Buzz Magazine: Jan. 29, 2004 by Buzz Magazine

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BEWARE ICE. AND FROSTY THE SNOWMAN. HE HAD A BAD DAY. | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

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

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

Phillips Recreation Center 505 West Stoughton, Urbana Register: 367-1544 Info: TangoSociety@aol.com www.centraltango.com

Classes are progressive to facilitate learning

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ARTS

American Gods review (Page 8)

• Travel • Flowers • Recreation • Culture • Fitness & Health • Sewing & Needlework • Industrial Arts • Music • Crafts

MUSIC

Innocent Words releases new compilation (Page 9) CALENDAR

Green St. Records holds benefit show (Page 12) FILM

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(Page 4)

Over 100 classes starting January 26 and later in the following areas:

• Computers

1407 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign

Local Marine sounds off on military life

Classes open to anyone 16 and over in Urbana, Champaign, and surrounding communities. Register in person, Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or phone us with a Mastercard or Visa at 384-3530.

Visit our website at www.usd116.org/aded

Sleeping with the past (Page 22)

The lost art of

belly dancing

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FIRST WE’LL TAKE MICHIGAN. THEN NEW YORK AAARGGHHH!!! | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004

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editor’snote

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BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

The Story 4 The Marines: A family affair

elly dance. The dance of the serpentine hips. The midsection shuffle. Whatever you choose to call it, there are a lot of connotations that go along with the term. The one I ran into most often while doing this story was that belly dancers are merely sex objects. Now, (and this is just a little secret between me and my audience), I attended one of Aaminah’s belly dancing classes and let me tell you something: Every woman, no matter what size, shape or general demeanor, looks gorgeous while belly dancing. Let me clarify, though, because Aaminah and her dancers possess a very marvelous type of beauty that deserves some illumination. The beauty that they possess, and that I deeply sensed while watching them, is the same type of beauty that I see when watching a great play, or looking at a fantastic painting. It’s the kind of beauty that one feels when they are particularly moved and touched by a great piece of art. I’d like to communicate (before this becomes a tirade concerning the “nature of art” and other pedantic musings) that my personal defini-

Marine Sgt. Micheal Slepicka is a warrior. A Marine for the past eight years, he’s frank and direct. The Marine’s are Slepicka’s family...

Arts

6 Belly dancing: Art in motion

At Aaminah Surayyah’s Tuesday night dance class, the room is lit not only with fluorescent overhead lighting but also with the glittering...

Music

10 DJ Bozak takes emo out of rap Last Wednesday I picked up the “Next Big Things of 2004” issue of Spin to read the articles on, of all things, emo rap...

Calendar

12 Blackouts rock The Monkey The Blackouts return to Cowboy Monkey this Friday, with a new album coming out in February...

Film

19 Butterfly Effect lacks effect To the Teen People crowd, Ashton Kutcher is, like, such a hottie. To everyone else...

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tion of art is any creative form of personal expression (Feel free to disagree with me if you like; Buzz needs more letters to the editor). These women put all of their energy into their dancing; and while I observed them, I couldn’t help but notice the incredible joy that virtually exuded from their pores. Their bodies had become their key source of expression, and each woman had developed her own personal style concerning the artistry of the dance although they were all doing the same technical moves. Watching them spin around in class reminded me of watching the unaffected way that little girls tackle ballet before they hit puberty: They are free and self-possessed and not concerned with anything but having fun and dancing as beautifully as they can. I chose to write this story because I really believe that these women are paying homage to an ancient art form, for themselves, free of the stifling constrictions of our society’s rigid constructions concerning body size. Aaminah and her students really are modern-day Picassos. Not just because they are all as beautiful as one of his paintings, but because they fearlessly choose to try something new despite what other people may say or think about it. And that is art. -K.R.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I suggest you deal creatively with budding tension between you and your allies. Maybe you could convince them to get down on the floor with you and tussle like puppies. Or how about organizing a game of paintball? Gather together in someone's backyard and throw rocks at dishes, bottles, and old TVs. Sneak a boombox into an abandoned building and have a guerrilla dance party. Or stage a Lying Contest in which everyone competes to tell the most outrageous whoppers. Any one of these strategies will go far towards ensuring the success of joint ventures in the coming weeks. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "Mathematician Paul Erdos used to describe himself as a 'machine for turning coffee into theorems,'" writes philosopher Helena Cronin at www.edge.org. "In much the same way, genes are machines for turning oxygen, water, light, zinc, calcium and iron into bears, beetles, bacteria or bluebells." According to my reading of the astrological omens, Taurus, it's a perfect time to apply this way of thinking to yourself. By the end of this week, see if you can fill in the blanks in the following sentence: "I am a machine for turning _______ into _______." In other words, define the nature of the alchemical magic you are here on Earth to carry out. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In his masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, Gemini poet Dante Alighieri described Hell as having nine levels, each deeper in the earth and each filled with more terrible sinners than the one above it. Condemned to the eight level, along with liars, pimps, hypocrites, and frauds, were astrologers.Yet in another book, The Convivio, Dante expressed a reverence for astrology, calling it the highest and most noble of all the sciences. Was he confused? No. He believed that though astrology is a high and noble science, some of its practitioners abuse it so dreadfully they give it a bad name. Can you do what Dante did, Gemini? Can you comfortably hold big paradoxes? I hope so. Wherever you seem to see nonsensical incongruities this week, you will need to penetrate deeper and understand better. CANCER (June 21-July 22): One of the things I like best about the Dalai Lama (our fellow Crab) is his practical approach to spirituality. An interviewer once urged him to discourse on how to cultivate lovingkindness. His Holiness said something like, "That may be too much to ask. How about if we just work on getting the 'kindness' part right?" I bring this up, Cancerian, because the astrological omens suggest that there's nothing more important for you in the coming week than to be charitable and helpful. It doesn't matter whether or not you feel charitable and helpful; be that way anyway. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In Norway, women comprise 40 percent of the government, and state-owned businesses are required to have at least 40 percent of their board seats filled by women. Private companies will have to meet this standard by 2005. In

ACROSS PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

1 Hit man’s hit 9 Loafs on the job 15 Have a table for

one

16 Knows about 17 Big name in

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, Adam Young Copy Editors Chris Ryan, Jen Hubert, Erin Green, Suzanne Sitrick Designers Maggie Dunphy, Adam Obendorf, Glenn Cochon, Mark Hauge, Sue Janna Truscott, Chris Depa Production Manager Theon Smith Sales Manager Lindsey Benton Marketing/Distribution Melissa Schleicher, Maria Erickson

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It's prime time for you to steal good ideas from creative innovators and use them to enhance your life. You're in an astrological phase when imitation of the right influences -- bright and beautiful and benevolent influences -- can lead to rapid progress. (Please don't imitate mediocre, mean-spirited behavior, though.) Copy the styles of fashion adepts, Capricorn. Borrow the successful methods that your competitors and cohorts have employed at their jobs. Read stories about people who are skilled at the art of living, and adopt their strategies as your own. You should always give credit to your sources, of course.The point is not to pretend you're the most original thinker in the history of the world, but to make yourself happier and freer.

contrast, 14 percent of the U.S. government is female, while American women hold 13 percent of their country's corporate board seats. If you're thinking what I am, the government and corporations of our country desperately need a makeover. I nominate the Leo tribe to lead the charge in the coming months.The astrological omens suggest that whatever gender you are, you will have an enhanced ability to promote females and feminine values in any sphere where you have influence. Start immediately, and be ingeniously relentless. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Jack Nicklaus had more major tournament wins than any other golfer in history. Skill and practice were at the heart of his athletic prowess, but on at least one occasion he tapped into a more mysterious source of power. In 1973, he got into an uncharacteristic slump that had him stumped. Then one night he had a dream in which he experimented with a new grip on his clubs.When he went to the golf course the next morning, he tried the dream's suggestion. It worked; his funk ended. I hope you'll draw inspiration from Nicklaus' example, Virgo. If you start drawing a blank in your area of expertise, be willing to call on help you'd normally never seek -- maybe even the woo-woo kind.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the last 50 years, America's Great Plains area has lost a third of its population, due largely to the disappearance of family farms. People are moving out in droves. Ghost towns are proliferating. From one perspective, that's sad, but from another, it's cause for celebration: The wilderness is returning in some places, and vast herds of buffalo once again roam the land. Is there any chance you'd consider initiating a comparable transformation in your inner realms during the coming weeks, Aquarius? Personally, I'd like to see some of your overcivilized parts revert to the natural state. According to my reading of the astrological omens, the cosmos agrees with me.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I invoke Kwan Yin, Chinese goddess of compassion, and ask her to receive the cry of your heart. I pray to Agni, Hindu god of fire, that he might arouse and feed your most catalytic creativity. I summon Bast, Egyptian goddess of play, to show you how to deepen your commitment to life by having more fun. Finally, I offer a bribe to Lilith, Pagan trickster goddess, in the hope that she will steal one of your inhibitions and reveal to you the location of an erogenous zone you've neglected.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The task you'll be faced with this week reminds me of what Australian TV personality Steve Irwin did a few weeks ago. No, you won't have to literally stand next to a 13-foot crocodile and feed it a hunk of meat by hand while cradling a baby in your other arm. But you may very well have to be fierce and tender at the same time, or wild and protective, or daring and loving.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Astrologer Steven Forrest says that you Scorpios are experts at picking the locks to your unconscious minds. Many of the other signs prefer to keep their hidden depths off-limits, but you are inexhaustible explorers, always burrowing down further into the Scary Unknown to discover more clues to the Great Mystery. Libras may specialize in fostering beauty and harmony, and Cancers are masters of nurturing, but your sign is adept at busting taboos and undoing repression. I hope you're ready to live up to your reputation, because the coming weeks will be prime time for your signature brand of soul retrieval. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The way politicians create legislation is akin to how the meat industry makes sausage. The average person might like or benefit from the result, but she'd really prefer not to know how it's done or what goes into it. Though you may not be a sausage-maker or politician, Sagittarius, I foresee a similar kind of process occupying your attention in the coming week. Your challenge will be to patch together a workable, maybe even attractive outcome by taking care of all the messy details with discreet integrity.

✍ HOMEWORK:

Rob Brezsny's Free Will ☎ Astrology beautyandtruth

Around February 2 every year, pagans make a pledge to the Goddess about what their main intention will be in the coming year. What's yours? www.freewillastrology.com

@ 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

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Look for new section featuring more CD reviews.

Volume 2, Number 4 COVER DESIGN | Meaghan Dee Photos by Christine Litas

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY (JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4)

Next week...

BUZZ STAFF

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | BUD SOME TENSION, ARIES

Got an opinion? E-mail us at buzz@readbuzz.com or you can send us a letter at 57 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820. We reserve the right to edit submissions. Buzz will not publish a letter without the verbal consent of the writer prior to publication date. Free speech is an important part of the democratic process. Exercise your rights. 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.

footwear

18 Specialty 19 Cause of misery 20 “Mahoning”

painter 22 It may be a lot 23 Time and ___ 25 ___ pickle 26 “My Way” lyricist 27 Old sponsor of Tom Mix 29 Butts 32 “Forgot About ___” (1999 rap song) 33 Stick in a paint can 34 Stadium snack 38 Has the authority 39 Something to fight for 41 Mont Blanc, e.g.

42 Layered dish 43 Delivers for a

price 48 Crown 49 South Korea’s Roh ___ Woo 51 Get ready to shoot 52 Anthony Eden, e.g. 53 Figures in detective fiction 55 Literally, “numbered” 56 “I can’t believe it!” 58 Writer Rawlings 60 Warm 61 Monopoly avenue 62 Divines 63 Stop stewing DOWN 1 Potation location? 2 Sound of feigned amusement 3 Like much of Webern’s work 4 “___ are milder” (old ad slogan) 5 Flying Dutchman’s choice

6 Letter getter 7 Waiting one’s turn 8 Neighbor of

Nigeria 9 10-year sentence, in slang 10 Sugar suffix 11 Flew off the handle 12 Alternative to 5th Avenue 13 Emphasizes, in a way 14 Rent 21 Turner and others 24 Seat of Webster County, Ia. 26 1608 Monteverdi opera 28 Sci-fi writer ___ Scott Card 30 Experiencing swelling, maybe 31 Sign of a smash 34 Grp. concerned with clipping 35 Old Colorado Indian 36 Special delivery? 37 Like some dryers

18 20

19 23 27

33 38

43 48

52 56

32 34

51 54

55 59

Puzzle by Myles Callum

40 Pal 41 Whip up 44 “I Loves You,

Porgy” singer, 1959 45 Code of silence

46 Rages 47 Hard 50 It may render an

53 M.D. 54 Hindu honorifics 57 Julie or Marie:

52 Some attendance

59 Raven

arrow harmless figs.

Abbr.

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SEXY CARS, SEXY BOYS, SEXY MOVIES | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

Sleeping with the past BY ART MITCHELL | STAFF WRITER

he horror film Scream explained that if one found himself in a slasher flick, there are certain rules he would have to follow in order to survive. These “rules” exist because there are certain trends that occur within a genre that become so commonplace, they could be considered laws. For example: Don’t answer the phone, don’t answer the door, don’t hide in the closet, and don’t have sex (in no particular order, of course). However, this rule phenomenon is not restricted to just horror films. Romantic comedies, teenybopper and sci-fi films all have their own law-like trends. Within the sci-fi genre, the time travel film established its own set of “rules.” Possibly the best way to display these rules is by illustrating “real-life” examples. Back to the Future (Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd), the 1985 film directed by Robert Zemeckis, told the story of teenager Marty McFly (Fox) and his friend, crackpot scientist Doc Brown (Lloyd), who creates a time machine out of a car— a DeLorean, to be exact. Soon after its test run, Marty accidentally gets sent back 30 years to find his parents as teenagers. After inadvertently interfering with his parents’ first meeting–and realizing that the only way he can get back home is to use the energy from a bolt of lightning to fuel his time machine–the movie incorporates comedy and fine acting to become more than simply entertaining. Complementing the “rules”of time travel movie-making are special effects, which include, but are not limited to, the flying car at the end of the film, and the car disappearing in a trail of flaming tire tracks; and technology—the DeLorean’s flux capacitor, which gave the car the ability to go back in time— within the film. Another strictly adhered to rule in the film was the visual appeal of the film’s main character, Marty. If one were to imagine a story of a teenage boy taking a machine and going back in time 30 years, most would probably imagine a nerdy, dorky, overall unappealing person doing it. However, Marty McFly was just the opposite. Marty played in a band, skateboarded and listened to Van Halen. He was the poster boy for being cool and popular in the 1980s. Throughout the rest of the 1980s and into the early 1990s, many special effects practitioners have made significant advances, giving all types of films more realistic looking special effects.

Back to the Future set two precedents that created rules that other time travel movies would follow for years to come: using attractive main characters and special effects to compensate for a weak plot. Timecop (1994) features a police officer who works for a different type of police force: the kind that fights criminals who have the same time travel capabilities it does. Max Walker is a widowed police officer that becomes entangled in a government scandal and travels back in time to investigate it. Coincidentally enough, his trip takes him back to the same time period in which his wife was killed. While in the past, he realizes how deep the corruption runs, which puts both his current and past self in danger. Timecop exhibits decent special effects, plot realism and a special brand of action in the fight scenes. Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Max Walker, which basically means that Walker is able to battle his opponents through Van Damme’s trademark acrobatic martial arts skills. What sets this film apart from many other time travel films is that it seems most of the film’s energy was spent on the action scenes rather than developing the scientific part of the plot. Timecop makes use of flashy and impressive transitions when traveling from one time to another, and displays an interestingly imaginative view to describe the past or the unseen future. Van Damme also brings visual appeal to the main character’s persona. As someone nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Most Appealing Male, he fits the ideal “pretty boy” in a film. Timecop follows the rules laid down by Back to the Future, and amends them. It has an attractive main character and appealing special effects, but it also features elaborate action sequences to help distract the viewer from the plot. Based on H.G. Wells’s famous novel, The Time Machine (2002) tells the story of a 19th century scientist named Alexander Hartdegen who was determined to prove the possibility of time travel. He does this by creating a time machine and traveling hundreds of thousands of years into the future. Once in the future, he meets a peaceful race of humans and realizes that their peaceful world is combated by another race that lives underground in the darkness. His time machine is misplaced, and after investigating its disappearance, he realizes that the underground race took his time machine. Hartdegen befriends a female of the peaceful race, and in an attempt to recover his machine, loses the girl, but regains his time machine. He returns to his real time to tell his story, then travels again, never to return. The Time Machine displays incredibly imaginative scenes of a possible future on Earth combined with a suspenseful plot and art direction, and is a fairly enjoyable film. Guy Pearce plays Alexander Hartdegen, whose star has risen in recent years through roles in such films as L.A. Confidential (1997), Memento (2000) and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). In some circles, Guy Pearce could be fawned over just as much as a Brad Pitt or a Heath Ledger, even though he may not resemble one’s image of a 19th century scientist. Rather, one might imagine an older gentleman with wire-rimmed glasses and a moustache. Guy Pearce’s attractiveness, the beautiful

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scenery and hi-tech special effects show that even a time travel movie based on a classic novel falls prey to the rules. The Butterfly Effect (2004) is a film about a college student named Evan Treborn–played by American pop culture poster boy Ashton Kutcher—who, while trying to recollect events from his blackout-ridden childhood, realizes that he can travel back to his past and change things. However, through both positive and negative instances, he realizes that one small change in his past can significantly impact his future and the futures of those he cares about. The Butterfly Effect uses shockingly violent scenes and flashy time travel effects to grab the viewer’s attention, diverting it from the weak plot. This movie bends the rules of most time travel flicks mostly because of one thing: there is no external machine. In most time travel films, the traveler uses a machine to propel himself forward or backward through time. But despite this small rule deviance, The Butterfly Effect is still a time travel movie and cannot completely break away from the rules of its genre. The most apparent rule in this film is the use of an attractive main character. Kutcher has been cast as the air-headed pretty boy in the television series That ‘70s Show and played an air-headed dummy in Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000). Despite his reputation for being able to hold his own on stage, Kutcher is the archetype for the actor whose face alone will hopefully carry a sub-par script. On top of Kutcher’s pretty face, violence and visual effects distract the viewer from holes in the plot, placing The Butterfly Effect well within the bounds of the rules. When examining the existing trends in recent time travel films, one must acknowledge certain facts about film in American pop culture. First, audiences are intrigued by the unknown and the difficult to explain. An example of these sorts of topics could be deep space, time travel or even love. Another fact in the profit-motivated film industry is that it never hurts to have a pretty face. For years, movie studios have been trying to find the next Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe or Sean Connery (from his 007 days) because they know that even with only a moderately interesting story, people will flock to the theaters to watch as long as the actor is attractive enough. Time travel movies follow two simple rules: use flashy special effects and attractive actors to distract the audience from weak plots. These rules could explain the recent move of this genre from boring to mainstream. Maybe genres that are considered boring now will seem more interesting once studio executives sign Jude Law to a lead role, or Catherine ZetaJones to narrate a documentary. After all, who wouldn’t want to see a nature documentary narrated by someone they want to sleep with? buzz

buzz

JANUARY29-FEBRUARY4, 2004 | WHERE DOES BIN LADEN KEEP HIS ARMIES? IN HIS SLEEVIES!

