356-3200. art4aroma@yahoo.com.

12 week spring session starts February 4th.

Wednesdays Noon–1:30 pm

An introductory class with emphasis on creating flexibility, maintaining fitness for sports, reducing fatigue and for prostate health.

Register at first class

YOGA Institute of Champaign-Urbana 407 W. Springfield, Urbana 344-YOGA (9642) www.yoga-cu.com

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WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

2/14 John Ondrasik @ Schubas 2/14 Colin Hay @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/18 Sarah Brightman @ Allstate Arena 2/19 Enrique Iglesias @ Arie Crown Theatre 2/20 Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys @ FitzGerald’s 2/20 Habib Koite @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/20 Delbert McClinton @ House of Blues 2/21 Carrie Newcomer @ Schubas 2/21 David Wilcox @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/21 Sergio Mendes @ the Hemmens 2/22 Jake Fairley @ Empty Bottle 2/24 Deep Purple @ Chicago Theatre 2/25 Mary Timony @ Schubas 2/26 Alaska @ Bottom Lounge, 18+ 2/26-27 Gossip @ Bottom Lounge, 2/26 all ages 2/27 Junior Brown @ Subterranean 2/27 Boris Grebenshikov & Aquarium @ Martyr’s 2/27 John Hammond, Jr. @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/27 Sting @ Rosemont Theatre 2/28 Erykah Badu @ Auditorium Theatre 2/28 Flying Luttenbachers @ Fireside Bowl 2/29 Ellis Marsalis Trio @ Old Town School of Folk Music

Baby Time – Come to the library for a half-hour of lap-bouncing, nursery rhymes, music activities and play time for your infants. Douglass Branch Library, Meeting Room. Thu 10:30-11am.

Schubas 3159 N Southport, Chicago, (773) 525-2508 Martyrs 3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 288-4545 Aragon 1106 W Lawerence, Chicago, (773) 561-9500 Abbey Pub 3420 W Grace, Chicago, (773) 478-4408 Fireside Bowl 2646 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, (773) 486-2700 Schubert Theatre 22 W Monroe, Chicago, (312) 977-1700

CHICAGOVENUES

House of Blues 329 N Dearborn, Chicago, (312) 923-2000 The Bottom Lounge 3206 N Wilton, Chicago, (773) 975-0505 Congress Theatre 2135 N Milwaukee, (312) 923-2000 Vic Theatre 3145 N Sheffield, Chicago, (773) 472-0449 Metro 3730 N Clark St, Chicago, (773) 549-0203 Elbo Room 2871 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 549-5549 Park West 322 W Armitage, Chicago, (773) 929-1322 Riviera Theatre 4746 N Racine at Lawrence, Chicago Allstate Arena 6920 N Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, (847) 635-6601 Arie Crown Theatre 2300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, (312) 791-6000 UIC Pavilion 1150 W Harrison, Chicago, (312) 413-5700

Family Fun Day Sunday in the Square – Every Sunday through Mar 27, enjoy interactive rides, including Bounce Houses, Screamer Slides and the Kid Wizard. There will also be food, shopping, games, miniature golf and more. Lincoln Square Mall. Sun 1-5pm. Call the Urbana Business Association at 344-3872 with any questions.

KIDS & FAMILY Talkin About Careers – Kids of all ages are invited to learn what it is like to work in various jobs at this free monthly program. Joan Walls from the Champaign Police Department will be the guest speaker for this session. Douglass Branch Library.

Thu 6:30-7:45pm. Free.

Teen Scene – After-school activities for teens. No registration. Douglass Branch Library. Mon 4-5pm.

For more information, call 403-2090.

T.A.C.K. – The library’s Thursday Arts and Crafts for Kids program welcomes children to come make a craft. Douglass Branch Library, Conference Room.

Thu 4-5pm.

Preschool Museum – Children can learn from museum educators and library staff about animals, history, art and more. The last in a series of four weekly programs. Champaign Public Library, Multipurpose Room. Tue 10-10:45am. To register, call 403-2030.

“Voted C-U’s Best Mexican Restaurant” Dine In–Carry Out • Nachos, Quesadillas, Burritos..

• Chimichangas, Enchiladas, Flautas • Kids Menu • And Much More...

Especialidades • Chicken and Beef from the Grill • 25 Combinations to choose from • Margaritas, Coladas, Beer, Wine...

217/351.6879 1407 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign Hours: Mon-Thur 11am - 10pm Fri 11am -10:30pm Sat 11:30am -10:30pm Sun 11:30am - 10pm

Know Zone – Students can get help with their homework at the library throughout the month of January. Douglass Branch LIbrary, Conference Room. Tue 4-5pm. For more information, call 4032090.

Storyshop – A story and activity concert held twice each Wednesday. Parents with their children, daycare groups and elementary school classes are welcome. Main Library, auditiorium. Wed 9:3010am (Storyshop 1), 10:30-11am (Storyshop 2).

Douglass Branch Library. Wed 10:30-11am.

this week Th Jan 22 Wine Tasting 5pm, LOB, free Moscow Festival Ballet: Cinderella 7pm, TFT, $20-$38 Sponsors: Charlotte Chilton Janet and Ralph Simmons

Vinx: Drum Circle 5:30pm, LOB, free William Heiles, piano 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

Exp. 2/4/04

OFF

On $20 purchase Valid only with coupon. Not valid with any other offer.

2

$

Babies’ Lap Time – Babies and their parent(s) or caregiver(s) are invited to Phillips Recreation Center for Babies' Lap Time Tue 10-10:30am, presented by The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department. This program of songs, stories and rhymes is for our youngest patrons, ages 6 to 24 months with an adult. No registration is required.

For more information, call 367-4069.

Ten Star All-Star Basketball Camp – Applications are now being evaluated for the camp. Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible. Players from 50 states and 11 countries attended the 2003 Camp. College basketball scholarships are possible for players selected to the All-American team. Camp locations include: Hickory, NC; Thousand Oaks, CA; Sterling, CO; Babson Park, FL; Atlanta, GA; Champaign, IL; Greencastle, IN; Atchison, KS; Baltimore, MD; Ysilanti, MI; Hamilton, NY; Bluffton, OH; Lock Haven, PA; Lebanon, TN; Commerce, TX; Blacksburg, VA; Poultney, VT; Olympia, WA and Beloit, WI. For a free brochure, call (704) 373-0873, available 24 hours.

krannert center

Sa Jan 24

We Jan 28

Elliot Chasanov, alto and tenor trombones 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

Timothy Ehlen, piano 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

Vinx 7:30pm, Masonic Lone Star Lodge 18, free

Su Jan 25

Th Jan 29 Wine Tasting 5pm, LOB, free Pacifica Quartet 7:30pm, FGH, $10-$18

OFF

On $10 purchase Valid only with coupon. Not valid with any other offer.

Brentano String Quartet: Points/Counterpoints— the Art of Fugue, Bach and Beyond 7:30pm, FGH, $13-$32 Talkback: after the show, free Sponsors: Judith and Jon Liebman Some Krannert Center programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and patron and corporate contributions.

Exp. 2/4/04

5

$

@

Funfare – Preschool groups are invited to come to The Phillips Recreation Center for Funfare on Thursday, February 5, 9:45-10:15am, for stories, songs, puppets and films, presented by The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department. Please register with the Children's Department in advance at 367-4069. For more information, call 367-4069.

Brentano Quartet Prelude 6:30pm, Krannert Room, free

Fr Jan 23

Season Sponsors Coporate Season Underwriters

Patron Season Sponsors

CAROLE AND JERRY RINGER

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KrannertCenter.com 217/333-6280 or 800/KCPATIX 217/333-9714 (TTY) 217/244-SHOW (Fax) 217/244-0549 (Groups) kran-tix@uiuc.edu Ticket Office Open 10am to 6pm daily; on days of performances open 10am through intermission.

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music

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | NOTHING’S FINER THAN BEING IN YOUR DINER

New music for the new year

Some of C-U’s local bands release new albums to kick off the new year

BY BRIAN MERTZ | STAFF WRITER When you’re hot, you’re hot—and right now, Champaign’s music scene is hot. In 2003, local bands released more than 40 albums. The ball keeps rolling in 2004 with even more local releases. Here is a look at four local albums coming out in the next few months.

Solips

Life Will Leave Its Mark On You Independent release Release date: Jan. 24

The Solips

If you’re dying for new local music, you only have to wait two days until Solips celebrate the release of their new album, Life Will Leave Its Mark On You, at Nargile Saturday.

Founding member Luke Hensleigh explains that even though Solips have been around since 2000, the lineup changes have essentially created a new band.

“The two new members (bassist Michael McKenzie and drummer Josh Birky) are totally dedicated to the vision that we want to do and now we finally have the people (to) do it,” Hensleigh said.

Hensleigh describes Solips’ sound as “power pop with a focus on thoughtful lyrics.” But even fans of Solips are in for some surprises on Life Will Leave Its Mark On You. “There are a couple of tracks that we have never played live on purpose. We wanted people to have something new on this album,” Hensleigh said.

Production and mixing of the album was handled entirely by Matt Talbott at Great Western Record Recorders. Juggling schedules made the recording process last two to three weeks, but that doesn’t mean endless takes in the studio.

“We recorded everything on the album in one or two takes,” Hensleigh said. “We wanted to capture our sound on our true first full-length.

We wanted it to be like what we sound like live and Matt had the same vision for recording.”

One of Hensleigh’s favorite tracks on the album is “Water Erosion.”

“It really embodies what we are trying to sound like,” Hensleigh said. “The chorus is dominated by the lead guitar with these brilliant melodies that are a little jangly.”

Come check it out for yourself as Solips play with The Danger this Saturday at Nargile.

The Pitch

The Anger Swallow (tentative) Independent release Release date: March 1 (tentative) Putting out their debut album has been a long and arduous trip for The Pitch. The whole process started back in May 2003 when the band, on their own, recorded drums, then the other instruments of this rock quintet, and finally the vocals of lead singer Ryan Lee. In addition, they created artwork and sent the recordings out to be produced by a Grammywinning producer in Nashville, Tenn.

“After doing the recording, the mixes and the artwork, it has taken seven months and put our band through the ringer,” Lee said.

“The stress of it all has been the low point for the band.”

But have no fear, Pitch fans, the new album will be coming soon with eight tracks that span 40 minutes of music. In addition, the CD will be enhanced with interactive material, bios, video clips and some bloopers of the band. Plus, a lot of the material will capitalize on The Pitch’s ability to make complex but accessible music.

“There are one or two tracks on the album that we don’t play live very much,” Lee said.

“Also our philosophy was different. When we play live, I try to be more energetic with my singing and the music just tends to be heavier.

When we’re making an album for people to listen to, we can use space and silence as part of our art.”

Ryan Lee of The Pitch

The Pitch makes good use of eclectic sounds, tons of energy and complex musicality.

“Our philosophy is to write choruses that everyone will remember but appeal to the people that write music,” Lee said. “We do that through the elements of harmony, different time signatures and odd tunings.”

Some of the goodies that aren’t usually performed live include an acoustic song called “Far As We Could Go” and three-part harmonies featuring drummer Cory Anderson and guitarist Eric Lawrence.

“(When) recording, you have a lot more clarity in the songs. Some people complain that if you record stuff you can’t do live (then you’re cheating), but I don’t think it is cheating. You are just adding parts.”

There may have been a mountain of little parts to put together for this release, but expect big things from The Pitch once their album hits the streets in March.

Poster Children

No More Songs About Sleep and Fire Hidden Agenda Records Release Date: Jan. 27

Poster Children

For those of you who haven’t heard of Poster Children, know that this isn’t their first, second or even third release. No, this is Poster Children’s ninth release, and this time, they have acquired drummer Matt Friscia. Guitarist and singer Rick Valentin has been with Poster Children for the whole ride.

“Any time there is a change in the band’s lineup, the music changes because the band dynamic changes,” Valentin said. “Our previous drummer had been with us for seven years, so when we started playing with Matt, we were shaken out of musical habits we had gotten comfortable with. We were rejuvenated. In a way, (bassist) Rose (Marshack) and I have been in nine different bands over the past 16 years. They all just happen to have been named Poster Children.”

Valentin described the Poster Children sound as “indie rock from 1975 to 1990 stuffed into a blender and filtered through our Midwestern classic rock upbringing.”

It is the unpredictability and inability to pigeonhole Poster Children that has drawn fans from around the country to this Champaign band. Those fans should also expect the unexpected from a Poster Children album.

“I don’t know if there are any big surprises for Poster Children fans,” Valentin said.

“Our records tend to be intentionally inconsistent. We try to make albums that have at least one song you absolutely love and at least one song that you absolutely hate, and those songs are completely different from the ones your friend loves and hates.”

No More Songs is also an interactive CD featuring extra goodies like audio commentaries and a video for the song “Western Springs.”

Bent-Til-Broken Album currently untitled Independent release Release date: late March

Bent-Til-Broken released a four track EP last year called Reverse Blow Show. The plan was to have a full-length album ready by February of 2004. That was before drummer Jason Ford fell through the floor of a building he was working on at his day job as a carpenter. The accident was serious enough to break a multitude of bones in Ford’s body and keep him from walking for seven weeks.

Ford is back on his feet now and the band is slowly starting to put together new material for a yet-to-be-named album. Ford was the latest addition to the band, and lead singer Nick Sanchez expects this new lineup will create different material than what was heard on Reverse Blow Show.

“The mood is going to be different than the songs on the EP because they (the EP’s songs) were all written two to three years ago,” Sanchez said. “This time around the basic tempo is going to be faster. There are more time switches and a bit more crunch.”

The Bent-Til-Broken sound will still lean towards hard rock.

Bent-Til-Broken

“We write melodic stuff, but it is also (the) straight ahead heavy rock side that people enjoy,” Sanchez said. “We don’t put a lot of bells and whistles into the songs.”

Sanchez expects the full-length album to have no less than 10 tracks. Bent-Til-Broken plans to work with Matt Talbott at Great Western Record Recorders and Mark Rubel at Pogo Studios.

The band will not book any shows until the CD is actually finished. At the CD release party, Sanchez expects to only play new stuff.

“We’re excited to see what our fans’ reactions will be to the new material,” Sanchez said.

Expect a full recovery for Ford, a hard-rocking new album and a tour in support of the new stuff in the new year. buzz Photos provided by band Web sites.

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NOTHING BEATS A BAGEL BURGER | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

CDReviews

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1/21/04

M.WARD Transfiguration of Vincent Merge Records

★★★★

BY LOGAN MOORE

Exactly what place does the sensitive singer-songwriter hold in today’s musical landscape? When the idealism of the ’60s is primarily used as a nostalgic vehicle to sell Volkswagens to diaperbound yuppies and the irony of the previous decade’s crop of musical mavens is being chewed up and pissed upon, where in the grand scheme of musical integrity can we place a lone troubadour and his ruminations on the big three: life, love, and death?

The power and quiet brilliance of artists like M. Ward provide us with all the answers we need. The truth, dismaying as it may be to cynical coffee-house hipsters everywhere, is that music that is timeless and universal, music that draws on the past in both execution and sentiment, yet still acknowledges the present and the future, will never go out of style. More often than not, it is the same music our children will be listening to.

M. Ward (true name Matt Ward) has made three albums of such caliber. His career began in the California band Rodriguez before spinning off into a solo career.

After passing a tape around at a Giant Sand concert, frontman Howe Gelb decided to release Ward’s debut on his own Ow Om Records. A follow-up came in 2000, and in 2003, he released his current album Transfiguration of Vincent. M. Ward exhibits a number of different influences, from those of his musical compatriots (Giant Sand, Grandaddy), to those of his sylistic forebears (Tom Waits, John Fahey and Nick Drake), and even further back into the foggy history of America (blues, ragtime and country). Amazingly, Ward deftly manages to make each song his own and also a part of a cohesive song cycle.

By doing so, he underscores another piece in the puzzle of the relevant singer-songwriter: that the sound of an album must stand on its own, free from the tethers of songwriting. A rich sonic palette as well as a willingness and ability to place a characteristic stamp on his or her work has separated the Joni Mitchells from the John Denvers since the inception of this much loved/maligned genre.

The mood of the album is laid out from the beginning as the sound of chirping crickets provides a counterpoint to Ward’s deft acoustic guitar work; a bit of folk, a bit of high, lonesome country and a pinch of Spanish.

The second number on Transfiguration, “Vincent O’Brien,” may most perfectly encapsulate everything M. Ward is about, and is the album’s high point.What begins as a fairly straightforward acoustic number ends up a driving pop-rocker that encompasses everything from ragtime piano to a distorted, electric freakout that wouldn’t sound out of place on Yo La Tengo’s Painful.

“Vincent O’Brien”has everything one could want from a song: a soaring melody and a delicately plucked hook which runs throughout the song and will remain with you for days afterward. It’s breathtaking.

The remainder of the album is no less impressive, encompassing everything from the spare, thumping blues of “Sad, Sad, Song” (co-written with Gelb) and the haunting, ancient ragtime of “Poor Boy, Minor Key,”to the fragile acoustic ballads such as “Dead Man” and “Involuntary.” There is even a brilliant reimagining of David Bowie’s ’80s anthem “Let’s Dance” as a dusty, rustic paean to subtle desperation. Holding all these disparate styles together are Ward’s frighteningly adept acoustic finger-picking, his barrelhouse piano playing and his singular voice which ranges from a less forlorn Nick Drake falsetto to a less intimidating Tom Waits-ian growl.

If our current generation’s assassination of irony means a return to honesty, we can only hope it will produce albums as heartfelt and imaginative as

Transfiguration of Vincent. At times, it is harrowing without being cynical, at others it is exultant without being sentimental or sappy. Throughout, though, it is moving and endlessly engaging, exactly as a singer-songwriter’s work should be.

POSTER CHILDREN No More Songs About Sleep and Fire Hidden Agenda Records

★★★

BY BRIAN MERTZ

The CD jacket might call it No More Songs About Sleep and Fire. Record store employees will clumsily call it the ever-expanding and ever-less descriptive genre of the times—indie rock. Fans will call it an eagerly awaited release. Poster Children themselves call it “album number eight-and-a-half.” I’m just going to call it really good.

One of Champaign’s hardest working and longest lasting bands is back with yet another release called No More Songs About Sleep and Fire (a reference not only to guitarist and lead singer Rick Valentin’s default songwriting topic, but an homage to albums by The Undertones and Talking Heads). And unsurprising for anyone who has heard Poster Children before, No More Songs is a damn good album.

Joined by new drummer Matt Friscia, Valentin, bassist and singer Rose Marshack and guitarist Jim Valentin, Poster Children retain those wisps of new wave, punk and rock while still keeping a grit that is all their own.

But what separates Poster Children from so many other punk influenced bands, and what undoubtedly has earned them fans around the country, is their ability to write edgy songs that invite listeners into the din instead of driving them away.

“Western Springs” has enough of a pop feel in the chorus to make the harshness of the guitars appeal to mainstream and hardcore crowds alike.

But don’t get the wrong idea here. Poster Children haven’t sold out and aren’t looking to ride the last waning waves left by The Strokes explosion.

“Sugarfriend” features guitar lines that are intense and constantly moving. It isn’t easily palatable to the cautious listener, but absolutely delicious for those who like their music to take chances.

Rick stays mostly true to his self-imposed quarantine of talking about sleep or fire. In “The Leader,” he sings through filtered vocal effects, “The leader is watching / You have nothing to fear / If you have nothing to hide.”

He may have been singing about any number of oppressive leaders, but I like to conjure up our evil dictator ... I mean president ... when rocking out to this one.

The 12 songs all clock in around the two minute mark, so if something doesn’t work for the listener (i.e. the common sounding “Different & Special Things”) the next little adventure is just a few more crunchy chords away.

This CD also features enhanced goodies made by the band themselves including DVD-style running commentary and a music video for “Western Springs.”

There is a lot of good stuff to choose from if you are trying to get acquainted with Poster Children. No More Songs can be added to the list. The quartet plans to hit the road again and tour, so be sure to get out to the show and see for yourself all the intensity that these songs will undoubtedly expand on in the live setting.

VARIOUS ARTISTS Cold Mountain Soundtrack Columbia Records

★★★

BY JACOB DITTMER

Cold Mountain is the latest cinematic achievement by long-winded director Anthony Minghella, who has his aim set on this year’s film awards.Many critics are salivating over this film,with a plot loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey. Sound familiar? Did I mention the soundtrack features a wonderful array of traditional folk and Americana music that happens to be produced by T Bone Burnett? You may remember a recent soundtrack Burnett produced: O Brother,Where Art Thou?

That’s right, Burnett has returned to produce what some would call the younger brother of O Brother, Where Art Thou? On this soundtrack, a similar style and sound to O Brother is definitely evident, but it isn’t all knee-slapping, good-time folk songs. Cold Mountain

offers a larger collection of hushed ballads and the content is somewhat dark at times. One thing remains true of Burnett’s producing: He compiles some excellent Americana.

Some familiar names reappear on this soundtrack.

Alison Krauss brings her beautiful voice to the table on a couple of tracks, including the Elvis Costello-penned “The Scarlet Tide.” But not even Krauss’s angelic voice could save the album’s sour apple. “You Will Be My Ain True Love” is the Sting-written atrocity that stinks up the album’s otherwise grassroots sound. The song stinks so badly of Sting, you may soon be hearing it at a Bergner’s store near you.

Some quality musicians from Nashville lend their folk talents to many of the songs, with Dirk Powell on banjo, Stuart Duncan on the fiddle and Norman Blake on the mandolin.

But the most surprising—and probably most talked about—aspect of this soundtrack is the work of Jack White. One would never think the mastermind of the hard rock sound that is the White Stripes would offer his talents to a soundtrack comprised entirely of folk songs.

But the best part is, you don’t even know or care that it’s Jack White. White does a great job of transforming his voice into the folky croon of so many of American music’s forefathers.

The soundtrack opens with the traditional folk song “Wayfaring Stranger,” a song that has been covered by most Nashville artists including Johnny Cash and Trace Adkins. Only this time, it is Jack White and on first listen, most listeners would ask,“Who is this?” The one original White song, “Never Far Away,” stands out as one of the most genuine folk songs on the CD. Take that, Sting.

The CD’s final tracks are reserved for the film’s musical score, which is wonderfully composed but lifeless when clumped together at the end of the CD. There are even a few tracks sung by the Sacred Harp Singers who manage to evoke that choir sound listeners may recall from O Brother.

T Bone Burnett has once again given listeners a wonderful compilation of artists performing quality folk and Americana music. Although it may not enjoy the pop success of O Brother, Cold Mountain stands as a fine sequel to one of the best soundtracks of all time. Kudos to Jack White for making this reviewer a believer in his talents as a musician.

SOUL POSITION 8 Million Stories Rhymesayers

★★★

BY DAN FINNERTY

This MC and DJ combo, who dropped an EP in late 2002 entitled Unlimited, is back with their debut LP. One look at the credits of this album would make most indie hip-hop fans have a wet dream. “Executive Producer: S. Daley” (think Slug of Atmosphere) working with RJD2 (this guy does a beat or remix for almost every worthwhile hip-hop album that comes out these days) and Blueprint (remember his verse and production on Aesop Rock’s “Alchemy” track).

Soul Position played at The Highdive back in November. Blueprint’s on-stage charisma and RJ’s selection of records made for a very live show. Listening to the recorded versions of some of the same tracks I saw live gives me a new appreciation for both artists. After hearing an album worthy of Blueprint’s voice, I’m still not tired of it. He continually changes his tone, cadence and emotion to match the vibe of the track. RJD2 proved he could make great instrumental songs on his album Deadringer. On 8 Million Stories, he shows us that he understands the concept of space, leaving room for the vocals, then shining when Blueprint finishes each verse.