FIRST THING’S FIRST...

Move over, mad cow disease ... Here comes Asian bird flu BY MICHAEL COULTER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER The Chinese New Year began last week and it’s now the year of the monkey. My friend Eddie is Chinese, but he’s once again just calling this “the year of rib tips and beer.” He’s been calling it that for the last 30 years or so, no matter what the creature on the calendar. This may be because he really likes eating and tanking up, or it might just be because he fears animals and such. He may be on to something with that fear of animals. The year of the monkey strikes terror in me. I saw Planet of the Apes several times as a child and have since worried compulsively about the day simians rule supreme. Naming a year after them may just be the opening they’re looking for. Humans, we’re so arrogant. We assume the creature most likely to destroy us will be the one most like us. It may just be the birds who finally put us in our place. We’ve barely put that mad cow scare behind us for a few days when something new pops up, Asian bird flu. Birds spreading disease scare me a hell of a lot more than cows do. You can control mad cow disease by not eating beef and, let’s face it, cows are pretty damned easy to find. No bovine is going to naturally cross continents to infect his human enemies. Birds, though, them bitches can fly. They can fly any damned place they want, spreading their flu and killing folks along the way. Some people say, “Don’t worry, birds are stupid.” Um, yes, but that has nothing to do with anything. The Son of Sam didn’t strike me as particularly bright, but he managed to kill quite a few people. I’m not even sure birds are that stupid to begin with. Every fall, I see large groups of geese heading south for the winter. That same time of the year, I see the same homeless fellas standing on campus freezing their asses off for the rest of the year. You tell me which is the better idea. So far, most of the infected birds have been chickens, though, and that makes me feel a little better since I don’t see them flying overhead on a regular basis, at least not when I’m sober. This new bird flu can infect human beings and has killed five kids in Vietnam already. So far, the virus has been found in birds from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. The World Health Organization didn’t especially calm my fears when it called the simultaneous appearance of the disease in birds all across Asia “historically unprecedented.”

They also fear the human and bird viruses could combine to create a highly contagious and deadly new virus. It gets even scarier when scientists admit they have no idea what could happen and they need to contain the germ before it has the opportunity to genetically change. They throw in a couple of key phrases like “global proportions” and “new, virulent disease to which humans have no immunity” just to be sure you shit your pants from fear before you finish the article. I don’t get it. Why is everyone trying to scare the piss out of me every freaking day lately? Remember when our biggest problem was an intern blowing our president? Good times. Good times. Of course, they offer guidelines to avoid getting the disease, warnings about as obvious as the ones for mad cow. Don’t touch diseased birds. Yeah, you really shouldn’t have to tell anyone that, but better safe than sorry. You should avoid coming in contact with feces from sick birds. Once again, that sort of falls under the category of common sense. They also say not to inhale feces-contaminated dust. Seriously, you don’t have to tell me twice on that one, either. There is some good news. People don’t get sick if they eat eggs or cooked chicken. Remember, though, that’s cooked chicken. Those of you still eating raw chicken on a regular basis are in danger. From what I understand, if you desire to get this bird flu, your best shot is to spend a large amount of time around live infected poultry. Farmers in Thailand said millions of chickens were dying and the government was engaging in a cover-up to protect chicken exports. Cover-up? That’s not the kind of word I like to hear in any discussion of a potentially fatal flu. The Thai government quickly calmed everyone’s fears, though, saying the chickens were suffering from fowl cholera. Wow, that really helps me relax. The chickens have cholera instead of flu. It doesn’t really matter if you claim the birds are suffering from mild depression or social anxiety disorder. If millions of them are dying, call it whatever you want, it still isn’t a very good situation. Let’s face it, it can’t be long before they warn us about flying cows crowding our skylines, spreading diseases of all sorts. Sure, it sounds insane and impossible. Several things seem that way right before they happen.

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 LEAST COMPETANT CRIMINALS Police in Franklin Township, N.J., charged a 20-year-old man with shoplifting two pythons from the Animal Trax pet shop and driving away with them. The man’s poor judgment was not the reason police caught him, but when they did later encounter the stolen snakes in the man’s house in January, he admitted that one of the snakes had wriggled out of his pocket during the getaway, wrapped itself around his leg, and bit him in the “groin area.”

CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE Wanda Hudson, 44, said she was inadvertently padlocked into her 30-by-10-foot locker by a careless employee of the Dauphin Island Parkway storage facility near Mobile, Ala., on Nov. 7, 2001, and did not get out until a neighboring unit renter heard her cries 63 days later. Hudson, who said she survived on canned foods and juice, was found weighing 85 pounds and in a clinical state of “advanced starvation.” She sued Parkway for $10 million but in September 2003 was awarded $100,000 by a jury.

Americans continue to be divided over the wisdom of “zero tolerance” laws that require heavy punishment even for slight, technical violations, especially as applied to public school students. In December, for example, the Bossier Parish, La., school board voted to uphold the year-long expulsion of a 10th-grade girl for “drug” possession, specifically an Advil tablet. And in January, a Rio Rancho, N.M., middle school student was drug-suspended for five days for possession of a Gas-X tablet. (National media attention eventually caused both school districts to lessen the penalties.)

READER’S CHOICE According to police in Spokane, Wash., two young men on a lark decided to stop their car at a Denny’s on a cold Jan. 14 morning at 5 o’clock, take off their clothes, and give the customers and staff a thrill by cavorting through the restaurant. However, one customer had the last laugh. He left, got into the streakers’ idling car (which contained their clothes) and drove off. The car turned up five days later, minus CDs and the clothes. (Remarkably, the streakers, and a third pal, who remained clothed, have not yet been identified by local media.)

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JANUARY 29 - FEBURARY 4, 2004

buzz

Compiled by Jason Cantone The most watched political special on television each year isn’t the State of the Union address nor is it even related to presidential elections. Instead, it’s the Academy Awards, which spews more politics into viewers’ eyes than every presidential primary combined. From Michael Moore’s epic discourse against Republican leaders and the war in Iraq to Roman Polanski’s controversial win for best director (which was well-deserved, but awkward for a man living in France after accused of having sex with a minor), the Oscars live off of controversy and surprise and this year is no exception.

Sgt. Micheal Slepicka talks Marines ZAK STAMBOR | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

BEST PICTURE After winning four Golden Globes, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was a sure bet, aiming to win the first major award for the entire trilogy. Epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World also aims to get the gold, although its many nominations this awards season (including 10 Oscar nominations now) have been followed by few wins. Fueled by brilliant acting from a powerful cast, Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River hopes to counter the major epics with a smaller, emotional focus, as does Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation which earned a big win at the Golden Globes as the independent film choice for best picture. Seabiscuit probably won by a nose with its surprise nomination over Cold Mountain.

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4 2004 | THE OSCARS ARE POLITICAL? NO!

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The Marines: A family affair At the time, Slepicka dismissed the notion. Yet he had trouble erasing the arine Sgt. Michael Slepicka is a warrior. suggestion from his mind. Three and a half years later, he A Marine for the past eight years, he’s frank acted upon his mother’s suggestion. and direct. The Marines are Slepicka’s family. His job as In late Nov. 1995, when he had the a Marine recruiter defines him. He frames his morning off at RPS, Inc.—a small life around the Marine Corps’ core values: package ground carrier—he went to honor, courage and commitment. And until his the military recruitment office. “I made a conscious decision; I got marriage in July, he considered his boot camp in my car and headed over there,” graduation the proudest day of his life. “Since 1775, 228 frickin’ years, we have not said Slepicka. “I walked into the mililost a single battle,” Slepicka says. “I think tary recruitment office, (and) standing that’s some bragging rights—Marines have a at the end of the hall was the Marine Corps recruiter in his full dress blues. lot of bragging to do.” On Nov. 5, the Marines were sent back to Before he could even say anything I Iraq as part of the Pentagon’s troop rota- knew that that’s what I wanted to be.” Slepicka approached recruiter Staff tion strategy. After the announcement, Sgt. Micheal Slepicka and the Marine Corps seal. Slepicka was confident the Marines would Sgt. Robert Brooks. “I was never the leader of the pack,” “Hey, are you ready to be a Marine or stabilize Iraq. Slepicka said. “I was never the quiet geek. “If you’re going to screw it up royally, the what?” Brooks asked. Enraptured by Brooks’s candor, Slepicka was I was never the jock. I was kind of the inMarines are going to go in there, do the job and do it right,” Slepicka said. “They’re not going convinced to join the Marines. That night, after between guy—everybody got along with to fuck it up—tactics and everything else. looking at a few pamphlets and videos, he agreed me and I got along with everybody.” Throughout his childhood, Slepicka Obviously we’re Marines for certain reasons, to a four-year term of enlistment. “He didn’t have to convince me that the never had a best friend. He was a loner. because it takes a little bit more. We don’t Marine Corps was the best thing since sliced Outside of school, Slepicka was accusaccept failure.” Slepicka constantly refers to the Marine bread,” Slepicka said. “I didn’t care. It could have tomed to playing with his family rather Corps as a band of brothers. As the “aggres- been the worst thing. I just wanted to be my than his classmates. Until he was 11, his family lived on the secsive tip of the U.S. military spear” and the recruiter; I wanted to be that Marine.” Brooks represented everything that Slepicka ond floor of a two-story house divided into smallest branch of the armed forces, Slepicka said that the Marines share com- wanted out of life—self-confidence, discipline two two-bedroom apartments. His paternal and pride. Slepicka sought that pride. He wanted grandfather and his father’s youngest brother, mon bonds, history and tradition. Slepicka enlisted in the Marine Corps to make a difference, in himself and the world. Rob, lived on the first floor. When his grandfather died, his family after a single visit to the military recruit- Slepicka has always sought to improve himself. As a child, Slepicka was reluctant to lead. He moved a few blocks away to another twoment office in Countryside, Ill., a southwest suburb of Chicago, four miles west of his was small and blended into the background story house divided into two three-bedroom apartments. His aunts and his maternal because of it. hometown of Lyons. grandmother lived on the first floor. At the time, he had been Prior to the move, Slepicka had spent out of school for a year the majority of his time with his family. and a half. During that When he would play, it was with his time, he bounced from one younger brothers, James and Jason, with job to another. whom he shared a room. After the move, “Throughout the entire Slepicka had his own room while his time I knew I needed brothers continued to live together. something more,” Slepicka “I don’t know if they started despising recalled. me, but they’d start hanging out together a When he was in high bit more and I’d start to hang out with my school, he got into an friends a little more,” Slepicka said. argument with his As an adolescent, Slepicka didn’t get into mother, during which trouble. He didn’t smoke. He didn’t drink. she said to him, “You Slepicka was the only student from his know what I think? You elementary school to attend St. Joseph need to join the miliA mannequin and banner on display outside the Marine Corps recruiting office. High School, an all-boys Catholic high tary.”

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school in Westchester, a town six miles northwest of Lyons. Despite joining the wrestling team, Slepicka made few friends. He even enrolled in summer school to have an opportunity to socialize. When his parents abruptly divorced after his sophomore year, Slepicka transferred to Morton East High School in Cicero. Soon after transferring, he began hanging out with Steve Lopez, whose locker was next to Slepicka’s. Steve soon became his best friend. One time when Steve got upset at his girlfriend, he coerced Slepicka into driving along with him while he threw Lunchables bologna slices on her car. The bologna corroded the paint of the car. Despite witnessing the incident, Slepicka was careful to insist that he didn’t condone Steve’s actions. Whenever Slepicka discusses anyone’s wrongdoing, he’s always careful to insist upon his own lack of involvement. Just as when he speaks about the military, he’s eager to assert his desire for self-improvement. “No matter how disciplined I thought I was, hell, everyone could use a little more discipline, a little more structure,” Slepicka said. Boot camp instilled the Marine Corps’ core values in Slepicka. When Slepicka arrived in San Diego for boot camp, a Marine officer ordered him onto a bus. As the bus pulled away from the airport, the officer ordered the recruits to put their heads down.

BEST ACTRESS Oscar pundits claimed that after glamorous actresses such as Hilary Swank, Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman won Oscars for their turns as unattractive women, it became an Oscar requirement. In the same vein, Charlize Theron (Monster) comes from a Golden Globe win with a physically and emotionally demanding performance. Critics put fellow nominee Naomi Watts (21 Grams) in the ugly category, but she never looked that bad. On the opposite extreme, Diane Keaton (Something’s Gotta Give) was praised with how good she looked, especially in a nude scene that lasts a full two seconds. Surprise nominations went to Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) and Samantha Morton (In America).This is a battle between Theron and Watts and Watts’s lack of a Golden Globe nomination helps Theron surge ahead. BEST ACTOR Bill Murray shares with audience’s one of his most personal performances in years in Lost in Translation. Oscar has a way of rewarding actors who missed out on deserved nominations (Murray in Rushmore) and Murray will have the edge here. His major competition will be Sean Penn (Mystic River) who has also had an image-changing year. Ben Kingsley (House of Sand and Fog) deserves his nomination but has done better work before. That leaves both Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) and Jude Law (Cold Mountain) who should both feel happy just to be nominated. OSCAR COMMENTS As predicted in Buzz earlier this month, Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog) received a very well-deserved but possibly politically-motivated nomination, as she is now the first Iranian to be nominated in that category. A big surprise was the absence of Scarlett Johannssen from the list. Her performances in Lost in Translation and Girl With A Pearl Earring were both considered among the year’s best. Fernando Meirelles also surprised, receiving a best director nomination over Gary Ross, Edward Zwick and Anthony Minghella. This year is full of surprises.

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 THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT ★★ ASHTON KUTCHER AND AMY SMART

The Butterfly Effect creates so many different alternate realities that it nearly ceases to exist as a whole.There are some worthy ideas hovering around here, but by the film’s pessimistic, anti-climactic ending, they’ve all just about floated away. Kutcher may have a future in serious films, but if you sit through this one, consider yourself punked. (Matt Pais) 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 LOST IN TRANSLATION ★★★ BILL MURRAY AND SCARLETT JOHANSON Sofia Coppola creates a world of loneliness with fleeting moments of hope in this personal film. Bill Murray plays an aging actor sent to Tokyo to make a commercial.While on his miserable trip, he meets Scarlett Johansson and together they make their stays in Tokyo bearable. (Paul Wagner) Now showing at Savoy and Beverly THE LAST SAMURAI ★★★★ RUSSEL CROWE 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

SAVOY 16 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. 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 WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON ★★★ KATE BOSWORTH AND JOSH DUHAMEL

Win a Date utilizes the classic love triangle: The girl must choose between excitement with Tad and comfort with Pete, and a life that’s comfortable. If the film didn’t poke fun at its own cliche throughout its plot, it wouldn’t work–fortunately enough for Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, it does. (Janelle Greenwood) 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

OPENING THIS WEEKEND GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING SCARLETT JOHANSSON AND COLIN FIRTH Based on a novel by Tracy Chevalier, Girl With a Pearl Earring tells the story of a maid(Johansson) who eventually becomes the subject of the most famous work by the painter she works for (Firth) .(Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend THE PERFECT SCORE SCARLETT JOHANSON AND CHRIS EVANS Another teen movie, though this one is about a group of high school seniors who decide to steal the answers to the SATs they have to take soon. But don’t high school students take their SATs their junior year? Let’s hope the plot gets better than this.(Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend YOU GOT SERVED RAZ B AND LIL’ FIZZ Two friends want to open a recording studio, but in order to do this, they have to win their city’s dance contest.Why this wil allow them to open a recording studio, I don’t know, but it sounds like a brilliant film to me. At the very least, there should be some good dancing ... break dancing. (Paul Wagner) Opening this weekend

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11:25, 1:30, 3:35, 5:40, 7:45, 9:50 FRI/SAT LS 11:55 STADIUM SEATING 11:00, 1:05, 3:10, 5:15, 7:20, 9:25 FRI/SAT LS 11:30 ALONG CAME POLLY (PG-13) STADIUM SEATING 11:15, 1:20, 3:25, 5:30, 7:35, 9:40 FRI/SAT LS 11:45 TORQUE (PG-13) 3:10, 7:40 THE COOLER (R) 12:30, 2:40, 5:10, 7:25, 9:55 HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG (R) 12:35, 5:05, 9:35 BIG FISH (PG-13) STADIUM SEATING 11:00, 1:35, 4:10, 6:45, 9:20 FRI/SAT LS 11:55 LOST IN TRANSLATION (R) 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 FRI/SAT LS 12:00 CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (PG) 12:10, 2:20, 4:30, 6:40, 8:50 COLD MOUNTAIN (R) 12:05, 3:10, 6:15, 9:20

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★★

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

o the Teen People crowd, Ashton Kutcher is, like, such a hottie. To everyone else, however, the lanky That ‘70s Show star is little more than Demi Moore’s armrest. His big-screen roles have been standard slacker buffoonery—idiotic slapstick with all the subtlety of a hangover—so his appearance in the bleak, humorless The Butterfly Effect is somewhat of a departure. Yet it’s hardly a breakthrough maturation for the poster-boy prankster. With that said, Kutcher does effectively suppress his inner Kelso throughout most of this jumbled thriller from the writers of Final Destination 2. As Evan Treborn, a scruffy psychology major with a history of blackouts, he replaces gawky stoner antics with melancholic

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WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON! ★★★

BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITER

movie’s goal should always be to appear fresh to the genre without recycling overdone ideas. It’s very easy to fall into this recycling trap with romantic comedies, but occasionally there comes a movie that shatters the mold to liven up the genre. While Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! appears silly and cliche, the film actually has content below the surface, and quells doubts by making fun of the very cliche it has overcome. The film starts with a young girl, Rosalee (Kate Bosworth), and her friend gushing over the new “it” guy of their generation, Tad Hamilton (Josh Duhamel), who somewhat resembles Johnny Knoxville if the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy boys were to get a hold of him. After discovering a contest to “win a date” with him, Rosalee enters and, much to her delight, wins that chance of a lifetime for a small-town girl. Meanwhile, back in Frasier Bottom, Va., the

girls’ boss and friend Pete (Topher Grace) quietly pines away for Rosalee, hoping that she’ll come to her senses and come back home so he can win her heart. Eventually she returns, only to find that Tad has decided to follow her back and move to Virginia to live a more simple life. Shortly after catching wind of this, Tad’s two agents come to convince him to return back to work. After they convince him, Tad wants Rosalee to leave her small town and move back to Hollywood with him to live the life she always dreamed of. On the surface, this plot lacks the depth and characterization needed to push a romantic comedy into the same stratosphere that made many Julia Roberts romantic comedies both amusing and endearing. The charm of Win a Date, however, comes from its ability to laugh at itself by counteracting every dated cliche with witty banter and realistically honest moments between the characters. The film stays charming by not overstepping the boundaries of the genre as well. In many cases, romantic comedies use gross humor for cheap laughs that can really take away from the film. At one point during Rosalee’s dream date, she gets sick in the limousine, but the film never shows gross and unnecessary details. Instead, the awkward moment eventually breaks the ice at dinner when it reminds Tad and Rosalee that nobody is perfect. The cast did well to keep the movie from becoming another run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, and their talent raised the film above the expectations of its genre. Topher Grace,

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THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

paranoia and, at the very least, manages to keep a straight face throughout. That may prove harder for audiences asked to swallow the far-fetched story that finds Evan using childhood journals to unlock repressed memories and change the past. It results in him living multiple versions of his own present— changing him from an antisocial student to a popular fraternity guy to an incarcerated murderer, to name a few—while simultaneously altering the lives of those closest to him. The film is based on the chaos theory principle that even the smallest occurrence can cause the greatest impact, which might make a promising backbone for a story not based on time travel, mental illness and frank malevolence. This is a grim, mean-spirited movie, full of gruesome, menacing violence, performed both by, and against, young children. From sexual abuse and childhood pornography to brutal beatings and a frivolous animal cremation, The Butterfly Effect provides its characters countless reasons to want to change their traumatic pasts. Seemingly nothing can change the acting of Melora Walters, however, who appears to be stuck in her deliberately bubbly, insincere performance as an adult film star in Boogie Nights. As Evan’s single mom, Walters delivers even her most tragic dialogue with about as much conviction as Boogie’s second-rate porn stars in heat. Walters must have felt too much at home between the gratuitous nudity and outlandish violence, which The Butterfly Effect

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT | ASHTON KUTCHER incorporates to little avail. That the preposterous plot remains the slightest bit interesting for so long is miraculous, as the film is packed with laugh-out-loud moments of suspended logic. In each of Evan’s revised versions of reality, no one retains recollections of the way anything used to be. Predictably, every scenario creates some happiness, but an even deeper tragedy. Fortunately, a whole new reality is only a journal entry and a nosebleed away, but that doesn’t impede Evan’s increasing panic and the overall sense that The Butterfly Effect creates so many different alternate realities that it nearly ceases to exist as a whole. There are some worthy ideas hovering around here, but by the film’s pessimistic, anti-climactic ending, they’ve all just about floated away. Kutcher may have a future in serious films, but if you sit through this one, consider yourself punked.

Compiled by Jason Cantone The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King left the Golden Globes with a surprising four trophies. In winning best director, Peter Jackson announced, “I never realized that seven years on this movie would end up turning me into a Hobbit.” With long, disheveled hair and an overweight physique, Jackson looked like ... well,the average Lord of the Rings fan, really. No one in America could have expected Tom Cruise to win the best actor award for The Last Samurai, but everyone was rooting for him Sunday. With Nicole Kidman presenting the award, there could have been a nice catfight with Cruise making comments such as, “Who got you pregnant while we were married? Because I sure as hell can’t have children” (or at least that’s the newest Hollywood gossip.) A new documentary at Sundance Film Festival presents what life would be like if someone only ate fast food. The winning documentary Super Size Me: A Film of Epic Portions probably doesn’t end with the fast food inhaler singing, “I’m Lovin’ It.” Even if he wanted to, it’s hard to sing with a throat blocked with layers of lard and

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The Butterfly Effect Compiled by Adam Young

★★★★ Dreamworks, LCC.

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IF ONLY I COULD WIN A DATE WITH KATE BOSWORTH ... | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON! | KATE BOSWORTH best known for his talents on That ‘70s Show, shines in these comedic moments with his impeccable timing. With well crafted sarcasm, Grace brings the film away from fluffiness, and back to reality. Win a Date utilizes the classic love triangle: The girl must chose between excitement with Tad and comfort with Pete, and a life that’s comfortable. If the film didn’t poke fun at its own cliche throughout its plot, it wouldn’t work–fortunately enough for Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, it does.

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JANUARY 29 - FEBURARY 4, 2004, 2004

The bus drove around for what seemed like an eternity. When it finally stopped, the officer yelled, “Get your freakin’ head up!” As each recruit exited the bus, they were ordered to follow a series of yellow footprints at a 45-degree angle in platoon formation. In the first week of boot camp, the recruits were given shots, blood tests, dental work. Their heads were shaved and their civilian clothes replaced with Marine camouflage. “Then that Friday—we call it Black Friday—the shit hit the fan,” Slepicka said. “We met our permanent staff of drill instructors for the next 12 weeks. I realized that the entire processing week, yeah, they were disciplining us, getting us to learn the basics, but they were coddling us.” The permanent team of drill instructors was intense. Drill instructors teach recruits the rudiments of first aid, water survival skills, marksmanship and tactics, as well as Marine customs, traditions and history. “Progressively it got easier and easier because things started clicking,” Slepicka said. “I realized there’s a purpose behind everything we do.” On April 19, 1996, Slepicka graduated boot camp. He said he considers his graduation one of the proudest days of his life. The discipline of the Marines instilled in Slepicka at boot camp enabled him to assume a leadership role. “I was always the straightforward, disciplined guy, so why not be the guy who disciplines?” Slepicka said. After boot camp, Slepicka was sent to Marine combat training in Camp

Pendleton, just north of San Diego, to learn the fundamentals of infantry. “The instructors were] firm yet fair because we’d earned the title of Marine,” Slepicka says. “They’re more or less like a big brother.” During training, the privates were given time off on the weekends. However, they weren’t allowed to drive. One of the privates in Slepicka’s Marine combat platoon, Pvt. Susaido, had an uncle that was a master gunnery sergeant—the highest enlisted ranking. One night he gave Susaido the Sgt. Slepicka proudly displays his Marine Corps medals and honors. keys to his van and directed He lived in Cherry Point for three years him to the hot night spots. Susaido rounded up a number of privates, including before being approached to become a recruiter. After recruiting training, Slepicka was staSlepicka, and they went out for the night. The master gunnery sergeant’s acceptance tioned in Champaign. After three years as a strengthened Slepicka’s appreciation of recruiter, he’s transitioning into taking over the office’s command. Marine brotherhood. Slepicka is unquestioning in his allegiance “He accepted us as Marines,” Slepicka said. “Not privates and mastery gunnery sergeant, to his Marine Corps family. “Hey, I’m a Marine, you give me an but just straight-up Marines. He was like, ‘Hey, you’re my brothers now, take my van.’ “ order and I’m doing it from the word go,” After Marine combat training, Slepicka Slepicka says. His obedience has benefited him as a began occupational specialty training. As he moved from Millington, Tenn., to Pensacola, recruiter. When he speaks to potential recruits, Fla. for training as an air traffic control com- he’s straightforward and honest. “The Marine Corps doesn’t sugarcoat anymunications technician before being stationed in Cherry Point, N.C., he developed a number thing,” Slepicka says. “Just like I tell these guys when they’re ready to enlist. ‘Hey, boot of close friendships. PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

1/28/04

JyunichiNiizuma

For the past four years, Jyunichi Niizuma has been managing the Kamakura Japanese restaurant in Champaign. Owned by his father, a native of Japan, Kamakura offers authentic Japanese cuisine featuring a one-of-akind sushi bar. Jyunichi Niizuma graduated from the University of Illinois in 2002 with a degree in biology. He currently lives in Champaign.

Mark Laurenz Champaign

"I never knew Ashton Kutcher could actually act."

★★★

How and when did you get into the restaurant business?

Sean O'Shea

My father is the owner. He is originally from Kamakura, Japan, a town one hour from Tokyo. He started the business eight years ago at a smaller restaurant in Urbana. The current location is double the size of the old restaurant and has a sushi bar. While I was in college, I offered to help out the family for one year. One year turned into two, and so on. But, I am leaving my position this summer.

Champaign

"A little disturbing, but (it) kept me interested."

★★★★

SCREEN REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unwatchable

Nick Gaddini Champaign

"Everything was tied together."

camp sucks, you’re going to hate life, you’re going to hate your neighbor’s dog, you’re going to hate everybody.’” However, he’s quick to inquire as to the intentions of each potential recruit. “It’s all about you,” Slepicka says to potential recruits. “What do you want? This is how the Marine Corps could help you out, you make the choice.” He has tremendous pride in his work. “I haven’t physically made them Marines but I took them from the high school or college students that they were, talked to them about the Marine Corps, they told me what they wanted and here, they come back as Marines,” Slepicka said. “It’s kind of like being a dad.” As a recruiter, it has been Slepicka’s job to manage the growth of his family. “Those that are not us—civilians, the Army, Navy, what have you—will never fully understand us,” Slepicka says. “All the stories, all the traditions, the pride of being a Marine that you think you have a good grasp on, you never know until you step on those yellow footprints and someone calls you a United States Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine, nobody will ever take that from me. It’s like being proud of your family, your heritage. This is my family—my extended family.” buzz

Q & A

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

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What do you like best about your job? I get to do all types of jobs. Some days I cook or work the sushi bar. On weekends

I will bartend. I also have to take care of paper work. My father keeps a really laid back atmosphere. Everyone is friends at the restaurant.

What do you do in your spare time? I play a lot of basketball and hang out. I go to the downtown bars. I really don’t spend much time on campus.

What is a typical day like for you? My day is the opposite of most people. I typically wake up at around 11 a.m. and call into work to see if anything needs to be taken care of. I go into the restaurant around 4 p.m. and get off at 11 or 11:30 p.m. Most nights I stay up until 5 or 6 a.m.

What do you see yourself doing in the future? I hope to move to Chicago and use my biology degree to go into pharmaceutical sales. What do you like Champaign-Urbana?

best

about

What would you recommend at Kamakura? The German Roll, made from tempura shrimp, cucumbers, avocados with a spicy sauce, and Masago, is very popular. You won’t find it anywhere else. Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, comes in frequently and requests it. What is the best advice you have ever received? “Take it one day at a time.”

I like the small-town atmosphere. I like that you can pretty much get anywhere in 15 to 20 minutes. I grew up here so I know a lot of people. What kind of advice would you give someone looking to open a restaurant? Ridiculous problems will happen every day. The restaurant will run day in and day out. Don’t get caught up in every problem. Tomorrow will be different. Always keep an open mind.

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arts

BEING A GRAPHIC DESIGNER IS THE COOOOOLEST | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

buzz

t Aaminah Surayyah’s Tuesday night dance class, the room is lit not only with fluorescent overhead lighting, but also with the glittering gold coins on the scarves with which she and her students adorn their waists. According to Aaminah’s artist statement, American belly dance is rooted in the ancient form of belly dance whose ancestry reaches as far back as recorded time. Many of its primary movements come from childbirth rituals, fertilization dances and religious worship. Aaminah’s students are not ancient priestesses, though. Nor are they channeling the spirits of the gypsies that some believe spread the dance form to the occident. The women who move their hips in figure eights and raise their arms in a serpentine motion underneath the fluorescent lights are, in fact, ChampaignUrbana residents. They have taken Aaminah’s class to improve their fitness, become more comfortable with their bodies and last, but certainly not least, to have fun while doing so. Aaminah started belly dancing in 1999 in celebration of her 30th birthday. She says that what started as an activity to improve her fitness quickly turned into a “spiritual obsession” that has remained a vital contribution to her happiness. “I’ll do it forever,” she emphatically declares when asked how long she intends to keep the art form in her life. In 2002, she came to the University to attend graduate school and her belly dancing passion was put on hold. “I couldn’t find any classes.

When I finally did find one, it was canceled because the instructor didn’t show up. I knew that I had to start my own class,” says Aaminah. Since July, she has been teaching local women (ranging in age, size and occupation) the ancient movements. What is particularly important to Aaminah is the cultural significance belly dance carries with it. “Some people think that belly dancers are just for bachelor parties, but there is a rich history behind it,” she says. Aaminah’s mission statement stresses the connection between belly dance and celebration in Middle Eastern countries: “What flamenco is to Spain, belly dance is to the Middle East.” “I started belly dancing in support of Aaminah. I welcomed the opportunity to be a student of hers because I have a lot of previous experience with belly dancing and I wanted to be able to participate (in it) rather than just be an audience member,” says Michelle Loyet, an anthropologist at the University. “A lot of people misunderstand what it is. They think it’s just a lot of costumes. They don’t understand the amount of effort and self-control that goes

Freelance Feature Writing – Learn how to research story ideas, conduct an interview, and write a feature story. Students will also learn how to market a story once it's written. Parkland College Bauman Center. Feb 12-March 18, Thursdays 5:30-7:30pm. The fee is $71. Register by Feb 5. For more information, call 403-4590. F.A.S.T. Track Workshop – Freshman Advantage Study Tactics for high school freshmen provides tips on how to take better notes, develop good study aids and organize time. Parkland campus. Sat, Feb 21, 10am-12pm. The fee is $25. Register by Feb 13. For more information, call 351-2546. F.A.S.T. Track Parent Discussion Group – Parents whose son or daughter is learning study skills in the F.A.S.T. Track program can explore their role in reinforcing these new skills. Participants preview students' class material and talk with other parents about ways to support the incoming freshmen during their high school experience. Parkland campus. Sat, Feb 21, 10am-12pm. The fee is $20. Register by Feb 13. For more information, call 351-2546. Career Planning Seminar – Participants will learn about the career development process, explore interests, abilities, and goals and discover available resources. A tour of the career center is provided, followed by an opportunity to schedule an individual appointment with a career counselor. Event is free, but reservations are requested. For more information, call 351-2536. Parkland College, room A208. Tue, Feb 17, 6-8pm. 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 is Jan 29. Champaign County Historical Museum, Thu 7-8:30pm. Course fee $33. For more information, call 403-4590.

into it,” Loyet adds. The belly dancer, then, is a much more complicated cultural emblem than that of a mere sex object. She emulates not only beauty but, like any athlete or performer, physical disci-

pline. And although she is physically fit, Aaminah’s conception of a model belly dancer breaks yet another cultural stereotype that many women fall prey to: that a belly dancer has to be a size two.”The women in my class

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. Home Buyer's Seminar – Learn important steps in the home-buying process including pre-qualification, inspection and closing. Classes will meet Thu 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. 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.

PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

calendar

JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

ACT Saturday Class – This ACT preparation course is designed to develop skills to raise student test scores. The course materials are provided by Cambridge Educational Services, and includes a pre-test and post-test. Parkland College. Saturdays, 9am-12pm, Feb 17-Mar 20. The fee is $275 and includes all materials. Register by Feb 10. For more information, call 351-2546.

Belly dance: art in motion BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

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“Evolution: The Myths and the Realities” – A noncredit workshop offered by Parkland biology instructor Mary Severinghaus. The workshop will explore misconceptions about biological evolution. Mar 16 and 18, 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. The cost is $29 per person for each session. 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. 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. Career Planning Seminar – Participants will learn about the career development process; explore interests, abilities and goals; and discover available resources. A tour of the career center is provided, followed by an opportunity to schedule an individual appointment with a career counselor. There is no fee, but reservations are requested. Parkland College, room A208. Feb 17, 6-8pm. For more information, call 351-2536. Job Search Workshop: Interviewing – Parkland is offering a free workshop in job interviewing Feb 19 at 12pm to anyone in the district. Workshop will meet in room C123. For more information, call 351-2536. Divorce: A New Understanding – This three-part seminar series, hosted by Divorce Resource of Central Illinois, will cover the issues adults face when they are going through a divorce. The seminars will help people understand the issues of divorce so they can make better decisions. Classes will be held Feb 24-Mar 9, Tue, 6:30-8pm at Robeson Hall, 222 N State St, Champaign. Fee: $21. For more info, call 351-2546. Register by Feb 17.

MIND BODY SPIRIT 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. 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. Falun Gong – Falun Gong is a powerful ancient exercise that improves health, reduces stress and increases energy. This practice involves slow gentle movements of the body, while it teaches the principles of truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance. Springer Cultural Center. Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14, 10:30-11:30am. Fee is $5. For more information, call 398-2376. Falun Dafa Teaching Workshop – Falun Gong is an advanced meditation exercise that improves health, reduces stress and increases energy. The practice involves gentle movements of the body, while it teaches the truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance. Falun Gong is enhances practitioners spiritually, mentally and physically. Springer Cultural Center. Feb 7 & 14. 10:30-11:30am. Fee $5. For more info, call 398-2376.