The borrowing of choruses from Company Flow (“Vital Nerve” - ’Auto-matic just for my people’) and KRS-ONE (“Outta Here”) flipping them into a new context are just a couple of the album’s memorable moments. Sampling the movie Office Space describes Blueprint’s frustration in the work force before he quit to do music full time. The last track, “1 Love,” takes me back to the straightforward and personal honesty of Gangstarr’s song “Moment of Truth.” The braggadocious bonus track featuring Jakki of the MHz (RJ’s old crew) reminds me of all of the great mix tapes I’ve heard that include a MHz track.

While 8 Million Stories is solid due to each individual’s contribution, I didn’t hear any magic happening that made the album greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, RJ would make beats just as good with any other MC and Print would sound just as good over someone else’s production. And that is the only reason why this album doesn’t get four stars.

buzz

CHARTS PARASOL RECORDS’ TOP 10 SELLERS 1. Belle and Sebastian - Fans Only (Matador) 2. Camera Obscura - Underachievers Please Try Hard (Merge) 3. The Concretes - The Concretes (Licking Fingers) 4. Moonbabies - The Orange Billboard (Hidden Agenda Records) 5. M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts (Gooom Disques) 6. The Thrills - So Much For The City (Virgin) 7. Ulrich Schnauss - A Strangely Isolated Place (City Centre Offices) 8. Cornelius - 5.1 plus PM (Matador) 9. Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner (XL/Matador) 10. Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? (Alien8)

RECORD SERVICE’S TOP 10 SELLERS 1. Various Artists - Americana Sampler (Vanguard) 2. The Darkness - Permission To Land (Atlantic) 3. Paul Westerberg - Come Feel Me (Vagrant) 4. Guided By Voices - Best of Guided By Voices (Matador) 5. Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (LaFace) 6. Dashboard Confessional - A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar (Vagrant) 7. Westside Connection - Terrorist Threat (Priority Records) 8. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Warner Brothers) 9. Los Lonely Boys - Los Lonely Boys (Or Music) 10. Kate Hathaway - One Two Three

NEW RELEASES The Elected - Me First Big Boi - Big Boi’s Boom Boom Room Incubus - A Crow Left of the Murder...

Microphones - Live in Japan Kenny Chesney - When the Sun Goes Down Harry Connick, Jr. - Only You David Banner - MTA 2: Baptized in Dirty Water Screwed and Chopped The Walkmen - Bows and Arrows The Wannadies - Before & After Dismantled - Post Nuclear Aros - Train Song Pablo Asian - Avantango Dollar Store - Dollar Store The Crumbs - Last Exit Machan - Machan

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Un-listenable

buzz

calendar

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

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Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 355-1406 Spurlock Museum 600 S Gregory, Urbana, 333-2360 The Station Theatre 223 N Broadway, Urbana, 384-4000 Strawberry Fields Cafe 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328-1655 Ten Thousand Villages 105 N Walnut, Champaign, 352-8938 TK Wendl’s 1901 S Highcross Rd, Urbana, 255-5328 Tommy G’s 123 S Mattis Ave, Country Fair Shopping Center, 359-2177 Tonic 619 S Wright, Champaign, 356-6768 Two Main 2 Main, Champaign, 359-3148 University YMCA 1001 S Wright, Champaign, 344-0721 Verde/Verdant 17 E Taylor St, Champaign, 366-3204 Virginia Theatre 203 W Park Ave, Champaign, 356-9053 White Horse Inn 112 1/2 E Green, Champaign, 352-5945 Zorba’s 627 E Green, Champaign

CHICAGOSHOWS JANUARY 1/23 Archer Prewitt @ Schubas 1/23 DJ Luv Bug Starski @ Funky Buddha Lounge 1/23 Neko Case @ Old Town School of Folk Music 1/23 Matthias Heilbronn @ Smart Bar 1/23-24 Marcia Ball Band @ FitzGerald’s 1/23-24 SuperDiamond @ House of Blues, 18+ 1/24 Adam Green @ Schubas, 18+ 1/24 Appleseed Cast @ Metro, 18+ 1/24 Steve Forbert @ Schubas 1/24 Frogs @ Bottom Lounge 1/25 Reigning Sound @ Subterranean 1/25 Ordinary People’s @ Schubas 1/25 April March @ Schubas 1/25 Michael Glabicki @ Durty Nellie’s 1/26 Swell @ Schubas 1/26 Rilo Kiley @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 1/27 Twista @ House of Blues, 18+ 1/27-31 Train @ Schubas 1/28 StarSailor @ Metro, all ages 1/29 Linkin Park @ Allstate Arena 1/29 Gomez @ Vic, all ages 1/30 Lee Rocker @ Subterranean 1/30 Jonny Lang @ Star Plaza 1/30 Huun Huur Tu @ Old Town School of Folk Music 1/30 DJ Hollywood @ Funky Buddha Lounge 1/30 KC & the Sunshine Band @ House of Blues 1/30 Mahjongg @ Empty Bottle 1/30 Alan Jackson, Martina McBride @ Allstate Arena 1/30 Simple Plan, MXPX @ Riviera, all ages 1/31 Natalie MacMaster @ Harris Theater for Music & Dance 1/31 Webb Wilder @ FitzGerald's 1/31 Joan Jett @ Paramount Arts Center 1/31 Neil Aline @ Smart Bar

Brentano String Quartet Points/Counterpoints— the Art of Fugue, Bach and Beyond

Patron Underwriters Judith and Jon Liebman

FEBRUARY 2/3 Crash Test Dummies @ Schubas 2/3 Super Furry Animals @ Metro, 18+ 2/4 Mae @ Metro, all ages 2/5 Kevin Welch & Kieran Kane @ FitzGerald's 2/5 Monolake @ Empty Bottle 2/5 Life of Agony @ House of Blues, all ages 2/6 DJ Red Alert @ Funky Buddha Lounge 2/6 Buckwheat Zydeco @ House of Blues, 18+ 2/7 Insurgent Visions: 10 Years of Bloodshot Art & Music @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/7 Hank Williams III @ Martyrs' 2/7 Immortal Technique @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 2/7 American Motherload @ Metro, 18+ 2/7 Ann-Margret @ Star Plaza 2/7 Amy Rigby @ Schubas 2/8 Cyril Pahinui, Cindy Combs, Dennis Kamakahi @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/10 Scotland Yard Gospel Choir @ Metro, 18+ 2/12 Josh Groban @ Rosemont Theatre 2/13 Cyndi Lauper @ Cadillac Palace 2/13 Kate & Anna McGarrigle @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/13 Mindy Smith @ Schubas 2/14 Pam Tillis & Juice Newton @ the Hemmens 2/14 Him @ Empty Bottle 2/14 Numbers @ Abbey Pub, 18+

{

On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, this quartet links past and present with a program that interweaves movements of Bach’s Art of Fugue with musical reactions from ten living composers: Wynton Marsalis, Sofia Gubaidulina, Chou Wen-chung, Shulamit Ran, Steven Mackey, Nicholas Maw, Charles Wuorinen, Bruce Adolphe, Eric Zivian, and David Horne.

$32 / SC & Stu 31 / UI & Yth 15

Jan25 333.6280

visit KrannertCenter.com

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ThursdayJan22 LIVE MUSIC ShabMo Jazz Quintet – The Iron Post, 7pm, TBA Acoustic Music Series: Martin Page – Aroma, 8pm, free Steve Forbert – Cowboy Monkey, 8pm, $12 Sean Parson's Trio – Zorba's, 9:30pm, $3 Mike and Joe – Canopy Club, 10pm, $4 The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Situation – Nargile, 10pm, $5 Martin Page – acoustic rock – Aroma, 8-10pm

DJ DJ J-Phlip – Barfly, 9pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Pia's in Rantoul, 9pm-1am

ON STAGE Moscow Festival Ballet: Cinderella – The story of Cinderella has inspired young and old, artists and animators, filmmakers and choreographers. Former Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer Sergei Radchenko returns to Krannert Center with the company he founded in 1989 to present the classic ballet choreographed by Rostislav Zakharov to music of Sergei Prokofiev. With elegant dancing and comical miming, rich costumes and colorful scenery, Cinderella will enchant families and all who love classical ballet. Tryon Festival Theatre. 7pm. Tickets $35-$38.

“Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” – The Zoo Theatre Company presents this performance at the Virginia Theatre.

Shows begin at 7:30pm with additional shows at 2:30pm and 7:30pm Jan 24th. Tickets on sale now at the Virginia, call 356-9063.

FridayJan23 LIVE MUSIC Bryan Holloway Trio – Cowboy Monkey, 5pm, $2 Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp – The Iron Post, 5pm, TBA Jack Marck – Tommy G's, 5pm, free Larry Gates – Embassy Tavern, 8pm, free The Noisy Gators – The Iron Post, 9pm, $3 Salsateca! with Bris Mueller – Cowboy Monkey, 9:30pm, $3 X-Krush – Canopy Club, 10pm, $5 Renegade – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Apollo Project, Jason Finkelman's Nu Orbit Ensemble – Nargile, TBA, $5 Sista Otis and the Wholly Rollers – ChanningMurray Foundation, 8pm, $6-$15 (sliding scale) Trouble IS – hard rock – Lava, 9:30pm-1:30am Reasonable Doubt – Uncle Buck's in Mahomet, 8:30pm-12:30am Angie Heaton & Gina Villalobos – Aroma, 8-10pm

DJ DJ Bozak – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Vinx: Drum Circle – A drummer and singer who bends and melds genres from jazz and R&B to salsa and pops genres, Vinx leads a drumming circle that includes drummers Jason Hann and Andrew Daniels. Bring your own drum or come to observe. Krannert Center, lobby, 5:30pm, free.

William Heiles – piano – This School of Music faculty artist presents music of Mozart and Chopin.

Enjoy the Sonatas in A Minor, K. 310 and B-flat Major, K. 333 by Mozart along with Chopin's Op. 45 Prelude; Op. 15, 48, and 55 Nocturnes; the B-flat Minor, Op. 31 Scherzo; the A-flat Major, Op. 47 Ballade; and the Op. 60 Barcarolle. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $5, SC $4, students $2.

Bach’s Lunch Concert – Enjoy the sounds of the New Orleans Jazz Machine in the Springer Cultural Center’s historical lobby. Bring a brown-bag lunch or call to order a lunch from Pickle Tree Farm. Onsite box lunches will no longer be available.

Springer Cultural Center, Champaign. 12-1pm. Free.

For more information, call 398-2376.

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

ON STAGE “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” – The Zoo Theatre Company presents this performance at the Virginia Theatre.

Shows begin at 7:30pm with additional shows at 2:30pm and 7:30pm Jan 24th. Tickets on sale now at the Virginia, call 356-9063.

ON FILM The Second Annual Filmic Dependency Film Festival – The best low-budget/no-budget films, locally and from around the world. Station Theatre and Cafe Paradiso, Urbana.

SaturdayJan24 LIVE MUSIC Rushlow – Canopy Club, 7pm, $15 G. Lee – Borders, 8pm, free 23 Split, The Sons, The Idle Hours, Finite Element – Courtyard Cafe, 8pm, $5 Maurice and the Mindset – Hubers, 8pm, TBA Candy Foster and Shades of Blue – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Trippin' Billies – Canopy Club, 10pm, $5 Blues Deacons – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 Solips CD Release Party: Solips, The Danger – Nargile, 10pm, $5 The Impalas – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover The Brat Pack – ‘80s retro – Neil Street Pub, 10pm, cover The Jeff Wheatley Band – classic rock – Champaign American Legion, 9pm-12am Trouble IS – hard rock – Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club in Danville, 9pm-1:30am Reasonable Doubt – Game On in Sadorus, 9pm1am X-Krush – Snapper's in Clinton, 8pm

DJ

SundayJan25 LIVE MUSIC Groovatron – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Rachel Avery and Loba Chudak – celtic – Prairie Boatworks Gallery in Mahomet,1-3pm, free

DJ Blends by Otter – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Reel to Reel and the Wheels of Steel: Spicerack Movies with soundtrack provided by DJ Spinnerty and DJ Bozak – Mike n’ Molly's, 10pm, $1

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Brentano String Quartet: Points/Counterpoints the Art of Fugue, Bach and Beyond – The Brentano Quartet presents 10 composers to pen their musical reactions to J.S. Bach's monumental Art of Fugue. Each group member chose a fugue from Bach's masterpiece as a particular inspiration; the new companion pieces are interwoven with the originals in a magnificent and startling dialogue. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, flex $30, SC & students $29, UI & youth $13.

MondayJan26 LIVE MUSIC Jazz Jam: ParaDocs – The Iron Post, 7:30pm, TBA Open Mic Night – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $2 Larry Gates – ZA'S, 8pm

DJ 2ON2OUT – indie rock – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Betty Rocker – indie rock – Mike n' Molly's, 10pm, free

DJ Sophisto – Barfly, 9pm, free Digression Sessions #1: Mission, TBA, rKAINE, UncleRoRo – Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant, 10pm, $2 DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 DJ Mertz – Nargile, TBA

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Introduction to Milonga – Phillips Recreation Center, 7:30pm, $7 (includes dance) Introductory Tango Workshop – Phillips Recreation Center, 8:15-10:15pm, $7

"Funny Business" – The Prairie Ensemble’s third concert of the season, a concert of humor in music featuring Chester Alwes, the Chorus of the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana, works by P.D.Q. Bach, Haydn, Jean Françaix, and George Antheil. Faith United Methodist Church, 1719 S Prospect, Champaign, 7:30pm, $5-$10. For tickets, call 355-9077, visit www.prairieensemble.org, or purchase them at the door.

Elliot Chasanov – Enjoy transcriptions, art songs and original trombone works of David, Ewazen and other composers presented by this School of Music faculty artist. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $5, SC $4, students $2.

Vinx: Drum Circle – A drummer and singer who bends and melds genres from jazz and R&B to salsa and pops genres, Vinx leads a drumming circle that includes drummers Jason Hann and Andrew Daniels. Bring your own drum or come to observe. Krannert Center, lobby, 5:30pm, free.

"G" Force Karaoke – Historic Lincoln Castle Hotel Alumni Tap Bar, 9pm-1am

ON STAGE “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” – The Zoo Theatre Company presents this performance at the Virginia Theatre.

Shows begin at 7:30pm with additional shows at 2:30pm and 7:30pm Jan 24th. Tickets on sale now at the Virginia, call 356-9063.

ON FILM The Second Annual Filmic Dependency Film Festival – The best low-budget/no-budget films, locally and from around the world. Station Theatre and Cafe Paradiso, Urbana.

Community Drum Circle – Ten Thousand Villages, 7-9pm, free "G" Force Karaoke – Kam's, 10pm-2am

DANCE

TuesdayJan27 LIVE MUSIC Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Openingbands.com – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Adam Wolfe & Jess Greenlee – Tommy G's, 10pm, free

DJ DJ Resonate – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Noiseboy – garage and mod – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free NOX: DJ ZoZo – goth and industrial – The Highdive, 10pm, $2

WednesdayJan28 LIVE MUSIC Openingbands.com Showcase: Blame Twilight, Anomic, University – Canopy Club, 10pm, $3 Darrin Drda's Theory of Everything, Shakin' Babies – Nargile, 10pm, $4 Kilborn Alley – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover

DJ DJ Chef Ra – roots/rock/reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free D-Lo and Spinnerty – hip-hop – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $1 DJ Boardwalk – Mike n’ Molly's, 10pm, $1

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Timothy Ehlen – piano – Music of Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann and Bryan Pezzone will be presented by this School of Music faculty artist.

Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $5, SC $4, students $2.

"G" Force Karaoke – Elmers Club 45, 7-11pm

C-UVENUES Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333-5000 American Legion Post 24 705 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 356-5144 American Legion Post 71 107 N Broadway, Urbana, 367-3121 Barfly 120 N Neil, Champaign,352-9756 Barnes and Noble 51 E Marketview, Champaign, 355-2045 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378-8001 Borders Books & Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 351-9011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352-7512 Canopy Club (The Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367-3140 Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana C.O. Daniels 608 E Daniel, Champaign, 337-7411 Cosmopolitan Club 307 E John, Champaign, 367-3079 Courtyard Cafe Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana, 333-4666 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor St, Champaign, 398-2688 Clybourne 706 S Sixth, Champaign, 383-1008 Curtis Orchard 3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, 359-5565 D.R. Diggers 604 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 356-0888 Elmer’s Club 45 3525 N Cunningham, Urbana, 344-3101 Embassy Tavern & Grill 114 S Race, Urbana, 384-9526 Esquire Lounge 106 N Walnut, Champaign, 398-5858 Fallon’s Ice House 703 N Prospect, Champaign, 398-5760 Fat City Saloon 505 S Chestnut, Champaign, 356-7100 The Great Impasta 114 W Church, Champaign, 359-7377 G.T.’s Western Bowl Francis Dr, Champaign, 359-1678 The Highdive 51 Main, Champaign, 359-4444 Huber’s 1312 W Church, Champaign, 352-0606 Illinois Disciples Foundation 610 E Springfield, Champaign, 352-8721 Independent Media Center 218 W Main St, Urbana, 344-8820 The Iron Post 120 S Race, Urbana, 337-7678 Joe’s Brewery 706 S Fifth, Champaign, 384-1790 Kam’s 618 E Daniel, Champaign, 328-1605 Krannert Art Museum 500 E Peabody, Champaign, 333-1861 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S Goodwin, Urbana, Tickets: 333-6280, 800-KCPATIX La Casa Cultural Latina 1203 W Nevada, Urbana, 333-4950 Lava 1906 W Bradley, Champaign, 352-8714 Legends Bar & Grill 522 E Green, Champaign, 355-7674 Les’s Lounge 403 N Coler, Urbana, 328-4000 Lincoln Castle 209 S Broadway, Urbana, 344-7720 Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club 14 N Hazel, Danville, 442-8090 Malibu Bay Lounge North Route 45, Urbana, 328-7415 Mike n’ Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355-1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367-5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352-7275 Nargile 207 W Clark St, Champaign Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359-1601 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351-0068 The Office 214 W Main, Urbana, 344-7608 Parkland College 2400 W Bradley, Champaign, 351-2528 Phoenix 215 S Neil, Champaign, 355-7866 Pia’s of Rantoul Route 136 E, Rantoul, 893-8244 Pink House Routes 49 & 150, Ogden, 582-9997 The Rainbow Coffeehouse 1203 W Green, Urbana, 766-9500 Red Herring/Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana, 344-1176 Rose Bowl Tavern 106 N Race, Urbana, 367-7031

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JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | NEIL DIAMOND AND THE DARKNESS, TOGETHER AT LAST

Thank you, Chicago, you silly old city MENDOZA MUSIC LINE

BY SETH FEIN | STAFF WRITER

I

used to hate Chicago, damn it. I really did. For whatever reason, it rubbed me the wrong way and like an old man trying to adjust his diapers, I never really got comfortable with it or its dwellers.

Maybe it’s because I was exposed to the north suburbs at an early age and not the city. Perhaps it was because I didn’t feel like I ever really played a great show there. I don’t know what it was, but I didn’t like it.

My penchant for wanderlust has been under arrest lately based on the fact that I haven’t been on tour for over five months. So it was kind of nice to spend the majority of the winter “break” in Chicago. While it certainly wasn’t like heading to either of the coasts, being a townie, it definitely felt like vacation. For all my college years, I felt uncomfortable in the second city, which was merely a result of my insecurities that come along with being from a small, more modest university town like this one. This time, however, I felt safe and happy. I felt like I fit in, just enough so that I didn’t need to ask directions.

I realized something that from now on, I will always remember whenever I am at a good show here in our twin towns, just 100 miles south of I-80: We truly have Chicago to thank for our ability to foster a great music scene here.

And not just because most of our students hail from that area. (Don’t sell yourselves short, now— you guys and gals are a big part of the reason, too.)

Most important, I think, is the fact every single national tour comes through the Windy City. As a result, we have the luxury of getting those same tours on off-days and on special occasions, where a band that is opening for a bigger act has a night off.

I took a look in The Reader each time I was up there and every time, there were shows I would have been delighted to attend. From The Fiery Furnaces and The Unicorns to The Album Leaf and Murder by Death, I could’ve dropped a couple bills simply on cover charges for all the talent that Chicago attracts. But alas, I have little money—and between Christmas, new vinyls and important birthdays, I was resigned to attend only one show on my last night out there.

Joan of Arc played The Empty Bottle on Sunday, Jan. 18 as a “practice” show of sorts to prepare for an upcoming tour and for Tim Kinsella to rekindle his love for live performance. It was a terrific show, aside from the fact Kinsella still insists on whining rather than singing, and because I was armed with a PBR and truly great company at my side. I, for the first time, actually felt like I sorta, kinda fit inside the Chicago music scene.

It might be a sign of things to come for me or perhaps it was just one of those rare occasions when you expect to feel discomfort and end up feeling like you are at home, but I can tell you one thing: I love Chicago. Yes I do. I will scream it from the mountaintops. No longer will I harbor negativity towards the suburbs for merely being a huge blob of “white flight.” And I want to thank it for being so close to my home. I want to put my arms around its cold, cloudy Loop and give it a perpetual squeeze.

Ah, Chicago. Home of my Cubbies and one of the best music scenes in the world. We should always be thankful to have it.

Seth Fein is from Urbana and way too proud of it. He received his degree in creative writing from UIUC and as you can see, academics don’t mean shit. He can be reached at sethfein@readbuzz.com

TopFive

Songs to incite a riot

1.“Anarchy in the UK” The Sex Pistols

Blah, blah, blah, The Sex Pistols didn’t start punk rock, American bands did. Blah, blah, blah, The Sex Pistols were all style and no substance.

Bullshit. This song made parents hide their daughters. It caused politicians to go insane.

It caused a generation of young Brits to hate their parents and their parents’ music. It forced adolescent psychos everywhere to pick up a guitar and play primal, frenzied gorilla rock. What the hell more can you ask for in a rock song?

2.“Street Fighting Man” The Rolling Stones

Well it may be a bar fight song to some, but it is a damn good song for rioting in the streets.The Stones were never a band to take a strong political stance, especially during the tumultuous ‘60s, but this song puts music to “the sound of marching and charging feet.”With the trademark crunchy guitar of the Stones and Charlie Watts laying down the marching beat, this song is perfect for mobilizing a mob in the streets.

3.“Fight the Power” Public Enemy

If ever an album exhibited the depth and range of hip hop, it was Fear of a Black Planet. And if ever a song captured the incendiary, revolutionary power that burns at the heart of hip hop, it was that

album’s anthem “Fight the Power”. Clichéd or not, Chuck D spouts off about the mobilizing power of the jam as the Bomb Squad dishes up a perfect example of it. And it takes the piss the out of 400 years of American history and Bobby McFerrin. Yeah, motherfuck Elvis and John Wayne.

4.“Killing in the Name” Rage Against the Machine

What a great song that addresses many of the hypocrisies our police forces are known for.The repetitive chorus of “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” has probably gone through the minds of several rioting youths since this song’s release in 1993. This is yet another example of the anti-authoritarian sentiment found in many hard rock songs that fuels the fire of angry persons.

5.“Kill the Poor” Dead Kennedys

Some would say the only thing The Dead Kennedys were good for was stinging, ironic indictments of Reagan-era politics, thus making them cultural relics.Then Bush, Jr. got re-elected, and suddenly a song about conservatives killing off the lower classes with a neutron bomb is stinging and ironic again. Plus, these guys knew how to attach their political rhetoric to laser-guided hooks aimed straight at the cerebellum. This song should be taught in school.

Next week: Top five hangover songs What’s yours? e-mail us at music@readbuzz.com

The Hurly-Burly Sifting through the commotion and crap of music culture COMPILED BY LOGAN MOORE

Tommy Stinson, bassist of the highly revered (and rightly so) band The Replacements, has just put the ink down on a record contract with Sanctuary Records. Stinson, recently filling in on bass for the revamped Guns N’ Roses line-up, plans to have his solo debut out sometime in the summer/early fall.

The album, recorded in Frank Black’s Los Angeles studio, features a cast of musicians including A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese, his brother Jason Freese on saxophone, Catholics guitarist Dave Philips, GN’R members Richard Fortus on guitar and Dizzy Reed on keyboards. Expect it to rock.

The lineup for the Alejandro Escovedo tribute album has swelled, making it a virtual who’s who of cutting edge roots rock. All proceeds from the album, tentatively called Por Vida, will go to benefit the celebrated singer-songwriter who recently contracted Hepatitis C and is without proper medical care. Los Lobos, Billy Corgan, John Cale, Calexico, Howe Gelb, Chuck Prophet, Ian Hunter and Jackson Browne have recently signed on to a roster that already included Joe Ely and the Flatlanders, Los Lonely Boys and Jennifer Warnes.

For more information or to contribute, visit www.alejandrofund.com.

In other “alt-country” news, the Old 97’s , on hiatus for quite some time, have signed a new deal with New West Records and are set to release a new album this year. It will be the their first album since 2001’s Satellite Rides released on Elektra Records. In the studio, the band will join Mark Neill, whose credits include work with Los Straitjackets and The Palladins. In the meantime, you can find the lovable power-pop/country band on tour from Jan. 16-25.

What the hell?

Moment of the week British “It” band of the moment The Darkness may co-write a song with, drum roll, please ... Neil Diamond.

Yes, that Neil Diamond. Apparently, lead singer of The Darkness, Justin Hawkins, claimed his allegiance to the composer of “Cherry, Cherry” and “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon” in an interview with a British music rag.

After hearing the news, Diamond apparently contacted The Darkness and proposed they work on a song together, to which the metal gods responded positively. Hey, they did use the title of Neil’s classic 1969 album, Touching You, Touching Me as a crucial line in their current hit “I Believe In A Thing Called Love.”

Expect embarrassingly tight pants.

Expect a song called “Sweet Caroline Sucks On My Love Pump.” Expect the greatest song ever.

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buzzpicks Brian Jonestown Massacre brings rock to Nargile A

fter more than a decade of making rock music, Brian Jonestown Massacre continues to rock out and rock loud. With a sound reminiscent of the early Stooges and a name paying homage to The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones, the band has remained loyal to its rock roots.

Singer and guitarist Anton Newcombe heads the band and has been the only constant member since its formation in 1990.

This fact has neither slowed nor mellowed the band, however. The group recorded its first LP, Methodrone, in 1995 and went on to record six more albums as of today.

Catch the band Thursday at Nargile alongside The Situation. Show starts at 10pm with a $5 cover.

Folk rocker set to entertain in Champaign

Sista Otis fuses hip hop & soul

S

ista Otis has emerged from the Detroit rock scene as a folk artist who seamlessly blends the urban Detroit scene into her acoustic folk music to create a unique, soulful sound.

Sista Otis’s name was born while singing Otis Redding songs at a night club party one night in Philadelphia. She heads Sista Otis and the Wholly Rollers, a group that brings together various music genres to create a truly original blend of funk, folk, hip hop, jazz and everything in between.

The band makes music through its own record label, The Wholly Rollers, in order to preserve its musical independence and power.

So if you’re in the mood for something new, watch the band at the Channing-Murray Foundation Friday at 8pm.

It’s Miller Time at Kam’s!

L

ong-time folk-rocker Steve Forbert entertains and moves audiences with his insightful lyrics and soulful guitar playing.

Forbert’s unique, raspy voice tells stories with modest ease—all he needs to move you is his voice, his guitar and himself. Leaving home at 21, he rented a room at a YMCA in New York City and worked odd jobs to fund his obsession with music playing.

Forbert is currently nominated for Best Traditional Folk Album for his album Any Old Time: A Jimmie Rodgers Tribute. He will be at Cowboy Monkey Thursday at 8pm.

For extra photos, check out readbuzz.com

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buzzpicks Brian Jonestown Massacre brings rock to Nargile A

fter more than a decade of making rock music, Brian Jonestown Massacre continues to rock out and rock loud. With a sound reminiscent of the early Stooges and a name paying homage to The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones, the band has remained loyal to its rock roots.

Singer and guitarist Anton Newcombe heads the band and has been the only constant member since its formation in 1990.

This fact has neither slowed nor mellowed the band, however. The group recorded its first LP, Methodrone, in 1995 and went on to record six more albums as of today.

Catch the band Thursday at Nargile alongside The Situation. Show starts at 10pm with a $5 cover.

Folk rocker set to entertain in Champaign

Sista Otis fuses hip hop & soul

S

ista Otis has emerged from the Detroit rock scene as a folk artist who seamlessly blends the urban Detroit scene into her acoustic folk music to create a unique, soulful sound.

Sista Otis’s name was born while singing Otis Redding songs at a night club party one night in Philadelphia. She heads Sista Otis and the Wholly Rollers, a group that brings together various music genres to create a truly original blend of funk, folk, hip hop, jazz and everything in between.

The band makes music through its own record label, The Wholly Rollers, in order to preserve its musical independence and power.

So if you’re in the mood for something new, watch the band at the Channing-Murray Foundation Friday at 8pm.

It’s Miller Time at Kam’s!

L

ong-time folk-rocker Steve Forbert entertains and moves audiences with his insightful lyrics and soulful guitar playing.

Forbert’s unique, raspy voice tells stories with modest ease—all he needs to move you is his voice, his guitar and himself. Leaving home at 21, he rented a room at a YMCA in New York City and worked odd jobs to fund his obsession with music playing.

Forbert is currently nominated for Best Traditional Folk Album for his album Any Old Time: A Jimmie Rodgers Tribute. He will be at Cowboy Monkey Thursday at 8pm.

For extra photos, check out readbuzz.com

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ThursdayJan22 LIVE MUSIC ShabMo Jazz Quintet – The Iron Post, 7pm, TBA Acoustic Music Series: Martin Page – Aroma, 8pm, free Steve Forbert – Cowboy Monkey, 8pm, $12 Sean Parson's Trio – Zorba's, 9:30pm, $3 Mike and Joe – Canopy Club, 10pm, $4 The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Situation – Nargile, 10pm, $5 Martin Page – acoustic rock – Aroma, 8-10pm

DJ DJ J-Phlip – Barfly, 9pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Pia's in Rantoul, 9pm-1am

ON STAGE Moscow Festival Ballet: Cinderella – The story of Cinderella has inspired young and old, artists and animators, filmmakers and choreographers. Former Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer Sergei Radchenko returns to Krannert Center with the company he founded in 1989 to present the classic ballet choreographed by Rostislav Zakharov to music of Sergei Prokofiev. With elegant dancing and comical miming, rich costumes and colorful scenery, Cinderella will enchant families and all who love classical ballet. Tryon Festival Theatre. 7pm. Tickets $35-$38.

“Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” – The Zoo Theatre Company presents this performance at the Virginia Theatre.

Shows begin at 7:30pm with additional shows at 2:30pm and 7:30pm Jan 24th. Tickets on sale now at the Virginia, call 356-9063.

FridayJan23 LIVE MUSIC Bryan Holloway Trio – Cowboy Monkey, 5pm, $2 Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp – The Iron Post, 5pm, TBA Jack Marck – Tommy G's, 5pm, free Larry Gates – Embassy Tavern, 8pm, free The Noisy Gators – The Iron Post, 9pm, $3 Salsateca! with Bris Mueller – Cowboy Monkey, 9:30pm, $3 X-Krush – Canopy Club, 10pm, $5 Renegade – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover Apollo Project, Jason Finkelman's Nu Orbit Ensemble – Nargile, TBA, $5 Sista Otis and the Wholly Rollers – ChanningMurray Foundation, 8pm, $6-$15 (sliding scale) Trouble IS – hard rock – Lava, 9:30pm-1:30am Reasonable Doubt – Uncle Buck's in Mahomet, 8:30pm-12:30am Angie Heaton & Gina Villalobos – Aroma, 8-10pm

DJ DJ Bozak – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Vinx: Drum Circle – A drummer and singer who bends and melds genres from jazz and R&B to salsa and pops genres, Vinx leads a drumming circle that includes drummers Jason Hann and Andrew Daniels. Bring your own drum or come to observe. Krannert Center, lobby, 5:30pm, free.

William Heiles – piano – This School of Music faculty artist presents music of Mozart and Chopin.

Enjoy the Sonatas in A Minor, K. 310 and B-flat Major, K. 333 by Mozart along with Chopin's Op. 45 Prelude; Op. 15, 48, and 55 Nocturnes; the B-flat Minor, Op. 31 Scherzo; the A-flat Major, Op. 47 Ballade; and the Op. 60 Barcarolle. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $5, SC $4, students $2.

Bach’s Lunch Concert – Enjoy the sounds of the New Orleans Jazz Machine in the Springer Cultural Center’s historical lobby. Bring a brown-bag lunch or call to order a lunch from Pickle Tree Farm. Onsite box lunches will no longer be available.

Springer Cultural Center, Champaign. 12-1pm. Free.

For more information, call 398-2376.

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

ON STAGE “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” – The Zoo Theatre Company presents this performance at the Virginia Theatre.

Shows begin at 7:30pm with additional shows at 2:30pm and 7:30pm Jan 24th. Tickets on sale now at the Virginia, call 356-9063.

ON FILM The Second Annual Filmic Dependency Film Festival – The best low-budget/no-budget films, locally and from around the world. Station Theatre and Cafe Paradiso, Urbana.

SaturdayJan24 LIVE MUSIC Rushlow – Canopy Club, 7pm, $15 G. Lee – Borders, 8pm, free 23 Split, The Sons, The Idle Hours, Finite Element – Courtyard Cafe, 8pm, $5 Maurice and the Mindset – Hubers, 8pm, TBA Candy Foster and Shades of Blue – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA Trippin' Billies – Canopy Club, 10pm, $5 Blues Deacons – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 Solips CD Release Party: Solips, The Danger – Nargile, 10pm, $5 The Impalas – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover The Brat Pack – ‘80s retro – Neil Street Pub, 10pm, cover The Jeff Wheatley Band – classic rock – Champaign American Legion, 9pm-12am Trouble IS – hard rock – Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club in Danville, 9pm-1:30am Reasonable Doubt – Game On in Sadorus, 9pm1am X-Krush – Snapper's in Clinton, 8pm

DJ

SundayJan25 LIVE MUSIC Groovatron – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Rachel Avery and Loba Chudak – celtic – Prairie Boatworks Gallery in Mahomet,1-3pm, free

DJ Blends by Otter – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Reel to Reel and the Wheels of Steel: Spicerack Movies with soundtrack provided by DJ Spinnerty and DJ Bozak – Mike n’ Molly's, 10pm, $1

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Brentano String Quartet: Points/Counterpoints the Art of Fugue, Bach and Beyond – The Brentano Quartet presents 10 composers to pen their musical reactions to J.S. Bach's monumental Art of Fugue. Each group member chose a fugue from Bach's masterpiece as a particular inspiration; the new companion pieces are interwoven with the originals in a magnificent and startling dialogue. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, flex $30, SC & students $29, UI & youth $13.

MondayJan26 LIVE MUSIC Jazz Jam: ParaDocs – The Iron Post, 7:30pm, TBA Open Mic Night – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $2 Larry Gates – ZA'S, 8pm

DJ 2ON2OUT – indie rock – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Betty Rocker – indie rock – Mike n' Molly's, 10pm, free

DJ Sophisto – Barfly, 9pm, free Digression Sessions #1: Mission, TBA, rKAINE, UncleRoRo – Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant, 10pm, $2 DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 DJ Mertz – Nargile, TBA

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Introduction to Milonga – Phillips Recreation Center, 7:30pm, $7 (includes dance) Introductory Tango Workshop – Phillips Recreation Center, 8:15-10:15pm, $7

"Funny Business" – The Prairie Ensemble’s third concert of the season, a concert of humor in music featuring Chester Alwes, the Chorus of the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana, works by P.D.Q. Bach, Haydn, Jean Françaix, and George Antheil. Faith United Methodist Church, 1719 S Prospect, Champaign, 7:30pm, $5-$10. For tickets, call 355-9077, visit www.prairieensemble.org, or purchase them at the door.

Elliot Chasanov – Enjoy transcriptions, art songs and original trombone works of David, Ewazen and other composers presented by this School of Music faculty artist. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $5, SC $4, students $2.

Vinx: Drum Circle – A drummer and singer who bends and melds genres from jazz and R&B to salsa and pops genres, Vinx leads a drumming circle that includes drummers Jason Hann and Andrew Daniels. Bring your own drum or come to observe. Krannert Center, lobby, 5:30pm, free.

"G" Force Karaoke – Historic Lincoln Castle Hotel Alumni Tap Bar, 9pm-1am

ON STAGE “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” – The Zoo Theatre Company presents this performance at the Virginia Theatre.

Shows begin at 7:30pm with additional shows at 2:30pm and 7:30pm Jan 24th. Tickets on sale now at the Virginia, call 356-9063.

ON FILM The Second Annual Filmic Dependency Film Festival – The best low-budget/no-budget films, locally and from around the world. Station Theatre and Cafe Paradiso, Urbana.

Community Drum Circle – Ten Thousand Villages, 7-9pm, free "G" Force Karaoke – Kam's, 10pm-2am

DANCE

TuesdayJan27 LIVE MUSIC Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Openingbands.com – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Adam Wolfe & Jess Greenlee – Tommy G's, 10pm, free

DJ DJ Resonate – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Noiseboy – garage and mod – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free NOX: DJ ZoZo – goth and industrial – The Highdive, 10pm, $2

WednesdayJan28 LIVE MUSIC Openingbands.com Showcase: Blame Twilight, Anomic, University – Canopy Club, 10pm, $3 Darrin Drda's Theory of Everything, Shakin' Babies – Nargile, 10pm, $4 Kilborn Alley – Tommy G's, 10pm, cover

DJ DJ Chef Ra – roots/rock/reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free D-Lo and Spinnerty – hip-hop – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $1 DJ Boardwalk – Mike n’ Molly's, 10pm, $1

MUSIC PERFORMANCE Timothy Ehlen – piano – Music of Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann and Bryan Pezzone will be presented by this School of Music faculty artist.

Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm, $5, SC $4, students $2.

"G" Force Karaoke – Elmers Club 45, 7-11pm

C-UVENUES Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333-5000 American Legion Post 24 705 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 356-5144 American Legion Post 71 107 N Broadway, Urbana, 367-3121 Barfly 120 N Neil, Champaign,352-9756 Barnes and Noble 51 E Marketview, Champaign, 355-2045 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378-8001 Borders Books & Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 351-9011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352-7512 Canopy Club (The Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367-3140 Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana C.O. Daniels 608 E Daniel, Champaign, 337-7411 Cosmopolitan Club 307 E John, Champaign, 367-3079 Courtyard Cafe Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana, 333-4666 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor St, Champaign, 398-2688 Clybourne 706 S Sixth, Champaign, 383-1008 Curtis Orchard 3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, 359-5565 D.R. Diggers 604 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 356-0888 Elmer’s Club 45 3525 N Cunningham, Urbana, 344-3101 Embassy Tavern & Grill 114 S Race, Urbana, 384-9526 Esquire Lounge 106 N Walnut, Champaign, 398-5858 Fallon’s Ice House 703 N Prospect, Champaign, 398-5760 Fat City Saloon 505 S Chestnut, Champaign, 356-7100 The Great Impasta 114 W Church, Champaign, 359-7377 G.T.’s Western Bowl Francis Dr, Champaign, 359-1678 The Highdive 51 Main, Champaign, 359-4444 Huber’s 1312 W Church, Champaign, 352-0606 Illinois Disciples Foundation 610 E Springfield, Champaign, 352-8721 Independent Media Center 218 W Main St, Urbana, 344-8820 The Iron Post 120 S Race, Urbana, 337-7678 Joe’s Brewery 706 S Fifth, Champaign, 384-1790 Kam’s 618 E Daniel, Champaign, 328-1605 Krannert Art Museum 500 E Peabody, Champaign, 333-1861 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S Goodwin, Urbana, Tickets: 333-6280, 800-KCPATIX La Casa Cultural Latina 1203 W Nevada, Urbana, 333-4950 Lava 1906 W Bradley, Champaign, 352-8714 Legends Bar & Grill 522 E Green, Champaign, 355-7674 Les’s Lounge 403 N Coler, Urbana, 328-4000 Lincoln Castle 209 S Broadway, Urbana, 344-7720 Lowe’s Big Barrel & Summer Club 14 N Hazel, Danville, 442-8090 Malibu Bay Lounge North Route 45, Urbana, 328-7415 Mike n’ Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355-1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367-5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352-7275 Nargile 207 W Clark St, Champaign Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359-1601 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351-0068 The Office 214 W Main, Urbana, 344-7608 Parkland College 2400 W Bradley, Champaign, 351-2528 Phoenix 215 S Neil, Champaign, 355-7866 Pia’s of Rantoul Route 136 E, Rantoul, 893-8244 Pink House Routes 49 & 150, Ogden, 582-9997 The Rainbow Coffeehouse 1203 W Green, Urbana, 766-9500 Red Herring/Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana, 344-1176 Rose Bowl Tavern 106 N Race, Urbana, 367-7031

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music

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | NEIL DIAMOND AND THE DARKNESS, TOGETHER AT LAST

Thank you, Chicago, you silly old city MENDOZA MUSIC LINE

BY SETH FEIN | STAFF WRITER

I

used to hate Chicago, damn it. I really did. For whatever reason, it rubbed me the wrong way and like an old man trying to adjust his diapers, I never really got comfortable with it or its dwellers.

Maybe it’s because I was exposed to the north suburbs at an early age and not the city. Perhaps it was because I didn’t feel like I ever really played a great show there. I don’t know what it was, but I didn’t like it.

My penchant for wanderlust has been under arrest lately based on the fact that I haven’t been on tour for over five months. So it was kind of nice to spend the majority of the winter “break” in Chicago. While it certainly wasn’t like heading to either of the coasts, being a townie, it definitely felt like vacation. For all my college years, I felt uncomfortable in the second city, which was merely a result of my insecurities that come along with being from a small, more modest university town like this one. This time, however, I felt safe and happy. I felt like I fit in, just enough so that I didn’t need to ask directions.

I realized something that from now on, I will always remember whenever I am at a good show here in our twin towns, just 100 miles south of I-80: We truly have Chicago to thank for our ability to foster a great music scene here.

And not just because most of our students hail from that area. (Don’t sell yourselves short, now— you guys and gals are a big part of the reason, too.)

Most important, I think, is the fact every single national tour comes through the Windy City. As a result, we have the luxury of getting those same tours on off-days and on special occasions, where a band that is opening for a bigger act has a night off.

I took a look in The Reader each time I was up there and every time, there were shows I would have been delighted to attend. From The Fiery Furnaces and The Unicorns to The Album Leaf and Murder by Death, I could’ve dropped a couple bills simply on cover charges for all the talent that Chicago attracts. But alas, I have little money—and between Christmas, new vinyls and important birthdays, I was resigned to attend only one show on my last night out there.

Joan of Arc played The Empty Bottle on Sunday, Jan. 18 as a “practice” show of sorts to prepare for an upcoming tour and for Tim Kinsella to rekindle his love for live performance. It was a terrific show, aside from the fact Kinsella still insists on whining rather than singing, and because I was armed with a PBR and truly great company at my side. I, for the first time, actually felt like I sorta, kinda fit inside the Chicago music scene.

It might be a sign of things to come for me or perhaps it was just one of those rare occasions when you expect to feel discomfort and end up feeling like you are at home, but I can tell you one thing: I love Chicago. Yes I do. I will scream it from the mountaintops. No longer will I harbor negativity towards the suburbs for merely being a huge blob of “white flight.” And I want to thank it for being so close to my home. I want to put my arms around its cold, cloudy Loop and give it a perpetual squeeze.

Ah, Chicago. Home of my Cubbies and one of the best music scenes in the world. We should always be thankful to have it.

Seth Fein is from Urbana and way too proud of it. He received his degree in creative writing from UIUC and as you can see, academics don’t mean shit. He can be reached at sethfein@readbuzz.com

TopFive

Songs to incite a riot

1.“Anarchy in the UK” The Sex Pistols

Blah, blah, blah, The Sex Pistols didn’t start punk rock, American bands did. Blah, blah, blah, The Sex Pistols were all style and no substance.

Bullshit. This song made parents hide their daughters. It caused politicians to go insane.

It caused a generation of young Brits to hate their parents and their parents’ music. It forced adolescent psychos everywhere to pick up a guitar and play primal, frenzied gorilla rock. What the hell more can you ask for in a rock song?

2.“Street Fighting Man” The Rolling Stones

Well it may be a bar fight song to some, but it is a damn good song for rioting in the streets.The Stones were never a band to take a strong political stance, especially during the tumultuous ‘60s, but this song puts music to “the sound of marching and charging feet.”With the trademark crunchy guitar of the Stones and Charlie Watts laying down the marching beat, this song is perfect for mobilizing a mob in the streets.

3.“Fight the Power” Public Enemy

If ever an album exhibited the depth and range of hip hop, it was Fear of a Black Planet. And if ever a song captured the incendiary, revolutionary power that burns at the heart of hip hop, it was that

album’s anthem “Fight the Power”. Clichéd or not, Chuck D spouts off about the mobilizing power of the jam as the Bomb Squad dishes up a perfect example of it. And it takes the piss the out of 400 years of American history and Bobby McFerrin. Yeah, motherfuck Elvis and John Wayne.

4.“Killing in the Name” Rage Against the Machine

What a great song that addresses many of the hypocrisies our police forces are known for.The repetitive chorus of “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” has probably gone through the minds of several rioting youths since this song’s release in 1993. This is yet another example of the anti-authoritarian sentiment found in many hard rock songs that fuels the fire of angry persons.

5.“Kill the Poor” Dead Kennedys

Some would say the only thing The Dead Kennedys were good for was stinging, ironic indictments of Reagan-era politics, thus making them cultural relics.Then Bush, Jr. got re-elected, and suddenly a song about conservatives killing off the lower classes with a neutron bomb is stinging and ironic again. Plus, these guys knew how to attach their political rhetoric to laser-guided hooks aimed straight at the cerebellum. This song should be taught in school.

Next week: Top five hangover songs What’s yours? e-mail us at music@readbuzz.com

The Hurly-Burly Sifting through the commotion and crap of music culture COMPILED BY LOGAN MOORE

Tommy Stinson, bassist of the highly revered (and rightly so) band The Replacements, has just put the ink down on a record contract with Sanctuary Records. Stinson, recently filling in on bass for the revamped Guns N’ Roses line-up, plans to have his solo debut out sometime in the summer/early fall.

The album, recorded in Frank Black’s Los Angeles studio, features a cast of musicians including A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese, his brother Jason Freese on saxophone, Catholics guitarist Dave Philips, GN’R members Richard Fortus on guitar and Dizzy Reed on keyboards. Expect it to rock.

The lineup for the Alejandro Escovedo tribute album has swelled, making it a virtual who’s who of cutting edge roots rock. All proceeds from the album, tentatively called Por Vida, will go to benefit the celebrated singer-songwriter who recently contracted Hepatitis C and is without proper medical care. Los Lobos, Billy Corgan, John Cale, Calexico, Howe Gelb, Chuck Prophet, Ian Hunter and Jackson Browne have recently signed on to a roster that already included Joe Ely and the Flatlanders, Los Lonely Boys and Jennifer Warnes.

For more information or to contribute, visit www.alejandrofund.com.

In other “alt-country” news, the Old 97’s , on hiatus for quite some time, have signed a new deal with New West Records and are set to release a new album this year. It will be the their first album since 2001’s Satellite Rides released on Elektra Records. In the studio, the band will join Mark Neill, whose credits include work with Los Straitjackets and The Palladins. In the meantime, you can find the lovable power-pop/country band on tour from Jan. 16-25.