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:

2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

RATES: Billed rate: 34¢/word

Employment 000

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

HELP WANTED | Full Time

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

Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

Services

100

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

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

1519 W. Healey, C. Conveniently located 1 BR now available. $385/mo. 352-8540, 3554608 pm. www.faronproperties.com

800 W. Church, C. Now avail. Economical 2 BR. $450/mo. 352-8540, 355-4608 pm. www.faronproperties.com Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign. Call Manchester Property Management at 359-0248 for an appointment.

CLEANING

SUBLETS

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

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

LAWN CARE FREE ESTIMATES: Tree trimming, Topping, Removal, Stump Grinding. 384-5010.

Merchandise 200 BOOKS COMPARE TEXTBOOK PRICES! Search 24 bookstores with 1 click! Shipping and taxes automatically calculated. http://www.bookhq.com

Apartments

400

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

Courtyard Apartments 713 S. Randolph, Champaign Renting for Fall/2 & 3 Bedrooms. Furnished & Unfurnished From $608/mo. Includes cable, parking, water. Has laundry facility and seasonal pool. Near campus and downtown Champaign. 352-8540, 355-4608 pm. www.faronproperties.com

Paid-in-Advance: 25¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished

One bedroom fully furnished with balcony for rent August 2004, 203 E. Stoughton, C. $395/mo. 312-6854024 or jasonzawila@hotmail.com. Studio, furnished, hardwood floors, W/D, cozy, on campus, $450, available 01-01 1108 W. Nevada, (217)344-1239. 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 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

Announcements800 MEETINGS

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

107 N. Busey, U.

August 2004 3 level townhouse, cathedral ceiling living room, loft, deck. Must see to appreciate. Sleeps 4, 2 full baths, central air, washer/dryer, dishwasher, garbage disposal, internet, and cable ready. Two free parking spaces. $1380. 377-1552.

There is Help and Healing after abortion. Had an abortion? Feeling grief, anger, shame? We understand abortion pain and loss. Support group recovery classes forming. Postabortion Helpline-217-328-2033 Calls completely confidential. E-mail: newbeginningaglo@aol.com Web: http://hometown.aol.com/ccweaver/ myhomepage/index.index.html We know, we understand and we want to help you heal! Call for help today!

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WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004

The Teller’s Art: First Wednesday Storytelling Concert Series for Adults – Patricia Hruby Powell will perform stories Feb 4 at 8pm at Verde Gallery and Verdant News & Coffee in Champaign. This is the kick-off concert for the 2004 season of the very successful Wordfest which Patricia has organized and is in its second season. The series will highlight the remarkable talent of nationally known storytellers living in Champaign-Urbana and beyond. The series is listed below with bios.

SPORTSWEAR

dance apparel and shoes 12 Main St. • Downtown Champaign • 359-2231

Your local source for dance apparel & shoes

Book Reading – Patricia Hruby Powell will be doing a reading Jan 31 at 2pm at Pages for All Ages Bookstore in Savoy, as part of the Cricket Magazine Celebration. Her new bilingual picture book, Zinnia: How the Corn Was Saved, will be available and for purchase. Zinnia is told in Navajo and English and brilliantly illustrated by Navajo artist Kendrick Benally. Mary Jesse Parker will also read from her Cricket stories.

www.austinsportswear.com

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

Fr Jan 30 Cirque Éloize: Nomade 7pm, TFT, $20-$38 Sponsors: Carol and Ed Scharlau D&H Partnership Ingrid and Bruce Hutchings in honor of Susan Sargeant McDonald Susan and Victor Stone Anonymous

krannert center

Sa Jan 31

Th Feb 5

Sinfonia da Camera 7:30pm, FGH, $7-$30 Sponsors: Stanley O. and Judith L. Ikenberry Hampton Inn

Wine Tasting 5pm, LOB, free

Cirque Éloize: Nomade 7pm, TFT, $20-$38 Afterglow: Victoria Capo and Friends 9:30pm, LOB, free Sponsor:

We Feb 4

Jerold Siena, tenor 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

Venice Baroque Orchestra Prelude 6:30pm, Krannert Room, free Venice Baroque Orchestra 7:30pm, FGH, $16-$32 Sponsors: Avis and Dean Hilfinger Cecile and Ira Lebenson The Jolly Roger, Michael and Trudy Timpone Timpone's Ristorante, Raymond and Ginger Timpone Festival 2004 7:30pm CPH, $9-$16

Mini Concerts for Kids – Move to the music of local high school musicians during The Urbana Free Library’s musical immersion series. Urbana High School, room 1248 (enter at the Iowa St door). Wed 3:30-4pm. No registration required. For children of all ages. For more information, call 367-4069. “On Location” – Join The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department when they go “on location” with actress Leah Farrar White for a “Stuck-in-aBox” pantomime workshop. Children from 2nd through 5th grade can register for this pantomime workshop filled with drama games. Registration begins Jan 31. Wesley Foundation. Sat, Feb 7, 1-3 pm. For more information, call 367-4069.

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. Dealing with the Reduced Budget – Richard Herman, provost, will speak at the Tuesdays@Noon lecture series on alternatives, choices and consequences due to the University’s limited resources. University YMCA. Tue 12pm. 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. Thu, 5pm, free.

Some Krannert Center programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and patron and corporate contributions.

Season Sponsors Coporate Season Underwriters

Patron Season Sponsors

CAROLE AND JERRY RINGER

Festival 2004 is supported in part by the Frances P. Rohlen Visiting Artists Fund/College of Fine and Applied Arts and the National College Choreography Initiative.

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.

“Highs, Lows and How the Wind Blows” – WILLAM 580 meteorologist Ed Kieser returns to William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College as part of the "World of Science" lecture series. He will speak on Feb 6 at 7pm. Tickets are $1 at the door. Friends of the Staerkel Planetarium will be admitted for free. After Kieser's talk, the planetarium will present "The Stargazer," based on the life of UI astronomer Jim Kaler, followed by the Led Zeppelin light show. For a full schedule and ticket information, call the show hotline at 351-2446 or visit www.parkland.edu/coned/pla.

buzz

Panel Discussion: Religion and Modernity – Panelists: Stephan Palmié (anthropology, University of Chicago), Dean Bell (Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, Chicago), Anne Martinez (Latina/o studies and history, UIUC), Andy Orta (anthropology, UIUC). Moderator: Bruce Rosenstock (religious studies, UIUC). Humanities Lecture Hall, IPRH, 805 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana. Feb 5, 3pm. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities at 244-3344 or www.iprh.uiuc.edu. February Blood Drives – Campus blood drives for this month are as follows: Tue – Busey-Evans Busey Lounge 2-6pm and FAR Trelease Lounge 3-7pm; Wed – ISR Lounge 2:30-6:30pm; Feb 5 – Snyder Hall Main Lounge 2:30-6:30pm; Feb 11 – Allen Hall Bloodmobile 2:30-6:30pm; Feb 17 – PAR Saunders Lounge 3-7pm; Feb 18 – Daniels Hall Main Lounge 2-6pm; Feb 24 – LAR Main Lounge 2-6pm; Feb 2527 – Illini Union room 314 10am-4pm. African American Read-In – Part of Parkland College’s Black History Month celebration. Parkland College library. Mon, 11am-1pm. Betty Kilby Fisher Presentation – This event will include a presentation by the author, a question and answer session, and refreshments. Parkland College Gallery Lounge. Feb 9, 12-1pm. Kevin Hales' African Adventure – This event will include a presentation by Kevin Hales, Parkland history instructor, on his recent trip to Africa. Refreshments will be included. Parkland College, room D244. Feb 16, time TBA. Central America's Struggle for Human Rights: Stories Our Media Would Rather Not Tell – This talk will be given by Carlos Euceda of the Confederation of Aboriginal and Black People of Honduras. Euceda works as advocate for the indigenous preople of Honduras in their struggle to preserve their culture in the face of pressures from the Free Trade Area of the Americas. In Spanish with English translation. Informal discussion will follow. Channing-Murray Foundation. Thur, 7pm. Champaign County Audubon Society – Laura Kammin, a research biologist in the University of Illinois natural resources and environmental sciences department, will talk about conservation buffer strips in relation to crops and drainage ditches in central Illinois and their effect on birds and other wildlife populations in the agricultural landscape. Bevier Hall, room 242. Thur, Feb 5, 7:30pm. For more information, call Arlo, 443-2499. Telluride MountainFilm Tour – If you enjoy highcaliber films filled with the adrenaline-pumping excitement of outdoor extreme sports, intimate looks at real-life adventurers and experiencing films that will open your eyes, shock you and fill you with wonder, you are in luck. A selection of these award-winning films from Telluride, Colo., will be showing in the Champaign community. For the 7th year in a row, Champaign Surplus Store, Inc. will sponsor this tour. Savoy 16 Theatre. Mar 15, 7pm, $10. All ticket proceeds are donated to the Campership Program, BSA. Tickets are on sale now. To buy tickets, go to Champaign Surplus or www.champaignsurplus.com.

MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS Alpha Phi Omega – Informational meetings for this national service organization will be held to talk about oppotunities for volunteerting, leadership and meeting new people. Gregory Hall room 223, Thur 7pm. Carle Cancer Center Support Group – All meetings are free and open to anyone interested in learning more about cancer. Carle Cancer Center lounge. This Wed and Feb 18, 7-8:30pm. For more information, call Kate Garbacz at 383-4581 or Laura Auteberry at 383-4066. Carle HIV/AIDS Support Group – All meetings are free and open to anyone affected by HIV/AIDS, their families and friends. Carle Foundation Hospital, room 303A. Tue 7-8:30pm. For more information, call 383-4045.

arts

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | A CALZONE RIGHT NOW WOULD BE SWELL

learn to appreciate the bodies that they have. They do the best they can with them. Their bodies feel strong. When they initially come in, sometimes they are very timid because they aren’t comfortable with themselves. But after a while I see them blossom into beautiful, self-assured women,” says Aaminah. Student Ann-Marie Shapiro has experienced these benefits first-hand. She temporarily “dropped yoga” in order to attend Aaminah’s class. She has been taking the classes for two months, and was primarily attracted to the sessions because of the opportunity to connect with other women. Along the way however, she says she also found that she had connected with herself. “In this culture, part of women’s difficulties has to do with our bodies. Belly dance helps shift that attitude. It’s a really wonderful, joyous thing. Belly dance is empowering. I find that my body can do things I never thought it could,” says Shapiro. Aaminah maintains that she teaches the dance to women and for women. In these classes, women learn to belly dance barefoot while wearing hip scarves, twirling veils around their head and body, and listening to Arabic music. The complete title of her class is “Aaminah Surrayyah’s Dance Collective.” Her fastidious use of the term “dance collective” reflects Aaminah’s desire to share her knowledge about belly dance with other women, as well as learn from other women. She hopes to attract belly dancers with varying levels of skill so that everyone can teach each other. “I’m still learning, too. If there are any women out there who can teach me something, please come to the class! This is an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r e v e r y o n e t o learn,” says Aaminah. Aaminah believes in personalizing the class as much as possible. She encourages women to contact her personally by phone before taking the class. “I want to make sure they’re up for it as well as clarify any misconceptions they might have about the class. One of these

PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

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being that they have to have perfect bodies to dance. They also need to understand that it requires work to learn how to belly dance. You need to practice at home. It’s an ongoing learning process. You have to build from zero and continually work at it in order to get better,”says Aaminah. There is an upcoming student recital planned for April, which will be a friends and family affair, complete with Mediterranean food. Aaminah wants to attract professional belly dancers to Champaign-Urbana who can teach seminars and widen the range of dance influence in the area. She would also like to expand her own teaching of classes as well. Ann-Marie Shapiro and Michelle Loyet have both felt a significant difference in their fitness levels as a result of taking the classes. More importantly, though, each has increased her level of awareness not just of another culture, but of herself and her role as a woman in American society, as well. The classes have altered their self-perception and allowed them to ignore rigid gender prescriptions that prevent women from appreciating and loving their bodies. “I dance with my 3-year-old daughter sometimes and the moves I’ve learned naturally come out as I dance. I was thinking the other day what it would have been like if my mother had belly-danced. I think that this has made me a greater model for my daughter. We can’t take little girls to a woman’s studies class because they won’t sit still and won’t necessarily understand what’s going on, but we can belly dance with them,” says Shapiro. buz z Aaminah’s classes are taught Sundays at 4 p.m. and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. The classes are $7 for one session or $60 for 10 sessions. Any individual who is interested in taking classes to contact her by phone before attending class. She can be reached at (217) 351-5429.

BookReview

American Gods ★★★★

Neil Gaiman

BY BRIAN WARMOTH | STAFF WRITER “

mbitious” is a stingy evaluation of Neil Gaiman’s scope when he set out to write American Gods. The novel is a poised look at America’s spiritual coming-of-age at the end of the 20th century and what a paradigm shift from gods and rituals to an era of media, capitalism and electronics means for the gods worshiped by those who built the country. The plot is focused on the plight of Shadow, a former convict in the Midwest who emerges from his time in prison to find his wife, best friend and only job prospect no longer waiting for him. He is subsequently enlisted on his flight home as an errand boy to an old man who tells him America is preparing for an epic confrontation between the old and new gods of the land. Thus, it reads like a Johnny Cash song blaring through the commotion of gods and CEOs debating the future of America’s soul. The book’s 2002 Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker awards are a testament to the success of Gaiman’s storytelling abilities, which are showcased by his well-polished characters and short prose. These vignettes act as building blocks for the broader premise of raphy. There is a passage as Shadow is en route American Gods–that America is a nation of to Cairo, Ill., in which he discusses the origin immigrants whose aggregate beliefs and cus- of the region’s nickname “Little Egypt” with toms have fallen by the wayside while still per- people he meets along his journey, finding that more than one elaborate legend exists. The meating American culture in subtle ways. These gods are brought out in the text as topic fits into the notion that folklore and characters acting out their own struggles to meanings we attach to places are often rooted contend with their roles in a world where in half-truths and unknowns. Shadow’s journey, which serves as a vehicle beliefs and passions are turning to modern constructs. Herein lies Gaiman’s smug asser- for Gaiman’s glance into America’s soul, is as tion that part of human existence is believing well-conceived as his historical basis. His charin things that are true, things that aren’t true acters render the tone of small-town and things that cannot be proven true or false. Minnesota with striking acuteness. Indeed, the strength of the novel His story’s discourse is twofold. It grapples on belief, though, BOOK REVIEW GUIDE with a difficult topic shows that truth is while still managing often irrelevant to the ★★★★ Flawless to be a well-woven meanings that ★★★ Good story. The story is objects, places and almost entirely chargods possess for indi★★ Mediocre acter-driven. Its viduals and cultures. ★ Bad weakness, though, lies It points out the sigNo stars Unreadable in several key plot nificance of such turns, most notably in tourist locations as the epilogue, that ring the House on the Rock and Mount Rushmore and how belief of plot-driving. These plot twists, however, are fuels their meaning to people now, just as it but minor chinks in what is overall an engrossdid for the shrines and altars of people who ing epic. The strong story, compelling dissection of belief in everyday life, and nexus of mytholeft their homelands for America. An added bonus for Illinois residents is the logical references paint a truly original work. wealth of references to southern Illinois geog-

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arts

BEST PIZZA TOPPINGS: SAUSAGE, ONION, MUSHROOM | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

buzz

ARTIST CORNER BY ERIN DEYOUNG | STAFF WRITER

hom Schnarre is an assistant professor at Parkland College, where he has taught for almost nine years. He has earned both a B.S. degree in education for elementary/special education and a M.A. degree in English from Eastern Illinois University. Schnarre teaches many courses at Parkland including composition, introduction to fiction, creative writing–fiction, and he will also be teaching a drama course in the fall. He previously taught at Eastern Illinois University, where he taught for six years; Lakeland College in Mattoon, and Richland College in Decatur. Besides his passion for fiction, Schnarre loves music and film, from which he derives some of his inspiration. He also is active in theater, whether onstage or directing, and likes to do sketchings and drawings.

PHOTO | ERIN DEYOUNG

Meet My Husbands by Fred Carmichael

BY BRIAN WARMOTH | STAFF WRITER

Do you have any favorite themes or voices that you like to use? As far as theme goes, I guess a current theme is looking at basically how you can redeem yourself when society says you’re not redeemable. Also, another theme I’ve got is obsessions and when do obsessions go too far and when are obsessions OK? As far as voices, I have a tendency to have a little more jaded narrative voice and a little more e x p e r i e n c e d and worldly narrative voice than I am myself. And where that comes from, I don’t know. I guess I am trying to be cooler in my written personae. Have you ever experimented with other genres of writing besides fiction?

playreview

★★★

How would you describe your work? What is your style? I think predominantly what I end up writing is more like a contemporary slice-of-life situation where I deal with the here and now. It’s kind of an examination of dysfunctionality. Right now, what I am really intrigued with is the types of messages we are given at childhood and how they affect our behavior. Do we have any control over that as far as changing or are we just screwed?

t takes an admirable amount of directorial vision to stage a play written like a threering circus of plots within the confined set of a luxury Florida hotel suite. Meet My Husbands, Fred Carmichael’s own circus of sorts is currently showing at the Kathryn Randolph Theater in Danville. The play, presented by the Red Mask Players and directed by Sharon Tipsword, showcases a bouquet of comic talent in the actors. The onstage story they present is a set of intermingling lives, all turned upside down and layered with lies in their quests for money, fame and … sausage. Bob Hous and Janet Lewis play Anthony and Janice

Mulgrew, a husband and wife looking for a new advertising campaign to promote their Swiss Mountain sausages in the United States. Mary Ann Laker plays Elaine Scott, the advertising executive wining and dining the couple at the resort to win their business. Scott’s lies set the madcap series of events in motion and provide numerous opportunities for her fellow actors to display their comic creativity. Hous and Lewis make a great pairing as European sausage barons. They both effectively, but almost unknowingly, deliver the subtle humor within their lines through their thickly accented characters. Anthony comes off well as the business-minded European obsessed with his sausage empire. Lewis makes a complementary spouse for him with her posh naivete. The two form the core around which the hijinks of the others are centered. Scott (Laker) and her assistant, Frances Wharton (Annie Roach), ooze with frustra-

I took both a poetry class and a playwriting class. Stuff I write is pretty visual, and I think I am a little like Christopher Rice in that it is kind of a screenplay turned into a story. It is easily adapted as such, which is how I have read (that) he started. So, a play or a screenplay is pretty easy for me because I can see interactions in the dialogues, sometimes a little better than the background narrative, the nuts and bolts that move you from dialogue to dialogue. As far as poetry, I have written a couple of good poems that I like, but it is always a mystery as to what makes them good. I know when they are good, but it is just a mystery, how they came about. I have a little more craft in my fiction than poetry. Poetry is pretty much a matter of “OK, use less words, make sure that what you begin with and end with makes sense, and maybe you should use some sound every once in a while.” With fiction, I actually know kind of where I am going. I also do some songwriting, too, but that’s just embarrassing.