What the hell?

Moment of the week British “It” band of the moment The Darkness may co-write a song with, drum roll, please ... Neil Diamond.

Yes, that Neil Diamond. Apparently, lead singer of The Darkness, Justin Hawkins, claimed his allegiance to the composer of “Cherry, Cherry” and “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon” in an interview with a British music rag.

After hearing the news, Diamond apparently contacted The Darkness and proposed they work on a song together, to which the metal gods responded positively. Hey, they did use the title of Neil’s classic 1969 album, Touching You, Touching Me as a crucial line in their current hit “I Believe In A Thing Called Love.”

Expect embarrassingly tight pants.

Expect a song called “Sweet Caroline Sucks On My Love Pump.” Expect the greatest song ever.

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NOTHING BEATS A BAGEL BURGER | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

CDReviews

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1/21/04

M.WARD Transfiguration of Vincent Merge Records

★★★★

BY LOGAN MOORE

Exactly what place does the sensitive singer-songwriter hold in today’s musical landscape? When the idealism of the ’60s is primarily used as a nostalgic vehicle to sell Volkswagens to diaperbound yuppies and the irony of the previous decade’s crop of musical mavens is being chewed up and pissed upon, where in the grand scheme of musical integrity can we place a lone troubadour and his ruminations on the big three: life, love, and death?

The power and quiet brilliance of artists like M. Ward provide us with all the answers we need. The truth, dismaying as it may be to cynical coffee-house hipsters everywhere, is that music that is timeless and universal, music that draws on the past in both execution and sentiment, yet still acknowledges the present and the future, will never go out of style. More often than not, it is the same music our children will be listening to.

M. Ward (true name Matt Ward) has made three albums of such caliber. His career began in the California band Rodriguez before spinning off into a solo career.

After passing a tape around at a Giant Sand concert, frontman Howe Gelb decided to release Ward’s debut on his own Ow Om Records. A follow-up came in 2000, and in 2003, he released his current album Transfiguration of Vincent. M. Ward exhibits a number of different influences, from those of his musical compatriots (Giant Sand, Grandaddy), to those of his sylistic forebears (Tom Waits, John Fahey and Nick Drake), and even further back into the foggy history of America (blues, ragtime and country). Amazingly, Ward deftly manages to make each song his own and also a part of a cohesive song cycle.

By doing so, he underscores another piece in the puzzle of the relevant singer-songwriter: that the sound of an album must stand on its own, free from the tethers of songwriting. A rich sonic palette as well as a willingness and ability to place a characteristic stamp on his or her work has separated the Joni Mitchells from the John Denvers since the inception of this much loved/maligned genre.

The mood of the album is laid out from the beginning as the sound of chirping crickets provides a counterpoint to Ward’s deft acoustic guitar work; a bit of folk, a bit of high, lonesome country and a pinch of Spanish.

The second number on Transfiguration, “Vincent O’Brien,” may most perfectly encapsulate everything M. Ward is about, and is the album’s high point.What begins as a fairly straightforward acoustic number ends up a driving pop-rocker that encompasses everything from ragtime piano to a distorted, electric freakout that wouldn’t sound out of place on Yo La Tengo’s Painful.

“Vincent O’Brien”has everything one could want from a song: a soaring melody and a delicately plucked hook which runs throughout the song and will remain with you for days afterward. It’s breathtaking.

The remainder of the album is no less impressive, encompassing everything from the spare, thumping blues of “Sad, Sad, Song” (co-written with Gelb) and the haunting, ancient ragtime of “Poor Boy, Minor Key,”to the fragile acoustic ballads such as “Dead Man” and “Involuntary.” There is even a brilliant reimagining of David Bowie’s ’80s anthem “Let’s Dance” as a dusty, rustic paean to subtle desperation. Holding all these disparate styles together are Ward’s frighteningly adept acoustic finger-picking, his barrelhouse piano playing and his singular voice which ranges from a less forlorn Nick Drake falsetto to a less intimidating Tom Waits-ian growl.

If our current generation’s assassination of irony means a return to honesty, we can only hope it will produce albums as heartfelt and imaginative as

Transfiguration of Vincent. At times, it is harrowing without being cynical, at others it is exultant without being sentimental or sappy. Throughout, though, it is moving and endlessly engaging, exactly as a singer-songwriter’s work should be.

POSTER CHILDREN No More Songs About Sleep and Fire Hidden Agenda Records

★★★

BY BRIAN MERTZ

The CD jacket might call it No More Songs About Sleep and Fire. Record store employees will clumsily call it the ever-expanding and ever-less descriptive genre of the times—indie rock. Fans will call it an eagerly awaited release. Poster Children themselves call it “album number eight-and-a-half.” I’m just going to call it really good.

One of Champaign’s hardest working and longest lasting bands is back with yet another release called No More Songs About Sleep and Fire (a reference not only to guitarist and lead singer Rick Valentin’s default songwriting topic, but an homage to albums by The Undertones and Talking Heads). And unsurprising for anyone who has heard Poster Children before, No More Songs is a damn good album.

Joined by new drummer Matt Friscia, Valentin, bassist and singer Rose Marshack and guitarist Jim Valentin, Poster Children retain those wisps of new wave, punk and rock while still keeping a grit that is all their own.

But what separates Poster Children from so many other punk influenced bands, and what undoubtedly has earned them fans around the country, is their ability to write edgy songs that invite listeners into the din instead of driving them away.

“Western Springs” has enough of a pop feel in the chorus to make the harshness of the guitars appeal to mainstream and hardcore crowds alike.

But don’t get the wrong idea here. Poster Children haven’t sold out and aren’t looking to ride the last waning waves left by The Strokes explosion.

“Sugarfriend” features guitar lines that are intense and constantly moving. It isn’t easily palatable to the cautious listener, but absolutely delicious for those who like their music to take chances.

Rick stays mostly true to his self-imposed quarantine of talking about sleep or fire. In “The Leader,” he sings through filtered vocal effects, “The leader is watching / You have nothing to fear / If you have nothing to hide.”

He may have been singing about any number of oppressive leaders, but I like to conjure up our evil dictator ... I mean president ... when rocking out to this one.

The 12 songs all clock in around the two minute mark, so if something doesn’t work for the listener (i.e. the common sounding “Different & Special Things”) the next little adventure is just a few more crunchy chords away.

This CD also features enhanced goodies made by the band themselves including DVD-style running commentary and a music video for “Western Springs.”

There is a lot of good stuff to choose from if you are trying to get acquainted with Poster Children. No More Songs can be added to the list. The quartet plans to hit the road again and tour, so be sure to get out to the show and see for yourself all the intensity that these songs will undoubtedly expand on in the live setting.

VARIOUS ARTISTS Cold Mountain Soundtrack Columbia Records

★★★

BY JACOB DITTMER

Cold Mountain is the latest cinematic achievement by long-winded director Anthony Minghella, who has his aim set on this year’s film awards.Many critics are salivating over this film,with a plot loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey. Sound familiar? Did I mention the soundtrack features a wonderful array of traditional folk and Americana music that happens to be produced by T Bone Burnett? You may remember a recent soundtrack Burnett produced: O Brother,Where Art Thou?

That’s right, Burnett has returned to produce what some would call the younger brother of O Brother, Where Art Thou? On this soundtrack, a similar style and sound to O Brother is definitely evident, but it isn’t all knee-slapping, good-time folk songs. Cold Mountain

offers a larger collection of hushed ballads and the content is somewhat dark at times. One thing remains true of Burnett’s producing: He compiles some excellent Americana.

Some familiar names reappear on this soundtrack.

Alison Krauss brings her beautiful voice to the table on a couple of tracks, including the Elvis Costello-penned “The Scarlet Tide.” But not even Krauss’s angelic voice could save the album’s sour apple. “You Will Be My Ain True Love” is the Sting-written atrocity that stinks up the album’s otherwise grassroots sound. The song stinks so badly of Sting, you may soon be hearing it at a Bergner’s store near you.

Some quality musicians from Nashville lend their folk talents to many of the songs, with Dirk Powell on banjo, Stuart Duncan on the fiddle and Norman Blake on the mandolin.

But the most surprising—and probably most talked about—aspect of this soundtrack is the work of Jack White. One would never think the mastermind of the hard rock sound that is the White Stripes would offer his talents to a soundtrack comprised entirely of folk songs.

But the best part is, you don’t even know or care that it’s Jack White. White does a great job of transforming his voice into the folky croon of so many of American music’s forefathers.

The soundtrack opens with the traditional folk song “Wayfaring Stranger,” a song that has been covered by most Nashville artists including Johnny Cash and Trace Adkins. Only this time, it is Jack White and on first listen, most listeners would ask,“Who is this?” The one original White song, “Never Far Away,” stands out as one of the most genuine folk songs on the CD. Take that, Sting.

The CD’s final tracks are reserved for the film’s musical score, which is wonderfully composed but lifeless when clumped together at the end of the CD. There are even a few tracks sung by the Sacred Harp Singers who manage to evoke that choir sound listeners may recall from O Brother.

T Bone Burnett has once again given listeners a wonderful compilation of artists performing quality folk and Americana music. Although it may not enjoy the pop success of O Brother, Cold Mountain stands as a fine sequel to one of the best soundtracks of all time. Kudos to Jack White for making this reviewer a believer in his talents as a musician.

SOUL POSITION 8 Million Stories Rhymesayers

★★★

BY DAN FINNERTY

This MC and DJ combo, who dropped an EP in late 2002 entitled Unlimited, is back with their debut LP. One look at the credits of this album would make most indie hip-hop fans have a wet dream. “Executive Producer: S. Daley” (think Slug of Atmosphere) working with RJD2 (this guy does a beat or remix for almost every worthwhile hip-hop album that comes out these days) and Blueprint (remember his verse and production on Aesop Rock’s “Alchemy” track).

Soul Position played at The Highdive back in November. Blueprint’s on-stage charisma and RJ’s selection of records made for a very live show. Listening to the recorded versions of some of the same tracks I saw live gives me a new appreciation for both artists. After hearing an album worthy of Blueprint’s voice, I’m still not tired of it. He continually changes his tone, cadence and emotion to match the vibe of the track. RJD2 proved he could make great instrumental songs on his album Deadringer. On 8 Million Stories, he shows us that he understands the concept of space, leaving room for the vocals, then shining when Blueprint finishes each verse.

The borrowing of choruses from Company Flow (“Vital Nerve” - ’Auto-matic just for my people’) and KRS-ONE (“Outta Here”) flipping them into a new context are just a couple of the album’s memorable moments. Sampling the movie Office Space describes Blueprint’s frustration in the work force before he quit to do music full time. The last track, “1 Love,” takes me back to the straightforward and personal honesty of Gangstarr’s song “Moment of Truth.” The braggadocious bonus track featuring Jakki of the MHz (RJ’s old crew) reminds me of all of the great mix tapes I’ve heard that include a MHz track.

While 8 Million Stories is solid due to each individual’s contribution, I didn’t hear any magic happening that made the album greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, RJ would make beats just as good with any other MC and Print would sound just as good over someone else’s production. And that is the only reason why this album doesn’t get four stars.

buzz

CHARTS PARASOL RECORDS’ TOP 10 SELLERS 1. Belle and Sebastian - Fans Only (Matador) 2. Camera Obscura - Underachievers Please Try Hard (Merge) 3. The Concretes - The Concretes (Licking Fingers) 4. Moonbabies - The Orange Billboard (Hidden Agenda Records) 5. M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts (Gooom Disques) 6. The Thrills - So Much For The City (Virgin) 7. Ulrich Schnauss - A Strangely Isolated Place (City Centre Offices) 8. Cornelius - 5.1 plus PM (Matador) 9. Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner (XL/Matador) 10. Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? (Alien8)

RECORD SERVICE’S TOP 10 SELLERS 1. Various Artists - Americana Sampler (Vanguard) 2. The Darkness - Permission To Land (Atlantic) 3. Paul Westerberg - Come Feel Me (Vagrant) 4. Guided By Voices - Best of Guided By Voices (Matador) 5. Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (LaFace) 6. Dashboard Confessional - A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar (Vagrant) 7. Westside Connection - Terrorist Threat (Priority Records) 8. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Warner Brothers) 9. Los Lonely Boys - Los Lonely Boys (Or Music) 10. Kate Hathaway - One Two Three

NEW RELEASES The Elected - Me First Big Boi - Big Boi’s Boom Boom Room Incubus - A Crow Left of the Murder...

Microphones - Live in Japan Kenny Chesney - When the Sun Goes Down Harry Connick, Jr. - Only You David Banner - MTA 2: Baptized in Dirty Water Screwed and Chopped The Walkmen - Bows and Arrows The Wannadies - Before & After Dismantled - Post Nuclear Aros - Train Song Pablo Asian - Avantango Dollar Store - Dollar Store The Crumbs - Last Exit Machan - Machan

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Un-listenable

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calendar

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

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Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 355-1406 Spurlock Museum 600 S Gregory, Urbana, 333-2360 The Station Theatre 223 N Broadway, Urbana, 384-4000 Strawberry Fields Cafe 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328-1655 Ten Thousand Villages 105 N Walnut, Champaign, 352-8938 TK Wendl’s 1901 S Highcross Rd, Urbana, 255-5328 Tommy G’s 123 S Mattis Ave, Country Fair Shopping Center, 359-2177 Tonic 619 S Wright, Champaign, 356-6768 Two Main 2 Main, Champaign, 359-3148 University YMCA 1001 S Wright, Champaign, 344-0721 Verde/Verdant 17 E Taylor St, Champaign, 366-3204 Virginia Theatre 203 W Park Ave, Champaign, 356-9053 White Horse Inn 112 1/2 E Green, Champaign, 352-5945 Zorba’s 627 E Green, Champaign

CHICAGOSHOWS JANUARY 1/23 Archer Prewitt @ Schubas 1/23 DJ Luv Bug Starski @ Funky Buddha Lounge 1/23 Neko Case @ Old Town School of Folk Music 1/23 Matthias Heilbronn @ Smart Bar 1/23-24 Marcia Ball Band @ FitzGerald’s 1/23-24 SuperDiamond @ House of Blues, 18+ 1/24 Adam Green @ Schubas, 18+ 1/24 Appleseed Cast @ Metro, 18+ 1/24 Steve Forbert @ Schubas 1/24 Frogs @ Bottom Lounge 1/25 Reigning Sound @ Subterranean 1/25 Ordinary People’s @ Schubas 1/25 April March @ Schubas 1/25 Michael Glabicki @ Durty Nellie’s 1/26 Swell @ Schubas 1/26 Rilo Kiley @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 1/27 Twista @ House of Blues, 18+ 1/27-31 Train @ Schubas 1/28 StarSailor @ Metro, all ages 1/29 Linkin Park @ Allstate Arena 1/29 Gomez @ Vic, all ages 1/30 Lee Rocker @ Subterranean 1/30 Jonny Lang @ Star Plaza 1/30 Huun Huur Tu @ Old Town School of Folk Music 1/30 DJ Hollywood @ Funky Buddha Lounge 1/30 KC & the Sunshine Band @ House of Blues 1/30 Mahjongg @ Empty Bottle 1/30 Alan Jackson, Martina McBride @ Allstate Arena 1/30 Simple Plan, MXPX @ Riviera, all ages 1/31 Natalie MacMaster @ Harris Theater for Music & Dance 1/31 Webb Wilder @ FitzGerald's 1/31 Joan Jett @ Paramount Arts Center 1/31 Neil Aline @ Smart Bar

Brentano String Quartet Points/Counterpoints— the Art of Fugue, Bach and Beyond

Patron Underwriters Judith and Jon Liebman

FEBRUARY 2/3 Crash Test Dummies @ Schubas 2/3 Super Furry Animals @ Metro, 18+ 2/4 Mae @ Metro, all ages 2/5 Kevin Welch & Kieran Kane @ FitzGerald's 2/5 Monolake @ Empty Bottle 2/5 Life of Agony @ House of Blues, all ages 2/6 DJ Red Alert @ Funky Buddha Lounge 2/6 Buckwheat Zydeco @ House of Blues, 18+ 2/7 Insurgent Visions: 10 Years of Bloodshot Art & Music @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/7 Hank Williams III @ Martyrs' 2/7 Immortal Technique @ Abbey Pub, 18+ 2/7 American Motherload @ Metro, 18+ 2/7 Ann-Margret @ Star Plaza 2/7 Amy Rigby @ Schubas 2/8 Cyril Pahinui, Cindy Combs, Dennis Kamakahi @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/10 Scotland Yard Gospel Choir @ Metro, 18+ 2/12 Josh Groban @ Rosemont Theatre 2/13 Cyndi Lauper @ Cadillac Palace 2/13 Kate & Anna McGarrigle @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/13 Mindy Smith @ Schubas 2/14 Pam Tillis & Juice Newton @ the Hemmens 2/14 Him @ Empty Bottle 2/14 Numbers @ Abbey Pub, 18+

{

On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, this quartet links past and present with a program that interweaves movements of Bach’s Art of Fugue with musical reactions from ten living composers: Wynton Marsalis, Sofia Gubaidulina, Chou Wen-chung, Shulamit Ran, Steven Mackey, Nicholas Maw, Charles Wuorinen, Bruce Adolphe, Eric Zivian, and David Horne.

$32 / SC & Stu 31 / UI & Yth 15

Jan25 333.6280

visit KrannertCenter.com

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WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

2/14 John Ondrasik @ Schubas 2/14 Colin Hay @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/18 Sarah Brightman @ Allstate Arena 2/19 Enrique Iglesias @ Arie Crown Theatre 2/20 Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys @ FitzGerald’s 2/20 Habib Koite @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/20 Delbert McClinton @ House of Blues 2/21 Carrie Newcomer @ Schubas 2/21 David Wilcox @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/21 Sergio Mendes @ the Hemmens 2/22 Jake Fairley @ Empty Bottle 2/24 Deep Purple @ Chicago Theatre 2/25 Mary Timony @ Schubas 2/26 Alaska @ Bottom Lounge, 18+ 2/26-27 Gossip @ Bottom Lounge, 2/26 all ages 2/27 Junior Brown @ Subterranean 2/27 Boris Grebenshikov & Aquarium @ Martyr’s 2/27 John Hammond, Jr. @ Old Town School of Folk Music 2/27 Sting @ Rosemont Theatre 2/28 Erykah Badu @ Auditorium Theatre 2/28 Flying Luttenbachers @ Fireside Bowl 2/29 Ellis Marsalis Trio @ Old Town School of Folk Music

Baby Time – Come to the library for a half-hour of lap-bouncing, nursery rhymes, music activities and play time for your infants. Douglass Branch Library, Meeting Room. Thu 10:30-11am.

Schubas 3159 N Southport, Chicago, (773) 525-2508 Martyrs 3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 288-4545 Aragon 1106 W Lawerence, Chicago, (773) 561-9500 Abbey Pub 3420 W Grace, Chicago, (773) 478-4408 Fireside Bowl 2646 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, (773) 486-2700 Schubert Theatre 22 W Monroe, Chicago, (312) 977-1700

CHICAGOVENUES

House of Blues 329 N Dearborn, Chicago, (312) 923-2000 The Bottom Lounge 3206 N Wilton, Chicago, (773) 975-0505 Congress Theatre 2135 N Milwaukee, (312) 923-2000 Vic Theatre 3145 N Sheffield, Chicago, (773) 472-0449 Metro 3730 N Clark St, Chicago, (773) 549-0203 Elbo Room 2871 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, (773) 549-5549 Park West 322 W Armitage, Chicago, (773) 929-1322 Riviera Theatre 4746 N Racine at Lawrence, Chicago Allstate Arena 6920 N Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, (847) 635-6601 Arie Crown Theatre 2300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, (312) 791-6000 UIC Pavilion 1150 W Harrison, Chicago, (312) 413-5700

Family Fun Day Sunday in the Square – Every Sunday through Mar 27, enjoy interactive rides, including Bounce Houses, Screamer Slides and the Kid Wizard. There will also be food, shopping, games, miniature golf and more. Lincoln Square Mall. Sun 1-5pm. Call the Urbana Business Association at 344-3872 with any questions.

KIDS & FAMILY Talkin About Careers – Kids of all ages are invited to learn what it is like to work in various jobs at this free monthly program. Joan Walls from the Champaign Police Department will be the guest speaker for this session. Douglass Branch Library.

Thu 6:30-7:45pm. Free.

Teen Scene – After-school activities for teens. No registration. Douglass Branch Library. Mon 4-5pm.

For more information, call 403-2090.

T.A.C.K. – The library’s Thursday Arts and Crafts for Kids program welcomes children to come make a craft. Douglass Branch Library, Conference Room.

Thu 4-5pm.

Preschool Museum – Children can learn from museum educators and library staff about animals, history, art and more. The last in a series of four weekly programs. Champaign Public Library, Multipurpose Room. Tue 10-10:45am. To register, call 403-2030.

“Voted C-U’s Best Mexican Restaurant” Dine In–Carry Out • Nachos, Quesadillas, Burritos..

• Chimichangas, Enchiladas, Flautas • Kids Menu • And Much More...

Especialidades • Chicken and Beef from the Grill • 25 Combinations to choose from • Margaritas, Coladas, Beer, Wine...

217/351.6879 1407 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign Hours: Mon-Thur 11am - 10pm Fri 11am -10:30pm Sat 11:30am -10:30pm Sun 11:30am - 10pm

Know Zone – Students can get help with their homework at the library throughout the month of January. Douglass Branch LIbrary, Conference Room. Tue 4-5pm. For more information, call 4032090.

Storyshop – A story and activity concert held twice each Wednesday. Parents with their children, daycare groups and elementary school classes are welcome. Main Library, auditiorium. Wed 9:3010am (Storyshop 1), 10:30-11am (Storyshop 2).

Douglass Branch Library. Wed 10:30-11am.

this week Th Jan 22 Wine Tasting 5pm, LOB, free Moscow Festival Ballet: Cinderella 7pm, TFT, $20-$38 Sponsors: Charlotte Chilton Janet and Ralph Simmons

Vinx: Drum Circle 5:30pm, LOB, free William Heiles, piano 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

Exp. 2/4/04

OFF

On $20 purchase Valid only with coupon. Not valid with any other offer.

2

$

Babies’ Lap Time – Babies and their parent(s) or caregiver(s) are invited to Phillips Recreation Center for Babies' Lap Time Tue 10-10:30am, presented by The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department. This program of songs, stories and rhymes is for our youngest patrons, ages 6 to 24 months with an adult. No registration is required.

For more information, call 367-4069.

Ten Star All-Star Basketball Camp – Applications are now being evaluated for the camp. Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible. Players from 50 states and 11 countries attended the 2003 Camp. College basketball scholarships are possible for players selected to the All-American team. Camp locations include: Hickory, NC; Thousand Oaks, CA; Sterling, CO; Babson Park, FL; Atlanta, GA; Champaign, IL; Greencastle, IN; Atchison, KS; Baltimore, MD; Ysilanti, MI; Hamilton, NY; Bluffton, OH; Lock Haven, PA; Lebanon, TN; Commerce, TX; Blacksburg, VA; Poultney, VT; Olympia, WA and Beloit, WI. For a free brochure, call (704) 373-0873, available 24 hours.

krannert center

Sa Jan 24

We Jan 28

Elliot Chasanov, alto and tenor trombones 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

Timothy Ehlen, piano 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

Vinx 7:30pm, Masonic Lone Star Lodge 18, free

Su Jan 25

Th Jan 29 Wine Tasting 5pm, LOB, free Pacifica Quartet 7:30pm, FGH, $10-$18

OFF

On $10 purchase Valid only with coupon. Not valid with any other offer.

Brentano String Quartet: Points/Counterpoints— the Art of Fugue, Bach and Beyond 7:30pm, FGH, $13-$32 Talkback: after the show, free Sponsors: Judith and Jon Liebman Some Krannert Center programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and patron and corporate contributions.

Exp. 2/4/04

5

$

@

Funfare – Preschool groups are invited to come to The Phillips Recreation Center for Funfare on Thursday, February 5, 9:45-10:15am, for stories, songs, puppets and films, presented by The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department. Please register with the Children's Department in advance at 367-4069. For more information, call 367-4069.

Brentano Quartet Prelude 6:30pm, Krannert Room, free

Fr Jan 23

Season Sponsors Coporate Season Underwriters

Patron Season Sponsors

CAROLE AND JERRY RINGER

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KrannertCenter.com 217/333-6280 or 800/KCPATIX 217/333-9714 (TTY) 217/244-SHOW (Fax) 217/244-0549 (Groups) kran-tix@uiuc.edu Ticket Office Open 10am to 6pm daily; on days of performances open 10am through intermission.

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music

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | NOTHING’S FINER THAN BEING IN YOUR DINER

New music for the new year

Some of C-U’s local bands release new albums to kick off the new year

BY BRIAN MERTZ | STAFF WRITER When you’re hot, you’re hot—and right now, Champaign’s music scene is hot. In 2003, local bands released more than 40 albums. The ball keeps rolling in 2004 with even more local releases. Here is a look at four local albums coming out in the next few months.

Solips

Life Will Leave Its Mark On You Independent release Release date: Jan. 24

The Solips

If you’re dying for new local music, you only have to wait two days until Solips celebrate the release of their new album, Life Will Leave Its Mark On You, at Nargile Saturday.

Founding member Luke Hensleigh explains that even though Solips have been around since 2000, the lineup changes have essentially created a new band.

“The two new members (bassist Michael McKenzie and drummer Josh Birky) are totally dedicated to the vision that we want to do and now we finally have the people (to) do it,” Hensleigh said.

Hensleigh describes Solips’ sound as “power pop with a focus on thoughtful lyrics.” But even fans of Solips are in for some surprises on Life Will Leave Its Mark On You. “There are a couple of tracks that we have never played live on purpose. We wanted people to have something new on this album,” Hensleigh said.

Production and mixing of the album was handled entirely by Matt Talbott at Great Western Record Recorders. Juggling schedules made the recording process last two to three weeks, but that doesn’t mean endless takes in the studio.

“We recorded everything on the album in one or two takes,” Hensleigh said. “We wanted to capture our sound on our true first full-length.

We wanted it to be like what we sound like live and Matt had the same vision for recording.”

One of Hensleigh’s favorite tracks on the album is “Water Erosion.”

“It really embodies what we are trying to sound like,” Hensleigh said. “The chorus is dominated by the lead guitar with these brilliant melodies that are a little jangly.”

Come check it out for yourself as Solips play with The Danger this Saturday at Nargile.

The Pitch

The Anger Swallow (tentative) Independent release Release date: March 1 (tentative) Putting out their debut album has been a long and arduous trip for The Pitch. The whole process started back in May 2003 when the band, on their own, recorded drums, then the other instruments of this rock quintet, and finally the vocals of lead singer Ryan Lee. In addition, they created artwork and sent the recordings out to be produced by a Grammywinning producer in Nashville, Tenn.

“After doing the recording, the mixes and the artwork, it has taken seven months and put our band through the ringer,” Lee said.

“The stress of it all has been the low point for the band.”

But have no fear, Pitch fans, the new album will be coming soon with eight tracks that span 40 minutes of music. In addition, the CD will be enhanced with interactive material, bios, video clips and some bloopers of the band. Plus, a lot of the material will capitalize on The Pitch’s ability to make complex but accessible music.

“There are one or two tracks on the album that we don’t play live very much,” Lee said.

“Also our philosophy was different. When we play live, I try to be more energetic with my singing and the music just tends to be heavier.

When we’re making an album for people to listen to, we can use space and silence as part of our art.”

Ryan Lee of The Pitch

The Pitch makes good use of eclectic sounds, tons of energy and complex musicality.

“Our philosophy is to write choruses that everyone will remember but appeal to the people that write music,” Lee said. “We do that through the elements of harmony, different time signatures and odd tunings.”

Some of the goodies that aren’t usually performed live include an acoustic song called “Far As We Could Go” and three-part harmonies featuring drummer Cory Anderson and guitarist Eric Lawrence.

“(When) recording, you have a lot more clarity in the songs. Some people complain that if you record stuff you can’t do live (then you’re cheating), but I don’t think it is cheating. You are just adding parts.”

There may have been a mountain of little parts to put together for this release, but expect big things from The Pitch once their album hits the streets in March.

Poster Children

No More Songs About Sleep and Fire Hidden Agenda Records Release Date: Jan. 27

Poster Children

For those of you who haven’t heard of Poster Children, know that this isn’t their first, second or even third release. No, this is Poster Children’s ninth release, and this time, they have acquired drummer Matt Friscia. Guitarist and singer Rick Valentin has been with Poster Children for the whole ride.

“Any time there is a change in the band’s lineup, the music changes because the band dynamic changes,” Valentin said. “Our previous drummer had been with us for seven years, so when we started playing with Matt, we were shaken out of musical habits we had gotten comfortable with. We were rejuvenated. In a way, (bassist) Rose (Marshack) and I have been in nine different bands over the past 16 years. They all just happen to have been named Poster Children.”

Valentin described the Poster Children sound as “indie rock from 1975 to 1990 stuffed into a blender and filtered through our Midwestern classic rock upbringing.”

It is the unpredictability and inability to pigeonhole Poster Children that has drawn fans from around the country to this Champaign band. Those fans should also expect the unexpected from a Poster Children album.

“I don’t know if there are any big surprises for Poster Children fans,” Valentin said.

“Our records tend to be intentionally inconsistent. We try to make albums that have at least one song you absolutely love and at least one song that you absolutely hate, and those songs are completely different from the ones your friend loves and hates.”

No More Songs is also an interactive CD featuring extra goodies like audio commentaries and a video for the song “Western Springs.”

Bent-Til-Broken Album currently untitled Independent release Release date: late March

Bent-Til-Broken released a four track EP last year called Reverse Blow Show. The plan was to have a full-length album ready by February of 2004. That was before drummer Jason Ford fell through the floor of a building he was working on at his day job as a carpenter. The accident was serious enough to break a multitude of bones in Ford’s body and keep him from walking for seven weeks.

Ford is back on his feet now and the band is slowly starting to put together new material for a yet-to-be-named album. Ford was the latest addition to the band, and lead singer Nick Sanchez expects this new lineup will create different material than what was heard on Reverse Blow Show.

“The mood is going to be different than the songs on the EP because they (the EP’s songs) were all written two to three years ago,” Sanchez said. “This time around the basic tempo is going to be faster. There are more time switches and a bit more crunch.”

The Bent-Til-Broken sound will still lean towards hard rock.

Bent-Til-Broken

“We write melodic stuff, but it is also (the) straight ahead heavy rock side that people enjoy,” Sanchez said. “We don’t put a lot of bells and whistles into the songs.”

Sanchez expects the full-length album to have no less than 10 tracks. Bent-Til-Broken plans to work with Matt Talbott at Great Western Record Recorders and Mark Rubel at Pogo Studios.

The band will not book any shows until the CD is actually finished. At the CD release party, Sanchez expects to only play new stuff.

“We’re excited to see what our fans’ reactions will be to the new material,” Sanchez said.

Expect a full recovery for Ford, a hard-rocking new album and a tour in support of the new stuff in the new year. buzz Photos provided by band Web sites.

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arts

FINGERS DO NOT GO IN THERE | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

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ARTIST CORNER

How early did you begin painting, and how would you characterize your work’s evolution?

I came to U of I in ‘89 for textile design. My professor at the time, Jenny Southlynn, inspired me to go into painting. So I really didn’t start painting until I was 18. That’s when I started, and I haven’t stopped since. There’s a

Adventure continued from Page 7

The lifelines are the biggest ones. Those are critical from veins to the heart, anything that carries blood. The stem of the rose. Text: I don’t plan it out, but as I’m working, it’s an important part of the image-making, though I don’t consider myself an abstract artist.

Explain your juxtaposition of the “cliche”with “the less obvious”in your work.

For instance, in Twincake, you have these Barbie images with the color pink next to some more sophisticated imagery. That’s what interests me: when someone sees a tangible image and it draws them in because it’s something they recognize, and it causes them to look at it longer.

Who and what have been central influences for you as an artist?

My first professor. Georgia O’Keefe. Frida Kahlo. I went through a feminist phase. I was very influenced by feminism when I was

younger. I still deal with feminism, though much more calmly. I think I’m really influenced by local artists, too. I like to see what other people are doing.

How do art and teaching come together for you?

For me, it’s that being an artist can be really consuming in a selfish manner.

Teaching has been a wonderful outlet for me to the world, seeing that spark of independent thought. I’m thankful that I took this step.

Nasturium, and whether or not her sweet elf would greet her with flowers this day. As more blissful remembrances of his enchanting presence crept into her mind, Sas’s thoughts were interrupted by a most disturbing sight.

This painting was created by Marque Terrynamahr Strickland.

Girl Scouts Workshops – The William M. Staerkel Planetarium will offer several sessions this spring for Scouts working on merit badges. Girl Scouts can get help with their "Sky Search" badges by attending one of two workshops taught in the planetarium dome on April 6 or April 15 from 78:30pm. The cost is $4 per scout, including materials. Must pre-register.

"Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" – For adults who have always wanted to learn to draw, but felt as if they lacked talent or confidence.

“Making Monoprints,”“Art With Intention” – open studio. For information, visit www.spiritofsandra.com and click on "classes," then e-mail or call for reservations.

Boy Scouts Seminars – Boy Scouts may attend one of three Astronomy Merit Badge seminars held from 7-9pm. on May 5, 13 or 18 at William M. Staerkel Planetarium. The cost is $5 per Scout. You must preregister to attend any of these workshops. Bring a red flashlight.

ART EXHIBITS & GALLERIES Boneyard Pottery – Ceramic Art by Michael Schwegmann and more. 403 Water St, Champaign.

Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 355-5610.

Write On! – Bring your pencils and imagination for an adventure in creative writing with librarian Elaine Bearden during this session at The Urbana Free Library, Tue, Feb 10, 4-5pm. Registration for third-graders and up begins now. For more information, call 367-4069.

Broken Oak Gallery – Local and national artists.

Original art including photography, watercolors, pottery, oil paintings, colored pencil, woodturning and more. Refreshments served by the garden all day Saturday. 1865 N 1225 E Rd, White Heath. ThuSat 10am-4pm. 762-4907.

“Maroonapalooza” – The Central High School Band Boosters are organizing a fund-raising event that will showcase student bands. So far, you will be able to hear 10 student bands at the event, which takes place Feb 22, 12-6pm.

ART NOTICES

What are some examples of entries from your “visual dictionary?”

Beneath her, in a large crevice of the mountain, was a girl cornered by loathsome creatures, who appeared to be bent on relieving the young woman of her virtue. Sas recognized the beasts as Piglin, Asfart, Smulp, Huss and an elementary goblin wizard named Orko.

Piglin was a fat glob of sweaty flesh with pale, pimply skin and a boar’s face. He stood on two legs and went about naked most of the time. Smulp was equally repugnant, only skinny, fully clothed and with a better complexion. Huss was a large green ogre with a hairy back and chest. Asfart, however, was probably the most vile of all, as he came from a group of trolls called the Stynks. These creatures constantly smelled of bodily waste, as they live on a diet of their very own feces!

Sas noted that Orko stood alone in a corner, enjoying the deeds that were about to take place.

Swelling with fury, she swooped down, complete-

ly forgetting that she had to meet Nasturium.

“DON’T TAKE ONE MORE STEP TOWARD HER!” Sas roared as she landed, blocking the path to the frightened girl. Her tail whipped viciously about, and long, sharp claws erupted from her fingertips. The others were immediately taken with fear, as Sas had dealt with them before.

“Jus’ tryin’ ta show da lady a good time …

As ya can see, she wants to be here!” Huss, the ogre, said with a lying gulp.

Sas snapped at them as she looked over her shoulder, observing the shivering girl.

“Hmm ... As if the five of you have an aura that’s so obviously alluring! Orko, the goblin wizard with the most rudimentary spells the magic world has ever seen. Surely you could charm the garments off a woman! Smulp and Huss, pathetic as can be—you’re only here on order from a novice wizard! Piglin—a sweaty, fat-ass with a prize-winning, oneinch killer betwixt his thighs! And the mighty Asfart, who has a body and breath that smell like shit pot pie! Yes, I’m positive that the young lady is here, because you all are the very essence of what women find attractive!” Sas retorted with violent sarcasm, ready to attack.

On order from Orko, the murderous fight began. buzz To be continued …

calendar

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

FUND-RAISING

What themes do you explore in your work?

Love and loss. Isolation. Between those things, I’m really sure what they’re saying, and then someone will say there’s certain images I’m drawn to, not just the colors.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARQUE TERRYNAMAHR STRICKLAND

While soaring over Buru mountain, Sas daydreamed about the devilishly handsome

group of symbols that have followed me over the last several years.

Right now, I’m trying to become better at rendering through oil painting.

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

hannon Batman is a local artist as well as a full-time art instructor at Centennial High School in Champaign.

She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Illinois in 1991 and went back to get her master’s degree in art education in 1997. Her work with oil paint and collage often explores various layers interacting with each other to lay recognizable icons within new contexts. The results are pieces of pop art with abstract and/or surrealist overtones. She has work currently displayed at Cafe Kopi in Champaign, as well as at Caro Mio restaurant in Chicago.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANNON BAT-

S

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Portraits – Award-winning portrait artist Sandra Ahten is currently accepting commissions for portraits for holiday giving. Portraits are priced at an affordable range and professional exchange or barter may be accepted. For examples of work and a quote, contact Sandra Ahten at 367-6345 or spiritofsandra@hotmail.com.

Join Artists and Workshops at Gallery Virtu – Gallery Virtu, an artist-owned cooperative, now invites applications from area artists. The gallery also offers workshops for adults, teens and children in knitting, embroidery, photography, jewelry making, printmaking, papermaking, bookbinding and ribbon flowers. Gallery Virtu offers original works by the members including: jewelry, pottery, collages, sculptures, journals, hats, handbags and other textiles. For more information, call 762-7790, visit www.galleryvirtu.org, e-mail workshops@galleryvirtu.org or visit the gallery.

Regular hours: Thu 12-4pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 10am6pm. 220 W Washington Street, Monticello.

Art Classes at High Cross Studio – All classes are held at High Cross Studio in Urbana. 1101 N High Cross Road. E-mail or call for reservations and details, 367-6345 or spiritofsandra@hotmail.com.

“Portrait Paintings with Oils” – This course will provide instruction in painting portraits from photographs. Paint a portrait of your loved one or yourself. Mon-Fri daytime class and weekend workshop offered.

"Collage for the Soul" – Students will learn a variety of collage techniques, including photo and photocopy transfer, papermaking and manipulation and frontage, while exploring a particular subject, such as a place, a memory, an experience or a relationship. No experience necessary.

GUITAR LESSONS Individual or Group

all styles and all levels

Good, clean fun!

Guitar Shop 344-7940

Cafe Kopi – Work from local artist Shannon Batman on display through Jan. Artist statement:“Collage technique layered with oil painting is the process that I have been attempting to master for several years. This medium allows tangible images to communicate while the color fields and symbolic imagery speaks to areas of intuition and emotion.”

109 N Walnut, Champaign. Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 11am-8pm. 359-4266.

Creation Art Studios – Featuring original art by students and members of the studio. 1102 E Washington St, Urbana. Mon-Fri 3-5:30pm, Sat 14pm and other scheduled studio times. For more information, call Jeannine Bestoso at 344-6955.

Country in the City – Antiques, architectural, gardening, home accessories. Custom designing available. 1104 E Washington St, Urbana. Thu-Sat 10am5pm 367-2367.

Framer's Market – Frame designers since 1981.

Ongoing work from local artists on display. 807 W Springfield Ave, Champaign. Tue-Fri 9:30am5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 351-7020.

Furniture Lounge – Specializing in mid-century modern furniture from the 1920s-1980s, retro, Danish modern, lighting, vintage stereo equipment and vinyl records. 9 E University, Champaign.

352-5150. Sun-Mon 12-4:30pm, Wed-Sat 11am5:30pm.

Glass FX – New and antique stained glass windows, lamps and unique glass gifts. Gallery is free and open to the public. Interested in learning the art of stained glass? Beginning, intermediate and advanced stained glass Classes offered. 202 S First St, Champaign. Mon-Thu 10am-5:30pm, Fri 10am5pm, Sat 9am-4pm. 359-0048. www.glassfx.com.

Griggs Street Potters – Handmade functional and decorative pottery. 305 W Grigg St, Urbana. MonFri 11am-4pm, or call for appointment. 344-8546.

Gallery Virtu Cooperative – Original works by the nine artist-owners: jewelry, pottery, paintings, collages, hats and other textiles, sculptures and journals. The gallery also offers workshops. 220 W Washington St, Monticello. 762-7790. Thur 12-4pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm. galleryvirtu.org.

Hill Street Gallery Inc. – Oil and watercolor paintings, hand painted T-shirts, handmade jewelry. 703 W Hill, Champaign. Sat 12-5pm or by appointment during the week. 359-0675.

Larry Kanfer Gallery – Personalized gift certificates for Valentines. Unique University of Illinois images.

New, original limited and open edition photographs by Larry Kanfer, nationally acclaimed photographer. 2503 S Neil, Champaign. Free and Open to the Public. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 398-2000. www.kanfer.com.

LaPayne Photography – Specializes in panoramic photography up to 6 feet long of different subjects including sporting events, city skylines, national parks and University of Illinois scenes. 816 Dennison Dr, Champaign. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and by appointment. 356-8994.

Old Vic Art Gallery – Fine and original art, hand signed limited edition prints, works by local artists, art restoration, custom framing and periodic shows by local artists. 11 E University, Champaign.

Mon-Thu 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am-4:30pm. 3558338.

Steeple Gallery – Vintage botanical and bird prints, antiques, framed limited edition prints. 102 E Lafayette St, Monticello. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 762-2924. www.steeplegallery.com.

Verde Gallery – Showing in main gallery: Sculptures In Wood by Joe Gower. In café and halls: paintings

by Jess Byler. In the newsroom: New works by Toni Putnam and sculptures by Jim Zimmerman. 17 E Taylor St, Champaign. Cafe hours: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm; Gallery Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

Ziemer Gallery – Original paintings and limited edition prints by Larry Ziemer. Pottery, weavings, wood turning and glass works by other artists.

Gallery visitors are welcome to sit, relax, listen to the music and just enjoy being surrounded by art.

210 W Washington, Monticello. Tue 10am-8pm, Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 762-9786. www.ziemergallery.com.

ART EXHIBITS – ON VIEW NOW “Picturing Performance: Japanese Theater Prints of the Utagawa School, 1790–1868” – The focus of artistic production in 18th and 19th century Japan (Edo period) was the world of entertainment. This exhibit captures and celebrates a variety of views of this world of illusion and fantasy (Ukiyo) through richly-colored and compositionally provocative woodblock prints know as Ukiyo-e.

In the 19th century, Ukiyo-e prints provided Japanese theatergoers with pictures of their favorite actors. At the same time, Japanese woodblock print technology grew to be so efficient that these prints could be mass-produced. The prints in this exhibition give visitors a glimpse of Japanese art, dress and culture that flourished over 150 years ago. The exhibition is curated by Ronald Toby and is on view through March 21. Opening reception is Fri, Jan 23, 5-7pm at the Krannert Art Museum. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860.

Suggested Donation: $3.

YOGA

FOR MEN

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Bon Coiffure: Hair Signs from West Africa – Sculpture from the permanent collection of African art and a private collection of hairdressing signs from Benin and Togo dating from the 1970s to the 1990s. In sub-Saharan Africa, la coiffure, or “hairdressing,” is both an art and a vocation. Even the earliest European explorers were struck by the complexity and diversity of African hairstyles.

African hair designs, both aesthetic and symbolic, proclaim many things, such as ethnic origin, gender, religious or political affiliation, social status or even the profession of the wearer. Hairdressers commission artists to hand-paint signs to advertise their skills and represent their repertoire of coiffures. This exhibition offers viewers a fascinating glimpse into three different art forms: the art of African hair styling, of hair sign painting and the depiction of elaborate hairstyles in traditional masks and sculpture. Bon Coiffure is on view through March 21 and is curated by Dana Rush.

Opening reception is Fri, Jan 23, 5-7pm at the Krannert Art Museum. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 3331860. Suggested Donation: $3.

“Beyond East and West: Seven Transnational Artists” – Throughout history, various cultures have been lumped together into the broad categories “East” and “West” in order to distinguish an “us” from a “them,” according to art historian David O’Brien. This habit continues today, he says,“but at the expense of cross-cultural understanding, and despite the fact that the lives of many people now cross the East/West divide.” The Krannert Museum has put together a traveling exhibition bringing together the work of seven major contemporary artists who share a connection to both worlds are now traversing boundaries, dismantling stereotypes and seeking to broaden perceptions on both sides of the global divide. Opening reception is Fri, Jan 23, 5-7pm at the Krannert Art Museum.

500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested Donation: $3.

“Verde Retrospective: New Works by Old Friends” – New show featuring new work from featured gallery artists of the past year on display at Verde Gallery through Feb 7. 17 E Taylor St, Champaign.

Cafe hours: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm; gallery hours: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

“One Place After Another” – The Illini Union Art Gallery presents this non-traditional 3-D show through Feb 4. 1401 W Green, Urbana. Open every day 7am-10pm.

Creation Art Studios – Artwork by instructors Jeannine Bestoso, Amy Richardson and Shoshanna Bauer, along with art by family and friends of the studio on display at Creation Art Studio. 1102 E Washington St, Urbana. Hours: Mon-Fri 3-5:30pm, Sat 1-4pm and other scheduled studio times. For more information, call Jeannine Bestoso at 3446955. 1102 E Washington St, Urbana.

“Digital Dabblings” – An eclectic selection of digitally processed photographs by John Sfondilias on display at Aroma Café through Jan 31. Subjects include the University’s South Farm and Quad as well as locations as far away as Greece and Turkey.

118 N. Neil, Champaign. Open 7 days a week, 7amMidnight. For information contact Amanda Bickle.

356-3200. art4aroma@yahoo.com.

12 week spring session starts February 4th.

Wednesdays Noon–1:30 pm

An introductory class with emphasis on creating flexibility, maintaining fitness for sports, reducing fatigue and for prostate health.

Register at first class

YOGA Institute of Champaign-Urbana 407 W. Springfield, Urbana 344-YOGA (9642) www.yoga-cu.com

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“Ethereal Organics” – Photographs from Jim Hultquist on display at Café Aroma through Jan. Hultquist:“A project in the study of light interacting with natural forms.” 118 N Neil, Champaign.

Open 7 days a week, 7am-midnight. For information, contact Amanda Bickle. 356-3200. art4aroma@yahoo.com.

“Whistler and Japonisme: Selections from the Permanent Collection” – Marking the 100th anniversary of James McNeill Whistler’s death, this exhibition highlights his works on paper and examines the influence that Japanese woodcuts had on his artistic technique. On display at the Krannert Art Museum through March 28. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Sug Donation: $3.

“Continuum” – Presented as part of the Springer Cultural Center Art Exhibition Series, visit this month's exhibit of contemporary artwork by local and regional artists. This month's featured artists are Brenda Beck, Barbara McDonnell and Linda Tudor. Springer Cultural Center, Jan 28-Feb 22. For more information, call 398-2376. All are invited to an opening reception Jan 30 from 6-8pm. That night, from 6-7 we will have live music by M.J. Walker, followed by an artists' talk at 7. Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm and Sun 12-5pm.