Excerpt from “Dealing with Donald”

“We can have lots of fun playing, Buddy. You, me and the boys,” Daddy said as he gave Mommy a tense ‘butt-out’ look. “And Donald?” Buddy asked sheepishly. “And Donald,” his father said finally in a reassuring tone. Buddy left to go potty and the parents began their tense whispering again. “You don’t understand how serious this is,” Mommy hissed. “You’re not there.” “Whose fault is that?” Daddy replied. “I wanted to stay and work this out, but...” “Oh, stop it, Dwight. This isn’t the time for that talk. We need to help Buddy now. You don’t understand because you didn’t walk in on the two of them, in the dark,” she whispered, nearly hysterical. This was getting good, I thought as I ate my toast. “Jesus, mom!” Sissy groaned. “Say it a bit louder. I don’t think those people over there heard you.” “Shut up, Tif,” Mommy said, as Buddy walked back to the table. “Well, Buddy...” Daddy asked. “What’s it gonna be sport?” “I guess we can try to invite some other guys over, but I don’t think they’ll be as much fun as Donald.”

Of all the characters you have created, who would you say is your favorite? I would say the narrator in “White Noise” is one of my favorites just because he is someone who is not necessarily an admirable or attractive character, but he has a real naked vulnerability that I think makes him empathetic. That’s what I like is when you can still empathize with somebody even if you are horrified by what they are doing. Then, I had a novella that I wrote in college called “Nova” and there was a character named Sonya. She was this kind of kick-ass character, who had fallen in love with the wrong guy who dies and was trying to deal with it and was dealing with the death and how she was going to put her life back together. She’s probably my favorite female character because she had these complications of spirit and contradictions of aggressive and passive actions. Plus she had a cool name and ended up with a cool long-haired artist guy named Sasha.

tion and cunning throughout the play, directing the charades and spur of the moment lies they must concoct to keep their hopes alive of getting signed to work on the ad campaign. Tim Billings (John Dowers) and Frances’s husband Michael (Jason Asaad) shine as the two most likable characters in the play; the cool heads throughout most of the chaos. The two also provide for some memorable physical comedy during their exploits switching suite rooms via the outdoor balcony behind the window at the back of the stage. The window at upstage center acts as a stage within the stage for some of the play’s most uproarious moments. The fuel added to the fire of the show’s frenzied plot comes from Mike Boedicker and Susan Harden, who play two more characters intent on self-gain at the expense of Elaine’s aspirations. Maggie Christopher (Harden) commands control of the scenes she enters into and smugly embraces her

“I bet they won’t be,” I thought and almost spewed eggs threw my nose. “Well, that’s great, Buddy,” Daddy said with a relieved laugh. In his mind, he had just solved the problem.

buzz

JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

“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 and 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 Cafe 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. “Ethereal Organics” – Photographs from Jim Hultquist on display at Cafe 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. Krannert Art Museum through Mar 28. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested donation: $3.

“But Dad,” Buddy said very seriously. “I may still like Donald

admitting that to a parent was. “Sure, Buddy,” Dwight said softly. “And if that’s the case, that’s okay witH us. Right, Patty?” “Um, right,” Mommy said a bit too brightly and for a moment, she looked at me and smiled, a knowing smile that said she had seen me listening and didn’t care. She knew me: I was the guy who did her hair, the guy who helped her choose her skin care products, the head waiter at her favorite restaurant who always gave her the best table at the height of the lunch hour. I was all of those people, but not her son, not if she could help it, anyway. I could swear she winked at me before she suggested they move along and give someone else the table. The party broke up after that with Daddy and Buddy heading off to the suburbs, while Mommy and Sissy wandered off to the nail salon.

unlikable nature. One of the best over-the-top character performances comes from Melody Hull as the deceptively innocent Spanish maid Carmen, who pulls her own strings during the course of the bid for sausage success. Hull steals more than one scene as the coyly polite maid. The hilarious characters, the actors’ deft physicality and the conflict among the characters self-interests all make for a thoroughly surprising and entertaining series of scenes. All of the actors seem aware of their own agendas and respond to the challenges of their roles with great ability. In doing so, they bring out the bizarre nature of the circumstances manipulating them. Remaining show dates are Jan. 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 8 p.m and a matinee performance Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. The Kathryn Randolph Theater is located at 601 N. Vermilion, Danville.

The Company – The Company, directed by Robert Altman and starring Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell, James Franco and the Joffrey Ballet, is playing at Boardman’s Art Theatre in Champaign now through Feb 5. Rated PG-13 and filmed on location in Chicago, the film is an ensemble drama centered around a group of ballet dancers, with a focus on one young dancer (Campbell) who is poised to become a principal performer. For more information, visit www.boardmansarttheatre.com. IPRH Film Series – Bowling for Columbine, a film by Michael Moore. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion on gun violence in American media and culture. Panelists: Barbara Wilson (speech communication), Darren Mulloy (IPRH/speech communication), Christine Catanzarite (IPRH/unit for cinema studies). Moderator: Stephen Hartnett (speech communication). Krannert Art Museum rm 62. Feb 11, 5:30pm. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities at 244-3344 or www.iprh.uiuc.edu. French Movie Night: Ridicule – Ridicule (France, 1996), rated R, 102 minutes. In French with English subtitles. In 1783, Grégoire Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling) goes to Versailles to convince the government to fund an environmental project that will improve living conditions in his region. Full of hope, he quickly realizes that reason and logic are of no help in the court, but that wits and humor can take him where he wants. A battle of words then begins. Feb 10, 8pm. Foreign Language Building, 707 S Mathews, Urbana.

THEATRE

UPCOMING MUSIC

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 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.

Ann-Margret – Don't miss this Vegas-style stage show live at the Virginia. Whether in movies, on television or on stage, Ann-Margret knows how to please a crowd. Featuring a seven-piece band and dancers, this show is full of singing, dancing and plenty of costume changes. Virginia Theatre. Fri, Feb 6, 8pm. Tickets: $70, $55 and $45. For more information, call 356-9063.

best, ya know?” I was holding my breath on that one, since I knew how hard

FILM

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, but he has a secret–a secret that has the potential to destroy his marriage, his career and his life. Comic moments are mixed with classic elements of tragedy. The Station Theatre, 223 N Broadway, Urbana. Jan 29-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 2-for-1. For reservations, call 384-4000.

W E T B A R

H A H A H A

A T O N A L

C A M E L S

N A C H F R E E L A S A P A T E A R L S H E E T O A S S E N S

CROSSWORD P. 23 K J O B L O N E M C A N K L I F I N T O N D R E O S D O M G N A E T A P E R S H M T Y O E S R

D O G S I I S O N T M E T I E N E A C R A A N K A T A R G E T S T I R R E S A Y S S P E N R A N S O M E A I M A P S M E N A R J O R I R I E N T A E S T E A S

T O R E S R O S T E E L Y

FUND-RAISING “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.

KIDS & FAMILY 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. Storyshop – A story and activity concert held twice each Wednesday. Parents and children, daycare groups and elementary classes are welcome. Main Library, auditiorium. Wed 9:30-10am, 10:30-11am. Douglass Branch Lib. Wed 10:30-11am.

GUITAR LESSONS Individual or Group

all styles and all levels

Good, clean fun!

Guitar Shop 344-7940

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. 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. Funfare – Come to The Phillips Recreation Center for Funfare Thu, 10:30-11am, presented by The Urbana Free Library Children’s Department. There will be stories, songs, puppets and films for children of all ages and their parent(s) or caregiver(s). No registration is required for this drop-in program. For more information, call 367-4069. Babies’ Lap Time – Babies and their parent(s) or caregiver(s) are invited to Phillips Recreation Center for Babies' Lap Time Tue from 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. O Baby! – Lap-bouncing, nursery rhymes and music activities for infants with a caregiver. Champaign Public Library, main library. Mon 9:30-9:50am or 10:30-10:50am. No registration required. For more information, call 403-2030. Rookie Cooks – Hands-on cooking class for elementary school students, presented by U of I Extension. Mon 4-5pm. Douglass Branch Library. For registration, call 403-2090.

calendar

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 pre-register to attend any of these workshops. Bring a red flashlight. 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. Art-to-Go – Presentation, discussion and hands-on activity led by Krannert Art Museum staff. Wed 45:30pm. Douglass Branch Library. No registration. Battle of the Books – Team competition for grades 3 to 5. Study the books ahead of time at the library. Feb 7, 1-3pm. Douglass Branch Library. For questions or registration, call 403-2090.

Tommy G’s Bar and Grill

featuring food by Foudini’s

Fri., January 30th FREE FOOD FRIDAYS! The Prairie Dogs (bluegrass) - free food, no cover! 5-7 PM

The Dednecks

Tuesday Twos – Stories, songs and movement activities for 2-year-olds with a parent or grandparent. Tue 9:30-9:50am or 10:30-10:50am. Champaign Public Library, main library. No registration required.

This classic country band ROCKS! geocities.com/deadnecks/1

KnowZone – Homework help for school-aged children. Tue 4-5pm. Douglass Branch Library. No registration.

Classic R&B, Classic Motown, classic rock, classic everything! Visit them online at www.mauricemindset.com!

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. 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.

YOGA

FOR MEN

Sat., January 31st Maurice & the mindset

FREE MUSIC no cover weekdays! Every Tuesday Adam wolf’s Acoustic Night Plus $2 Tuesdays - two dollar drafts,cans, dom. Bottles, well drinks, order of wings, basket-o-spuds, chips-n-salsa.

Every Wednesday Kilborn Alley Thursdays - Pool Tourney, Cash Prizes, 7 PM Coming in February

6 - The Barflyz, 7 - Gin Ridge Band 123 S. Mattis, Champaign - Counrty Fair Mall, 359-2177

www.tommygs.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.

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

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Cafe Kopi â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Work from local artist Shannon Batman on display through Jan. Artist statement:â&#x20AC;&#x153;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.â&#x20AC;? 109 N Walnut, Champaign. Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 11am-8pm. 359-4266. Creation Art Studios â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Antiques, architectural, gardening, home accessories. Custom designing available. 1104 E Washington St, Urbana. Thu-Sat 10am5pm 367-2367. Framer's Market â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Handmade functional and decorative pottery. 305 W Grigg St, Urbana. MonFri 11am-4pm, or call for appointment. 344-8546.

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004

Gallery Virtu Cooperative â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Original works by the nine artist-owners: jewelry, pottery, paintings, collages, hats, handbags and other textiles, sculptures and journals. The gallery also offers workshops. 220 W. Washington St, Monticello. 762-7790. Thurs 12-4pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm. www.galleryvirtu.org. Hill Street Gallery Inc. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Memorable, original, limited and open edition photographs from the University of Illinois, prairiescapes, cityscapes, European, Northwoods, and Coast to Coast Collections by Larry Kanfer, internationally acclaimed artist. Personalized gift certificates for Valentines. 2503 S Neil, Champaign. Free and open to the public. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 398-2000. www.kanfer.com LaPayne Photography â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Specializes in panoramic photography up to six 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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. 355-8338. Steeple Gallery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The work of local artist Sylvia Arnstein will be on display in the halls and cafe. 17 E Taylor St, Champaign. Cafe hours: Mon-Sat 7am10 pm; gallery hours: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204.

Ziemer Gallery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ON VIEW NOW â&#x20AC;&#x153;Transitionsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Work from Nicole Cisne on display at Aroma Cafe Feb 1-Mar 21. Artist statement:â&#x20AC;&#x153;The vehicle for my artwork is the female nude. The images created of the female nude have changed drastically through time. Looking back in art history you see women who by todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standards would be considered â&#x20AC;&#x153;fatâ&#x20AC;?. Society and the fashion industry of today are the primary causes of an epidemic of eating disorders and false body images in many young women ... Fasting, binging and purging have been recurring problems throughout my life. My artwork is a way to look at these issues. I include in my photographs and sculptures, women of all shapes and sizes...â&#x20AC;? 118 N Neil, Champaign. Open 7 days a week, 7am-midnight. For information, contact Amanda Bickle. 356-3200. art4aroma@yahoo.com. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Picturing Performance: Japanese Theater Prints of the Utagawa School, 1790â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1868â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 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 on view through Mar 21. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Sugg don: $3.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bon Coiffure: Hair Signs from West Africaâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;hairdressing,â&#x20AC;? 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 Mar 21 and is curated by Dana Rush. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested donation: $3. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond East and West: Seven Transnational Artistsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Throughout history, various cultures have been lumped together into the broad categories â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eastâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Westâ&#x20AC;? in order to distinguish an â&#x20AC;&#x153;usâ&#x20AC;? from a â&#x20AC;&#x153;them,â&#x20AC;? according to art historian David Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien. This habit continues today, he says,â&#x20AC;&#x153;but at the expense of cross-cultural understanding, and despite the fact that the lives of many people now cross the East/West divide.â&#x20AC;? 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. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested Donation: $3. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Verde Retrospective: New Works by Old Friendsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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.

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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M WAITING TO BUY MY COPY OF NOW â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;97

Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I call music

Local label/publication Innocent Words releases 2nd CD compilation BY BRIAN MERTZ | STAFF WRITER

ate night airwaves are flooded with cheesy compilation CDs that promise to deliver the â&#x20AC;&#x153;freshest hits.â&#x20AC;? The Now Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s What I Call Music! albums sell millions of copies worldwide. Right here in Champaign-Urbana, a new compilation is about to be released that may not have the same fanfare, but is still eagerly anticipated by the local music scene. Local label Innocent Words Records will release A Warm Breath...and A Scream on Feb. 6. The compilation features 19 total tracks, 10 of which have never been released to the public (see accompanying sidebar). But this is not just another no-name indie compilation. In addition to new material from bands on Innocent Words, A Warm Breath features tunes from Ani DiFranco, Steve Turner from Mudhoney, Centaur and new tracks from Veruca Salt, Ring Cicada and Edward Burch with Jay Bennett. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am proud that 10 of the 19 tracks have never been released to the general public and I think I have a great diversity of bands too,â&#x20AC;? said Troy Michael, founder and head of Innocent Words. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That kind of sums up Innocent Words; we really arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t looking for a certain sound, just great music.â&#x20AC;? Innocent Words began as a magazine that Michael and Larry Gates (lead singer of the Champaign band Lorenzo Goetz) started in December of 2001. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We organized and started Confronting Innocent Words, which was the first issue of the magazine that came out and looked like absolute shit,â&#x20AC;? Gates said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had it Xeroxed and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really have the best software. But we made some adjustments and some changes and it went from there.â&#x20AC;? Gates eventually left the publishing duties to Michael. Today, Innocent Words magazine is a quarterly publication that most recently featured interviews with The Shins, Hey Mercedes and Hammel on Trial.