UPCOMING EVENTS Super Bowl Extravaganza at Staerkel Planetarium – Area football fans can watch the biggest football game of the year on the city's largest screen and enjoy snacks with friends beforehand. The William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College, Pepsi-Cola, Papa John's Pizza, and Mix 94.5 FM will host the next Super Bowl Extravaganza on Sun, Feb 1 beginning at 4pm. A donation of $15 per seat will cover the game and refreshments and supports the educational programming offered by the planetarium. Tickets may be purchased in advance by visiting the Staerkel Planetarium from 8am-5pm Mon-Fri or during public show hours on Friday and Saturday evenings. For more information, call 351-2567.

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

Academic Challenge – Parkland College will host the regional competition for Academic Challenge.

Teams from eight area high schools will be tested in math, English, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering graphics and computer science. Parkland College gym. Feb 13, 9am-2pm.

Wine Tasting – Krannert Center teams up with Sun Singer Wine & Gifts, Ltd. to host wine tastings at the Interlude bar at 5pm on Thursday evenings.

Each week, two or three wines are introduced for tasting. During this time, there will be free wine tasting and $3.50 glasses of wine. The featured wines will be available throughout the week for patron sale at regular price when Interlude is open for performances. Come relax and enjoy a combination experience of great-tasting wine and a wonderful performance. Krannert Center lobby.

Thur, 5pm, free.

WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS A Political and Geographical History of Champaign – Explore area history with one of Champaign County's most notable historians, former Champaign Mayor Dannel McCollum, assisted

by Champaign County Historical Museum Director Paul Idleman. The class will cover county history from the distant past through the 20th century.

Feb 5-26. Registration deadline: Jan 29. Champaign County Historical Museum, Thur 7-8:30pm. Course fee $33. For more information, call 403-4590.

Interior Design: Doing a Lot with What You've Got – This Parkland course encourages participants to bring their design problems along to this lighthearted explanation of "What is interior design?" and "How can I do a lot with what I've got?"

Innovative ideas about ways to make a simple improvement or a complete makeover will be discussed. Questions and problems will guide the discussions in class. The class meets Thursdays 7-9pm in room D146 on the Parkland campus.

Registration deadline is Jan 29. Registration fee is $37. The class runs Feb 5-26. For more information, call 403-4590.

Fiction Writers Workshop – Learn the elements of good fiction, such as characterization techniques, character development, dialogue, setting the scene, plot development and point of view.

Students will read aloud and critique each other's work in class. By the end of the course, students will write one complete short story or novel chapter. Classes will meet Wed 5:30-7:30 pm. at the Parkland College Bauman Center in Champaign.

Registration deadline is Jan 28 and fee is $91. The class runs Feb 4-April 14. For more information, call 403-4590.

Beginner, Beginner Computers – Designed for those who have never touched a computer, this hands-on class will start with the very basics: how to turn a computer on, what it is and what it does.

There will also be a discussion of what to look for when buying a computer. Classes will meet Mon 68 pm at the Illinois Employment and Training Center in Champaign. Registration deadline is Jan 26 and fee is $41. The class runs Feb 2-16. For more information, call 403-4590.

Falun Dafa Teaching Workshop – Falun Gong is an advanced meditation exercise that improves health, reduces stress and increases energy. The practice involves slow, gentle movements of the body, while it teaches the principles of truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance. Similar to other popular Oriental practices, Falun Gong is easy to learn, enjoyable to do and enhances practitioners spiritually, mentally and physically. Springer Cultural Center. Jan 31, Feb 7 & 14. 10:30-11:30am.

Fee $5. For more information, call 398-2376.

Home Buyer's Seminar – Learn important steps in the home-buying process including pre-qualification, inspection and closing. Classes will meet Thur 7-9:30pm at the Parkland Business Development Center. Feb 5 & 12. The course fee is $20 for individuals or same-household couples and includes a workbook. To register or for more information, call 351-2235.

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DISC Customer Service Personal Profile – Participants will be able to increase customer satisfaction and service, build productive teams and ease frustration and conflict within their organizations by identifying customers' primary dimensions of behavior and their preferred approach to communication and problem-solving. The class will meet Wed 8:30am-12:30pm at the Parkland Business Development Center. Feb 4. The course fee is $110. to register or for more information, call 351-2235.

The Leader in Each of Us – Learn what defines leadership behaviors common to each individual in an organization and five strategies to increase job effectiveness. Class meets Thur 8:30am12:30pm at the Parkland Business Development Center. Feb 5. The course fee is $99. To register, call 351-2235.

“Evolution: The Myths and the Realities” – A noncredit workshop offered by Parkland biology instructor Mary Severinghaus. The workshop will explore misconceptions about biological evolution. March 16 and 18 from 6:30-8pm. To register, visit www.parkland.edu/parklandconnection. For more information, contact Dave Leake at 351-2567 or Karen Tillman at 351-2285.

Weather Workshops – WILL meteorologist and Parkland Earth science instructor Ed Kieser will offer two workshops in February. First, Kieser will discuss the challenges of forecasting in central Illinois and the different types of weather we experience in "Central Illinois Weather," offered Sat, Feb 7, 9am-3pm. On Feb 14, Kieser will present "Severe Storms," a workshop focusing on tornadoes, downbursts, derechos, hail and lightning, as well as storm prediction and storm safety. Both workshops include a tour of WILL's meteorology center and studio. The cost is $29 per person for each session.

NECK PAIN RELIEF

What to look for . . .

1. Person is unconscious or semi-conscious and cannot be awakened.

2. Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin.

3. Slow or irregular breathing: less than eight times per minute or ten seconds or more between breaths.

4. Vomiting while “sleeping” or passed out, and not waking up after vomiting.

What to do . . .

1. Call 911 for emergency assistance. If living in a residence hall, contact a staff member.

2. Take action – how can your friend be angry about you caring for him or her? Better safe than sorry.

3. Do not leave the person alone. Turn them on their side to prevent choking in case of vomiting.

FREE EXAM & X-RAY (IF NEEDED) NEW PATIENTS ONLY

Without Drugs... chiropractic health care honors the body’s ability to heal itself, naturally!

If you are suffering from reoccuring neck pain, please call for an appointment!

COVERED BY STUDENT INSURANCE

CALL 352-9899

(24 Hr. Answering Service)

If a person has any of these symptoms, he or she likely is suffering from acute alcohol poisoning.

If you have questions, please call the ALCOHOL & OTHER DRUG OFFICE AT 333-7557.

SNELL CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC 1802 Woodfield Dr., Savoy 2 Blocks North of Savoy 16

Dr. Joseph Snell...

Your First Choice In Health Care!

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JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | THERE’S A CHANCE WE CAN MAKE IT NOW, WE’LL BE DANCIN' TILL THE BREAK OF DAWN ... GOOD JOB!

VINX

The Adventures of the Magnificent, Mystical, Magical Sas, the Mischievous Muckletail

DRUMMER AND SINGER

“The Anointing of Orko”

with Andrew Daniels and Jason Hann, drummers

BY MARQUE TERRYNAMAHR STRICKLAND | COLUMNIST

“

R

ushing are you? Today must be the date,” Orchis said, staring at her beautiful daughter with awe, watching her cheeks become a dark purple as she blushed.

Sas had pretty black skin, the body of a maturing young woman, the curiosity and mischief of a child, the wings of a fairy on her back and ears, and a long, pretty tail with a tuft of straight, black hair at its tip.

She also, like her mother, had the gift of magic.

“Methinks you should tell a little more about him,” Orchis said excitedly.

“Ooooh mummy, he’s beautiful! His name is Nasturium, and he’s an elf with creamy white skin, dark eyes, long golden hair and lips that women would kill to taste!”

“What the bloody hell are you talking about, missy?! You’re too young to know anything about a man’s lips, you snottynosed ragamuffin!” she said, laughing.

“No, you misunderstand, mummy! I just meant that he has a pretty mouth, that’s all,” Sas teased, as she kissed her mother’s cheek and went to wash.

Orchis, humored by her daughter ’s innocent but debauched frame of mind, turned to do her chores. Her hands glowed, emitting multi-colored clouds as she stepped into the garden, making trees spring from the earth as if they were wells of water. Magical creatures scurried about as Orchis’s hair tentacles ripped nasty weeds, vines and dead trees from the earth, causing them to vanish at once as if they had never existed. Newborn shrubs, bushes, vegetation and beautiful flowers erupted in all directions, spreading as far as the eye could see.

Soon, Orchis was done with her gardening, and her daughter was on her way. Sas yelled over her shoulder as her flapping wings carried her away into the distance.

“Love you, mummy … If it gets too late, I’ll conjure the wind to bring you a message.”

“Be careful, and don’t go using your magic for silly pranks, you little snot! You’ll get me worried, and then I’ll have to swat you like a spoiled toddler!” She smiled worriedly, hoping that this young man would mind his manners. continued on Page 8

arts

Vinx moves through the worlds of jazz and blues, salsa and pop, transcending language and borders with a fiery passion for Community Drumming Circle

music and life.

Krannert Center Lobby 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana Friday, January 23, 5:30pm Free

In Concert

High Twelve Lounge/ Masonic Lone Star Lodge 18 208 N. First St., Champaign Saturday, January 24, 7:30pm Free (capacity of 200)

Presented by Krannert Center and the Masonic Lone Star Lodge 18 in cooperation with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week Committee. For info: KrannertCenter.com or 217/333-6280.

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WAITING FOR GLUE TO DRY ... | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

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Geology Field Trip Workshops – Join Parkland Earth science instructors Dean Timme and Bob Vaiden for two geology field trips this spring.

Participants will venture to the Starved Rock State Park area on April 17 for a workshop entitled "Canyon Development Along the Upper Illinois River Valley." The workshop runs from 8am-5pm and transportation will be provided. On June 5, a second workshop called "Sand Dunes and an Ancient River Valley" will take participants west to the Havana area to see land sculpted by glaciers, water and wind. The cost for each workshop is $29.

New theater company hits The Virginia C

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

hampaign-Urbana has a wealth of community theater talent and eclectic venues. The newly assembled acting troupe The Zoo Theatre Company will present their

debut performance of Ain’t Misbehavin’ in the full grandeur of the Virginia Theatre, showcasing both. The musical, which has enjoyed enormous success in its Broadway productions, will open with its first performance Jan. 22.

Greg Wolf, the show’s director and chief instructor at the Actor ’s Academy in Champaign, is eagerly

anticipating the company’s premiere. “I was talking to Rebecca Caine at the Virginia, and she asked me how classes were going. She suggested doing a show,” Wolf says. While the group is comprised of community members, there is some overlap with his students, who will be assisting with much of the production’s technical work.

Deciding on Ain’t Misbehavin’ Practice for Ain't Misbehavin' was a logical choice for the director, who produced the same cannot necessarily do in most cases. The show with his company in New York company will also offer a great opportunity City two summers ago. to acting students looking for roles off-camFurthermore, the setting pus. If the company is ever to reach that seemed complementary level, these actors and others involved in the to the musical’s style. production are the ones laying the ground“The Virginia has that work for it to happen.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” says Ameena vaudeville quality to it,” Wolf says. The theater, Chapman, a student in the University of built in 1921 in the Illinois acting program playing the part of vaudeville tradition, Charlaine. The cast has been putting in provides an incredi- about seven hours of practice each week.

A musical production of this scale has also ble stage for musical p ro d u c t i o n s a p p e a r - tapped a great deal of instrumental talent ing there throughout from the University. The Virginia, then, not only offers opportunities for the community the year.

Fittingly, the first but for talented students who want to show of th year reflects stretch beyond theater offerings at the this classic theater style. University. “The band is mostly graduate T h e Z o o T h e a t r e students from the University’s music C o m p a n y w i l l a d d department,” says Wolf.

Gordon Schermer, a University student in another dimension to C h a m p a i g n - U r b a n a ’ s fine and applied arts, has served as the assisalready rich community tant musical director, as well as the piano theater tradition. Unlike accompaniment. “It’s a lot of fun, but it’s many other groups, the also really hard,” he says.

The actors and performers feel that the performers will be paid.

“The difference is about show’s quality will reflect the amount of the quality. Theater is work that they put into the production. something that others Sherrika Ellison, a graduate student at the do as a hobby. This is University performing in the show, agrees that the amount of work put forth has made my job,” says Wolf.

The company hopes the final product worthwhile. “It’s been a to become a stepping- wonderful opportunity,” she says. buzz stone for aspiring actors in the community. Their Ain’t Misbehavin’ will offer the community plan is to eventually be a wonderful example of a vaudevillian style able to offer a chance to musical. The company will perform the actors looking for pro- show Jan. 22 and 23 at 7 p.m., as well as a 1 fessional stage experi- p.m. matinee Jan. 24. Tickets are available ence, something that by calling (217) 356-9063. The Virginia people with families Theatre is located at 203 W. Park St., and jobs to maintain Champaign.

Lunch Break Strength Training – Squeeze a workout into your busy schedule by joining this noontime fitness class. This 30-minute workout will include strength training and mat-based exercises.

Springer Cultural Center. Begins Jan 27, meets Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:15-12:45pm. Fee is $30.

For more information, call 398-2376.

PHOTO | BRIAN WARMOTH

BY BRIAN WARMOTH | STAFF WRITER

calendar

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Auditions for "1776" – Parkland Theatre is pleased to announce open auditions for the play "1776" by Sherman Edwards, based on the novel by Peter Stone. Auditions will be held Sun, Jan 25 from 125pm at the Parkland College Theatre. Callbacks, if needed, will be Tue, Jan 27 from 6-8pm. Members of the community are encouraged to audition. The director, J.W. Morrissette, will be casting 25-40 men and several women, ages 16-60. Those who plan to audition need to prepare 16 bars of a song (ballad or up-tempo), bringing music for the accompanist. They should also prepare a one-minute or less patriotic memorized presentation. A resume and headshot (photo) are preferred but optional.

Rehearsals will begin in February. Performances will be April 14-May 1. For more information, call 359-2529.

MIND BODY SPIRIT

Core & More – This beginner/intermediate level class will use Pilates-based movements to stretch and strengthen core muscles (abs and back) as well as legs and glutes. Stability balls will occasionally be incorporated to add resistance and improve balance. Springer Cultural Center. Begins Jan 26, meets Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:15-7pm.

Fee is $35. For more information, call 398-2376.

Sunday Zen Meditation Meeting – Prairie Zen Center, 515 S Prospect, Champaign, NW corner of Prospect & Green, enter through door from parking area. Introduction to Zen sitting, 10am; full schedule: Service at 9am followed by sitting, Dharma Talk at 11 followed by tea until about noon. Can arrive at any of the above times, open to all, no experience needed, no cost. For information, call 355-8835 or www.prairiezen.org.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Prairie Sangha for Mindfullness Meditation – Monday evenings from 7:30-9pm and monthly retreats on Sunday. Theravadan (Vipassana) and Tibetan (Vjrayana & Dzogchen) meditation practice. Meets in Urbana. For more information, call or email Tom at 356-7413 or shayir@soltec.net. www.prairiesangha.org.

Community Coalition on Medical Debt – Illinois Disciples Foundation in Champaign. Public meeting to review local, state & national progress; plan next steps. Wed, 6:30pm. For more information, call 352-6533 or email to cchcc@prairienet.org.

University YWCA Welcome Reception – Join the YWCA at the University of Illinois in a reception welcoming new Executive Director Lisha A. Banks.

The YWCA is an interracial, not-for-profit organization that was established in 1884, serving university students and the Champaign-Urbana community. It is run by women for women with the mission of empowering women and girls and eliminating racism. University YMCA, Murphy Room.

Thur 4:30-6pm. Open to the public.

McKinley Toastmasters Club – Guests are invited to learn more about the Toastmasters’ communication and leadership program. Springer Cultural Center. Thur 6:15pm.

The Woman's Room Cancer Support Group – Meetings are open to women with female-specific cancer. Carle Foundation Hospital, room B in the cafeteria. Tue 12-1pm.

THEATRE The Britles – A 40th anniversary tribute to Beatlemania, with special appearance by Louise Harrison, George Harrison’s sister. A benefit for the Carle Children's Cancer Program, this concert celebrates The Beatles’ 40th year anniversary of the band’s premiere on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Virginia Theatre, Feb 7, 7pm. Tickets $100-Front & Center, $20-Main, $16-Mezz & Balcony. For more information, visit www.thebritles.com.

Elysium on the Prairie, Live Action Roleplaying – Vampires stalk the city streets and struggle for dominance in a world of gothic horror. Create your own character and mingle with dozens of players who portray their own undead alter egos. Each session is another chapter in an ongoing story of triumph, tragedy and betrayal. Fridays,“Vampire: The Masquerade.” For more information, visit www2.uiuc.edu/ro/elysium/intro.html. Check site for location, 7pm.

The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? – This play revolves around Martin, a man who has it all. He is at the pinnacle of success, but he has a secret–a secret that has the potential to destroy his marriage, his career and his life. Comic moments are interwoven with classic elements of true tragedy. The Station Theatre, 223 N Broadway, Urbana. Jan 2225, Jan 28-Feb 1, and Feb 4-7 at 8pm, except Sun matinees at 3pm. Wed, Thur and Sun tickets are $8, Fri and Sat tickets are $10. Wed tickets are 2for-1. For reservations, call 384-4000.

Artist’s Way Group – A 12-week adventure in recovering and celebrating our creative spirit.

Wednesdays, Jan 28-April 28 (no session March 24) from 5:45-7:15pm at McKinley Foundation (free parking). Free introduction Wed at 5:45pm. Drop by and bring a friend! To register or for more information, contact Jo Pauly at 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org.

Walking in This World Group – The new sequel to the Artist's Way with 12 new weeks of strategies and techniques for expressing our creative spirit.

Wednesdays, Jan 28-April 28 (no session March 24) from 7:30-9:00pm at McKinley Foundation (free parking). Free introduction Wed at 7:30pm. Drop by & bring a friend! To register or for more information, contact Jo Pauly at 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org.

Life Map Workshop – A life map is a collection of visual images, a method of connecting with your intuition, a tool for visualizing your dreams or goals. Come explore life mapping–approaches, uses and the opportunity to create your own life map. 9:15am-1pm Sat at McKinley Foundation.

Course fee is $45. To register or for information, contact Jo Pauly at 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org

B A S E P A Y

R A V I O L I O L D L I N E

I R E P E A T B L I S T E R

S C A N T H L Y N U E Q M A U S D I N D L U A L B L O W B Y P I Y E D E E D O S T O P M O N E E V A N

B I K E L O C K

L A I D A N E R G A G D I U M

E A C H E N S H A P I K I D E D P A R F G N W I N U N I T E I S S T E E D U C U R S D P I E O M B R N O R B I N B E L D A Y B E S

PHONE: 217/337-8337 DEADLINE: 2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

INDEX Employment Services Merchandise Transportation Apartments Other Housing/Rent Real Estate for Sale Things To Do Announcements Personals

000 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

• PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD! Report errors immediately by calling 337-8337. We cannot be responsible for more than one day’s incorrect insertion if you do not notify us of the error by 2 pm on the day of the first insertion.

• All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher. The Daily Illini shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement, at any time.

• All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to the City of Champaign Human Rights Ordinance and similar state and local laws, making it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement which expresses limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, source of income, or the fact that such person is a student.

• Specification in employment classifications are made only where such factors are bonafide occupational qualifications necessary for employment.

• All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, and similar state and local laws which make it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement relating to the transfer, sale, rental, or lease of any housing which expresses limitation, specifications or discrimination as to race, color, creed, class, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual oientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or the fact that such person is a student.

• This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal oppportunity basis.

DEADLINE:

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RATES: Billed rate: 34¢/word Paid-in-Advance: 25¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue Garage Sales 30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free.

Action Ads • 20 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $14 • 10 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $7 • add a photo to an action ad, $10

Employment 000

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

HELP WANTED | Full Time

Security Building

502 E. University, C.

Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

Services

100

1 and 2 bedroom apartments, large rooms, AC, furnished, parking, quiet building. Aug. 04 369-0237. www.zhengrentals.com

JOHN SMITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT www.johnsmithproperties.com (217)384-6930 “believe the hype”

BUSINESS SERVICES Graphic design studio is seeking models for beauty and style photography. www.victoriasphoto.com Victoria’s Photographics 217-328-3013

Local professional ready to record your band, choir, soloist and more.

Your place or mine. Only $15/hr.

Call Kyle at Orangetree Studio. 4690206

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign.

Call Manchester Property Management at 359-0248 for an appointment.

SUBLETS 1 bedroom in Town and Country Apartments in Urbana. Nice. Feb.June. $595/mo. 714-0876

CLEANING Exact Extraction. Carpet & upholstery cleaning. Free estimates. 6883101.

LAWN CARE FREE ESTIMATES: Tree trimming, Topping, Removal, Stump Grinding.

384-5010.

Merchandise 200

Sublet $357/mo. Spring semester starting January 1st with possible summer. Female roommate to share quiet 2 bedroom furnished apartment. 1 block east of Krannert. 903 W. Oregon. Air conditioning, laundry, off street parking. E-mail teska@elknet.net or call 262-7236930.

Other Rentals 500

BOOKS COMPARE TEXTBOOK PRICES! Search 24 bookstores with 1 click!

Shipping and taxes automatically calculated. http://www.bookhq.com

Apartments

Studio, furnished, hardwood floors, W/D, cozy, on campus, $565, available 01-01 1108 W. Nevada, 334-9342.

400

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

107 N. Busey, U.

August 2004 3 level townhouse, cathedral ceiling living room, loft deck. Must see to appreciate. Sleeps 4, 2 full baths, gas heat, central air, washer/dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, internet, and cable ready. Two free parking spaces. $1380/month.

Call 352-3674 or 377-1552

HOUSES Rent a room in a civilized and healthy house where you won’t be embarrased to invite people who care about you. *5 bedrooms available from $250400 *Entire house $1700 *Located at 211 W. High St., Urbana Call for more info (773)936-2680

Things to Do 700 VACATION | TRAVEL *** Act Now! Book 11 people, get 12th trip free. Group Discounts for 6+ www.springbreakdiscounts.com or 800-838-8202

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moviereview

MONSTER ★★★★

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

T

ast year, Nicole Kidman donned a prosthetic nose for The Hours, and it won her the Best Actress Oscar. This year, Charlize Theron packed on 30 pounds, wore fake teeth and a smattering of makeup to morph into real-life Florida prostitute turned serial killer Aileen Wuornos. But if Theron takes home an Academy Award, it won’t be a product of her transformation; her performance in the raw, raging Monster is the commanding force in a biopic that almost always feels completely real.

That’s a testament to the immense research of writer/director Patty Jenkins and makeup artist Toni G, who mentally and physically converted Theron, a former model, into Wuornos, the dead-toothed, bug-eyed killer who began life as a hooker at the age of 13.

Right down to the barely-there eyebrows, flattened hair and fiery demeanor, Theron’s performance is glamorous in its unsightly, ter-

moviereview

THE COOLER ★★★★

BY JASON CANTONE | STAFF WRITER

T

he Cooler begins with the odds against it.

Despite a powerful cast, the idea of a loser making his way through Las Vegas has been done a thousand times before. There’s the angry pit boss refusing to lose money, the hooker with a heart of gold and the lovable loser everyone starts to root for. Yet The Cooler beats the spread and comes out a winner by taking the normal Vegas cliches and immersing them into a black comedy that will make even the biggest Vegas-hater smile.

In Wayne Kramer’s smart and funny The Cooler, character actor William H. Macy plays Bernie Lootz, the unluckiest man in Las Vegas.

From a failed marriage and estranged child to the green blackjack tables at an old casino, everything he touches turns bad … until he begins touching Maria Bello during an awkward sex scene.

The Cooler breathes life into the Las Vegas genre, which recently stumbled with the awful Kevin Costner film 3000 Miles to Graceland.