Innocent Words also branched out as Michael decided to start a record label. That label has since signed and released music from four local bandsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Lorenzo Goetz, Triple Whip, Terminus Victor and Legs for Days. The label also reissued The Dynamo Theoremâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s album and the first Innocent Words compilation called Small My Table. Part of Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to release the first compilation was to project his love of music. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, I am a failed musicianâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no ifs, ands or buts about it. I play guitar at home but that is about it,â&#x20AC;? Michael said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the compilation, it is like my personal album. I get to choose track listings, producers, art work, etc.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like in junior high and Troy is making mix tapes in his basement, only itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on a whole bigger level,â&#x20AC;? Gates said. But like so much else that Michael does, there is also a desire to help other people with his efforts. A portion of the sales from A Warm Breath...and A Scream will go to help Rileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s C h i l d r e n Hospital in Indiana, where Michael himself had spent time when he was younger. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I spent a lot of time there as a kid and I know it sucks to be cooped up in a hospital as a kid for days, weeks or even months,â&#x20AC;? Michael said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There just isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much to do. So Innocent Words is a way I can give back to the place that literally saved my life.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was in the hospital they had an arts and crafts type room, but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that anymore, to my knowledge,â&#x20AC;? Michael said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I

made my Dad this leather wallet, (and) although it was no masterpiece, I think it meant more to my father than anything in the world. I think he might still have it. So I am trying to bring that back through these wonderful bands donating their time and effort.â&#x20AC;? His efforts with last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compilation enabled Michael to purchase several dozen art books to donate to the hospital for the children to look at while they are there. What undoubtedly helped some copies of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Innocent Words compilation was more unreleased material from local artists, but also a contribution from Pearl Jamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stone Gossard. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compilation sees even more contribution from nationally established artists. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never thought I would be able to top getting Stone Gossard, but I did with Ani DiFranco (who appears on A Warm Breath),â&#x20AC;? Michael said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have a great deal of love and respect for what she does, who she is and her record label. Luckily, through some channels and friendships at Righteous Babe Records, they agreed to put a track on the CD since it was for a good cause.â&#x20AC;? In addition to DiFrancoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previously released track â&#x20AC;&#x153;School Night,â&#x20AC;? A Warm Breath has a song from Mudhoneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steve Turner called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Smart Operatorâ&#x20AC;? with Gossard on bass. There is also a new Veruca Salt tune called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blissful Queen.â&#x20AC;? Despite the bureaucracy and hurdles that must be cleared to get a major recording artist on a compilation, Michael continues to do so without a set formula of how to do it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hard work and luck,â&#x20AC;? Michael responds when asked how he did it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. I am blessed to have such good friends in rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll.â&#x20AC;? But the experience of putting out the first compilation seems to have helped Michael as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The red tape is, in fact, an issue I hate to deal with, but it is only a small part of this and well worth it,â&#x20AC;? Michael said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of people just assume you put a song on a disc and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it. But there is a lot more to it than that. This year seemed a bit easier because I knew more about the legal issues.â&#x20AC;? Those national artists will sit beside local

TRACK LISTING FOR A WARM BREATH ... AND A SCREAM 1. Ani DiFranco - School Night 2. Lorenzo Goetz (w/ Czar Absolute) - Fist Above My Wrist * 3. Centaur - Thimbles 4. Terminus Victor - Strange Fulfillmen * 5. Veruca Salt - Blissful Queen * 6. Firetrucs - Telephone * 7. Triple Whip - Tax * 8. Andrea Maxand - When God Shuts the Door 9. Riddle of Steel - Kissing In Secret 10. Legs for Days - Song In D * 11. Cameron McGill -Long Way Back To California 12. Lennon - Nothing Out Of Me * 13. Ring, Cicada - I Remember 14. Rachael Sage - What If 15. Steve Turner - Smart Operator 16. Edward Burch & the Scallion Shufflers (w/ Jay Bennett) - You Shared You * 17. Ward - Boom * 18. Lucky Mulholland - Inside Room #2 * 19. Noe Venable - In the Dark * previously unreleased material

artists including the Innocent Words roster, Ed Burch, Ward and Centaur. Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friendship with artists on the national level doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take away from his pride for local artists. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This could be a loaded question because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to eliminate anyone,â&#x20AC;? Michael said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the tracks that mean the most to me are the Innocent Words bands who specifically recorded new songs just for this comp. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t or will not find them anywhere else. Words canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t describe the love and respect I have for Terminus Victor, Triple Whip, Lorenzo Goetz and Legs for Days.â&#x20AC;? The artists on Innocent Words reciprocate that respect for Michael. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is mutual respect and trust and equal hard work,â&#x20AC;? Gates said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only person I had experiences with that will work as hard as possible for all of us is Troy.â&#x20AC;? A Warm Breath...and A Scream will be available online at www.innocentwords.com in addition to receiving distribution from Carrot Top Distribution in Chicago and Parasol Distribution in Champaign. It is also possible to pick up a copy of the compilation live and in the flesh at a CD release show on Feb. 6 at Cowboy Monkey. The lineup features Terminus Victor, Lorenzo Goetz and Triple Whip. There will also be some surprise guests joining the Innocent Words bands on stage. buzz A Warm Breath â&#x20AC;Ś and A Scream will be available Feb. 6. The compilation costs $10.

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...AND THEN TEXAS, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE! AAARGGHH! | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

Spinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest hip-hop genre MENDOZA MUSIC LINE ADAM BOSKEY | STAFF WRITER

ast Wednesday I picked up the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Next Big Things of 2004â&#x20AC;? issue of Spin to read the article on, of all things, emo-rap. I normally would have dismissed the article after reading those two words paired via a hyphen, but it dealt with some artists I admire, such as Slug from Atmosphere, Sage Frances from Non Prophets, Awol one and like-minded others. I greatly enjoy their music and am equally interested in their careers, for I am friends with people who work closely with some of them (Slug and Sage) in the pursuit of making their careers successful. So I read on with an open mind. I am normally elated to see these guys get exposure in the mainstream press, but this time was different. It was a discouraging article for me. At first I had problems with the emo-rap tag. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly sound like something you want to tell people you listen to, does it? It sounds like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the red-headed stepchild in the family tree of rap music. When I am DJing in the downtown circuit I sometimes get requests for things that make me think to myself, â&#x20AC;&#x153;wow, this person is really in the wrong place right now,â&#x20AC;? but I still try hard to accommodate them if possible. If I got a request for emo-rap I think I would have to tell them to come back on a day when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not playing. Aside from having issues with the emorap name itself, (canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we come up with something better then that?), I can somewhat agree with the association. It is valid to suggest the qualities that typically characterize emo-rock, namely emotional subject matter presented in a confessional style, are being found in some hip-hop songs today. I can see how some people are lumping those hip-hop songs into a subgenre. Although I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but wonder if these people have anything better to do. I have been following these artists for a while, and in the case of Atmosphere, since their first album, Overcast (my personal favorite), was released in 1997. Slug has been rapping this way since the beginning, which discourages my faith in the writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s credibility when reading this article. I have a beef with the Spin writers who think that this is something new to hip hop. Maybe their idea of emo-rap will be big in 2004 (which really means to you and I that the backpacker hip-hop elite will blow up), but my idea of emo-rap has been big for a while. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hip hop that deals with life, hip hop that keeps it real. It started in

1981 with Grandmaster Flashâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Messageâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;?Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t push me cuz Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m close to the edge / Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m tryinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; not to lose my head / Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a jungle / Sometimes it makes me wonder / How I keep from going underâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;and has continued as a tradition in hip hop ever since. I think the gangster rapper Tupac is just as emo-tional as emorap god Aesop Rock. One of my favorite examples of emo-rap comes to us from a rapper representing Queens, none other then Todd James Smith. Around the time that L.L. Cool J was claiming that he was bad: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll stomp you and chew you up just like a jelly bean / Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m bad!,â&#x20AC;? he was also a bummed out dude. You see, Cool J had all the groupies an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;80s hip-hop star could want, but he desired more, oh, much more; â&#x20AC;&#x153;When Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m alone in my room as I stare at the wall / And in the back of my mind I hear my conscious call / ...I need loveâ&#x20AC;? ( â&#x20AC;&#x153;I need love,â&#x20AC;? L.L. Cool J, 1987). This song was understood by most to be one of the first hip-hop ballads, which it arguably could be, but my take was that it was just a brilliant way for L.L. to get even more groupies. At any rate, when you listen to this song, pinch your nose, the content reeks of emo. Just for shits and giggles I tried to figure out the most popular emo-rap song in the history of hip hop. I made my decision based on my observations while DJing. The emo-rap grand-champion is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Passinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Me Byâ&#x20AC;? by The Pharcyde (1992). Everyone knows this song and it is a surefire emorap classic. They rap, â&#x20AC;&#x153;now let me tell you about the feelings I have for you / When I try or make some sort of attempt / I symp / Damn, I wish I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t such a wimp!â&#x20AC;? When I drop this song at Barfly you would think that The Darkness was kickinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ass up in there, because the place gets mashed up! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bizarre how people can react like Mexican jumping beans while these poor guys are rapping about how they have been scorned by the opposite sex. Slug and the rest of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;emo-rapâ&#x20AC;? gang arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t doing anything new (not to take anything away from them) and I am disappointed Spin magazine looked past the work of many important hip-hop artists just for the sake of turning the wheels of hype. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interesting is that hip hop has been emo two more decades then emo-rock has been emo. I am not saying that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the original emo, that title should go to the blues, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another column entirely. buzz

Adam Boskey is a recent graduate in industrial design from the University of Illinois, and is looking for a job. As DJ Bozak he regularly performs in the downtown DJ circuit at Barfly, The Highdive and Mike â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n Mollyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. He also hosts Needledrops, a hip-hop radio show with DJ Spinnerty on WEFT 90.1 FM on Saturdays from 10-12 p.m. Contact him at needledrops@hotmail.com.

TopFive

buzz

The most irrefutably perfect song for the unique sort of depression which accompanies a hang-over. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bother your headache (which canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be said for most of the Velvets oeuvre) but Lou Reed crafts a quiet anthem for the weary and the wasted. Sure, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always someone you could call, but all those wasted years are right behind you, and all the introspective socialites of the world shed a private tear.

2.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sunday Morning Coming Downâ&#x20AC;? Johnny Cash Well for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sake itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a song about a hangover, possibly the greatest one ever written. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all there, feeling alone, having a beer for breakfast, foggy memories of the night before, and feeling like an asshole watching responsible adults engage in everyday activities. But at the end of it all heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just â&#x20AC;&#x153;On the Sunday morning sidewalks/ Wishinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Lord that I was stoned.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poetry. Drunks everywhere should thank Kris Kristofferson for writing this song and then Mr. Cash for delivering it straight from the gut of someone whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been there.

3.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Only Sleepingâ&#x20AC;? The Beatles An ode to sleeping in and not being bothered. Who on Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s green earth hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t felt a deep affection for this song after a sloppy evening of debauchery. Mr. Lennon nails the sentiment, as per usual, by going much far-

JANUARY

ther than advocating simply laziness, he questions the validity of people who do wake up early in the morning. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brilliant. We all secretly hate those people. Especially when weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the ones sleeping it off.

4.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Summer Babeâ&#x20AC;? Pavement Sure, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not specifically about a hangover, but Pavementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s messy, indifferent anthems are tailor-made for the fuck all attitude that is ever married to the morning after. It also gets double points for being about a girl who you kinda like but arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all that attached to, thus making it a killer one night stand song as well. Stirring cocktails with a plastic pink cigar indeed.

5.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just Like Tom Thumbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bluesâ&#x20AC;? Bob Dylan And so with the near-eternal line â&#x20AC;&#x153;And gravity fails/And negativity donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pull you throughâ&#x20AC;? Dylan sums it all up. Like a lot of Highway 61 Revistied, the song is a mish-mosh of images and situations, but this one seems so shot through with all the world-weariness and dissatisfaction that trails a night spent at the bottom of a bottle, it makes the ideal soundtrack to the next day. Causeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; you know â&#x20AC;&#x153;you started off on burgundy but soon hit the harder stuffâ&#x20AC;? and by Sunday night weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all decided to go â&#x20AC;&#x153;back to New York city, I do believe Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had enough.â&#x20AC;?

Next week: Top five lo-fi albums Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

In a strange turn of events, lead guitarist Johnny Quaid and keyboardist Danny Cash of increasingly popular rock band My Morning Jacket have quit the band. In a letter posted on the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official Web site, the two core members of the band claimed that the strain of being on the road and away from friends and loved ones had become too much. My Morning Jacket will continue touring with replacement musicians (Carl Broemel and Bo Koster). The Roots are have just finished a deal to start their own record label Okayplaya Recordings. The label will be distributed through multimedia, design/entertainment company Decon. Drummer Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson is set to executive produce Okayplayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inaugural release, a compilation featuring notable underground hip-hop artists including The Roots themselves, Jean Grae, Aceloyne, Madlib, Dilated Peoples and Little Brother. It is slated for release this summer. Wizened art-rockers Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno have announced plans to launch an ambitious online musician alliance. The organization, currently dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magnificient Union of Digitally Downloading Artistsâ&#x20AC;? is designed to give artists a flexible and wide-ranging forum to make their music available to the public, circumventing both the record industry and the CD/album format and allowing them to set both their own prices and creative agendas.

What the hell? Moment of the week Many readers are most likely familiar with presidential hopeful Howard Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent impassioned (and some might say eerily unbalanced) speech to his supporters in Iowa and its subsequent thrashing in the news media. What many may not be aware of is a recent online trend of taking portions of the speech and setting them to increasingly hilarious songs and remixes. So popular is the fad that an entire Web site (www.deangoesnuts.com) has been devoted to it. Samples of the pants-wetting hilarity include Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high-pitched â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yeaaahâ&#x20AC;? and the remainder of the gruffthroated speech (in which he promises to conquer all the caucus states and the White House in a style strangely remniscient of professional wrestler â&#x20AC;&#x153;Macho Manâ&#x20AC;? Randy Savage) set to the music of Ozzy Osbourne, Lil Jon and The East Side boys and James Brown. Visit the site, it is really funny.

calendar

JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

CHICAGOSHOWS

Hangover Songs

1.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sunday Morningâ&#x20AC;? Velvet Underground

buzz

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

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+ 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 @ FitzGeraldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 @ Martyrs 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

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 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

ART NOTICES Portraits â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 (217) 367-6345 or spiritofsandra@hotmail.com. Creation Art Studios: Art Classes for Children and Adults â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All classes offer technical instruction and the exploration of materials through the expressive and spontaneous art process. Independent studies of personal interests and ideas, dreams, etc. are expressed and developed through collage and assemblage art, drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics. Call for times and schedule. For more information, contact Jeannine Bestoso at 3446955. CPDU's offered. 1102 E Washington, Urbana. www.creationartstudios.com. Visions of a Japanese Vendetta: Chushingura on Stage and in Prints â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A talk by Henry D. Smith, author and scholar of Japanese culture. Krannert Art Museum. Feb 18, 5:30pm. Join Artists and Workshops at Gallery Virtu â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gallery Virtu, an artist-owned cooperative, now invite 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, please call 762-7790, visit our website at 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 St, Monticello. Art Classes at High Cross Studio â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All classes are held at High Cross Studio in Urbana. 1101 N High Cross Road. E-mail or call for reservations and details. (217) 367-6345 or spiritofsandra@hotmail.com. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Portrait Paintings with Oilsâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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" â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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 art-making experience necessary. "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" â&#x20AC;&#x201C; For adults who have always wanted to learn to draw, but felt as if they lacked talent or confidence. Other Classes:â&#x20AC;&#x153;Making Monoprints,â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x153;Art With Intentionâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Open studio. For information on these, visit www.spiritofsandra.com and click on "classes," then e-mail or call for reservations.

tickets on sale now!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6th â&#x20AC;˘ 7:00 p.m. Tickets available at the Convocation CenterBox Office, all

312-559-1212 or order online www.ticketmaster.com Staind will be performing Feb. 8th

NEW CD IN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IN STORES NOW Produced by Nightlight Promotions/NIU

www.niuconvo.com for more information

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ART EXHIBITS & GALLERIES

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Poetry of Imagesâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Raheel Akbar Javedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oneman art show of paintings will be held at Atron Regen Interior, 809 W Park Ave, Champaign. Raheel is a recipient of Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first National Award in Contemporary Painting. Hours: Feb 13 & 14, 5-7pm, Feb 15, 1-4pm. Please RSVP at 351-8827 or atronregen@aol.com.

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Boneyard Pottery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ceramic art by Michael Schwegmann and more. 403 Water St, Champaign. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 355-5610. Broken Oak Gallery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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.

locations, charge by phone

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1/28/04

3:56 PM

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calendar

ThursdayJan29 LIVE MUSIC Big Band Jazz – The Iron Post, 7pm, TBA Gabe Rosen – acoustic – Aroma, 8pm, free Green St. Records Benefit: Lorenzo Goetz, Animate Objects, Brother Embassy, Wilke Surprise – Courtyard Cafe, 8pm, $5 Roscoe Plush, Illini Contraband, TBA – Canopy Club, 9:30pm, $3 Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project – Zorba’s, 9:30pm, $3 Nadafinga, The Ending (formerly THC Squared) – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 Crazy Johnny Band – classic rock – Elmer’s Club 45, TBA

DJ DJ J-Phlip – Barfly, 9pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Pia's in Rantoul, 9pm-1am Pacifica Quartet – This second concert features Mozart's Adagio and Fugue in C Minor, K. 546; the Quartet No. 3, Op. 22 of Paul Hindemith; and Beethoven's Quartet in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131. One of today's most dynamic and exciting string quartets, the Pacifica Quartet continues to win the hearts of audiences around the world with its impassioned interpretations and unique musical voice. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm. $18, SC $17, students $10. For more information, contact the ticket office.

FridayJan30 LIVE MUSIC Hippus Campus – The Iron Post, 5-7pm, TBA The Prairie Dogs – bluegrass – Tommy G’s, 5-7pm, free New Monsoon – Canopy Club, 7pm, $5 Gabe Rosen, Darrin Drda – acoustic/folk – Caffe Paradiso, 8:30pm, TBA Eye Level, Alchymist – The Phoenix, 9pm, TBA The Blackouts, The Last Vegas, Swampass – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $5 Kate Hathaway Band, Tracks, Mike Ingram – The Iron Post, 10pm, $3 Animate Objects, Melodic Scribes – live hip hop – Nargile, 10pm, $5 The Deadnecks – rock/country – Tommy G’s, 10pm, free The Brat Pack – 80s retro – Ju-Ju’s in Bloomington, 9:30pm-1:30am X-Krush – Sneaky Pete’s in Effingham, TBA How Blak Kin Eye Bee – Courtyard Cafe – 7:30pm, free Boneyard – jazz – Sweet Betsy’s, 8-11pm, free Reasonable Doubt – Huber's, 8-11pm, TBA Renegade – classic rock – Elmer’s Club 45, TBA

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004

DJ The Skeleton Danse: DJ ZoZo, DJ Czyrxis, DJ Kajika, TBA – Channing-Murray Foundation, 8pm, $3 DJ Bozak – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5

ON STAGE Cirque Éloize: Nomade – Montréal's Cirque Éloize expresses its firm belief that the circus can unsettle, shake and move people. Enter their dream world as two bands of gypsies make their way to a wedding celebration. Tryon Festival Theatre, 7pm. Flex tickets: $36, SC and students $35, UI and youth $20. Single tickets: $38, SC and students $37, UI and youth $22. Tickets may not be available; please call the ticket office for availability.

SaturdayJan31 LIVE MUSIC The Noisy Gators – Hubers, 8pm, TBA No Slogan, Missing in Action, Squared Off, Clitonix – punk – Red Herring, 9pm, $5 The SchwillBillies – The Iron Post, 9pm, TBA The Buick All-Stars – Embassy Tavern, 9:30pm, free V-Shape Mind, Jaded Kayne, Honest Pod, None Taken – Canopy Club, 10pm, $10 Candy Foster and Shades and Blue – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 At Knifepoint, Will Sheff (of Okkervil River), Legs For Days – Nargile, 10pm, $5 Maurice and the Mindset – Tommy G’s, 10pm, TBA X-Krush – Hanger 9 in Carbondale, 19+, TBA Ton’s-O-Fun – classic rock – Elmer’s Club 45, TBA

DJ DJ Sophisto – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 DJ Mertz & DJ J-Phlip – Nargile, TBA

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Historic Lincoln Castle Hotel Alumni Tap Bar, 9pm-1am. Afterglow: Victoria Capo and Friends – Late-night concerts in Krannert Center’s lobby around the Interlude bar. Features the swingin' jazz musicians of Champaign-Urbana. This evening, enjoy singer Victoria Capo with friends Bill French (piano), Andy Buroski (bass), and Steve Adleman (drums). Krannert Center lobby. 9:30pm. Free. Sinfonia da Camera – Sinfonia's season-long Beethoven celebration continues with the Leonora Overture No. 2, music to Egmont, and a celebrated Illinois native performing the Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm. Flex tickets: $29, SC $28, students $11, Yth $7. Single tickets: $30, SC $29, Stu $12, youth $8. For more information, contact the ticket office.

ON STAGE Cirque Éloize: Nomade – Montréal's Cirque Éloize expresses its firm belief that the circus can unsettle, shake and move people. Tryon Festival Theatre, 7pm. Flex tickets: $36, SC and students $35, UI and youth $20. Single tickets: $38, SC and students $37, UI and youth $22. Tickets may not be available; please call the ticket office for availability.

DAVE’S DREAM DIARY

SundayFeb1 LIVE MUSIC The Station – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Farmer’s Market String Band – Champaign Public Library auditorium, 2pm

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

MondayFeb2 LIVE MUSIC Kate Hathaway – Za’s, 8pm, TBA Open Mic Night hosted by Brandon T. Washington and Mike Ingram – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $2

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

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

TuesdayFeb3 LIVE MUSIC Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Openingbands.com and Tom Grassman – Canopy Club, 10pm, $2 Adam Wolfe, Jess Greenlee – acoustic – Tommy G’s, 10pm, free

DJ DJ Resonate – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ – Cowboy Monkey, 9pm, free NOX: DJ ZoZo, DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats – The Highdive, 10pm, $2

WednesdayFeb4 LIVE MUSIC Openingbands.com Showcase: Brother Embassy, ODM (ex Lance & The BoBoys) – Canopy Club, 10pm, $3 Mosquitos, TBA – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 Kilborn Alley – blues – Tommy G’s, 10pm, cover Adam Wolf w/ Jess Greenlee – acoustic – Ju-Ju’s in Bloomington, 9-12:30am, free

buzz

DJ DJ Chef Ra – roots/rock/reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free d-LO and Spinnerty – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $1 DJ Boardwalk – Mike n’ Molly’s, 10pm, $1

MUSIC PERFORMANCE "G" Force Karaoke – Elmers Club 45, 7-11pm Jerold Siena – Enjoy a vocal recital by this School of Music faculty artist that cuts a huge swath across musical genres, from works by Handel and Brahms; to a selection of French and Italian melodies, to The Scrolls by Larry Alan Smith with text by Woody Allen. Eric Dalheim on piano. Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30pm. Tickets: $5, SC $4, Stu $2. For more information, contact the ticket office.

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, 3519011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352-7512 Canopy Club (The Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 3673140 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, 4428090 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, 3510068 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 Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 3551406 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 Sweet Betsy's 805 S Philo Rd, Urbana 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

music

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | TASTE LIKE CRAB, TALK LIKE PEOPLE

CDReviews

012904buzz1114

MICHAEL JACKSON Number Ones Epic

★★★ BY MARY TALLON

Once upon a time,Michael Jackson, tabloid darling and general curiosity, held a vaunted place in American and world popular culture for reasons that had nothing to do with holding babies over balconies, making friends with chimpanzees or undergoing drastic plastic surgery procedures. He thrilled crowds by moonwalking across stages instead of baffling them by doing things like dancing on his SUV for fans after pleading innocent on child molestation charges earlier this month. He was the King of Pop Music, not the King of Pop Weirdness. The King’s latest release, Number Ones, tries to remind his fans that he first got their attention with music, not antics. In some respect it succeeds. It’s a greatest hits album similar to the number one song compilations from Elvis Presley and The Beatles that have been very successful sellers the past few years in an otherwise somewhat sluggish music market, and as such serves as a worthwhile purchase for the casual Jackson appreciator or the people who bought several of his albums on vinyl and loved them but never got around to buying copies on compact disc even after they got rid of their record players. While it’s hard not to think about the circus that surrounds Jackson’s life when listening to his music now, the hits of his early days remain examples of some of the best pop music ever made. “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” is a dose of disco Prozac that you’ll never get enough of, and when Jackson says he wants to “Rock With You,” you’ll let him as long as you’re not too cool to admit that Justin Timberlake’s solo debut was pretty damn good (for a pop record) last year. And sure, 26 million albums have already been sold containing “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “Thriller,” but with the world population at more than 6 billion, there are still lots of people out there who don’t own the songs that propelled Thriller to its spot as the second-best selling album of all time. Still, not every song on the album—particularly all the cheesy ballads Jackson recorded between his more timeless up-tempo fare and his newer stuff—is infectious enough to make you stop caring whether what you’ve heard about him is true. Ultimately, enjoyment of this album depends on whether you can separate the art from the artist. If you can, by all means enjoy it. If you can’t, just try not to be too judgmental of the people who can.

FLOETRY Floacism DreamWorks Records

★★★★ BY ROSALYN YATES

On Oct. 1, 2002, two women from the United Kingdom brought their style and creativity to the U.S. R&B scene. “Floacist” Natalie Stewart and “songstress” Marsha Ambrosius— together as Floetry—packed soul and hip hop into their debut album Floetic. One year and one gold record later,

fans and critics are able to experience Floetic like it should be experienced—via a live band and raw, unedited vocals. 2003’s fourth-quarter release Floacism does that by taking its listeners to the duo’s July 3 tour stop at the House of Blues in New Orleans. The disc opens with three new songs:“Wanna B Where U R,”“Have Faith” and “Tell Me When.”While “Have Faith” is a beautifully arranged tune about troubled love, the other two recordings sound too much like filler and simply serve as the opening act to the headliner that is the remainder of the album. “Opera” is a quick-tempo cut that enables the crowd to get its energy pumping while allowing Ambrosius to flex her vocals through interpolations of “Habanera” from Georges Bizet’s Carmen. The seductive “Say Yes” yields an excellent response from the mostly female audience, and the band transitions so smoothly into the crowd-pleasing “Getting Late” that you barely notice a new song has begun. The cohesion between the band and the performers is what makes Floacism shine. The disc loses its momentum with “Butterflies,” the Ambrosius-penned song that Michael Jackson originally made famous. Included as a bonus demo on the studio album, the live version sounds just as discordant because the songstress’thunderous vocals dominate the softness of the background music. The sequencing of the album is great; the placement of the debut single “Floetic” indicates that this track will be the final slope of this roller coaster ride. While Stewart flows gracefully through the song, Ambrosius doesn’t offer her best vocal performance. The horn—which is the heart of the song—is also drowned out by drums. The duo redeems itself, though, with the last track “Hey You,” a slow-tempo song in which lyrics appropriately state,“...I’m sorry that I have to leave / I’ll try to come back someday.” The DVD included with Floacism shows Ambrosius and Stewart doing an old-school dance routine while the audience croons the chorus, and the intimacy with which it is coordinated makes you feel as though you are a part of the performance. But it’s only icing on the cake, because your ears already placed you there.

THE OFFSPRING Splinter Columbia Records

★★ BY ANDY SIMNICK

I am not sure who can relate to me on this anecdote, but it is worth a shot. I remember a classmate all the way back from junior high. Originally, he was a good friend. Not the coolest guy, not the most popular, but he had a defined personality, an identity, if you will. Then, upon reaching high school, he became almost an empty shell, acting out for widespread attention but never really having any reason or purpose to his behavior. Now, upon visiting this guy when returning home from school, it seems like he is trying his damnedest to get the identity back. This rambling has a purpose, as it is the exact same way I feel when listening to Splinter, the latest release from The Offspring. Initially, with quality releases in Smash and Ixnay on the Hombre, the band gained a solid reputation as a mainstream punk rock band. The followups of Americana and Conspiracy of One, however, were riddled with novelty songs, most notably “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy).” Although the band has sold millions of records, they have gained notoriety as a frivolous act. Splinter attempts to buck this trend, but the act is too little, too late. The Offspring sound similar to past releases. Dexter Holland’s voice remains the same from the Epitaph Record days as does the fast, simplistic guitar and drum work. There are some tracks that try to pull off a straight Southern California punk rock style, most notably “Long Way Home.” However, the first single off the album, “Hit That,” represents the CD’s best. The song treads a fine line between catchy rock single and novelty poison, the same line that the band is standing on. This album is not horrible, nor is it fantastic. It falls into the vast abyss of rock mediocrity. Whereas other bands of the genre, such as Rancid and Blink 182, are reinventing themselves and putting out some of their best material, The Offspring have released a collection of somewhat enjoyable but ultimately forgettable tunes.

However, just like that old friend from back in the day, it’s always curious to return to see if they have reverted to their old ways.

THE TRACKS Weed the Weeds B3 Records

★★★ BY LIZ MOZZOCCO

Weed the Weeds, the debut EP from Chicago group The Tracks, is exactly what you’d want to hear when you’re having a few drinks with your friends on a cold night: good old-fashioned rock music. The EP opens appropriately with “Tied to the Tracks,” a raucous, rolling number complete with wild harmonica and organ solos. And you certainly can’t go wrong with funny lyrics; this song features the classic lines, “When I smell you, I just have to sneeze / I want to wipe my nose up and down your sleeve.” Gross. As the EP progresses, it becomes clear that The Tracks are admirers of what one might call the golden age of rock.“Wayside” and “Give Us a Kiss” recall Rubber Soul-era Beatles music, while “Catchin’ a Dream” conjures up the Rolling Stones. This doesn’t seem unusual considering the time The Tracks have spent covering these bands, as well as other bands like The Doors and Creedence Clearwater Revival. These are, without a doubt, good musicians to take hints from—the only danger, perhaps, is sounding too influenced by them, and The Tracks run that risk here. However, it’s clear that this band has talents that are unique from the bands that they’ve covered, particularly at the end of Weed the Weeds. “Ballad of Rotten Johnny” is one of the highlights of the recording, as is “West Memphis Three.” This acoustic number, which closes the album, is politically-driven, recalling the struggle of activists to free three young men who were mishandled by the legal system in a Bible Belt town of Arkansas. If this first sampling of songs from The Tracks is any indication of what’s to come, good things can be expected on their debut full-length. They might still be individuating their sound from the bands that have influenced them, but The Tracks have just as much potential to rock ‘n’ roll as their predecessors.

OnTheSpotReview MOSQUITOS Mosquitos Bar None Records BY JACOB DITTMER

Before Listening At first glance I would probably discard this CD based solely on its upbeat cover art and the name of Mosquitos. With its ultra-blue skies and green-green grass, I can’t help but be reminded of that awful Robin Williams film Toys. Not a great start. But some further investigation reveals they are an indie pop trio from Hoboken, N.J. (at least their label is from there). So I immediately draw the comparison to Yo La Tengo who are also an indie pop outfit from that great city of Hoboken. Even the lineup is similar.Two males and a female round out the trio. But it is really hard to draw the YLT comparison, because their career is so expansive and as musicians they have done much with their music. I am thinking this record will contain contrived uplifting pop melodies with no real heart at the center of it all. There may even be some campiness in some of the songs. But wait.The track listing may be contrary to my first impression. I am seeing songs with actual Spanish in the title. We’ve got “Preguica” and “Nos Dois” standing alongside tracks called “Juju & Blue” and “Rainsong” (I doubt that one is anything like Zeppelin’s

CHARTS PARASOL RECORDS’ TOP 10 SELLERS 1. Belle And Sebastian - Fans Only (Matador) 2. Camera Obscura - Underachievers Please Try Hard (Merge) 3. M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts (Gooom Disques - France) 4. The Concretes - The Concretes (Licking Fingers - Sweden) 5. Leopold - Dreaming Is For Anyone (Take One More Take - Sweden) 6. Calla - Calla (Arena Rock) 7. Moonbabies - The Orange Billboard (Hidden Agenda) 8. Califone - Heron King Blues (Thrill Jockey) 9. Bobby Conn - The Homeland (Thrill Jockey) 10. Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner (XL/Matador)

NEW RELEASES Big Boi - Big Boi’s Boom Boom Room Kenny Chesney - When the Sun Goes Down Harry Connick, Jr. - Only You Dollar Store - Dollar Store Incubus - A Crow Left of the Murder... Microphones - Live in Japan The Walkmen - Bows and Arrows The Wannadies - Before & After The Elected - Me First

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Un-listenable

“Rain Song”). So is this a trio that actually has some Spanish integrated into the lyrics unlike the often mistaken-to-be Hispanic Yo La Tengo? We’ll see.

After Listening This is definitely a surprise of an album. It kicks off with the upbeat and warm “Rainsong” with singer Juju Stulbach singing in lush vocals and the bubbling sound of keyboards.This song sets the mood for the rest of this relaxing and sunny album. By track three a new male vocalist has revealed himself singing in a subtle tone much like that of Yo La Tengo’s Ira Hubley. Yes, the comparison to YLT is ever stronger with each track, as Mosquitos reveal themselves to be an indie pop trio with a multi-vocalist lineup. The influence of Brazilian music like Bossa Nova and Samba permeate the melodies and harmonies on this debut of Mosquitos. Juju Stulbach sings in Portugese to complete the obvious influence of “Girl from Ipanema,”one of jazz’s most known songs, and the birth of a Bossa Nova revolution in the ‘50s and ‘60s. The production is done by the two male members, Chris Root and Jon Marshall Smith, which gives the album a complete sound and unified vision. On “Policeman,” the Mosquitos’ sound is almost right on track with YLT circaFakebook with its story-like lyrical delivery. Overall the indie pop sensibilities coupled with its Bossa Nova influence comes together to make a nice fit that will make most listeners sit back and relax. I found myself enjoying this album almost as much as a good YLT album and not abhorring its existence like that awful film Toys.

Mosquitos will be playing at Cowboy Monkey on Feb. 4.

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Ipanema comes to town

call for participation

ith influences in the classic bossa nova hit of “Girl from Ipanema” and roots in the indie pop scene, Mosquitos are sure to entertain this Wednesday at Cowboy Monkey. The multi-vocalist aspects of the band with female vocalist Juju Stulbach and Chris Root gives it a depth that will keep listeners pleased. Stulbach’s sultry Brazilian voice will bring flashbacks to many who appreciate the sounds of bossa nova. Their music is warm and sunny, bringing a breath of warm air from the beaches of Brazil to the streets of Champaign. Yo La Tengo fans will be pleased with this group’s approach to their music, which isn’t that different than the New Jersey indie heroes. Enjoy the warmth of Brazil and the fun, indie pop of Mosquitos this Saturday.

The Twelfth Annual volunteer-operated exhibition and sale, featuring over 200 local artists’ works will be held in downtown Champaign.

Blackouts rock the Monkey

he Blackouts return to Cowboy Monkey this Friday, with a new album coming out in February. The band adds an innovative sound to garage rock, and will make you want to party right along with the members when you hear them perform live. The group’s last CD, Everyday is a Sunday Evening, received critical acclaim and the single “Gotta Go Somewhere Else” was on regular rotation on University radio station WPGU 107.1. The group started making music more than six years ago and is still going strong. The Last Vegas and Swampass will also perform Friday. The show starts at 10 p.m. and has a $5 cover at the door.

Benefit show highlights local music

reen St. Records, the first registered student organization of its kind at the University, is holding a benefit concert this Thursday to promote its record label and local music acts. Head to the Courtyard Cafe on campus to hear Lorenzo Goetz, Animate Objects, Brother Embassy and Wilke Surprise perform. Tickets are $5 at the door. Local band Brother Embassy has been performing in the area for the past year and will bring its funk music to the show. Fellow local band Lorenzo Goetz will also perform, a band that blends funk and rock to create a unique, eclectic sound. Fans of hip-hop groups such as The Roots will enjoy Animate Objects, a progressive live hip-hop band. Five University students started Green St. Records, and they have big plans for the label. All proceeds from this Thursday’s concert will fund the production of Green St. Records’ first album, a compilation CD called Emergence that will feature local bands Missing the Point, Bullet Called Life, Kate Hathaway, Eclectic Theory, At Knifepoint, Spinnerty, Sincreely Calvin, Fredology, Drop the One, Synesthesia, Animate Objects, The Ending, and Triple Whips, according to www.greenstrecords.com.

On-line forms available to download at

wo resident DJs combine forces for a night of uplifting house music this Saturday. J-Phlip, Barfly’s Thursday night resident and DJ Mertz, Nargile’s Saturday night resident, will perform a special tag-team house set downstairs at Nargile. You can expect lots of vocals over funky house beats when these two play together. Upstairs, local instrumental prog-rock juggernaut At Knifepoint headlines a show that also features local group Legs for Days and a solo performance by Will Sheff of Okkervil River. It all starts at 10 p.m. with a $5 cover at the door.

Proceeds go directly to The Greater Community

www.gcapnow.com or can be picked up at the

AIDS Project (GCAP) a

following locations

local non-profit agency

beginning February 16

providing support

• U of I, Dept. of Art & Design Mailroom

services for those

• U of I Graduate Studios

affected by HIV/AIDS.

• Dandelion, 9 East Taylor, C. • Art Coop 410 East Green, C.