That film featured more than 100 Elvis impersonators. This film features none, which is truer to the real Vegas. From the aerial shots of the neon glow to the narrow back casino rooms punctuated by blood spots on the floor,

rifying rage. As Monster reveals the woman behind the murderer, Theron exposes a previously unseen, scorching energy that signals her newfound eligibility for meatier roles.

The film moves quickly through Wuornos’s childhood, in which she flashes classmates for money as soon as she has anything to flash. In no time, Wuornos, a victim of sexual abuse running away from her family, begins living her life hitchhiking her way into customers’ cars along Florida highways. When a client becomes abusive and threatens to kill her, she shoots him with his own gun.

Monster delves much deeper into Wuornos’s life, which quickly unravels as her paranoid anger grows and victims begin to accumulate.

Early on, she meets Selby Wall (Christina Ricci), a meek, dark-haired girl sent away from home as a result of her homosexuality. Until this point in the film, Wuornos is not gay, but she takes a liking to Selby’s vulnerable, trusting nature.

Theron’s voice-over reveals that Wuornos believes Shelby could learn to become anything. The two soon move into a motel room on the money Wuornos earns as a prostitute, and after a life of shattered dreams and disappointments—in men, in family, in herself—she finds happiness in their caution-free romance.

While their relationship develops quickly, the film slowly makes their bond feel substantial, in part because of the bold performances of Theron and Ricci. Selby and Lee (as

this film presents Vegas with brutal honesty.

Shangri-La manager Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin) balks at any attempt to change his nostalgic casino. Shelly makes a hefty profit but his casino can no longer compete with the thematic abominations of the new Vegas.

Despite new ideas to turn the old casino into a modern marvel, Shelly refuses to change.

When players cheat, he doesn’t report them; instead, he breaks their legs or kills them.

When players are doing well, he sends in Bernie, who literally cools down the big winners by simply standing next to them.

Kramer could not have asked for a more talented cast. While Macy was brilliant as a fasttalking racehorse expert in this year’s critically acclaimed Seabiscuit, here he proves he can bring bittersweet irony and depth to the most downtrodden man in existence. Baldwin, on the other hand, proves he can still act despite miserable comedic attempts in such films as The Cat in the Hat. Completing the trio of masterful performances is Maria Bello as a cocktail waitress who seems down on her luck until she meets the unlucky Bernie. She rewards his kindness with some realistically staged sex scenes that seem over the top and natural at the same time. In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, the pair loudly fakes orgasms to irritate the man next door at their seedy motel in order to avenge his sexual exploits from earlier in the week. Despite the nudity and orgasmic screams, each sex scene remains realistic and hinges more on funny and true than seductive.

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Thompson, a sophomore at the University, is one of Patterson’s students who has been involved in several of his classes as well as volunteer projects.

“We can enrich the community through the University,” said Thompson. “The center could be a link that would bring together students and the community.”

The center will create that link by having University students serve as mentors and role models to children who otherwise may not come into contact with college students. The research and archive aspect of the center will allow for the study of other successful outreach programs.

This collaboration between the University and the Center for Hip-Hop Studies is necessary not only for the success of the center, but for the beginning of it as well. Patterson is

Movie News Compiled by Jason Cantone

MONSTER| CHARLIZE THERON Wuornos preferred to be called) don’t know much about each other, but they know they want to be together. Wuornos was not a psychopath without feelings for anyone else.

Rather, she was a troubled woman for whom years of anger and abuse finally became lethal.

That sense of shattered spirit is perpetually present on Theron’s face, as her eyes constantly appear ready to pop out of her freckled face.

Great actors can turn expression into emotion, and throughout Monster, Theron’s eyes become dark, giant orbs of violent desperation, frozen open as if Wuornos is always waiting for something to go right.

As much a murderer’s biography as a death rattle for youthful optimism, Monster is unflinching in its harsh realities. While the narrative slows at some points, it is never dull.

This unsettling story is transfixing in its gutsy lack of style. It’s as brutal as a death sentence and soars from its unsentimental objectivity.

Tom Cruise nearly lost his head last year and it didn't involve having a celebrity temper tantrum. According to World Entertainment News Network, a swordfight in the Golden Globe nominated The Last Samurai almost turned bloody when equipment malfunctioned and Cruise was close to being decapitated. Why announce this now a month after the film's release? I'd call it be a last minute pity play of "Tom Cruise risked his life for this role! Give him an Oscar nomination."

Upcoming film The Dreamers will be the first major NC-17 rated film since the bomb (but video sensation) Showgirls. Supposedly, it got the mature rating from constant scenes of masturbation, sexual perversity and an incestuous relationship where a brother and sister keep having sex and want to create a threesome. That's all? I've seen more during a Jerry Springer episode.

WillPatterson

★★★★ Sean Milnamow Champaign

"Wop-bop-a-loo-bop I love that flick."

★★★

It’s called “KRS-One—Hip-Hop Artistry and Social Activism.” It’s a course that will examine the life, artistry and persona of KRSOne to understand how social artistry influenced life and to gauge the implication of social policy on artistry on national and international policy.

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unwatchable

Will Patterson’s interests and involvement in Champaign-Urbana extend far beyond the hip-hop community. Besides teaching at the University of Illinois, Patterson is involved in a variety of outreach programs and consulting projects, including Innovative Ed, a local consulting firm. Patterson resides in Urbana with his wife and three children.

I am a board member of the Regional Board of Education. I am also involved in the Temple of Hip-Hop, the Community Leadership Forum, the NAACP and the 40 North and 88 West Board. I also worked with Provena Medical Center to put together “All Girlz Radio,” which provides information to AfricanAmerican girls on issues relevant to their lives.

I am also the principal investor and program director for Innovative Ed. What is Innovative Ed? We do so much. But I would describe it as a multimedia-based educational programming and action research consulting firm.

Urbana

"I'll never eat mixed nuts at a bar again."

Jeff Teare Champaign

"Intriguing plot that kept me laughing the whole time."

Vision World Voted CU’s Best 4 out of 5 Years tattoos and piercings on University in Urbana 328-7131

Need a ride?

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What is the best part of your job?

The flexibility to try new things and the access to my children and family when necessary.

What do you think is the best part of Champaign-Urbana?

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and dreams and turn them into reality. Also, developing innovative ideas and programs and seeing students benefit from those visions.

Personally, it is being married for 12 years and having three children.

What would you do if you won a million dollars?

The willingness to collaborate. People are willing to come to the table and try new things.

Build a major company.

What is your favorite place in ChampaignUrbana?

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

Dr. Ellis Drive and the Douglass Park area. It’s where I grew up and the spirit of my community.

Be the captain of your own ship and the dreamer of your own dreams because no one can kick you off your ship or out of your dreams.

multimedia

production

What are some of your other interests?

Music production, digital movie-making, motorcycling. I am a hot-rod and motorcycle enthusiast. Raising my children and working with youth. Those are my passions. I love working with youth, with their new ideas, energy and passion.

If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be?

Martin Luther King for his social responsibility, and Puff Daddy and Jay-Z for their b-boy entrepreneurship and hustlerism.

Who is your favorite hip-hip personality?

What is your greatest accomplishment so far?

Professionally, it is being able to take visions

Courtney Hainline

★★★ SCREEN REVIEW GUIDE

What is the class you are teaching this semester?

In what community organizations are you involved?

Along Came Polly

Patterson enters a studio at radio station WILL.

Q & A

Speaking of Jerry Springer, the new London musical Jerry Springer: The Opera! was just nominated for Best Musical in London's prestigious Olivier Awards. I think I've seen a musical like this before: women get on stage and move back and forth and then they take off their clothes and go into the audience.

Oh, wait, that's a strip club. Never mind.

Compiled by Adam Young

Unlike recent Vegas efforts, The Cooler isn’t just about sex and stacks of poker chips. Told through a yellowed, smoky lens that gives the film a feel of Rat Pack nostalgia, The Cooler uses its funny script and intelligent direction to highlight the three impressive performances. If viewers can take a leap of faith to believe in the powers of a cooler, they will be paid back in full by enjoying this safe bet for an Oscar nomination.

well-aware that a cutting edge idea such as the center would need University support, both from a scholarly and financial standpoint, in order to be successful.

“I foresee the center up and running when the provost’s office decides to fund a pilot phase of the center,” said Patterson. “We have many of the programs already running; we just need the space and the seed money.”

Until the center is up and running, Patterson will continue to work at various local outreach programs using hip hop as a medium to engage the youth of Champaign-Urbana. He hopes that a successful Center for Hip-Hop Studies will show that hip-hop culture can benefit all aspects of society. After all, hip hop is much more than rap superstars and multimillion dollar enterprises. Hip hop is a culture.

As Patterson puts it, “Hip hop is not some-

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THE COOLER | BALDWIN, MACY

community

JANUARY 22-28, 2004

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

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BEING KILLED BY CHARLIZE THERON SOUNDS OK TO ME| JANUARY 22- 28, 2004 buzz

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

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1/21/04

Lion’s Gate Entertainment

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Tupac (Shakur) from a vocal delivery standpoint and for the passionate words.

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community

JANUARY 22-28, 2004

buzz

Hip Hop–more than music

moviereview

TORQUE

Will Patterson works to establish center for hip-hop studies

H

PHOTOS BY | CHRISTINE LITAS

ip hop. These two words usually conjure images of rap superstars and multi-million dollar enterprises, not research centers and community outreach programs. For individuals like Dr. William Patterson, though, hip hop is much more than just music. Hip hop is a way of life, a culture; a culture that emphasizes the sprit of self-determination and encourages its youth to become not only politically active but socially aware. And a culture Patterson sees as being able reach out to members of the Champaign-Urbana community.

Patterson, a visiting assistant professor in the Afro-American studies program at the University of Illinois, is currently in the process of forming a center to research, study and encourage the hip-hop culture. Hip hop, whose four most recognized activities include MCing, DJing, break dancing and “tagging” or graffiti, has influenced many different facets of society, from music to politics, and even economics.

It is Patterson’s hope that the Center for the Study of Hip-Hop Culture will be able to explore hip hop’s different areas and influences. The center will serve a multitude of purposes; it will include a research center, library archive, multimedia facilities and it will house community outreach programs. Such a center will have the ability to blur the boundaries between the many aspects of hip-hop culture. “(It will deal with) hip-hop culture more than rap,” said Patterson. “The center will be a space to practice different cultural aspects of hip hop on a daily basis. It will have the synergy to bring it all together.”

Patterson first began to develop the idea of a

center to study the growing hip-hop culture as a graduate student in educational policies at the University of Illinois when he saw the need for a place to study the social policy of urban youth culture. Patterson started discussing with professors the possibility of using his degree to study his own life and the lives of people who grew up with him using the medium of hip hop.

While growing up in Champaign-Urbana, Patterson first witnessed the emergence of hiphop music in eighth grade with the debut of the song “Rapper’s Delight.” That song’s success ensured hip hop’s place in the spotlight, both locally and nationally, for many years to come.

“I remember two kids, one black and one white, walking down the halls at school with those big boom boxes, bumping ‘Rapper’s Delight,’ “ recalled Patterson. “Everyone, both black and white, just gravitated to it. I knew then I had found my thing.”

Shortly after that, Patterson ventured out into other different areas of hip hop, including dance and radio. He started putting on talent shows at local high schools and in the Douglass Park area and booking gigs for college and school parties. Though he did not realize it at the time, Patterson had his own party planning company, encompassing what would become many of the different areas of hip-hop culture.

It was around this time in Patterson’s career, the mid-’80s, that the formation of a vivid and distinct hop-hop culture occurred locally. It

Patterson spending time at WILL radio station.

was also around this time that crack cocaine entered the hip-hop scene and quickly changed the culture. The social environment became more violent and urban strife was even more prevalent.

The youth of the hip-hop culture were affected by this change and their lyrics began reflecting relevant social issues. In 1998, N.W.A. debuted their Straight Outta Compton CD. Their single “Fuck the Police” showcased the harshness and violence that urban youths faced daily. However, as more and more youths flocked to this music, many members of society, in particular those from the civil rights and Black Power era, began to feel alienated.

“During this time, hip hop had youth spouting off these lyrics that they thought were just reflecting their lives,” said Patterson. “What they didn’t realize was that they were making a political statement. They were also stating the fact that they didn’t need to be accepted into mainstream culture; they could create their own.”

Now, the members of that hip-hop generation have grown up. Hip-hoppers, as Patterson calls them, are once again challenging institutions, only this time with more education and credentials behind them. Patterson also sees hip hop as having moved beyond black culture

into a worldwide phenomenon, especially with the prominence of media images relating to hip hop.

The prominence of hip hop and its message of struggle and strife has made it into a universal medium. The Center for Hip-Hop Studies will allow those media, including the economic and political aspects, to be researched. This research will allow youths to take hip hop and its media images, which for some, are part of their everyday life, and apply these in ways to better themselves and their communities.

“We want to teach to youth how to control media images by preparing with them the tools to do so,” said Patterson. “For example, Nas has a song called ‘I Can,’ and kids know those lyrics and believe those lyrics. We need to teach kids to take those lyrics and apply them to a school or a test.”

The Center for Hip-Hop Studies will provide a variety of programs, some of which are already in place, in order to aid children in the Champaign-Urbana community. Currently, Patterson has implemented several programs, including an “All Girlz Radio” to reach out to youth. One tool Patterson knows is fundamental to the success of these and future programs is University of Illinois students. Jayda

★

Universal Pictures

BY EMILY WAHLHEIM | COMMUNITY EDITOR

film

buzz JANUARY 22- 28, 2004 | MOTORCYCLES, BALLET, AND ROMANCE SEEM LIKE GOOD IDEAS...

ALONG CAME POLLY | JENNIFER ANISTON

moviereview

ALONG CAME POLLY ★★

BY JOHN LOOS | STAFF WRITER

A

lthough her slender build doesn't show it, Jennifer Aniston has been developing some incredibly strong back muscles. She held up more than her share of last spring's Bruce Almighty, and now she's practically the entire foundation for the sloppy, inconsequential romantic comedy Along Came Polly. Without her unavoidable charm and effortless comic flare, this film would be reduced to rubble.

Directed by John Hamburg, Polly involves a hyper-cautious risk assessment manager named Reuben (Ben Stiller) whose sunny wife (Debra Messing) cheats on him with a French SCUBA diver during their tropical honeymoon. On the rebound, Rueben, a very typical Stiller character, runs into a middle school friend named Polly Prince (Aniston) and the two begin a casual, quirky relationship.

The film features a few gross-out scenes, a nearsighted ferret that runs into walls, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman steps in as Rueben's best friend Sandy, a slobbish, impetuous hasbeen actor who starred in one 1980s film involving bagpipes. Hoffman is funny as often as he borders on obnoxious, but his character actually feels reasonably original.

Where the film falters is in the tepid, restrained screenplay that doesn't allow Rueben or Polly do to anything that dozens of other on-screen couples haven't already done.

Audiences have seen the nervous neurotic changed by the unhinged, carefree spirit. They have seen a protagonist's past love return and threaten his or her present relationship. They have seen what Polly has to offer.

Granted, the reason such plot devices have been so thoroughly treaded is because they work. But without anything truly innovative to accompany them, the relationship between the characters feels old and tired.

Aniston does her best to make the movie shine, but even she can't make the trite interesting or the familiar compelling. She does make it completely painless to endure, and at moments makes it almost fun, but she isn't Superwoman. Her back, however strong, can only hold so much dead weight.

BY ANDREW VECELAS | STAFF WRITER

T

ake The Fast and the Furious, remove anything that made that film worthwhile, and the result would be something like Torque.

Loud, idiotic and predictable at a level that can only begin to be described, Torque has arrived.

Torque stars Martin Henderson as Casey Ford, a biker who returns to California from an extended flight to Thailand, only to find himself caught up in a couple of major complications. First, he wants to win back the love of Shane (Monet Mazur), who understandably dumped Ford after he fled the country to avoid drug charges. There is also the problem of a rival biker and gang leader named Trey (Ice Cube), hunting Ford because he thinks Ford murdered his brother. Yet another biker gang leader, Henry (Matt Schulze), is hunting Ford down because he wants back the stash of drugs he left with Ford for safekeeping. If that is not enough, Ford also has to contend with a couple of FBI agents who believe he is guilty of both the murder and the drug charges. He is, of course, being set up for both.

The movie doesn’t have a plot so much as it has setup and transitions for numerous chase and fight sequences. It doesn’t pause for any-

moviereview

THE COMPANY ★★

BY SYD SLOBODNIK | STAFF WRITER

I

t’s a rather disappointing cinematic experience to see a veteran director’s film that is so uninspired and lacking of significance. This is the case in Robert Altman’s newest film The Company, which stars Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell and much of the Joffrey ballet company, as it ever so casually tells of a year in the life of one of this nation’s greatest dance groups.

For decades, Altman has made films that defy traditional genre labels. In fact, some of his best works like M*A*S*H or Short Cuts reinvented storylines from various genres in refreshing contemporary ways, adding elements of satire, parody and unique personal perspectives focusing on the psychology of human interaction.

Similar in style to an improvisational documentary, The Company deals with the yearlong season of rehearsals; creative and artistic conflicts with directors, choreographers and dancers; petty jealousies and ultimately, a grand performance of an innovative new piece called “The Blue Snake.”

Unlike the melodramatic classic ballet-

thing as trivial as character or story development. Occasionally, it slows down a bit so Ford can utter some corny love spiel to Shane, but then the movie dives right back into the explosions and chases.

Thankfully, the cast members do not seem to take themselves too seriously. Henderson is suitably bland as the hero, and Ice Cube scowls his way through all of his scenes, getting most of the memorable lines. Jaime Pressly plays the bad girl, spending the vast majority of her on-screen time licking her lips and playing with a knife.

The constant chase/fight/explosion rotation would be more tolerable if the action was somehow exciting. But the action sequences rely so heavily on the suspension of disbelief and overdone effects that they mostly fall flat.

Many of the chase scenes use computer effects to create the illusion of extreme speeds, a technique that is overly disorienting. Thanks to this and the fact that most everything is shot in extreme close-up, most of the action in the film is just plain confusing. The climactic chase through the busy streets of Los Angeles is downright surreal thanks to the poor visual effects–the bikes are going so fast that parking meters explode–and is so preposterous that even the most dimwitted of audiences will have a hard time swallowing it. Another fight between the two female leads is inept to the point that it plays as straight comedy.

The director, Joseph Kahn, has previously worked on a number of music videos. Perhaps this explains the blaring rock music that comdance films of the past, Altman’s narrative avoids most of the offstage romance and passion of young dancers. The movie’s main character Ry, played by co-producer and co-writer Neve Campbell, has a romantic interest in a young hunk named Josh (James Franco), but it’s handled as an afterthought.

Instead, Altman delivers episodes of rather expected scenes of the Joffrey’s inner workings–executive planning meetings, financial discussions of the company’s annual budget, large-scale rehearsals and discussions with the flamboyant artistic director Alberto Antonelli, played with flare by McDowell–in a bland, emotionless documentary style. But who can believe McDowell’s an Italian-American from Chicago?

Choreographer Robert Desrosiers, a professional with the Joffrey, adds much humor as he tries to sell the company with his conceptual dance ideas. But at best, screenwriter Barbara Turner offers sparse snapshots of what a dance company goes through in one season. There is no compelling thread of interest for viewers to care about these creative artists.

Altman’s standard use of multi-layered casts of well-known celebrities and interesting newcomers seems sparse in The Company.

McDowell’s “Mr. A” character spouts stereotypical superlatives about his colleagues, calling them “geniuses” one moment, then affectionately referring to them as “my babies” the next. Campbell, who received early training in ballet, can dance quite well for the limited dance scenes in which she is featured, but she’s still very limited in her dramatic abilities.

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Warner Brothers Entertainment

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TORQUE | ICE CUBE prises half the movie’s music. Several scenes seem as if they were lifted directly out of a beer commercial, complete with girls in wet T-shirts and close-ups of huge, sweaty mugs of beer.

Throw in some of the most blatant product placement in recent memory, and Torque starts to look like one long, annoying advertisement.

Torque is a movie that does not pretend to have much to offer outside of a lot of energy.

Surely some audiences will like the approach and find the movie fun, and not at all challenging. But just because Torque knows that it is garbage does not excuse it for being garbage.

Hopefully most moviegoers will treat it accordingly.

THE COMPANY | NEVE CAMBELL The rest of the cast, minus a few well known Chicago actors like U of I theater graduate Barbara Robertson, and the Steppenwolf’s Mariann Mayberry and Robert Breuler, are mostly unknown, but talented dancers.

Ultimately, viewers are left wondering, What is Altman’s point? The Company is not a documentary expose, or an exploration into the real workings of a dance group. Nor is it a melodramatic crowd-pleasing dance spectacle.

And unlike most of Altman’s best works, The Company is not even a satire on the corruption of creative minds and artistic ideas. As far as this film about dance goes, many might conclude this Altman dance simply has flat feet.

Sony pictures Entertainment

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film

TEACHER’S PET

moviereview

TEACHER’S PET ★★★

BY ANDREW VECELAS | STAFF WRITER

T

eacher’s Pet, the latest Disney animated film, proves that successful animated films are born out of heart and creativity, not technology. Based on a Saturday morning show that ran for a few years on ABC, the movie is centered on a young boy named Leonard and his dog Spot. Spot (Nathan Lane) wants to be as undog-like as possible. He dresses like a person every day so he can follow Leonard to school.

When Leonard and his mother travel to Florida over the summer, Spot unexpectedly tags along, hoping to meet Dr. Krank (Kelsey Grammer), a mad scientist he saw on a talk show who claims to be able to turn animals into humans. The family cat (David Ogden Stier) and canary (Jerry Stiller), follow suit when they realize Dr. Krank lives up to his name, producing horrible animal mutations.

The voice cast performs admirably, with all of the big stars perfectly suited to their roles.

Lane especially has a lot of fun. A scene where he is forced to play each of the imaginary members of Scott’s family in front of Leonard’s mom is a comic gem. Stiller hits all the right notes as a canary with some attitude.

And is there any better actor to voice a mad scientist than Kelsey Grammer?

The humor comes fast and should please adults as much as it does children. The film also contains nearly 10 songs, which lead to a running gag where characters anticipate when songs will break out and voice their disgust. The music is varied and provides some of the film’s most outrageous humor.

Teacher’s Pet is charming in its own weird way. It doesn’t look like any other animated film in recent memory, and its sense of humor is nothing if not eccentric. It certainly won’t find its way into the Disney hall of fame, but its strengths cannot be denied, and families looking for a fun time at the movies this winter should definitely check it out.

Drive-thru Reviews

A DOG GOES TO SCHOOL? LEAVE IT TO DISNEY | JANUARY 22- 28 2004 buzz

Walt Disney Entertainment

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1/21/04

ALONG CAME POLLY ★★ BEN STILLER AND JENNIFER ANISTON Aniston does her best to make the movie shine, but even she can't make the trite interesting or the familiar compelling. She does make it completely painless to endure, and at moments makes it almost fun, but she isn't Superwoman. Her back, however strong, can only hold so much dead weight.(John Loos) Now showing at Savoy and Beverly CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN ★★★ STEVE MARTIN AND BONNIE HUNT Cheaper by the Dozen manages to use it all – humor, drama, and action to captivate and entertain audiences of every demographic. If one is looking for a few hours of relaxation, smiles, and a reminder of how fun and important being a part of a family is, Cheaper by the Dozen is the film to see.