Nargile brings DJs, bands together under one roof

• Parkland College Art Dept. Office – C Wing • Call GCAP 217.351.2437

Forms and stickers also available at the GCAP office, please call

SUBMISSION DATES & HOURS Saturday , April 17, 12–7 pm Sunday , April 18, 12–7 pm Monday, April 19, 4–9 pm EXHIBITION DATES & HOURS Friday, April 23, 6–10 pm Saturday, April 24, 1–10 pm Sunday, April 25, 1–7 pm Monday, April 26, 1–7 pm For more information call 217.351.2437

ahead.

www.gcapnow.com

012904buzz1213

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3:55 PM

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Page 1

buzzpicks

calendar

Ipanema comes to town

call for participation

The Twelfth Annual volunteer-operated exhibition and sale, featuring over 200 local artists’ works will be held in downtown Champaign.

Blackouts rock the Monkey

Benefit show highlights local music

On-line forms available to download at

Proceeds go directly to The Greater Community

www.gcapnow.com or can be picked up at the

AIDS Project (GCAP) a

following locations

local non-profit agency

beginning February 16

providing support

• U of I, Dept. of Art & Design Mailroom

services for those

• U of I Graduate Studios

affected by HIV/AIDS.

• Dandelion, 9 East Taylor, C. • Art Coop 410 East Green, C.

Nargile brings DJs, bands together under one roof

• Parkland College Art Dept. Office – C Wing • Call GCAP 217.351.2437

Forms and stickers also available at the GCAP office, please call

ahead.

www.gcapnow.com

1/28/04

3:56 PM

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DJ DJ J-Phlip – Barfly, 9pm, free

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004

DJ The Skeleton Danse: DJ ZoZo, DJ Czyrxis, DJ Kajika, TBA – Channing-Murray Foundation, 8pm, $3 DJ Bozak – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5

DJ DJ Sophisto – house – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 DJ Mertz & DJ J-Phlip – Nargile, TBA

DAVE’S DREAM DIARY

SundayFeb1 LIVE MUSIC The Station – Canopy Club, 10pm, free Farmer’s Market String Band – Champaign Public Library auditorium, 2pm

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

MondayFeb2 LIVE MUSIC Kate Hathaway – Za’s, 8pm, TBA Open Mic Night hosted by Brandon T. Washington and Mike Ingram – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $2

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

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

TuesdayFeb3 LIVE MUSIC Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Openingbands.com and Tom Grassman – Canopy Club, 10pm, $2 Adam Wolfe, Jess Greenlee – acoustic – Tommy G’s, 10pm, free

DJ DJ Resonate – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ – Cowboy Monkey, 9pm, free NOX: DJ ZoZo, DJ Kannibal, DJ Rickbats – The Highdive, 10pm, $2

buzz

DJ DJ Chef Ra – roots/rock/reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free d-LO and Spinnerty – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $1 DJ Boardwalk – Mike n’ Molly’s, 10pm, $1

music

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | TASTE LIKE CRAB, TALK LIKE PEOPLE

CDReviews

012904buzz1114

MICHAEL JACKSON Number Ones Epic

★★★ BY MARY TALLON

FLOETRY Floacism DreamWorks Records

★★★★ BY ROSALYN YATES

THE OFFSPRING Splinter Columbia Records

★★ BY ANDY SIMNICK

However, just like that old friend from back in the day, it’s always curious to return to see if they have reverted to their old ways.

THE TRACKS Weed the Weeds B3 Records

★★★ BY LIZ MOZZOCCO

OnTheSpotReview MOSQUITOS Mosquitos Bar None Records BY JACOB DITTMER

MUSIC REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Un-listenable

“Rain Song”). So is this a trio that actually has some Spanish integrated into the lyrics unlike the often mistaken-to-be Hispanic Yo La Tengo? We’ll see.

Mosquitos will be playing at Cowboy Monkey on Feb. 4.

012904buzz1015

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music

...AND THEN TEXAS, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE! AAARGGHH! | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

Spinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest hip-hop genre MENDOZA MUSIC LINE ADAM BOSKEY | STAFF WRITER

TopFive

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JANUARY

Next week: Top five lo-fi albums Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

calendar

JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

CHICAGOSHOWS

Hangover Songs

1.â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sunday Morningâ&#x20AC;? Velvet Underground

buzz

tickets on sale now!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6th â&#x20AC;˘ 7:00 p.m. Tickets available at the Convocation CenterBox Office, all

312-559-1212 or order online www.ticketmaster.com Staind will be performing Feb. 8th

NEW CD IN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IN STORES NOW Produced by Nightlight Promotions/NIU

www.niuconvo.com for more information

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WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004

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JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M WAITING TO BUY MY COPY OF NOW â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;97

Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I call music

Local label/publication Innocent Words releases 2nd CD compilation BY BRIAN MERTZ | STAFF WRITER

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arts

BEST PIZZA TOPPINGS: SAUSAGE, ONION, MUSHROOM | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

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ARTIST CORNER BY ERIN DEYOUNG | STAFF WRITER

PHOTO | ERIN DEYOUNG

Meet My Husbands by Fred Carmichael

BY BRIAN WARMOTH | STAFF WRITER

playreview

★★★

Excerpt from “Dealing with Donald”

“I bet they won’t be,” I thought and almost spewed eggs threw my nose. “Well, that’s great, Buddy,” Daddy said with a relieved laugh. In his mind, he had just solved the problem.

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JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

“But Dad,” Buddy said very seriously. “I may still like Donald

THEATRE

UPCOMING MUSIC

best, ya know?” I was holding my breath on that one, since I knew how hard

FILM

W E T B A R

H A H A H A

A T O N A L

C A M E L S

N A C H F R E E L A S A P A T E A R L S H E E T O A S S E N S

CROSSWORD P. 23 K J O B L O N E M C A N K L I F I N T O N D R E O S D O M G N A E T A P E R S H M T Y O E S R

D O G S I I S O N T M E T I E N E A C R A A N K A T A R G E T S T I R R E S A Y S S P E N R A N S O M E A I M A P S M E N A R J O R I R I E N T A E S T E A S

T O R E S R O S T E E L Y

GUITAR LESSONS Individual or Group

all styles and all levels

Good, clean fun!

Guitar Shop 344-7940

calendar

Tommy G’s Bar and Grill

featuring food by Foudini’s

Fri., January 30th FREE FOOD FRIDAYS! The Prairie Dogs (bluegrass) - free food, no cover! 5-7 PM

The Dednecks

This classic country band ROCKS! geocities.com/deadnecks/1

KnowZone – Homework help for school-aged children. Tue 4-5pm. Douglass Branch Library. No registration.

Classic R&B, Classic Motown, classic rock, classic everything! Visit them online at www.mauricemindset.com!

YOGA

FOR MEN

Sat., January 31st Maurice & the mindset

FREE MUSIC no cover weekdays! Every Tuesday Adam wolf’s Acoustic Night Plus $2 Tuesdays - two dollar drafts,cans, dom. Bottles, well drinks, order of wings, basket-o-spuds, chips-n-salsa.

Every Wednesday Kilborn Alley Thursdays - Pool Tourney, Cash Prizes, 7 PM Coming in February

6 - The Barflyz, 7 - Gin Ridge Band 123 S. Mattis, Champaign - Counrty Fair Mall, 359-2177

www.tommygs.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.

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

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calendar

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004

SPORTSWEAR

dance apparel and shoes 12 Main St. • Downtown Champaign • 359-2231

Your local source for dance apparel & shoes

www.austinsportswear.com

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

Fr Jan 30 Cirque Éloize: Nomade 7pm, TFT, $20-$38 Sponsors: Carol and Ed Scharlau D&H Partnership Ingrid and Bruce Hutchings in honor of Susan Sargeant McDonald Susan and Victor Stone Anonymous

krannert center

Sa Jan 31

Th Feb 5

Sinfonia da Camera 7:30pm, FGH, $7-$30 Sponsors: Stanley O. and Judith L. Ikenberry Hampton Inn

Wine Tasting 5pm, LOB, free

Cirque Éloize: Nomade 7pm, TFT, $20-$38 Afterglow: Victoria Capo and Friends 9:30pm, LOB, free Sponsor:

We Feb 4

Jerold Siena, tenor 7:30pm, FGH, $2-$5

Some Krannert Center programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and patron and corporate contributions.

Season Sponsors Coporate Season Underwriters

Patron Season Sponsors

CAROLE AND JERRY RINGER

Festival 2004 is supported in part by the Frances P. Rohlen Visiting Artists Fund/College of Fine and Applied Arts and the National College Choreography Initiative.

buzz

arts

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | A CALZONE RIGHT NOW WOULD BE SWELL

PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

012904buzz0718

BookReview

American Gods ★★★★

Neil Gaiman

BY BRIAN WARMOTH | STAFF WRITER “

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arts

BEING A GRAPHIC DESIGNER IS THE COOOOOLEST | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

buzz

PHOTOS | CHRISTINE LITAS

calendar

JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

Belly dance: art in motion BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

buzz

000 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

DEADLINE:

2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

RATES: Billed rate: 34¢/word

Employment 000

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

HELP WANTED | Full Time

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

Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

Services

100

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

1519 W. Healey, C. Conveniently located 1 BR now available. $385/mo. 352-8540, 3554608 pm. www.faronproperties.com

CLEANING

SUBLETS

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

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

LAWN CARE FREE ESTIMATES: Tree trimming, Topping, Removal, Stump Grinding. 384-5010.

Merchandise 200 BOOKS COMPARE TEXTBOOK PRICES! Search 24 bookstores with 1 click! Shipping and taxes automatically calculated. http://www.bookhq.com

Apartments

400

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished | Unfurnished

Paid-in-Advance: 25¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished

Announcements800 MEETINGS

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

107 N. Busey, U.

4:03 PM

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film

★★

BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

moviereview

WIN A DATE WITH TAD HAMILTON! ★★★

BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITER

buzz

Movie News Shane Harvey\New Line Productions

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

C-UViews

The Butterfly Effect Compiled by Adam Young

★★★★ Dreamworks, LCC.

moviereview

IF ONLY I COULD WIN A DATE WITH KATE BOSWORTH ... | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

buzz

community

JANUARY 29 - FEBURARY 4, 2004, 2004

1/28/04

JyunichiNiizuma

Mark Laurenz Champaign

"I never knew Ashton Kutcher could actually act."

★★★

How and when did you get into the restaurant business?

Sean O'Shea

Champaign

"A little disturbing, but (it) kept me interested."

★★★★

SCREEN REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unwatchable

Nick Gaddini Champaign

"Everything was tied together."

Q & A

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

012904buzz0520

What do you like best about your job? I get to do all types of jobs. Some days I cook or work the sushi bar. On weekends

I will bartend. I also have to take care of paper work. My father keeps a really laid back atmosphere. Everyone is friends at the restaurant.

What do you do in your spare time? I play a lot of basketball and hang out. I go to the downtown bars. I really don’t spend much time on campus.

What do you see yourself doing in the future? I hope to move to Chicago and use my biology degree to go into pharmaceutical sales. What do you like Champaign-Urbana?

best

about

1/28/04

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4community

JANUARY 29 - FEBURARY 4, 2004

buzz

Sgt. Micheal Slepicka talks Marines ZAK STAMBOR | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

film

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4 2004 | THE OSCARS ARE POLITICAL? NO!

OSCAR NOMINATIONS

buzz

Drive-thru Reviews

012904buzz0421

Boardman’s Theatres Exclusive HPS-4000 & SDDS/DTS/DD Presentations

ART THEATRE 126 W. Church St., Champaign LORRAINE THEATRE 324 E. Main St., Hoopeston Neve Campbell & Malcolm McDowell Directed by Robert Altman “Two thumbs up!” –Ebert and Roeper

Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger & Jude Law

The Company

Cold Mountain

Coming next: The Triplets of Bellville

Route 45 & Burwash Ave. (217)

355-FILM

$5.50 Kids all shows $5.75 Seniors $6.50 Late Shows Fri & Sat $6.50 Students $6.00 DAILY Matinees til 6pm No passes ALL DIGITAL STEREO Unlimited Free Drink Refills & .25¢ Corn Refills

Stadium Seating Gives YOU An Unobstructed View All Rocking Chairs

SHOWTIMES 1/30 - 2/05

LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (PG-13) STADIUM SEATING 12:00, 4:00, 8:00 MONA LISA SMILE (PG-13)

FRI/SAT LS 11:10

SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE (PG-13) STADIUM SEATING

11:30, 2:05, 4:40, 7:15, 9:50

Screen #1: (R)

“Eight Golden Globe Nominations, including Best Picture!” “Winner, Best Supporting Actress for Renee Zellweger.” Nightly at 7:00 PM, matinees Sat/Sun at 2:00 PM

COUPON

20OZ.DRINK

with $2.50 purchase of 46oz. bag of buttery popcorn

one per ad @ Savoy 16 Exp. March 2004 "DI"

BEST DEAL in eNewsletter at www.savoy16.com

www.savoy16.com

BIG BOUNCE (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 12:50 3:00 5:00 7:10 9:20 11:30 Sun. - Thu. 12:50 3:00 5:00 7:10 9:20

COLD MOUNTAIN (R) Fri. Thu. 12:30 3:40 6:50 10:00 ◆ RETURN OF THE KING (PG–13) Fri. 1:00 4:00 8:00 Sat. - Thu. 12:00 4:00 8:00

◆ YOU GOT SERVED (PG–13)

1-800-BEST PLACE (800-237-8752) or 1-217-355-0068 Online ticketing/reserved seating at www.BoardmansTheatres.com

Daily at: 5:15 PM, 7:30 PM, & 10:00 PM, Sat/Sun matinees at 3:00 PM

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

LAST SAMURAI (R) Fri. - Thu. 1:00 4:00 7:00 10:00 TORQUE (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. 9:40 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 9:40

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film

SEXY CARS, SEXY BOYS, SEXY MOVIES | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

Sleeping with the past BY ART MITCHELL | STAFF WRITER

buzz

JANUARY29-FEBRUARY4, 2004 | WHERE DOES BIN LADEN KEEP HIS ARMIES? IN HIS SLEEVIES!

FIRST THING’S FIRST...

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.

012904buzz0223

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FIRST WE’LL TAKE MICHIGAN. THEN NEW YORK AAARGGHHH!!! | JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2004

buzz

editor’snote

insidebuzz

BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

The Story 4 The Marines: A family affair

Marine Sgt. Micheal Slepicka is a warrior. A Marine for the past eight years, he’s frank and direct. The Marine’s are Slepicka’s family...

Arts

6 Belly dancing: Art in motion

At Aaminah Surayyah’s Tuesday night dance class, the room is lit not only with fluorescent overhead lighting but also with the glittering...

Music

10 DJ Bozak takes emo out of rap Last Wednesday I picked up the “Next Big Things of 2004” issue of Spin to read the articles on, of all things, emo rap...

Calendar

12 Blackouts rock The Monkey The Blackouts return to Cowboy Monkey this Friday, with a new album coming out in February...

Film

19 Butterfly Effect lacks effect To the Teen People crowd, Ashton Kutcher is, like, such a hottie. To everyone else...

buzz

ACROSS PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

1 Hit man’s hit 9 Loafs on the job 15 Have a table for

one

16 Knows about 17 Big name in

✍ HOMEWORK:

Rob Brezsny's Free Will ☎ Astrology beautyandtruth

Around February 2 every year, pagans make a pledge to the Goddess about what their main intention will be in the coming year. What's yours? www.freewillastrology.com

@ 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

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Look for new section featuring more CD reviews.

Volume 2, Number 4 COVER DESIGN | Meaghan Dee Photos by Christine Litas

odds & end

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY (JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4)

Next week...

BUZZ STAFF

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004 | BUD SOME TENSION, ARIES

footwear

18 Specialty 19 Cause of misery 20 “Mahoning”

42 Layered dish 43 Delivers for a

6 Letter getter 7 Waiting one’s turn 8 Neighbor of

18 20

19 23 27

33 38

43 48

52 56

32 34

51 54

55 59

Puzzle by Myles Callum

40 Pal 41 Whip up 44 “I Loves You,

Porgy” singer, 1959 45 Code of silence

46 Rages 47 Hard 50 It may render an

53 M.D. 54 Hindu honorifics 57 Julie or Marie:

52 Some attendance

59 Raven

arrow harmless figs.

Abbr.

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Page 1

odds&end

BEWARE ICE. AND FROSTY THE SNOWMAN. HE HAD A BAD DAY. | JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 4, 2004

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

YOGA

LEARN TANGO!! Tango Society of Central Illinois & the Urbana Park District

INSTITUTE OF CHAMPAIGN-URBANA

FUNDAMENTALS OF TANGO Mondays Feb 2-Mar 15 8:30-10pm Cost: $36

buzz

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

Phillips Recreation Center 505 West Stoughton, Urbana Register: 367-1544 Info: TangoSociety@aol.com www.centraltango.com

Classes are progressive to facilitate learning

407 W. Springfield, Urbana •

z buz Jan 29-Feb 4, 2004

Arts | Entertainment | Community

FREE!

344-YOGA (9642) • www.yoga–cu.com COMMUNIT Y

217/351.6879

Urbana Adult Education 211 N. Race St. Downtown Urbana 384-3530

• Business & Finance • Bridge • Arts • Home & Garden

Hours: Mon-Thur 11am - 10pm Fri 11am -10:30pm Sat 11:30am -10:30pm Sun 11:30am - 10pm

• Language • Cooking • Photography • Golf

Exp. 2/4/04

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

2 OFF

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

ARTS

American Gods review (Page 8)

• Travel • Flowers • Recreation • Culture • Fitness & Health • Sewing & Needlework • Industrial Arts • Music • Crafts

MUSIC

Innocent Words releases new compilation (Page 9) CALENDAR

Green St. Records holds benefit show (Page 12) FILM

Exp. 2/4/04

5 OFF

(Page 4)

Over 100 classes starting January 26 and later in the following areas:

• Computers

1407 N. Prospect Ave. Champaign

Local Marine sounds off on military life

Classes open to anyone 16 and over in Urbana, Champaign, and surrounding communities. Register in person, Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or phone us with a Mastercard or Visa at 384-3530.

Visit our website at www.usd116.org/aded

Sleeping with the past (Page 22)

The lost art of

belly dancing