(Jennifer Keast) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy THE COOLER ★★★★ ALEC BALDWIN AND WILLIAM H. MACY The Cooler uses its funny script and intelligent direction to highlight the three impressive performances. If viewers can take a leap of faith to believe in the powers of a cooler, they will be paid back in full by enjoying this safe bet for an Oscar nomination. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Savoy and Beverly HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG ★★★ JENNIFER CONNELLY AND BEN KINGSLEY Based upon the best-selling novel which was boosted by joining Oprah’s infamous book club, this film focuses on an Iranian couple forced out of the Middle East and a former junkie. When the junkie loses her house to the couple, a psychological battle ensues that provides brilliant performances but lacks some emotional depth.

(Jason Cantone) Now showing at Savoy THE LAST SAMURAI ★★★★ TOM CRUISE AND KEN WATANABE The Last Samurai is an epic adventure with a great soul and a great message. With so many bad samurai movies in the vaults, it is refreshing to see a film finally relate the concept of the samurai to moviegoers in a way they can understand: a Tom Cruise flick. One of the year’s best films and one of Tom Cruise’s best performances. (John Piatek) Showing at Beverly and Savoy

Boardman’s

PETER PAN ★★★ JASON ISAACS AND JEREMY SUMPTER For those looking for a magical adventure into Never Never Land (no–not the Michael Jackson ranch), the Disney animated film is the surest bet. This live action version is missing some of the magic that brought the story of Peter Pan into homes everywhere. Like its band of heroes, this film occasionally soars, but spends most of its time stuck on the ground. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy RETURN OF THE KING ★★★★ ELIJAH WOOD AND IAN MCKELLAN Even if The Return of the King doesn’t win the grand prize on Oscar night, anything short of Best Director victory for Peter Jackson would be an unforgivable injustice. He has raised the bar for fantasy and redefined themes of friendship, honor and courage on a grippingly grand and poignantly intimate scale at the same time. Besides its structural limitations, The Return of the King is more than a rousing ending to a celebrated legend; it’s a battle cry for epic filmmaking.

Now showing at Beverly and Savoy SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE ★★★★ JACK NICHOLSON AND DIANE KEATON This truly is Keaton’s film. While the always-remarkable Nicholson has some revelatory and tender moments, and the rest of the cast stands tall, the film gets its unmistakable shine from Keaton and her ever-sharp comic timing, her winning personality and charm, and the beauty that she effortlessly radiates throughout each scene. (John Loos) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy TORQUE ★ ICE CUBE Take The Fast and the Furious, remove anything that made that film worthwhile, and the result would be something like Torque. Loud, idiotic and predictable at a level that can only begin to be described, Torque has arrived to take over the local multiplex.(Andrew Vecelas) Now showing at Savoy and Bever

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OPENING THIS WEEKEND BUTTERFLY EFFECT ASHTON KUTCHER AND AMY SMART Normal person Evan Treborn discovers he is not so normal. While reading old journals, he realizes that he has the ability to travel back in time. He uses his power to change life for the better, but things don’t alwaysgo as planned.(Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON KATE BOSWORTH AND JOSH DUHAMEL If you’ve ever wanted to win a date with a celebrity you may or may not be obsessed with, you’ll probably like this film. Kate Bosworth plays a small town girl who wins a date with a movie star, and the date turns out better than she could have expected. But nothing is as good as it seems, and problems she didn’t predict arise..(Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend

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Starring Neve Campbell & Malcolm McDowell, directed by Robert Altman Showtimes: Daily at 5:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m., & 10:00 p.m., matinees Sat/Sun at 3:00 p.m.

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Cold Mountain

R, runs 155 minutes Starring Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellwegger, & Jude Law Exclusive HPS-4000/SDDS Presentation!

Showtimes: Nightly at 7:00 p.m., matinees Sat/Sun at 2:00 p.m.

BOARDMAN’S THEATRES www.BoardmansTheatres.com 1-800-BEST PLACE (800-237-8752) 217/355-0068 eTickets/reserved seats: www.BoardmansArtTheatre.com

COLD MOUNTAIN (R) Fri. Thu. 12:30 3:40 7:00 10:00 TAD HAMILTON (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:40 1:00 TEACHER'S PET (PG) Fri. 3:00 3:00 5:20 5:40 7:20 7:40 Thu. 12:50 2:50 4:50 9:20 9:40 11:30 11:40 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 1:00 3:00 3:00 5:20 5:40 7:20 7:40 9:20 ◆ RETURN OF THE KING (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 5:00 9:40 7:20 9:00 GOSPEL OF JOHN (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 4:00 7:45 11:10 MY BABY'S DADDY (PG–13) Sun. - Thu. 12:30 4:00 7:45 Fri. & Sat. 5:40 9:50 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 5:40 9:50 BUTTERFLY EFFECT (R) Fri. - MYSTIC RIVER (R) Fri. - Thu. Thu. 12:20 3:00 5:00 7:30 10:00 1:00 4:00 7:00 10:00 ALONG CAME POLLY (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 12:40 2:40 5:10 7:20 9:30 11:30 Sun. - Thu. 12:40 2:40 5:10 7:20 9:30 BIG FISH (PG–13) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:45 12:10

PAYCHECK (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 1:20 4:30 7:00 9:30 12:00 Sun. - Thu. 1:20 4:30 7:00 9:30 SOMETHING GOTTA GIVE (PG–13) Fri. - Thu. 1:10 4:10 7:10 9:50

LAST SAMURAI (R) Fri. - Thu. 7:00 10:00 CALENDAR GIRLS (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 12:30 2:50 5:10 7:40 TORQUE (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 10:00 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:30 2:50 5:10 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:30 9:40 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 1:00 3:00 5:00 7:30 7:40 10:00 9:40 CHASING LIBERTY (PG–13) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 3:20 7:30 MONSTER (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:20 CHEAPER BY DOZEN (PG) (2 2:40 5:00 7:30 10:00 SCREENS) Fri. - Thu. 12:30 1:00 Sun. - Thu. 12:20 2:40 5:00 7:30 2:50 3:10 5:00 5:20 7:30 9:50

Showtimes for 1/23 thru 1/29

buzz

FIRST THING’S FIRST...

Dr. Death? More like Grandpa Jack MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Y

3

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | PROJECT GREENLIGHT? MORE LIKE PROJECT CRAP LIGHT

ou don’t hear much about Jack Kevorkian these days. It’s probably just as well, since he never really made a good Dr. Death, anyway. He looks like your grandfather.

Granted, he looks like your grandfather who just killed your grandmother, uncle, cousin and neighbor, but a grandfather just the same. While he may have slipped into oblivion, the right to die controversy hasn’t.

The Netherlands has been struggling with the issue lately. It’s been two years since they passed their right-to-die law and an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people take advantage of it each year. Hey, I don’t get it.

If I lived in Amsterdam, I’d try to hang on as long as possible just to iron-lung some fat legal hashish every day. Some folks are pussies, though, and they get enough pain and want to check out, legal drugs or not.

Now, people plan their deaths there. You can hear your favorite song, have a last meal, kiss everyone and then give a big wave goodbye. It seems strange, but it sort of makes sense. It’s a luxury we offer killers sentenced to die. Why shouldn’t we offer it to someone with cancer? Sometimes you just know when it’s time to move along.

It’s also important to realize that folks are just offing themselves willy-nilly. The law is intended for those who are beyond repair and suffering. They have no hope of recovery and are getting progressively worse. They are in pain and just want to die with a bit of dignity.

This concerns some people. These people are Christians. Euthanasia is against their religion. Christians are always concerned when people don’t think exactly like they do. Seriously, it’s a good thing God loves them because the rest of us are really getting tired of their crap. They try to convince you that pizza parties are fun without beer, premarital sex is wrong, and that you will go to hell if you say “fuck.” Of course, they don’t want anyone to die prematurely.

They want you to stay around and suffer alongside them until the last possible moment.

I suppose it is a religious issue, though.

As I understand it, some people think the only way you can’t get into heaven is if you kill yourself. If you have someone else kill you, though, it’s possible to skirt the issue.

Um, whatever. Do you really think you’re going to get God on a technicality? “Wait a second, you had someone else kill you?

Here I am, the supreme being, and I didn’t

see that coming at all. You got me, you sneaky bastard. Come on through the pearly gates.”

I have enough trouble worrying about myself, let alone pleasing God’s uppity ass.

Still, the time will come when I have to worry about my parents. Luckily, they took the ball out of my hands when they each signed a living will. They have no desire to hang on past their time, and I respect that.

They’ve even taken care of the aftermath.

All I have to do is find a place for the ashes.

Dad is easy on that one. There’s a big field behind the house where I grew up.

Every morning, my father would take the dogs for a walk back there. When that walk was over, he was always happy. I fear the day my dad passes, but I’ll dump his ashes back there and feel OK about the whole deal.

My mom’s a different story. She always seemed happy, but it’s hard to remember when she was happiest. I’m not sure what sort of policy Wal-Mart has on dumping the ashes of the dead in their clearance aisle, but if it’s cool, that’s where she’s going.

Wherever and whenever I dispose of my parents’ ashes, it’ll be terrible. I don’t want to see them die. I love them and I will miss them more than anything. Still, even as I say that, if either of them were suffering with no hope of getting better, I would kill them in a second. I wouldn’t do it for me, necessarily, but for them.

They put their time in here on Earth and they deserve the right to go out as they were. I want to remember my dad hunting and throwing me a baseball. I want to remember my mom hugging me and teaching me to read. I’m sure they’d be fine if that’s how they were remembered. I’m sure neither one of them wants to be remembered lying in a tormented bed, a shell of what they used to be. They’re too proud for that.

Look, nobody wants to die, but at the same time, very few people want to be kept alive just for the sake of being alive. Life is tough, but most folks find a way to get through it. They persevere, they work and they make life better for others around them. They live their lives with dignity.

They probably deserve to die the same way.

Michael Coulter is a videographer at Parkland College. He writes a weekly e-mail column, “This Sporting Life” and has hosted several local comedy shows.

News of the weird LEAD STORY Happy New Year: Once again, authorities in the Hillbrow district of Johannesburg, South Africa, were unable to stop the traditional midnight celebrations, in which residents of highrises toss refrigerators, ovens, beds, trash cans and other furniture off their balconies, and police, wearing crash helmets, try to dodge the fusillade.

(By the way, in January in San Antonio, Texas, Chad Allen Tolleson was arrested for burglarizing a store by climbing in through a ventilation duct; however, he got stuck, and early-arriving employees who found him dangling from the ceiling now refer to him as “Hanging Chad.”)

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES

Scientists on the cutting edge have recently developed cholesterol-free mice (by Quark Biotech), bisexual butterflies (by Butterfly Park in Singapore), and the “perfect” slice of buttered toast (by Arla Foods, Leeds, England)

The Los Angeles Kabbalah Centre is enjoying soaring income due to the Jewish mysticism’s recent embrace by pop celebrities (e.g., Madonna, Britney Spears), according to a December New York Times report. Kabbalah bottled water (which has supposedly absorbed the energy of the Torah by osmosis from being in the same room with it and which “changes you on a molecular level,” said a Centre employee) costs $3.50, and red string bracelets, which supposedly ward off negative spirits (which Jewish traditionalists say is an appalling oversimplification of their purpose) cost $26 to $36.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN In January, in Florida’s first election using all touch-screen balloting, Ellyn Bogdanoff won a special election for a state House seat from Broward County by 12 votes out of about 10,000 cast, but the losing candidate was considering a challenge over the 134 “voters” who had gone into the booths but for whom no votes were registered.

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I LOVE GOING INTO TOWN, EVEN IF IT’S ONLY FOR AN HOUR | JANUARY 22-28, 2004

BY MARISSA MONSON | EDITOR IN CHIEF

The Story 4 Hip hop: a song, a culture

S

itting at a stop light on a busy afternoon at the intersection of Neil and Springfield, the light turns green, but you are searching the radio stations for a decent song, a hefty task in this town.

You hesitate. A chorus of horns blare, and the middle fingers begin to rise. You are unaffected.

The ‘60s had the peace sign, the ‘80s had the annoying thumbs-up and we have the anti-peace sign, the bird. Yeah, “Fuck you” litters the streets, the dinner table, and now the airwaves. Since U2’s Bono uttered the previously considered “naughty word” at The Golden Globe Awards—as an adjective—the distinction the FCC used to OK Bono’s usage of “the F-bomb” in his statement, “This is really, really fucking brilliant.” The FCC decided to concede with the times and OK the use of the Fbomb on television.

However, the limits to how far you can take the F-word only reach so far. When referring to sex, the F-word is unacceptable. However, if used as an adjective, it is acceptable and quite colorful, like “rotund” or “robust.”

The Parents Television Council is concerned, as a committee full of parents who are concerned about TV should be. But is

Hip hop. These two words usually conjure images of rap superstars and multi-million dollar enterprises, not research centers and community...

Arts 6 Zoo Company debut

Champaign-Urbana has a wealth of community theater talent and eclectic venues. The newly assembled acting troupe...

Music 9 New year means new music When you’re hot, you’re hot— and right now, the Champaign music scene is hot. In 2003, local bands released..

Calendar 12 Brian Jonestown Massacre After more than a decade of making rock music, The Brian Jonestown Massacre continues...

Film 19 Monster grabs audiences Last year, Nicole Kidman donned a prosthetic nose for The Hours, and it won...

PHOTO | COURTESY OF THE PITCH

Volume 2, Number 3 COVER DESIGN | Andy Getz

Editor in chief Marissa Monson Art Directors Meaghan Dee & Carol Mudra Copy Chief Chris Ryan Music Jacob Dittmer Art Katie Richardson Film Paul Wagner Community Emily Wahlheim Calendar Maggie Dunphy Photography Editor Christine Litas Calendar Coordinators Lauren Smith, Cassie Conner, Erin Scottberg Photography Christine Litas, Steve Kline Copy Editors Chris Ryan, Erin Green, Jen Hubert Designers Mark Hauge, Adam Obendorf, Paul Wagner, Maggie Dunphy, Sue Janna Truscott Production Manager Theon Smith Editorial Adviser Elliot Kolkovich Sales Manager Lindsey Benton Marketing/Distribution Melissa Schleicher, Maria Erickson Publisher Mary Cory

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E-mail us at buzz@readbuzz.com or you can send us a letter at 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820.

We reserve the right to edit submissions.

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All editorial questions or letters to the editor should be sent to buzz@readbuzz.com or 244-9898 or buzz, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820.

Buzz magazine is a student-run publication of Illini Media Company and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students.

Copyright Illini Media Company 2004

23

JANUARY 22-28, 2004 | I BROKE A MIRROR :-(

editor’snote

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BUZZ STAFF

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odds & end

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY one word as terrible as the piles of crap shoveled into children’s brains on a daily basis? Doubtful, but I’m sure people out there in TV-land are considering the notion that a censored Eminem video never looked so good. After all, how are advocating spousal abuse and gay-bashing different than using one of the seven deadly words? (note the sarcasm) I enjoy expressing myself through curse words. I always have. As a child, I called my dad a bastard, later explaining that I had heard the word from Bugs Bunny himself. With points for good measure, I was only banished from the TV, especially Bugs Bunny. I’m sure he thought he should check it out. With the lax FCC rulings, the PTC possibly sees this as a precedent for the future.

I doubt it. These adult words will remain adult words, and if they are used on adult shows, no harm done.

When we start questioning Bono’s moral character, that is where I draw the line. There is something to be said about public decency, but taking it too far means limiting free speech.

It’s nice to see the FCC rolling with the times ... well, at least for now. Let’s be honest: If Bono says it, it can’t be that bad.

Let’s get rid of something truly detrimental to society, the thumbs-up. Now that is something I can get behind.

-M.M.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): For many male athletes, having sex before a big game is taboo. They believe it saps their energy and hurts their chances of winning.The coach of the Chinese Olympic ping-pong team has gone even further, banning his players from falling in love. In my opinion, this approach is crazy and wrong.

According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the best way for you to prime yourself for your upcoming moment of truth is by enjoying as much sweet affection and erotic delight as you dare.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Picture two people you know who seem to believe they are superior to you. Maybe they imagine they're smarter or funnier or more popular than you, and therefore think they're justified in treating you carelessly. Maybe these elitists are under the impression that because they have higher social status or more money than you, you don't deserve their focused attention. Next, Taurus, consider the idea, taught by every decent spiritual leader, that people like this have a pathologically inflated sense of self-importance. Finally, place two white roses in a special place in your home. Beneath each, lay a piece of paper on which you have written the name of the person with the superiority complex, along with the words "I am free of your judgment" and a drawing of a winged heart.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Chinese Year of the Monkey begins this week. According to astrologer Shelly Wu (www.chineseastrology.com), it will be "rich in the unexpected," tweaking everyone's concept of what's normal. Ruses, half-truths, and tricks will proliferate, turning the whole year into an extended balancing act.Is anyone likely to thrive? Wu suggests it'll be those with agile intelligence, frisky imagination, and an affinity for risk and novelty. Sounds to me like she's describing the Gemini tribe.

Are you ready to be a leader and role model for the rest of us?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I got an email from a person who said he was the former president of the African nation of Liberia.

He said that if I helped him transfer his secret fund of $30 million from a Nigerian bank to an account in the U.S., he'd give me $9 million of it. I wrote back to him saying thanks for thinking of me, but I wouldn't take him up on his proposal.Why? I didn't tell him, but I'll tell you. Although it's true that Cancerians like myself are in an astrological phase when we can expect to benefit from other people's money and resources, maybe even in the form of a windfall, we also have to be careful not to get scammed by con artists and manipulators. The only collaborative offers we should consider are those that come from well-known sources and trusted allies.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Each of us has felt the pressure to be a more perfect lover. "Maxim" and "Cosmopolitan" magazines are two of many sources that barrage us with instructions on how to improve our techniques, expand our repertoires, and become telepathic masters of the art of dispensing pleasure. In the com-

ing weeks, I believe you Leos will probably be subject to some of this goading. That could be good if it motivates you in a healthy way; not so good if it makes you feel defensive and self-conscious. To ensure that the mood stays light, I suggest you round up a partner who is willing to collaborate with you in a Bad Sex Festival. During the designated holiday, the two of you will intentionally engage in an orgy of awkward, contrived, and slapstick sex.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It would be a good time to go on eBay and try hawking the invisible bath toys of your imaginary friend or the signature of the celebrity you were in your past life.

Other activities that would align you well with the cosmic ebb and flow: getting a gig moonlighting as a party planner; writing a witty, brazen appeal for a grant to someone who might actually give it to you; and brainstorming about how to have more fun making money and how to make more money having fun.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): My teacher Anne Davies told a story about a negotiation between a U.S. Army general and a cannibal chief in New Guinea during World War II.The general wanted the chief to rally his tribe to help American troops fight the Japanese.

The chief refused, calling the Americans immoral. The general was shocked. "We are not immoral!" he protested. "The Japanese are immoral." The cannibal chief replied, "The Japanese and Americans are equally immoral. You both kill far more people than you can eat." Let this story inspire you to take inventory of your own moral code, Virgo. Which parts of it are eternally valid, and which are shaped or distorted by the transitory beliefs of your culture and era?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The astrological omens suggest that you currently have an aptitude for extreme gardening. In its literal sense, the term refers to the cultivation of flowers and vegetables in places like desert oases or frigid terrains above the tree-line. Interpreting it metaphorically, I'd guess that you have a knack for creating something out of nothing.You could probably coax cautious people into helping you nurture daring plans, or jumpstart a project that seems to have little more going for it than hope.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Writing on salon.com, Farhad Manjoo and Katharine Mieszkowski predict that e-mail spam will ultimately lead to the downfall of Internet porn. Here's the scenario they foresee. By taking advantage of the various sexual enhancements offered via spam, millions of men will become well-endowed, hard-bodied masters of lovemaking. As their ability to date and satisfy real women soars, they will lose interest in porn's virtual pleasures.Voila! Web smut will decline precipitously. I prophesy an analogous development for you in the coming weeks, Pisces.You may find you're able to manipulate one of your enemies into defeating another. Or a compulsive part of your psyche could help solve a problem created by an immature part of your psyche. Or both.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Palm reader Beth Davis had a pithy analysis of actor-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger after scrutinizing his hand print at Grauman's Chinese Theater. "There is this odd kind of Teddy bear thing mixed with warrior energy," she concluded. I see a similar blend in your psyche right now, Libra.

You have the power to make people feel loved even as you express your fierce intention to shape the world to your specifications.You're an unbeatable combination of softie and dynamo.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your word of power for the coming weeks is incubate. Like a mother duck or father penguin, you should sit on your metaphorical eggs to keep them warm and prepare them for hatching. Like an artist, you should push your analytical mind to the limit as you seek insight about your next creative move, then relax and wait for your intuition to sprout.

Like a skilled lucid dreamer, you should formulate a good question about a dicey problem, and hold it in your mind as you fall asleep, fully expecting your dreams to reveal a brilliant solution.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): As I compose this horoscope, I'm sitting in an airport bar during a layover. Something odd is happening with the 16 televisions that stretch from one end of the bar to the other. Until ten minutes ago, they'd all been showing the same basketball game. Now each is tuned to a different station. On one TV, the Blue Fairy is waving a wand over Pinocchio. On another, cops are carrying a pig out of a fountain. I'm also keeping up with the story of an African princess learning to be a card shark and a game of camel polo in an Iraqi wasteland, but that's all I can handle.Your life may soon resemble what I'm experiencing now, Sagittarius. I advise you to be like me and don't let your attention split in more than four directions.

Roger Ebert’s

Overlooked Film Festival April 21-25, 2004

✍ HOMEWORK: If the aver- ☎ Rob Brezsny's Free Will age street cleaner in

Astrology beautyandtruth @ f r e e w i l l a s t r o l o g y. c o m 415.459.7209(v)• 415.457.3769 http://www.freewillastrology. com P.O. Box 798 San Anselmo, CA 94979

Cambodia were to trade places with you now, he'd think he'd been transported to paradise. What aspects of your life would he be most envious about? www.freewillastrology.com

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS Diagnostic aid Leaves stranded Mundane Fit 2003 Broadway musical whose name is an address 18 “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” duettist, 1976 19 Thimbleful 20 Roughed up 22 It’s cast 23 Takes care of 25 Dashboard item 26 Trio to the right of the D on a keyboard 27 Animal that may be striped 29 Emblem of St. Mark 31 Reddish purple 32 Marriage, for one 34 Three-time Major League Soccer champs 36 Show affection from a distance 1 8 15 16 17

Bun holder Ready for a drive Comrade in arms 1987 Pulitzer critic Richard 48 Pox 49 Controversial 1980’s proposal: Abbr.

50 “Yipe!”

52 Fishing locale 53 “What ___?”

55 Kennel club’s interest 57 Auto protector 58 Pause that refreshes 60 Circling 62 Buttercup family member 63 Puccini aria 64 Armenia’s capital 65 Noncommittal reply 38 41 45 46

DOWN 1 Snake 2 Cheese holder 3 “Again …”

4 Term.

5 Fish bait 6 Follow ___ (do

detective work) 7 Vicks product 8 It’s put on the rack 9 In literature, the personification of purity 10 “Don’t ___” 11 Flake 12 Flipped 13 Decorative dining table piece 14 Was hot 21 Bombed 24 Short and thick 28 John ___, 1995 British Open winner 30 ___ de Noël (Christmas Eve): Fr. 31 Get smart 33 Run 35 Instant: Abbr.

37 Available for a pass 38 Compensation package amount 39 Traditional 40 Criticize harshly

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Puzzle by Bob Peoples

42 Slowly come (in) 43 Info that may be

stored with passwords 44 Important Wall St. number

47 Discovery of 1898 51 Title girl in a

Ritchie Valens hit 54 Salinger girl 55 Courtesy title overseas

56 Popular techno

musician

59 Erev ___ (Hebrew

good evening)

61 Fighter at

Chancellorsville

www.ebertfest.com

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New Year equals new local music (Page 9) CALENDAR

Brian Jonestown Massacre at Nargile (Page 12) FILM

Torque lacks big screen power (Page 21)

Exploring hop’s Exploring Hip Hip-hop’s past, present and future